We always have the best time looking for cool tech stocking stuffers that go beyond the usual. And by usual, I mean batteries.
Whether you’re just kicking off your holiday shopping by going through our gift guides or almost wrapping things up after a marathon Cyber Monday spree, please pause to consider the humble holiday stocking.
With only so much room for presents, we love the challenge of filling them since every item needs to be carefully considered if it’s going to fit inside.
New for 2022
And while visions of tech in our heads tends to be followed by visions of dollar signs, rest assured that most of these cool tech stocking stuffers are not splurges at all. Save those for the big gifts with the fancy gift wrap.
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Affordable wireless earbuds
Super affordable but with great sound and a long playtime, these GO Air POP wireless earbuds from JLab are a great tech stocking stuffer for little and big kids. Comes in a rainbow of colors so you can even tuck a different color into each kid’s stocking. ($20-24)
A new smartwatch band
Plant-based and compostable, Pela’s watch bands come in a bunch of colors for your favorite eco warrior’s wrist. In styles to fit both Apple and Fitbit watches. ($44.95 with some on sale.) If you really want a great budget pick, also check Amazon where we’ve found this cool
for just $7.98 — and it gets great ratings!
A mini speaker that doubles as a tiny ornament
We love these friendly little Bitty Boomer Mini Bluetooth Speakers, especially because you can hang them on the tree for a little musical cheer in the form of, oh, say Baby Yoda in a Santa Hat. Don’t worry, these tiny speakers play a lot more than just Christmas music and there are so many themes from Marvel, Disney, Star Wars more. ($13.38 for Santa Grogu, others $15-21 on Amazon)
A cute cable protector
If you hate how your phone and tablet cords start to fray at the ends where they get bent, here’s an adorable solution — this pack of Cute Cable Protectors will do the trick, and the multi-pack lets you break them up and put a few in each stocking. ($12.88/pack of 20, Amazon)
The selfie smartphone mount that all the cool TikTokers use
Content creators who don’t have their own personal cameraperson chasing them around (ha) will love the new Pivo Pod Lite. Using AI technology, the Pod Lite automatically tracks face and body movements so your TikToker will always be in frame — in fact, we’ve even included it in our guide to the top gifts for teens in 2022. ($69.99 in six colors on Amazon; the more advanced original Pivo Pod is available for $87)
Pocket-sized retro gaming fun
Sometimes tech stocking stuffers are gifts in themselves. Take the retro Nintendo Game and Watch: The Legend of Zelda (also above) — pocket-sized and super fun to play, whether you are reliving your childhood or introducing it to your own child. Includes four games in its small console with a look and soundtrack that will return you back to the 80’s. ($49.99 at Target)
Screen cleaners as pretty as these
We’re still fans of disinfecting everything, especially during the holidays — AKA cold and flu and RSV season. These terrific screen-cleaning towelettes from Well-Kept do the job perfectly, and a set of three makes the perfect tech stocking stuffer for a few of lucky family members. ($18, Uncommon Goods.)
(Alternately, we’re still fans of Whoosh! too, should you prefer a refillable spray bottle for a practical tech stocking stuffer.)
A mute button you can’t miss (because Zoom calls are not going away)
This may be the ultimate tech stocking stuffer for 2021, especially for those of us for whom home is the office; weknow how important it is to hit mute at exactly the right moment during a Zoom meeting. This light-up, can’t-miss-it mute button from Uncommon Goods is a brilliant tech stocking stuffer! It will give anyone peace of mind that their toddler’s story about what just happened in the bathroom isn’t getting picked up across the office — or at the next PTA meeting. ($49 at Uncommon Goods)
Geeky thumb grip covers
Give someone on your list gaming superpowers with these Captain America thumb grip covers from Jaees, for their game controller. They fit on most popular joysticks and come in other styles too. More than just decoration, they actually help fingers stay on the knobs during an especially exciting game. ($8.99 on Amazon)
A portable, wireless charger
We always recommend portable chargers as smart, practical tech stocking stuffers, and the sleek Anker portable charger is the ones we give to our own kids, to make sure we never get those “Oh no, I’m on 2%!” texts from them. Plus, great deal! (On sale for as low as $16)
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More Holiday Tech Gift Ideas:
18 of the best tech gifts for teens — according to actual teens
12 practical tech gifts to help get us through another long winter
12 of the hottest high-tech beauty gifts for for everyone on your list…including yourself.
