78 thoughtful and cool last-minute gifts you can still get on Amazon - all under $100
A powerful portable speaker
About the size of a soda can, the Soundcore Flare is a powerful and very portable speaker that puts on a cool LED light show.
An Instant Pot for easy weeknight meals
The Instant Pot is one of the most versatile appliances you can add to your kitchen for under $100. Help him make delicious home-cooked meals a cinch, even when he has to work late.
A recipe book for Instant Pot meal inspiration
For meal inspiration, you may want to consider gifting the Instant Pot along with an Instant Pot-specific cookbook. This one is a #1 best seller on Amazon.
A deep-tissue massager for an at-home spa experience
This heated massager is a game changer for anyone who struggles with back and neck pain on a daily basis. Read a full review here from one of our reporters who swears by it. He'll be thanking you for years to come.
A convenient phone grip for texting on the go
They might seem unnecessary at first, but PopSocket Grips are extremely useful. They can use them as a kickstand to prop up their tablet and to comfortably hold their phone while reading on the subway. It's a very useful way to spend $10 (or less).
An adult card game that will make parties a lot more interesting
If they don't already own Cards Against Humanity, you owe it to them. It's a fun party game that always leaves everyone cackling, and I'm not the only one that thinks this — the game has over 29,000 5-star reviews on Amazon.
A better travel pillow
We didn't think there was such a thing as the perfect travel pillow until we tried the Trtl. Read a full review from one of our reporters who swears by it for red-eyes for its comfort, portability, and affordable price.
A smart USB car charger with Alexa
Give their car a smart upgrade with the Alexa-enabled Roav Viva. Not only can the device charge their smartphone, it can also answer questions about the weather or traffic, play music, and even tell them the news.
An indoor garden for urban dwellers and herb lovers
Anyone who spends time in the kitchen or garden knows how much fresh herbs can upgrade a dish. While not all climates or spaces can sustain a full herb garden, this little indoor gardening kit can, so they can top every last dish with their favorite fresh herbs.
A charging stand for their desk to keep things organized
This charging stand works with iPhones, iPads, and most other Lightning-charged devices. It takes up minimal space for optimal convenience.
A fun desk toy
The makers of our favorite magnetic desk toy have a new way to reduce stress and keep your boss entertained. With these colorful magnetic blocks (which also come with a travel bag), they can take a mental break or use the opportunity to refocus their mind as they build creative sculptures.
A no-spill travel mug
Students, commuters, or anyone who enjoys hot beverages on the go will love this travel mug. As its name suggests, this mug automatically seals to stops leaks and spills, even if it's rolling around in a backpack. Its durability and affordability make it a team favorite.
A hilarious coffee table book
This is a great gift for the person who can laugh at the little things in life, or for anyone who works as a teacher. It's a collection of hilarious wrong test answers that is sure to keep them laughing.
A sous vide machine for ambitious home cooks
This $64 sous vide machine will make them look like a fancy chef with minimal effort.
A French press coffee maker for their morning brew
A French press makes it easy to enjoy delicious, rich coffee every morning. It's not as quick as a Keurig (you have to let the grounds steep for a few minutes), but the results are worth the wait. Plus, they'll love that they can fill it with their favorite beans.
A letter board they can leave fun messages on
This is a fun message board and a great piece of home decor all in one. They'll love using this to display mantras, messages for roommates, or just to show off some random thoughts. It comes in plenty of colors, so you're sure to find one that fits their space and aesthetic.
A pair of fuzzy animal slippers for lounging at home
For those who love to lounge, go for these adorable animal slippers. They come in a variety of cute animals and will keep their feet extra toasty on cold winter days.
A rapid egg cooker
Whether they like them hard boiled, poached, or scrambled, this rapid egg cooker lives up to its name — it makes cooking eggs way faster and easier than ever before.
The Fire 7 tablet
Amazon's Fire 7 Tablet is more than enough tablet for most people. It's ideal for casual web browsing, video streaming, music listening, and reading for only $50.
Mini succulents in ceramic planters
If your desk mate doesn't already have a plant, rest assured they would probably like one (fine print: if it requires next to no caregiving). Grab these ceramic planters from Amazon and fill them with an assortment of succulents. According to science, it may make them happier just to see the plants every day.
The best portable battery you can buy
If you want to get them something they're sure to love, save them from a dead phone on their next long commute or work trip. We ranked this one as the best battery pack you can buy because you can charge two devices at once, and because it has built-in lightning and micro-USB cables.
A tracker for keys, wallets, bags or any other important items they’re prone to lose
Your forgetful friends and family will be so thankful for this gift. They can place this tracker in their wallet, purse, or phone case to make sure they never lose their things, because if they do, the Tile app makes it easy to retrace.
