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How to buy Christmas gifts people will actually love, according to Which? members
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Don't waste your money on gifts that end up gathering dust. We asked Which? members to tell us about the presents they love receiving, and the ones that tend to go unwanted and unused.
Our survey found that a quarter of respondents would put an unwanted gift away in a cupboard or drawer, while 44% would pass it on by donating it to a charity shop, raffle or tombola. That's a lot of money spent on gifts that never get used.
Drawing on the research, we've brought together helpful tips for choosing a gift they'll genuinely appreciate, along with a few common mistakes to avoid and some of the most popular gifts from our guides.
For more Which? advice, take a look at all of our gift ideas and inspiration
How to choose a gift
Give them something they actually want
If you're not sure what to buy, ask them what they'd like, or do a little detective work to find something they've had their eye on but would never buy for themselves.
Our research found that 49% of Which? members prefer a gift they've specifically asked for and many also told us that the best presents they've received were things they wanted but couldn't justify buying themselves. Surprise gifts can still be a hit, but only when they're thoughtfully chosen.
Here are some of the best gifts our members told us they've received:
Welsh whisky. Didn’t know they distilled it but it was very good.
Pie maker, my daughter bought it for me. I never would have thought of it, but I’ve used it regularly ever since.
A bottle of Jo Malone Lime, Basil and Mandarin body and hand wash. Given to me by close friends (as a joint present) who know I love it but couldn't justify spending my money on it.
For inspiration, take a look at our guides to the best gifts for women, the best gifts for men and our favourite teen gift ideas.
The best personalised gifts could add an extra sentimental touch to your present.
Experiences create the strongest memories
In our survey results, one type of present came up a lot: experiences and quality time.
In fact, 50% of the people we asked said they value creating memories with their family and friends over something physical, whether that’s on days out, holidays, concerts, spa days or restaurant meals.
Sometimes the best presents are real-life experiences:
A day's hire of an E Type Jaguar vintage sports car from my son as I always wanted to drive one
A weekend celebrated with friends and family. They took care of the whole weekend and we enjoyed home cooked meals, doing jigsaws and exploring a new place, so many happy memories.
Two tickets to a live Archers show with a nice meal beforehand. All my children contributed, knowing how much I would enjoy it and I had an evening with one of my children (who also enjoyed it, much to his surprise!)
Take a look at our guide to the best subscription gifts for ideas like cinema and art gallery memberships, or see our gift guide for foodies if cooking and eating together would go down well.
Focus on their hobbies and interests
Lots of people like to be given gifts that support their hobbies and interests, with Lego sets, gardening tools, books, model kits and specialised subscriptions appearing several times in responses about our members’ favourite presents.
On the flip side, generic gifts such as bath sets were less popular because they showed little thought.
Our members shared examples of gifts that hit the mark because they matched their hobbies and passions:
Smart telescope, given by my wife and two adult children. With increased light pollution and failing eyesight it allows me to continue with my hobby and allows me to see things I couldn't with a conventional scope
Voucher for an up-market angling experience from my wife. More than I would spend on my favourite hobby.
The six Booker Prize shortlist novels, given to me by my son. It shows he knows what my favourite pastime is.
For hobbyist present ideas, check out our guides to the best gifts for walkers, best gifts for runners, best gifts for golfers and best wellness gifts.
Expensive doesn't always mean better
When asked how much you should spend on a gift, the majority of members we asked felt £20-£49 was appropriate for family gifts, and for friends, thoughtfulness mattered more than spend.
Many members said it's the thought behind a gift, rather than the amount spent, that matters most:
A Sudoku-imprinted toilet roll from a young relative in response to my repeated detesting of commercialised Christmas trash which I repeatedly used to refer to as 'merry xmas toilet rolls'. Accurate, cheap and funny.
My son got me a wooden figure to hang my specs on at night. It was the best gift because it was thoughtful, something I wouldn't have got myself and looked to be a reasonable (affordable) price.
For some affordable ideas, take a look at our guide to the best cheap gifts.