15 awesome tech gifts for teens that will score you major points
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A rechargeable USB lighter for the great outdoors (or indoors too)
Got a light? They’ll always have one now with this cool USB rechargeable lighter that is the perfect tech stocking stuffer for someone who lights candles, builds campfires, or perhaps other recreational activities that are now legal in an increasing number of states. Go quickly — they sell out! ($30 at Uncommon Goods)
Similarly, check out the Motli Light USB Flameless Lighter and Flashlight that Liz included in her favorite things from Oprah’s 2022 favorite things list. Costs more, but very sleek in lots of fun colors and patterns, especially that rose gold. ($45, Amazon)
A phone case in the spirit of ugly Christmas sweater season
Our kids love ugly Christmas sweaters so much, they wear them way past Christmas! Check the fun patterns of Ugly Christmas Sweater phone cases on Society 6, like this one from STUDIO MORE. Some are uglier than others — go as crazy as you want. ($17.50 on sale, prices vary per size, STUDIO MORE on Society 6)
A tiny Bluetooth speaker
Grab the portable Go 3 Bluetooth speaker by JBL in one of several cheery colors for your teens (or adults) to stream music at the next sleepover or backyard fire pit night. Great sound, with a sturdy, waterproof construction, this is a great little speaker for a not-so-big price making it a perfect tech stocking stuffer. ($49.95 on JBL or find it on Amazon)
Want to turn it into a gift? pair with a year subscription to Spotify or Apple Music if you’re feeling extra generous.
A practical but stylish tech accessory
Recently featured in our post about 12 practical tech gifts to help get us through another long winter, as well as our picks from Oprah’s Favorite Things list last year, we think Head Lightz Head Lights Hats make a terrific addition to any stocking for adults or kids. Made by a small, Black, woman-run company, these warm hats come in a dozen colors and make it so much easier, and safer, to enjoy these shorter days outside. ($24.95 on Amazon)
A guaranteed end to the “that’s my cord!” fights
Got kids? Then you probably have plenty of charger-cord theft going on in your house which is why we have loved these personalized cord name tags from Delightful Luna since we discovered them this summer. With 15 different colors, you’ll even be able to tell if someone has swiped your cord from across the room. (From $10 on Delightful Luna’s Etsy shop)
More memory!
If that Nintendo Switch is getting low on memory (understandable, given how much screen time we’ve all had during this pandemic), boost their device with a SanDisk micros SDXC card as a stocking stuffer. Suddenly, their old console is new-ish again, right? ($21 for 128GB on Amazon)
A tech stocking stuffer to get the whole family get in the picture
Make sure everyone gets in the shot with this set of extremely affordable wireless remote shutters. Easy to use and incredibly discrete, if the photographer of the family conveniently it hides behind one kid’s shoulder. ($8.99 on Amazon)
Pop Sockets, customized
We recently featured Pop Sockets’ new Snow Globe gribs, and we love them. But for another tech stocking stuffer idea, we also adore the Custom Pop Socket Wallets made from your own photo. Of course teens may want a photo of their besties, but for more intrepid designers, you can combine it with the useful wallet case, and even create cool designs like this guy jumping off the phone. ($22.50-$30 on sale)
Tech gifts cards, because everyone loves them
You know what else fits perfectly in a stocking? A gift card. Grab a physical card or print out confirmation of a digital code. You can grab a gift card to a gaming system like PlayStation or XBox for your gamer, but don’t stop there.
Consider a subscription to Netflix or Hulu for your binge-water, or an app like Calm or Headspace for a year of more zen. There’s a reason the Calm subscription is one of our favorite practical holiday gifts this year. It may not be the most creative tech stocking stuffer idea, but it’s a guaranteed pleaser.
Headphones to help everyone get more sleep.
These soft headband style Bluetooth headphones in 15 colors are popular for good reason — and if you’ve ever lost an AirPod in your bed somewhere after you’ve used music or a meditation app to get to sleep, you know why. They’re also perfect for yoga, gym workouts, running — but frankly, they had us at sleep. ($19.99, Amazon, plus use a limited time coupon in the shop for 10% off.)
More Holiday Tech Gift Ideas:
18 of the best tech gifts for teens — according to actual teens
12 practical tech gifts to help get us through another long winter
12 of the hottest high-tech beauty gifts for for everyone on your list…including yourself.
15 awesome tech gifts for teens that will score you major points