A water bottle that keeps cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot drinks hot for 6 hours
It's often the most practical gifts that make the best and longest impression, and this is one stellar candidate. The Hydro Flask is double-wall vacuum insulated and will keep their cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours, with hot drinks staying hot for up to six. We're big fans.
An Atlas Obscura 365-day calendar
Add some fun to their day-to-day routine with the Atlas Obscura calendar. There are hundreds of photos that celebrate the world's strangest and coolest places, festivals, and foods. Travelers and life-long learners are particularly good candidates for this one.
An extra-long charging cable
It's something every one of us will feel grateful for a couple times per day, but always put off buying for ourselves: a serpentine, 6-foot long charging cable.
Anthony Bourdain's best-selling culinary and travel memoir
Whether they love to cook, to travel, or just love to eat, they'll enjoy Anthony Bourdain's best-selling travel and culinary memoir. Bourdain spent much of his adult life searching for the perfect meal in all corners of the globe, and he details those great adventures from California to Cambodia here.
A portable cheese melter
Melted cheese can make pretty much every meal better. If you don't believe us, check out this video to see the gooey goodness in action.
A Fire TV Stick
Armed with a Fire TV Stick and your favorite streaming subscriptions, including Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video, you'll feel like traditional cable is truly a thing of the past. The Fire TV Stick also utilize Alexa for convenient hands-free control, so you don't have to juggle or manage yet another remote control.
A shower curtain that holds tech so they can watch tv in the shower
Smartphones, tablets, computers — we use these gadgets so often they are almost appendages at this point, but there's one place we can't take them — the shower. Maybe that's a good thing, but maybe your giftee wants to watch the latest episode of Shameless from the comfort of their bath tub. For "screenagers" of all ages who hate parting with their beloved gadgets but also crave the luxuries of a warm bubble bath, this curtain (which has eight pockets to hold different-sized devices) lets them have the best of both worlds.
A sequin pillow that changes color
You can sleep easy knowing you gave them one of the most fun pillows they'll ever own. With the help of reversible sequins, they can write on it and draw fun designs — even adults will be enamored.
A retro game console
This December, Sony re-released the original PlayStation console in miniaturized format — a la Nintendo's NES and Super NES Classic consoles. It comes with 20 games built in, two controllers, and it costs just $75 right now (it's currently on sale for $25 off).
The Amazon Echo
The Echo smart speaker comes with Amazon's perennially popular smart assistant, Alexa, built right into the hardware. That means you can call on Alexa to play music, make calls, set alarms, ask questions, control connected devices, and just about anything else. It features a speaker powered by Dolby and is currently available in six styles, including fabrics and wood veneers — for the holidays, Amazon partnered with (RED) on a limited-edition red Echo to support the fight against AIDS.
A blender that can track ingredients to help them make healthier meals
A smoothie sounds like a healthy way to start the day, but it could be loaded with unwanted calories, fats, and carbs. This smart blender connects to an app that will actually tell them the nutritional information of all of the ingredients they add to the mix. It's a little extra effort than making a regular smoothie, but health-conscious and fitness-focused pals will love the extra knowledge this device provides.
A set of reusable straws
For those trying to make a positive impact on the planet, give them these reusable straws so they never have to rely on the wasteful plastic ones again. These come with a brush so they're easy to clean and ready to be reused.
A pocket-sized HD security camera
The Wyze Cam is a tiny security camera they can affix to virtually any surface in their house, or leave standing up on a table or countertop. It records video in your home and updates you using a smartphone app when it detects motion, sounds, or alarms. And the best part is it only costs $26. Find a full review here.
A miniature version of their favorite arcade game
Delight their inner child with a classic arcade game they can play on the go. You can choose from Asteroids, Centipede, Space Invaders, Tetris, Q'Bert, Pac-Man, and more.
A set of smart, color-changing light bulbs
Spending $90 on a set of light bulbs is a lot, which is why some people probably won't buy these for themselves. That's also why, as the gifter, you totally should. These smart lights offer 16 million colors and shades of white and can be controlled with an app or their voice, so they can easily adjust the light to create an ambiance that suits how they want to feel.
A self-betterment planner designed using the "best practices" of the most successful people in history
If you work with someone especially ambitious or concerned with self-progress, they'll love this daily planner. It was created by a group of "human performance junkies" after researching the most successful, high-performing humans in history, and it uses their common practices and psychology tips to break down a 10-year plan into doable, bite-sized pieces.
A reusable Shark Tank notebook that can digitize handwritten notes
The $30 Rocketbook notebook is full of 32 reusable pages that wipe clean with a damp cloth when the owner uses a Pilot FriXion pen (included), so they can keep using the same notebook indefinitely. They can also send hand-written notes to Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, email, and more. I use my own a surprising amount.
