40 Gifts Procrastinators Can Buy at the Very Last Minute That Everyone Will Love

Sore muscles are an issue for both the advanced and beginner athletes in your life, and you can give them the gift of relief. I’ve had an earlier version of this device for three years, and I reach for it often. The percussive massage pounds out aches from new workouts and unravels the knots in my back and shoulders from sitting at a computer all day. You can grab it and turn it on whatever setting you like, or connect it to the Theragun app, which can take over the settings and timing while guiding you through where to place it. Not only does it work, but I’m continually impressed with how long I can go without recharging its battery.

Older versions (generations five and earlier) are available at a discounted price on Amazon. Still, the sixth generation is most durable, able to handle drops of up to 10 feet, according to the brand. There’s also the Theragun Pro Plus, which comes with a heated massage attachment. As of this writing, next-day delivery is available for Amazon Prime members.

Whether or not your gift recipient already has a yoga mat, they can probably always use an extra, especially when it’s as lightweight as this 2-pound (lb) mat from Manduka. It’s super convenient for taking to classes or packing for a trip. The beginners’ label refers to the line down the middle, which helps with alignment, but that’s something even expert yogis can find useful during a strenuous, complicated balancing pose. 

Fitness writer Caroline Lubinsky tested this mat for our best yoga mat guide and said it has “amazing grip and felt sturdy during vinyasa classes. It has sufficient cushioning to support bony spots or those with sensitive joints. Still, it isn’t overly padded to the point where it slips or moves during use (potentially injuring the user).” The reversible mat comes in eight different colors, with overnight delivery available to Amazon Prime members.

When I started running this February again for the first time in over a decade, the question of where to put my keys and phone was easy enough, given my many layers with pockets. But the minute the weather got warmer, if my workout clothes had even a single pocket, I was constantly afraid my things were going to bounce right out onto the street. I jogged right over to my local running store and found this belt. It feels like nothing at all, but it manages to hold my phone, keys, and EpiPen snug against my waist. I also appreciate that the thin mesh allows me to peek at my phone and adjust its volume. 

I like a gift like this for runners, because you don’t have to worry about sizing, comfort levels, or fitness goals. It’s just one more way you can give them a boost of convenience. Maybe they’ll even think of you as they reach their next PR. 

Your friend or family member who works out extra hard will appreciate how great the ridges of this foam roller feel as they roll sore, tight muscles over them. They’ll also appreciate how the colorful marble design makes it less of an eyesore if they leave it out in the living room. 

“It has a really pretty design,” said writer Julia Childs Heyl. “It is a good gift for the aesthetic fitness friend in your life — that one friend who is always trying out a new workout class and wears matching workout sets.” The product is made from algae instead of traditional plastic (which we love), and OceanFoam contributes funds to remove 1 lb of plastic from the oceans for every purchase.

It’s hard enough figuring out how much weight you should be lifting for any given exercise, let alone what weights someone else needs. But you can give one or two of these kettlebells to someone and be confident that they’re just right, since they’re adjustable from 8 to 40 lbs. Just turn a dial to set it at the preferred weight, and switch it up for each exercise, as needed.

“It's a very high-quality and space-saving piece of home gym equipment,” editor Olivia Campbell said of the kettlebell, which takes the place of six. “It's great for ramping up your weight amount or for households where there are many members who are at different fitness levels.”

When you’re shopping for someone who loves to exercise but you don’t know their exact sizes or which sport they’re into lately, a high-quality water bottle is an ideal gift. And if you’re buying for a tween or teen, Lululemon is an excellent bet. This 24-ounce insulated bottle has a straw lid and comes in 14 different colors, so you can find the one that suits your giftee just right. 

“I like the color options and that it's insulated so it keeps your water cold,” editor Ashley Ziegler said after trying it. “I also didn't notice any leaking (as long as the straw lid is closed down). My daughter loves it because it says ‘Lululemon’ on it.” Plus, as of this writing, the bottle is available for in-store pickup, so you can get it just in time.

“This is a really cute, fashionable pullover that's great for the fall and winter,” raved editor Nicole Bonaccorso. Made of recycled fleece, the boxy, cropped sweater works as outerwear or layered, and it has a convenient little pocket on the chest. It comes in just small and medium, with the choice of two colors — black and “fog heather” — and the shape isn’t for everyone, but I bet that you can already picture at least three friends who would look great in it. Bonaccorso also appreciates its practicality. “This is great on a hike or for those chilly fall mornings,” she says.

