The best Christmas stockings you can buy

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The best Christmas stockings you can buy

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The Best Christmas Stockings

Land's End

  • Whether you're young or old, there's something magical about the sight of an overflowing Christmas stocking awaiting you on Christmas morning.
  • Of all the stockings we've found, we like the Needlepoint Christmas Stockings from Lands' End the best.
  • These beautifully made, heirloom-worthy holiday stockings are personalized for free and they come in a wide range of designs to please every member of your family.

In the words of Clement Clarke Moore's famous poem, "'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there."

Unfortunately, Mr. Moore didn't specify which Christmas stockings were so carefully hung, and there are a lot of choices out there.

The most traditional Christmas stockings are red, green, and white; have a traditional Christmas theme, such as Santa, trees, or reindeer; and are made of polyester or knitted fabric. But what if you are looking for something a bit beyond the usual?

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Maybe you want to match your home's decorating style, you're looking for a gift for a family member or friend, or you simply want to have some fun with your holiday décor.

Luckily, there are Christmas stockings for just about any theme or style, and we've rounded up 13 that we think are the best.

Here are the best Christmas stockings you can buy:

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

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The best Christmas stocking overall

The best Christmas stocking overall
Why you’ll love it: The perfect marriage of tradition, quality, and whimsy, Lands’ End’s Needlepoint Christmas Stockings will make you just as happy the 10th Christmas you hang them as the first.

Lands’ End has been making Needlepoint Christmas Stockings for more than two decades, and I’ve purchased several of them during those years. In fact, three of them — one for me, one for hubby, and one for our son — are hanging over the fireplace right now.

These are pretty much the perfect Christmas stockings. They’re traditional but not stodgy, fun but not cutesy, excellent quality but not too expensive. And not only can you personalize them with a name, word, or initials, you get a choice of several fonts and colors.

There are 11 designs to choose from, including Santa, an angel, polar bears, ballerinas, and bunnies. That means you are sure to find a favorite for every member of your family.

The fronts of the stockings are hand-needlepointed with 100% wool thread. The backs are cotton velvet, and there’s a poly/cotton lining that make it easy for Santa to slip goodies inside.

The stockings are a generous 20.5 inches long and 7.5 inches wide and have a velvet loop for hanging.

Pros: Great quality, several nice designs to choose from, free personalization with many color choices

Cons: No trendy designs, which might be a plus depending on your taste

Buy a Needlepoint Christmas Stocking at Lands’ End for $29.95

The best vintage-style Christmas stocking

The best vintage-style Christmas stocking
Why you’ll love it: If your style is vintage or boho, and you prefer handmade over mass-produced, you’ll love these Quilted Christmas Stockings from the world’s biggest craft fair: Etsy.

Quilting has been a popular art form for centuries, and there’s good reason for that. When a skilled artist transforms scraps of fabric into a finished piece, it’s hard to match the friendly and warm vibe. Maybe that’s why quilting isn’t only for the bed any longer. It’s just as wonderful when hung over your fireplace in the form of these Quilted Christmas Stockings.

Hand-stitched from vintage quilts, the stockings are quilted on both front and back, so you can hang them with the toe facing in either direction. Inside, there’s a 100% cotton muslin lining with a sturdy hanging loop at the top.

There are quite a few colors and designs to choose from, but remember that this is Etsy — You'll find beautiful and unique handmade products, but each artisan is a separate “storefront” and might run out of your favorite stocking before you hit the “Buy” button.

The Quilted Christmas Stockings are 18 inches long and eight inches wide.

Pros: Handmade from vintage quilts, old-fashioned charm, several colors to choose from

Cons: Stockings tend to run out quickly

Buy a Quilted Christmas Stocking on Etsy for $43.99
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The best Christmas stocking with bling

The best Christmas stocking with bling
Why you’ll love it: If you believe glamour is a year-round endeavor, you’ll love the bling-encrusted Gilded Christmas Stocking.

If your favorite Christmas song is “Santa Baby,” you’ll appreciate the silver-sequined bling that is the Gilded Christmas Stocking. Add this touch of shimmer and shine to your holiday mantel, and watch the whole room get just a little bit more glamorous.

The stocking has silver sequins only on the front, with a solid white fabric back. A ring of faux fleece around the top adds more flair and it looks like Santa’s boots when he heads out for a much-needed night at the club.

The stocking is 18 inches long and 10 inches wide, with a white hanging loop.

Pros: Glitzy stocking adds some glamour to your holiday décor, great price

Cons: Not everyone will like so much shine

Buy a Gilded Christmas Stocking at Wayfair for $15.99

The best Christmas stocking for dogs

The best Christmas stocking for dogs
Why you’ll love it: Show Fido he’s a treasured member of the family with his very own Plaid Dog Bone Paw Stocking.

Why shouldn’t your dog get to enjoy Christmas morning just as much as everyone else? After all, he’s one of the family, right? And when Santa finds the Plaid Dog Bone Paw Stocking hanging from the mantel, there’s no way he’s going to pass it by without adding treats and toys worthy of your good boy or girl.