A cookbook of late-night meals
If they're ever curious about what famous chefs like David Chang, Dominique Crenn, and Anthony Bourdain dig into when they're not in the kitchen, this book answers the question. Expect many more late-night culinary adventures after they peruse this book that's part recipe collection, part exploration of food culture.
RSVP Black Marble Swivel Top Dual Compartment Salt Box
If you want to make a statement with something small, go for this elegant salt cellar. It makes seasoning dishes easier, and the dual compartments provide a place for both fine and coarsely ground salt. Our editor swears by this one for her own kitchen.
A convenient, wireless charging dock
Sure, you could give them a regular charging cord to juice up their phone, but a wireless charging pad is undeniably cooler. This is one of our favorites for its compatibility with many iPhone and Android models, speedy charging abilities, and minimalist design that looks nice in their space.
A turntable with modern specs
This makes a thoughtful gift for the vinyl aficionado in your life. They can plug this turntable into speakers of their choice to hear that clean, authentic sound that you really can only get with vinyl. Your loved one will thank you for helping them finally put that old record collection to use.
A multi-port USB hub that charges multiple devices at once
Help them save outlet space and minimize cord clutter with this charging port. With four standard USB ports and one USB-C port, it's a practical gift for any gadget-loving person.
Great books by amazing feminists
When it comes to feminist literature, there is a ton of it out there. Here, we're recommending two of our favorite books by incredible feminist commentators whose writing we admire and read frequently. If you buy the books through Amazon Smile and select the charity you want to give to, 0.5% of your purchase will go to that charity. Just click on our links and choose your charity.
A pack of smart plugs that lets them control devices wherever they are
If you've ever left the house only to realize you didn't unplug a hot iron, you've likely been in the predicament of deciding if you should return to unplug said electronics or risk it all, keep moving, and hope the house doesn't burn down.
Your more forgetful friends and family members will appreciate these easy to use smart plugs that they can control and access through any smart device, so they always have the peace of mind that their electronics are off and their house is safe.
A digital photo frame to display all of their favorite pictures
A framed photo is one of the most special ways to decorate a space. Nowadays, it's easy to take quality photos with smartphones, but most of these photos stay in phone libraries, or maybe make it to a Facebook album or Instagram post. Give friends and family the opportunity to show off all of their favorite shots in one frame with this digital frame, which cycles through their favorite shots in a constant slideshow.
A waterproof speaker that lets them rock out in the shower
There's a reason singing in the shower is a thing. This speaker is waterproof, wireless, and has a suction-cup to stick to the wall, so your friends can lather, rinse, and repeat while belting along to their favorite tunes.
A light strip that adds just enough light to help them make the trip for a midnight snack
Philips Hue doesn't just have light bulbs, they also have a light strips that can be placed under drawers, bed frames, and bars to provide substantial, but not too bright lighting for late night trips to the fridge, bathroom, or just to add a fun, colorful accent when they feel like it.
A kettle that heats up water in a snap
Sure, you could just use a regular kettle, but this one makes heating water much easier and faster. Just plug the plate into an outlet, fill the kettle with water, and never worry about leaving the stove on again.
A camera lens kit for enthusiastic phone photographers
Take breathtaking landscape photos and detailed close-ups with the 140-degree, wide-angle lens and the 10x macro lens in this kit. Simply clip it to the phone and align it with its camera to start snapping high-quality pictures.
A flexible car mount
This accessory pulls double duty by charging their phone while holding it securely on their dash. The telescopic arm extends up to eight inches and pivots on a wide arc for easy readability and access.
A tough phone storage box
This rugged case is basically like a tiny storage box, protecting not only their phone but also their keys, wallet, and other small essentials. It's even waterproof up to 90 feet for 30 minutes, making it perfect for outdoor adventures.
A running armband to hold your phone
Compatible with most phones, this best-selling case has a plush, elastic band for non-obtrusive comfort, reflective borders for safety, and a small pocket to hold their key as they run.
A compact selfie stick
They can get the whole group in their photo with this selfie stick. It's light and durable, while featuring a 20-hour battery life and ergonomic handle.
A precise stylus pen
They might want or need a stylus if they have a phone with an especially large screen. These affordable pens are precise and include 20 replacement tips. It also doesn't hurt that the colors are vibrant and eye-catching.
A portable Bluetooth keyboard
Typing up important emails or reports on a small phone is uncomfortable and invites mistakes. A light and portable Bluetooth keyboard is a convenient companion to their phone that will let them work more efficiently and accurately.