While I wouldn’t dare buy something as complicated as a club for the golf players in my life, I know they’d appreciate anything that could improve their game. This training kit is a camera they can set up on the course, at the driving range, or even at home, and it will analyze every aspect of their swing.

“It gives you the carry of the ball, distance of the ball, whether you hit it, whether you slice it, or you hook it,” said writer Raki Swanson, adding that it’s easy to set up. “I had one range session and then two days later went out on the golf course, and instantly it was helping my game. We mainly used it on the golf course for instant feedback, but if you have a screen at home and netting, you can use it as a golf simulator.”

The combination of suede and leather on these sneakers elevates them way past their super-practical purpose: providing comfortable arch support in a lightweight shoe. Editorial director Simone Scully really liked the way the cushioning felt on long walks or even runs when she tested them. “I particularly liked the cushioning around my heel, which has been an issue for me lately,” she says. “They come in lots of nice colors, too, so it’s easy to find one that matches your style.”

My most recent red-eye was an eight-hour flight from New York to Paris, and I knew my family and I were going to want to see everything we could the minute we landed. I hadn’t packed any of the disappointing neck pillows I already owned, but at the last minute, I found this amazing innovation. It may look quite similar to those ineffective U-shaped pillows. But the difference is in its height and the Velcro closure, both of which keep your head from tilting any more than 15 degrees sideways or forward. For the first time ever, I slept on a flight, even in an aisle seat that did not recline! 

I love that you can stuff it in the included bag and get it down to one-third of its size. It’s also made from recycled plastic bottles, and the cover is completely machine-washable. As someone who gets very grossed out by airplane germs, I very much appreciate that. If you’re a super-last minute shopper on your way to visit family for the holidays, you might be able to pick this up at an airport shop yourself. 

There are, of course, many Bluetooth speakers available at lower price points. But if your giftee is in any way picky about speaker sound quality, this Bose option is an excellent value. It sounds like something three times its size, even delivering great bass notes, and it works whether it’s on its back or standing on its side. You can even pair it with a second for the full stereo effect. I’ve also seen it work in the rain and after being dunked in a pool. 

I’ve owned my SoundLink for more than two years and keep recommending it to friends and family. I love bringing it to my roof deck for parties and packing it for trips where I use it to listen to music in the shower, in the kitchen, and outside under the stars. Its pleasing color options make it an attractive gift, too. 

Do you have that friend who refuses to check luggage? They’re going to love this 43-liter backpack made from 100 percent recycled PET plastic. It’s got a large main compartment, a top zippered pocket, a separate laptop compartment, and two side pockets — all in a simple configuration that means you don’t have to wonder which of 20 different places your stuff might be. 

“It's big enough for me to pack clothes for me and my two kids for a weekend,” said Bonaccorso. “It's easy to carry. It opens up wide so it’s easy to pack, too.”

Does a carry-on suitcase have any right to be this gorgeous? “This would be a great show-stopper gift for anyone who struggles to carry heavy bags,” said Scully. As the daughter of a pilot, she knows a thing or two about traveling, and she praised this suitcase for how light (4.9 pounds) and easy to handle it is, with 360-degree wheels and a handle that adjusts to three heights. She also likes the fact that it’s expandable, which you can’t say of many hard-side rollerboards. 

Choose from eight different colors to really wow your gift recipient. If you hadn’t waited until the last minute, you would have been able to personalize the suitcase, but at least you do have express shipping options available on July.com.

I’m picking this for teens and tweens because people often think they’re the hardest people to shop for. I’ve never gone wrong giving them something crafty but super easy to complete. This beautiful paint-by-numbers kit recreates a textile from U.K. department store Liberty London, which was inspired by early 20th-century painter John Hall Thorpe. What really matters is that it’s a soothing image that almost anyone can paint with the included 12 acrylics and three paintbrushes.

“I think it could work for a variety of ages and has a great price point,” said Heyl, who tried the kit herself and now wants to give one to her mother, who has dementia. “It’s good for an alternative to screentime.” It’s also widely available for express shipping.

A Yoto is a gift for parents as much as it is for kids. Ask anyone whose little one demands that they read the same three books every night. These screen-free audio players give grownups a break from reading and kids a break from screens. In addition to the cards that can come in the bundle, you can add to this gift with other story cards, stories available on the app, and blank cards that allow adults to record their own stories. What’s most amazing is how quickly kids figure out how to work them on their own.

“I wasn't sure my son would actually use a screen-free device that tells stories and plays music, but I was pleasantly surprised,” said Scully. “Yoto has a huge library of cards, so it was very easy for him to find cards with stories he liked, and it didn't take long for Toy Story, The Lion King, Slumberkins, and a Yoto originals collection about dinosaurs to start playing on repeat every morning and evening before and after school in our house.”

