The stocking is often the best part of Christmas morning. It is full of small surprises, and it is also where gift-givers most often run out of ideas. A Stocking Stuffer Wish List solves that: a short list of little things that would make you smile, handed to whoever fills your stocking. This template hangs a big personalised stocking from a mantelpiece, right next to your list.
Hanging by the Chimney With Care
The page is US Letter portrait, 8.5 x 11 inches, in warm parchment cream. At the top, Stocking Stuffer is written in the hand-drawn Mountains of Christmas font in red, with Wish List · Little things, big smiles in spaced green capitals beneath. Below the title runs a wooden mantel shelf trimmed with a garland of holly leaves and red berries.
From a small hook under the mantel hangs a large red stocking with a white cuff. The name Emma is written on the cuff in bold Pacifico script, and the stocking has three white stripes, a white snowflake, and darker red patches at the heel and toe. To the right, under the heading Little things I would love, are thirteen lines, each with a small star in alternating gold and green. A red-and-white candy cane with a bow leans in the lower corner beside a handwritten note about stocking size, and a wooden floorboard band finishes the page with our logo.
Fifty Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Need inspiration for your list? Here are fifty little things people love to find in their stockings, grouped so you can pick a few from each category:
- Sweet: chocolate coins, candy canes, a chocolate orange, hot cocoa bombs, gourmet popcorn, fudge, gummy sweets, a favourite chocolate bar, maple candy, flavoured marshmallows.
- Cosy: fuzzy socks, a beanie, touchscreen gloves, a hand warmer, lip balm, hand cream, a sleep mask, bath bombs, a mini candle, slippers.
- Fun: a card game, a puzzle cube, a yo-yo, a joke book, a mini puzzle, stickers, a bouncy ball, a pocket kite, bubbles, a small plush toy.
- Useful: a phone charger cable, earbuds, a keyring, a travel mug, a water bottle, a reusable straw, a mini torch, a notebook, gel pens, a phone stand.
- Beauty and style: hair scrunchies, claw clips, nail polish, a mini perfume, a face mask, a compact mirror, jewellery, a hair ribbon, a tote bag, sunglasses.
A gift card also fits neatly in a stocking and lets someone choose their own treat.
How Big Is Your Stocking?
A stocking list works best when it fits the stocking. The handwritten note at the bottom of the template says Stocking size: medium.Please keep it small & sweet! That one line helps whoever fills it avoid buying things that won’t fit. As a rough guide:
| Stocking size | What fits |
|---|---|
| Small (under 12 in) | Candy, lip balm, a keyring, gift cards, jewellery |
| Medium (12-18 in) | Socks, a small game, a mug-sized item, a paperback |
| Large (over 18 in) | Slippers, a board game, a water bottle, a plush toy |
Making the Stocking Yours
- Click the name on the white cuff and type your own. For a family, duplicate the page and make one per person.
- Click the lines on the right and type your stocking wishes. The sample includes fuzzy socks, cherry lip balm, a mini puzzle cube, hot cocoa bombs, hair scrunchies, sticker sheets, a pocket card game, chocolate coins, travel-size lotion, and a bookstore gift card.
- Change the stocking colour: the stocking is one grouped shape, so a single click selects it. Try green, navy, or a pastel for a different look, and recolour the stripes too.
- The snowflake and the candy cane are editable vector illustrations; recolour them from their colour swatches, move them, or delete them.
- Edit the note about stocking size, or use it for a different message, like allergies or no candy, please.
Who Fills the Stockings?
In some homes, Santa fills every stocking. In others, partners fill each other’s, older children fill their parents’, or grandparents take over the job. A printed stocking list pinned to the fridge in early December gives whoever is filling your stocking plenty of time to collect little things along the way, which is much easier (and cheaper) than buying them all on Christmas Eve.
A Family Stocking Tradition
Make a list for each person in the household and hang the printed pages along the mantel above the real stockings, or peg them to a string of twine. Children love writing their own; adults secretly enjoy it too. After Christmas, keep the lists with the family photos. They are a funny record of what everyone wanted that year.
Stocking Stuffers on a Budget
Small gifts add up quickly: ten items at five dollars each is fifty dollars before you notice. Setting a stocking budget helps, whether it is $20 for a child or $30 for an adult. Mix one or two slightly nicer items, like a good pair of socks or a gift card, with several tiny, cheap delights such as candy, stickers, or a clementine in the toe, which is a tradition in many families. Buying stocking stuffers throughout the year, whenever you spot something small and perfect, spreads the cost. And do not forget that homemade treats, like a bag of cookies or a handwritten coupon for breakfast in bed, make wonderful stocking fillers that cost almost nothing.
Printing Your Stocking List
Print on US Letter at actual size, or fit to A4. The red stocking and wooden mantel print best in colour on bright white paper. For children, printing on card lets them add their own drawings of what they hope to find.
Stocking List FAQ
Can I use it for a pet’s stocking?
Yes, change the name to your pet’s and list treats and small toys. Our pet wish list template is also made for that.
What size is the page?
US Letter, 8.5 x 11 inches, portrait.
Little Things, Big Smiles
Write your name on the cuff, list a few favourite little things, and make sure your stocking is full of just the right surprises on Christmas morning.