You could also consider some of the best gifts for coffee lovers or the best beauty gifts, many of which won't cost too much.
Avoid these Christmas gifting mistakes
In our research, Which? members agreed that the worst gifts stem from a general lack of thought, ignoring the recipient's personal preferences or choosing items that are completely impractical.
Here are some examples of particularly unpopular presents:
- Bath sets and lotions Frequently criticised for overpowering scents, incompatibility with sensitive skin conditions like eczema or giving bath bombs to people who only take showers.
- Inappropriate consumables Food and drink items that ignore dietary needs or lifestyle, such as alcohol for non-drinkers, sugary sweets for diabetics.
- Unwanted clothing Classic bad gift tropes like hideous jumpers, ugly ties, novelty T-shirts and generic socks, in completely the wrong size or style.
- Clutter and appliances Random decorative ornaments, bulky books, bizarre novelty housewares or mundane home appliances such as vacuums and toasters that feel more like chores than presents.
We asked members to tell us about the presents that got it wrong. Here's what they said:
A toiletries set, including expensive shampoo. I'm 71 and bald!
A milk jug in the shape of a dog's head, with the dog's mouth forming the spout (from my step mother-in-law)
A pigeon hand soap dispenser
What are the most popular Christmas gifts among Which? members?
These are some of the most clicked-on products in our guide to the best Christmas gifts.
Global Gizmos popcorn maker
There's nothing quite like fresh popcorn for movie night at home, and kids love the excitement of popping it themselves.
We like: Simple to use
We don't like: Rogue kernels can occasionally fly out
One of the most popular ideas in our guide to the best Secret Santa gifts is a popcorn maker, which is sure to go down well with film fans.
It takes 3-5 minutes to create a tasty treat for movie nights or parties and comes with three cinema-style bags to eat it out of.
Dog Paw Cleaner Cup
This tool has saved our white carpets from muddy paws. It's really easy to use and ensures your dog doesn't leave behind a trail of dirt as they zoom through the house.
We like: Affordable, easy to use, comes in a range of sizes
Watch out for: Some dogs might not enjoy the sensation
If you’re buying for a pet, this paw cleaner is one of the most clicked-on presents in our guide to the best gifts for dogs.
Simple to use, you just fill it with water, slip your dog’s paw into the cup and twist. It’ll remove dirt and stop them from walking muddy prints through the house.
MyTravelPal Travel Adaptor
There are dozens of travel adapters around but we've shown cheaper unbranded models can be unsafe. It's worth paying more for a good one - like this excellent, versatile model from MyTravelPal.
We like: Powers multiple devices at once
Watch out for: It’s not compatible worldwide – check to see restrictions
If the person you’re buying for is always jet-setting around the world, why not buy them something from our best travel accessories guide?
The MyTravelPal Travel Adaptor is compatible in more than 150 countries, it allows you to charge up to four devices at once – with one 10A AC outlet, a USB-C port and two USB-A ports.
Elan Solar Fairy Lights – Warm White 200 LEDs
It might be cold, dark and dreary outside, but a few twinkling fairy lights can easily transform your garden into a winter wonderland.
We like: Passed all our durability tests
We don't like: Relatively expensive
For some people, their garden is their pride and joy, so it seems a shame not to be able to enjoy it after dark. A set of solar-powered fairy lights can help bring outdoor spaces to life at night, and will create a cosy atmosphere when summer evenings roll back around.
These are some of the best solar garden lights we tested and a top choice from our guide to the best gifts for gardeners – they survived a winter outside, sharp tugs on the wires, freezing temperatures and regular soaking.
Wine Aerator
My sister has one of these wine aerators and when my dad spotted it, he was very taken with what a simple gadget it was! I remember thinking at the time, 'right, that's his gift sorted!'
We like: Speeds up wine aeration
Watch out for: Wine snobs
Having proved popular in our guide to the best gifts for dads, this wine aerator could be a good idea for wine lovers.
While you could pop the cork, let it sit for an hour to 'breathe' and then serve, this little gadget claims to expedite the process by aerating the wine, which can bring out more flavours and improve the taste.