A smart light switch
Get this smart switch for all your lighting needs, from turning the lights on and off automatically whenever you enter and leave the room to turning on the outdoor lights when sunset arrives. If you have the aforementioned Ecobee Smart Thermostat, this switch can also act as an additional Room Sensor.
A foldable cutting board
They probably already have a cutting board, but this one is a seriously smart upgrade. With a sturdy handle and sides that fold up when squeezed, this board will help them seamlessly chop and then pour into a pot or pan, without dropping any of the good stuff along the way.
A pizza stone and cutter
You can't give them a wood fired oven (well, maybe you can), but you can bring them a little closer to getting that crispy, pizzeria-quality crust. Any frozen pizza will be given an upgrade when cooked on this pizza stone.
A mini rice cooker
This appliance is small, but mighty — it can make rice, stews, soups, pasta, and more. The two-cup capacity is good for making small meals and won't take up too much of their precious counter space.
A cult-favorite lip balm with SPF 25 and over 1,000 reviews
They'll thank you for this cult-favorite lip balm with SPF during the winter months when the multi-pack from CVS isn't cutting it.
A mezzaluna chopper
If their knife skills are a little below par, this mezzaluna chopper can help. All they have to do is rock the chopper back and forth to get that precise mince they've only dreamed of.
A classic leather wallet
A wallet doesn't have to be a boring gift when it's from Bellroy. The gorgeous Slim Sleeve fits everything he needs in a slim, efficient profile. We love it so much we named it the best men's wallet in our buying guide.
Professional-quality over-ear headphones
The perfect pair of over-ear headphones are both highly comfortable and sound great. For $69, this pair from Status Audio is among the best you'll find for less than $100.
A board game that'll keep everyone entertained for hours
You'd be mistaken if you thought this innocuous-looking board game couldn't entertain adults. I thought it the first time I saw the box too, and then all of a sudden two hours had passed and I was busy plotting out a train route from Montreal to Miami that could give me an edge over my four opponents.
A mini, functional waffle maker that takes up minimal countertop space
This small but mighty waffle maker looks more like a gag gift than a functional one, but they'll be surprised by how often they end up using it. It takes up minimal counter and storage space, is easy to clean, and is perfect for when you're craving just one or two waffles and don't want to make a whole spread.
A look back at The Beatles' songwriting process
Everyone knows someone who loves The Beatles. This beautifully produced look back at more than 100 classic Beatles songs includes original documents like handwritten drafts and notes that remind him of the process behind success.
A soft throw to fight freezing office temperatures
Owners of this large, cozy throw only have good things to say about it. It's plush and warm, with one side made of micro-fleece and the other made of sherpa fleece.
A decorative trinket tray
A sturdy and stylish stoneware tray from Jonathan Adler's exclusive Amazon line comes in handy for holding jewelry, accessories, and stray trinkets.
A little electric milk frother for homemade treats
This handheld electric milk frother makes it easy for them to treat themselves to something extra special more often. It's easy to use and clean, and does a reliable job with everything from coffee to matcha drinks.
A cute loose tea infuser shaped like an animal
These cute tea infusers are perfect for anyone who prefers loose tea. They're made from 100% BPA-free silicone and come in plenty of shapes: elephant, whale, flamingo, seahorse, octopus, and a few others.
We also included them in the best tea infusers you can buy.
Bargain computer glasses that work just as well as more expensive pairs
These $10 computer glasses are a fraction of what you'll find at competitors, but they do the job just as well. They're blue-light-blocking, anti-glare, and come in a standard tortoiseshell pattern that works on pretty much everyone. We count them as one of the best things we've ever bought on Amazon for less than $25.
Socks modeled after famous paintings
Unique, informal, and more convenient than most of us even realize — socks are a great gift, especially these.
A cult-favorite hair styling gel
As some reviews note, American Crew Fiber is a common recommendation for thick, curly hair. The cream thickens, texturizes, and adds fullness to hair without looking shiny or spiky.
Teeth-whitening charcoal powder with 13,000+ 5-star reviews
This charcoal teeth whitening powder was the #1 best-selling teeth whitener on Amazon for a long time. It has over 13,000 five-star reviews, and it whitens teeth naturally without the harsher peroxides that may lead to tooth and gum sensitivity. I've tried it myself in the past, and it really does work.
A fruit infuser water bottle
Turns out water tastes much better when it's naturally flavored with fruits and herbs. This is a nice way to do that naturally, minus all the sugar and additives of other drinks.
Reusable lunch bags that they’ll actually want to use
Plastic bags are an unnecessary expense when you could just have reusable ones. Their environmentally-conscious and frugal sides will thank you for these sandwich and snack bags, which are dishwasher safe and BPA free. They'll save a ton of money and plastic waste by using these, plus the colorful patterns are much more fun than clear plastic.
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