Fifty dollars is a sweet spot for a Christmas gift: enough for something that feels special, not so much that it gets awkward. Every gift below costs under $50 and glows, turns or twinkles, from a little carousel for the windowsill to a whole tree of light for the garden. Here are 8 Christmas gifts under $50 for 2026.
1. Candles that switch themselves off
A set of three flameless pillar candles in three heights, with a 3D flame that flickers softly. One remote switches them on, dims them and sets a timer that turns them off after 2 to 8 hours and back on at the same time the next day. No smoke and no dripping wax.
Shown: flameless candles with remote, a set of 3 in white, ivory or smoke gray.
2. A little fairground for the table
A carousel with horses and riders under a striped canopy, or a Ferris wheel with a glowing star: both turn slowly with warm LED lights. At about 15.5 cm (6.1 in) tall, they fit on a mantel, a windowsill or a child's shelf.
Shown: the light-up Christmas carousel, Carousel or Ferris Wheel.
3. The tree with a train
The light-up tree from grandma's mantel, with coloured bulbs, a glowing star and a mini train circling the base. It's about 19 cm (7.5 in) tall and battery operated, so it works on a shelf, a desk or a windowsill with no cable.
Shown: the light-up Christmas tree with train.
4. A countdown they can squeeze
Twenty-four doors, twenty-four soft dumpling figures, some in Santa hats or reindeer antlers. It's a gift to give early, because the countdown starts on 1 December, and it comes in a printed gift box that's ready to wrap.
Shown: the dumpling squishy Advent calendar, one calendar.
5. Candles on the tree, without wires
Ten LED taper candles clip onto the branches, each with its own battery, so there's no cable from candle to candle, and one remote switches the whole tree on, dims it and makes it flicker. Take the clip off and a candle stands in a candlestick.
Shown: wireless Christmas tree candles, the set of 10 with its remote.
6. A tree of light for the garden
Nine light strands fall from a star topper: fix the star on a post or a garden tree, peg the strands out in a cone, and the garden has its own Christmas tree of light. Pick USB or solar, warm white, white or multicolor, and switch between 8 lighting modes.
Shown: star waterfall Christmas lights, with 2 m (6.6 ft) or 3 m (9.8 ft) strands.
7. Thirty disco balls
A whole tree's worth of sparkle: 30 mirror-tile disco balls, 5 cm (2 in) each, with hanging strings. They throw little sparkles around the room as the tree lights flicker, then move straight on to the New Year's Eve table.
Shown: mini disco ball ornaments, the pack of 30.
8. JOY in lights
Three marquee letters spell JOY for under $50, and the gift outlasts Christmas: the same letters can spell initials or a name later on. Each letter is 22 cm (8.7 in) tall and runs on two AA batteries.
Shown: light-up marquee letters, A to Z, sold one letter at a time.
Before you order
- Prices: each gift was under $50 when we wrote this guide. The price on the product page is the one that counts.
- Batteries: the flameless candles take 3 × AAA each, the carousel 3 × AAA, the tree candles one 1.5 V battery each and the letters 2 × AA each, none of them included, so put a pack in the box. The tree with a train is battery operated.
- Safety: the Advent calendar has small parts and isn't for children under 3. The disco balls have glass mirror tiles, so hang them out of reach of small children and pets.
- Timing: the Advent calendar's countdown starts on 1 December, so order it by mid-November.
- Delivery: free tracked shipping, dispatched in 1 to 3 business days and delivered in 7 to 12. Order by 10 December to have it in time for Christmas.
- Not quite right? Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery.
More gift ideas
- Drawn a name for a gift exchange? Here are 8 Secret Santa gift ideas under $20.
- Buying for someone who has everything? Here are 8 unusual Christmas gifts for someone who has everything.
- Looking for a present? Browse all our Christmas gifts.