One of my biggest complaints about baby toys has always been that few of them can compete with an infant’s fascination with real objects: light switches, remote controls, keys, phones, buttons, the glasses on your face. Fat Brain Toys figured this out, however. Each of the “tiles” you choose for this customizable busy board is so stimulating to touch, listen to, and look at that even adults can’t stop playing with it. 

Fat Brain Toys gave me the smaller PlayTab Go (a great size for stroller travel) at New York Toy Fair earlier this year, and when I gave it to my 1-year-old cousin, it occupied her for whole minutes at a time (nonparents, this is a feat!) allowing her moms to eat while we gathered at a restaurant. I also really appreciate the modular nature of this board, allowing grown-ups to rearrange the order and even order new tiles. Because, wow, those kids’ attention spans are short!

In my years as a parent and a parenting editor, I’ve seen many toy trends come and go, and I've witnessed my son’s tastes change just as quickly. Squishmallows are an exception to that rule. These plush toys, which range in size from 5 to 24 inches and represent adorable animals, anthropomorphized foods, and pop-culture characters, are still beloved by toddlers, big kids, tweens, and teens.

My 12-year-old son, who is practically crowded out of his bed by his collection, still lights up when someone gives him a new one. His favorite, a unicorn that’s several years old now, is his pillow of choice. If your kid decides to do the same, don’t worry: Despite some warnings to the contrary, Squishmallows are machine washable on a gentle cycle. Just make sure they get dry all the way through, so they don’t grow mold. 

If you’re days away from the holidays and have not yet ordered a CrunchLabs subscription, I cannot guarantee how quickly the first box will get there. But that’s okay. Here’s what you’re going to do: First, there’s my standby procrastinator’s gimmick: Gift wrap a printout of the CrunchLabs subscription order or gift card. You’ll also want to have a phone or tablet nearby to cue up a video of CrunchLabs founder, YouTube star and former NASA engineer Mark Rober, so the kid will know what kind of exciting fun is in store for them (assuming they’re not already fans). I gave a subscription to my niece and nephew last year, and I’m still getting photos from my sister of the new projects they’ve built from it.

Having tried a few CrunchLabs boxes with my son, I can say how fun it is to build advanced paper airplane launchers and magic lanterns for an afternoon. The difference between these and other similar STEM subscriptions is in Rober’s accompanying videos, which are far more engaging than the competition, while still being educational.

I’ve seen kids from 3 years old all the way up to 12 obsessed with their Magna-Tiles, so any set is a great investment; they won’t tire of them soon. I’d recommend this hamster ball set as a gift for a kid who already has a collection of the magnetic tiles, since it only has 13 pieces but turns any build into a new engineering and pretend-play challenge: Now they’ll be crafting a maze for their adorable little pet! 

“Magna-Tiles has come out with a few pet sets this year, and of course, my son wants them all!” said Scully of her 6-year-old. “This set is an affordable stocking stuffer or small gift — and it will likely inspire your kids to request more and build their own little villages or race tracks as mine does.”

I received this set as a gift from a friend last year, and it was the first time I’d ever used a shower steamer. Now I’m kind of hooked, and I will be buying some for other friends this year. The concept is so simple, you just unwrap one of these little hockey pucks and place it on the floor, the edge of your bathtub, or a shelf in your shower. As it dissolves over 15 minutes (right on pace with the length of your shower), you’re surrounded by refreshing, soothing, energizing, or uplifting smells.

The ingredient list is short (with all products you can pronounce), featuring essential oils, herbs, and flowers. One set has eight steamers: lavender, rosemary, mint and eucalyptus, lemon and mint, mint and lavender, coconut and mint, eucalyptus and sandalwood. I just love the idea of giving something that can bring such tangible joy to someone’s life.

An air purifier is not the most logical of gifts, but when it looks this good, you can get away with it. I’d recommend this portable air purifier for your friend or family member who suffers from allergies year-round but refuses to let them slow them down. They can use it in the office or anywhere else to clean six square feet within 12 minutes. It’s also an excellent device for someone with kids to pack for a road trip, since you can use it in the car, hotel room, or rental house to get rid of bad smells and pollutants that are, at worst, risky to breathe and, at best, unpleasant.

“For how small it is, it's pretty powerful, and I think it's very practical,” said Scully, who also likes that the battery holds a charge for 12 hours.