You can personalize the super-cute paw-shaped stocking with your dog’s name. The embroidery makes a nice contrast against the festive plaid fabric cuff and paw pads. The rest of the stocking is faux fleece with a couple of attached felt biscuits. The whole thing is topped off with a satin hanging loop. So cute.

The Plaid Dog Bone Stocking is 15 inches long and 10.5 inches wide.

Pros: Very cute way to include your dog in the celebration

Cons: Only for the most devoted pet parents.

Buy a Plaid Dog Bone Paw Stocking at Wayfair for $22.99
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The best Hanukkah stocking

The best Hanukkah stocking
Why you’ll love it: Hanukkah has eight crazy nights, and now it also has one crazy morning when your kids wake up to find a Velvet Happy Hanukkah Stocking filled with gelt and other treats.

If you live in a mixed-faith household (raising hand here), or just want to add the fun of a stocking to your Hanukkah traditions, you’ll love the Velvet Happy Hanukkah Stocking.

Made of blue velvet with silver embroidery and a silky blue tassel, the stocking will definitely add a touch of lux to your holiday celebrations. You can hang it over the fireplace, set it near the menorah, or prop it up by a latke-laden table. It’s an elegant and fun touch wherever you use it.

The Velvet Happy Hanukkah Stocking is 19 inches long and almost 11 inches wide, so it will hold several small gifts.

Pros: A fun addition to Hanukkah celebrations, elegant design

Cons: None to speak of, but won’t appeal to everyone

Buy a Velvet Happy Hanukkah Stocking at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $9.99

The best Christmas stocking for sports enthusiasts

The best Christmas stocking for sports enthusiasts
Why you’ll love it: Let Santa know exactly which team you favor for the Super Bowl with an NFL-Team Christmas Stocking.

If your dearest Christmas wish involves your favorite team’s quarterback scoring touchdown after touchdown, then you’re the person who will love an NFL-Team Christmas Stocking.

From the Arizona Cardinals to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, you’ll find your favorite NFL teams’ names and logos on these team-colored stockings. What a great gift for the football enthusiast in your life.

The stockings are made of soft polyester microfleece with a faux fleece cuff and embroidered details. All have the team logo on both the cuff and the body of the stocking. The stockings are 16 inches long, and have a color-coordinated hanging loop at the top.

Pros: Very fun gift for a football enthusiast, most NFL teams available

Cons: None to speak of, unless football isn’t your thing

Buy an NFL-Team Christmas Stocking at NFL Shop for $11.89 and up
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The best elegant Christmas stocking

The best elegant Christmas stocking
Why you’ll love it: If the days of kid-pleasing stockings are behind you, and you want something that adds an elegant and sophisticated touch to your holiday décor, you’ll love the beautiful Jeweled Holiday Christmas Stocking.

Cute Christmas stockings decorated with Santa and snowmen definitely have their place, but once the kids have left home and grandchildren aren’t yet on the scene, you might find yourself craving something a bit more grown up. That’s when the Jeweled Holiday Christmas Stocking is the perfect addition to your holiday decorating stash.

Made of satiny polyester with plenty of gold trim and small gold beads, the stocking has a velvet cuff that’s personalized with your name or initials. It’s fully lined as well, so gifts will slide in smoothly. Santa is definitely going to be impressed when he finds this beauty hanging over the fireplace.

The stocking is 20.5 inches long and eight inches wide, with a red satin hanging loop.

Pros: Very elegant and sophisticated, the stocking dresses up your holiday décor

Cons: Not everyone’s style, not a kid-pleasing design

Buy the Jeweled Holiday Christmas Stocking at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $32.99

The best knit Christmas stocking

The best knit Christmas stocking
Why you’ll love it: Warm up your holiday mantel with the sweater-soft Knitted Christmas Stocking — you can even have it personalized.

If “stocking” means sweater material to you, rather than stiff and solid fabric, or if you like the old-fashioned, handmade appeal of a knitted stocking, then you’ll love the colorful Knitted Christmas Stockings. The classic designs include snowflakes, reindeer, stars, and trees in a mix of green, red, and white.

These stockings are hand knit and you can add your name to the top. It will be embroidered in contrasting thread. Remember, though — artisans on Etsy sometimes run out of stock faster than traditional stores, so don’t waste time placing your order.

The stockings measure a super-long 28 inches, so you can pack these beauties full of candy, gift cards, and small wrapped presents. They're a definite delight on Christmas morning.

Pros: Handmade, lots of great designs, classic colors, and soft knit fabric

Cons: None to speak of, but stockings can run out quickly

Buy a Knitted Christmas Stocking on Etsy for $39.50
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The best toddler Christmas stocking

The best toddler Christmas stocking
Why you’ll love it: It’s hard to imagine any little one not loving the soft, plush cuteness of the North Pole Reindeer Stocking.

