Gifts under $25 in Canada

Twenty-five dollars Canadian

The shared list leads with the iFixit Moray kit and a Leuchtturm notebook. In Canada both cost more than $25, so this list leans on things Canadian shops do well at a low price: coffee, tea, chocolate, warm socks and small engraved keepsakes.

Consumables are the safe bet. Kicking Horse coffee, the Bluenose blend from Nova Scotia and DesBarres hot chocolate all get used up, so nobody needs to find a shelf for them. Purdys hedgehogs and Peace by Chocolate bars make easy coworker and teacher gifts, but both contain nuts or milk, so check first.

Winter gifts that cost little

A Canadian December makes some cheap things useful. Roots cabin socks for cold floors. Hot chocolate from DesBarres or the Newfoundland Chocolate Company for after the rink. A Rapala skimmer for an ice angler, though many already own one.

For a hockey family, the LAMOSE engraved puck makes a keepsake for a coach or a player with a big game to remember. It is made to order, so allow a few days.

Match it to the person

For students in residence: over-door hooks, the passport holder for a trip home, and a SkipTheDishes card for exam week. For grandparents: the Cobble Hill chickadee puzzle or an engraved cutting board. For new parents: DK's Bright Baby board book, which is enough on its own.

Pair two small things to make a gift look planned: coffee with a card, the bench scraper with a bag of good flour, the matcha tin with a whisk they already own.

Skip novelty at this price. Joke mugs and gadget toys get one laugh and then a trip to the donation bin. A bag of good coffee or a pair of warm socks costs the same and gets used all winter.

Shipping

Shipping can double the cost of a small gift, so buy two from one shop or reach a free-shipping threshold. DesBarres ships within Canada only. Order by early December, as Canada Post slows down in the last two weeks.

For a last-minute gift, the Audible credit and the SkipTheDishes card arrive by email.

Questions people ask

What is a good gift under $25 for a coworker?

Keep it neutral and useful. Good coffee, a box of chocolates, a nice pen, or a pocket notebook set suit almost anyone. Avoid scented products and anything personal like clothing. Check for nut allergies before buying chocolate. If your office does Secret Santa, a small useful item like a set of gel pens tends to go down better than a joke gift.

Can you get a decent gift for under $25?

Yes, if you pick a category where good versions are cheap. Pens, notebooks, small tools, coffee, tea, chocolate and books all have quality options under $25. Skip electronics and big gift sets, where this budget only buys the weakest version. One well-made small thing beats a bundle of filler, and a handwritten card adds more than an extra $10 would.

What is a good under-$25 gift for a student?

Something for a small room or a lot of travel. A compact multi-port charger, over-door hooks, a neck pillow for trips home, a good notebook or a set of fine gel pens all get used weekly. A food delivery gift card is welcome in exam season. Avoid decor; residence rooms are small and often have rules about walls.

Is a gift card under $25 too small?

Not if it buys something whole. A $25 card at a bookshop, coffee roaster or stationery shop covers a book, a bag of beans or a notebook. A small card at a big electronics store is less useful because it rarely covers anything on its own. Pick a shop where the amount gets them something real.