So, yes, a gift card can be the lamest, most obvious last-minute gift in all the land. A gift card from Bookshop.org is special, though. Not only does it remove the dilemma of deciding which book to get (what if they’ve already read it? What if they think your choice is insulting?). But what’s really awesome about this site is that when buying this gift card, you can choose a local bookstore to receive the profits from this purchase. This way, your giftee gets the convenience of online shopping and the freedom of choice, along with all the good feelings of shopping local.

If you’re buying for someone who lives far away, you can have this gift card emailed to them on the date of your choice. I’ve given this to friends more than once, and they never even had to know that I was scrambling to get something in the last possible hours before the holidays.

This is as close as you can get to giving a friend or loved one the gift of a good night’s sleep — for a whole year! I’ve been a Calm subscriber since 2020 (what could have caused insomnia then?) and I will never let it lapse. The soothing guided meditations, music, and soundscapes are all very helpful. I’m even listening to a “focus” playlist as I write this. Best of all are the app’s sleep stories, many of them narrated by famous actors, athletes, and more. You may not think you would fall asleep to a story read by the likes of Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo, Laura Dern, LeBron James, Sam Heughan, or Harry Styles, but I have literally never heard the middle or end of any of the stories they read. Is it magic? Subliminal messaging? I do not care. Buy a year for less than $80, and Calm will email this gift directly to your recipient on the day you choose.

If you have a loved one who’s trying to cut down on their Starbucks habit, or just loves to serve the perfect cappuccino, this elegant machine is about to make their year. It’s a lot less expensive than the same device from other brands I’ve seen. This allows you to manually brew one or two shots at a time while also steaming or frothing milk. Writer and former barista Steven Rowe tried it out at home and deemed it a good choice, even for the amateur coffee brewers.

“It's about as user-friendly as it can be,” he said. “It's also impressively sized and doesn't take up very much counter space.”

Sure, you can boil water in just about any pot. But if you could boil it in this stunning electric kettle, you’d never settle for less. This is the kind of kitchen gadget you actually want to leave out on the counter, and because it’s just a little more elaborate than many people would buy for themselves, it’s that much better as a gift.

“It works well, boils pretty fast, and lets you boil as little as a cup at a time,” writer Ray Finch said. “It's also very beautiful, and having the temperature gauge is very handy for brewing different types of tea or coffee.”

Someone just moving into their first home on their own, or who deserves an upgrade from their first mismatched set, would get the most out of this five-piece set. It includes a 10-inch fry pan, a 3-quart saucepan with a lid, and a 3-quart sauté pan with a lid. Because it’s stainless steel, it’s going to last for many years. And because it’s got five layers of steel and aluminum, it heats both quickly and evenly. 

“I love the mirror-like finish on these pots and pans, and how well-balanced they are,” said editor Katie Tuttle. “They heat evenly and can withstand temps of up to 600 degrees F. It also works on all stove types, including induction.”

As someone who has lived my entire adult life in small apartments, every home gift I receive comes with this stressful dilemma: What will I have to stack this on top of — or get rid of — in order to make it fit? This gift comes with a built-in solution. The roasting pan, baking sheet, 6-cup muffin pans, loaf pan, square cake pan, and cooling rack all nest inside each other.

“I love anything that saves me cabinet space, and I know most of my friends and family do, too,” said writer Lindsay Modglin, who tested these at home. “The pans themselves are great so far.”

As much as I appreciate the chef of the house, I also never want to downplay the efforts of the person who volunteers to wash all those pots and pans. If they’re cleaning up after a particularly elaborate meal, they’ll appreciate the way this rug prevents that pesky lower back pain that can hit after standing for too long.

“They're pretty and they seem to hold up well,” said Scully. “It also recovers quickly — I had a stool on it, and it left indentations for a bit, but within 10 minutes, you couldn't tell. Spills mop up quickly on them, too.” And here’s one more bonus: Rugs.com offers two-day shipping!

Here’s my plan for this gift: Buy it now — build a gorgeous charcuterie board on it, use the handy lid for transport, and then present the whole thing to your holiday party hostess. Be sure to point out how the bamboo lets it double as a cutting board and serving plate. It will earn you many a repeat invitation.

“The wooden board feels very nice and solid without being overly heavy,” said Modglin. “The lid is by far the best feature. It has click-and-lock handles so you can secure the lid onto the board when transporting it.”

This duvet insert is oversized on purpose, to help avoid nightly tug-of-war battles. Alternatively, suppose you’re suffering from this problem, or from a difference in sleep-temperature preferences, in your own home. In that case, it’s so reasonably priced that you could also buy two twin-sized inserts and each enjoy your own. (I do this with my husband and credit this trick for our 22-year marriage, by the way.)