Admittedly, any stocking full of gifts and treats is going to thrill the kindergarten set, but a stocking as adorable as the North Pole Reindeer Stocking might be even more favored than the treats inside.

The red polyester stocking is adorned with a plush reindeer wearing a cozy striped scarf and your child’s name is embroidered across the top. A double win on the most enthusiasm-filled morning of the year.

The stocking is a whopping 27.5 inches long and 10.5 inches wide, so you can fill it up with lots of gifts and treats. Make sure to include an apple or orange to balance all the candy your kids will probably devour on Christmas day.

Pros: Super cute design is equally appealing to little boys and girls, large size

Cons: Once past first or second grade, your child will likely find the stocking “too babyish”

Buy a North Pole Reindeer Stocking at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $19.99

The best set of Christmas stockings

The best set of Christmas stockings
Why you’ll love it: It’s always a good idea to have a few extra stockings on hand for unexpected guests, and the Imperial Home Classic Christmas Stockings are cute enough to please just about anyone.

Whether it’s your college-aged kids bringing their significant others home for the holidays, your next-door-neighbor joining you for the festivities, or your out-of-town niece arriving unexpectedly, when you have the Imperial Home Classic Christmas Stockings on hand, you’ll be prepared to include them in the merrymaking.

The set of three stockings are made of thick polyester with a soft lining and a colorful knit cuff. You’ll get a snowman, Santa, and reindeer design, each a different color. The stockings are 18 inches long, so they won’t look a bit skimpy hanging over the fireplace.

Pros: Very reasonably priced set of three stockings, nicely made, cute designs

Cons: If you prefer a more elegant or “mature” style, these aren’t the stockings for you

Buy the set of three Imperial Home Classic Christmas Stockings on Amazon for $14.99
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The best contemporary Christmas stocking

The best contemporary Christmas stocking
Why you’ll love it: If traditional holiday colors and designs don’t suit your personality or your décor, you’ll be thrilled to find the far more contemporary Boho Gray Shag Holiday Stocking.

Even Santa probably gets tired of an endless stream of red, green, and white Christmas stockings adorned with traditional designs, so break up his monotony with the soft grays and creams of the Boho Gray Shag Holiday Stocking.

The shaggy fringe includes strands of metallic gold Lurex, so although not traditional, the stocking is still festive. It’s a great addition to any contemporary home’s holiday décor.

The fringed design is only on the front of the stocking — the back is solid gray velvet. At 20 inches long and 8.5 inches wide, there’s plenty of room inside for Santa to pack full of treats.

Pros: An unusual, contemporary stocking that’s handmade

Cons: Might not be your style, not kid pleasing

Buy the Boho Gray Shag Holiday Stocking at Cost Plus/World Market for $29.99

The best trendy Christmas stocking

The best trendy Christmas stocking
Why you’ll love it: Llamas are everywhere lately, and one look at the Peace Llama Knit Holiday Stocking will show you why — llamas are adorable, intriguing, and have a fun world vibe.

Yes, we know the llama trend won’t last forever, but while it does, what better way to celebrate the Yule season than with a Peace Llama Knit Holiday Stocking just waiting for Santa to fill it with surprises?

Knit from blue, green, and white polyester threads, the llama is adorned with a wooden bead necklace, wooden “garters,” and a white pompom on his hat.

Measuring 20 inches long and seven inches wide, the Peace Llama Knit Holiday Stocking is a fantastic gift for anyone trendy, fun, young at heart, or simply fond of llamas, whether that person be you, a family member, your child, or your best friend. It’s also a great idea for the office gift exchange or “Secret Santa” exchange.

Pros: Very fun and unique design

Cons: If you prefer traditional designs, this isn’t the stocking for you

Buy the Peace Llama Knit Holiday Stocking at Cost Plus/World Market for $9.99
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The best unique Christmas stocking

The best unique Christmas stocking
Why you’ll love it: Looking for a Christmas stocking that is as nontraditional as possible? The Cactus Felted Wool Holiday Stocking is sure to please.

If you’ve had enough of reindeer, Santa, snowflakes, and tree designs; you want to celebrate a sunny and warm holiday season; or you're looking for something to spark conversation at Christmas dinner, you’ve met your match: the Cactus Felted Wool Holiday Stocking.

Crafted by hand of 100% wool, this decidedly fun and unique Christmas stocking has stitched “cactus spines” and a pretty pink cactus flower. It’s sure to give Santa a laugh when he fills it up with treats, and in fact, you might want to leave it out all year round as a reminder not to take yourself too seriously.

The cactus-themed stocking is 20 inches long and eight inches wide.

Pros: Very unusual and fun design, a great gift for the person who has everything (they definitely don’t have this)

Cons: Not for you if you prefer traditional Christmas themes

Buy the Cactus Felted Wool Holiday Stocking at Cost Plus/World Market for $24.99

Check out our other great holiday guides

Check out our other great holiday guides
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