“It really keeps you warm at night, but without making you sweat,” said Scully. “It's warm without being too warm, and because of the way it's stitched, the filling is evenly spaced so you don't get cold spots because of clumping.”

This sheet set made our list of the best sheets for hot sleepers. The breathable bamboo viscose sheets wrap around your body as you sleep, providing a comforting hug without making you too hot. Whether or not your gift recipient is anxious, they’ll enjoy how much they live up to their name, soft and stretchy. They’re available in six colors (not just purple!) and come with standard or deep-pocket fitted sheets.

These clogs work well outdoors, thanks to their EVA outsole, but their faux shearling lining makes them cozy enough to wear as slippers indoors, too. I like the idea of clogs as a gift because you have a little more wiggle room with sizing, especially when they also have a buckle, as these do.

“I think these are great for someone with a busy lifestyle who is popping in and out of the house a lot and doesn't want to be tying and untying shoes all the time,” said Bonaccorso, who tested these. She also liked how supportive they are.

No matter how often I sing the praises of my own rain boots, I cannot convince my husband to buy a pair for himself. I think this is a typical male problem, because most men I know absolutely hate anything they think will make their feet hot, even if it also keeps them dry. But when Rowe tried these boots, he found that this wasn’t a problem. This has me thinking I can convert my husband to them, too, especially if I buy them as a holiday gift. At this great price, it’s worth a try!

“I expected them not to breathe much — being waterproof, I assumed any heat inside the boot would be retained,” said Rowe. “However, the wider opening at the top of the boot allows for decent airflow. They are very durable and flexible. They also slip on easily, so I can see myself leaving them by the front door so I could pop them on quickly if I needed to run out and grab the mail.” Totes.com offers two- and one-day shipping options.

Buying certain skin-care products as gifts can be tricky. You don’t want to insult them by trying to solve some issue, and you don’t necessarily know their skin’s particular needs. There are some products, however, that are just universally great, like body butter. This one from Buttah is made with organic, unrefined shea butter from Ghana, and you can use it on any part of your body that needs a little extra moisture. 

Writer Maria Cristina Lalonde said it left her skin silky smooth during testing. “I am obsessed with the scent!” she added. “It's yummy (I mean it — I almost want to eat this moisturizer!) without being overpowering. I always find myself smelling my hands after applying and getting a little mood boost.”

Face masks make great gifts because they’re not just a product but also an experience. It’s like saying, “I’m giving you this so that you will set aside several minutes or hours to treat yourself well.” These collagen masks from Biodance are seriously effective, delivering skin-plumping hyaluronic acid, pore-refining collagen, and skin barrier-enhancing probiotics, whether you choose to wear them for a few hours or overnight.

“After removing it, my skin was more radiant, the texture was softer and refined, and my skin was visibly plump and refreshed,” writer Jill Di Donato said in her review of Biodance for our best collagen masks guide. “I used these masks right before and after taking six-hour plane trips, and noticed my skin was less puffy and more hydrated since adding these to my travel skin-care routine.”

There’s more than one reason this lip mask has been topping gift guides for years now. First of all, it’s super effective, nourishing lips with coconut oil, shea butter, murumuru seed butter, and vitamin C overnight. “When I have very chapped lips, I usually have to repeatedly reapply lip balms until my lips feel better, but with this one, my lips felt better within just a few hours,” Scully said, back when we tested it for our best lip balm article. And writer Heyl called it “one of the best lip products I’ve tried.” The other reason: The colorful jars of flavored balm are so pretty, they hardly even need to be wrapped.

This is another beauty-themed gift that’s like ordering your loved one to spend at least half an hour pampering themself. The interesting thing about this hair mask is that, to avoid using preservatives, it comes in two separate containers: one bottle holds oils like jojoba and geranium, and a jar contains powdered ingredients. You apply them together, mixed with water once a week to strengthen and moisturize hair. 

“This product made my hair feel strong and silky,” said writer Grace Gallagher. She really likes the fancy packaging it comes in, too.

Rather than trying to solve a problem with your gift, you could instead deliver this as a compliment for the person whose thick, luscious hair you’d kill to have yourself. Don’t such tresses deserve a brush that’s just as beautiful, like this floral-patterned detangling brush from Denman?

“It helped detangle and make my hair look nice without hurting,” Scully said of this brush. It’s so effective, even her sensitive-scalped son didn’t mind her using it on him. And for an extra-nice gift, you can pair this with a matching wide-toothed comb.