12 Unique Last-Minute Gift Ideas You Can Find on Amazon

This article contains affiliate links to products selected by our editors. Mental Floss may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
The holiday shopping season is coming to an end—and fast. If you’re running out of ideas for gifts and running out of time to get them, we can help. Check out our list below of 12 products that won’t break the bank and will get here with time to spare so you can wrap them up.
1. For Kids Who Want to Learn: Kano Star Wars and Frozen Coding Set; $23
Get ‘em started young with these coding sets from Kano. Available in both Star Wars and Frozen themes, kids can learn to create their own games and stories in a STEM-friendly environment. “Make learning fun” usually gets an eyeroll from the 6-and-over crowd, but this toy will prove that there’s actually a little wisdom there.
Buy it: Amazon
2. For the Beginner Home Cook: Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking; $29
This is a perennial favorite of Mental Floss readers, and for good reason. The late Marcella Hazan is hailed as one of the preeminent cookbook writers of all time, and the Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking is one of those must-haves that chefs of any age can learn from. Her pasta sauce, in particular, is a breeze to make but still impresses even the most discerning of palates.
Buy it: Amazon
3. For the TV Fan: Sideclick Universal Remote adapter; $25
Turn any Amazon Fire Stick remote into a universal remote with this attachment that allows for more button functionality. This means that with this one device you can control your Fire Stick, TV, Blu-ray player, and sound bar. You’re basically giving the gift of never having to get up again.
Buy it: Amazon
4. For the Harry Potter Fan: A Harry Potter Coloring Book; $11
Let your giftee have creative license over the denizens of Hogwarts with this coloring book based on the popular book series. Just don’t forget the colored pencils.
Buy it: Amazon
5. For the Home Cook That Wants a Challenge: Lodge Cast-Iron Skillet; $28
This skillet is perfect for anyone looking to dip their toe into the cast-iron waters. And since it comes from Lodge, you know that the low price will be backed up by the highest quality.
Buy it: Amazon
6. For the Movie Buff: The Art of Mondo; $49
Mondo is known as an inimitable house of jaw-dropping movie poster art—that is, if you’ve got a few hundred dollars to drop on an original print. Thankfully, the company has compiled some of its best work in this beautiful, and quite affordable, coffee-table book. Featuring art based on everything from 1931’s Frankenstein to Game of Thrones, this is a book that any film and TV fan could lose countless hours to.
Buy it: Amazon
7. For the Glasses Wearer: Nerdwax; $20
Got a loved one who can’t keep their glasses on their nose? Stuff their stocking with this handy wax that’ll keep their specs in place.
Buy it: Amazon
8. For the Beer Fan: Dr. Squatch IPA Soap; $10
Get the delicious, crisp scent of an IPA every time you wash your hands with this bar of soap from Dr. Squatch. Don’t worry, your loved one won’t wind up smelling like brewer’s yeast with this. It's got a bright and citrusy scent with a unique hint of beer goodness that isn't overpowering.
Buy it: Amazon
9. For the Book Lover: Winter Edition Classics; $22-$23
Give the gift of the classics with these gorgeous hardcover prints of Wuthering Heights and A Tale of Two Cities. Each print is extremely limited, and when you see the detail that went into the laser-cut jackets, you’ll get why. These stories are already required reading, and these editions make them the ultimate collector’s item.
Buy it: Amazon
10. For Your Friend Who’s Always Cold: Thick Wool Winter Socks; $22
These socks will change your giftee’s life. They’re unbelievably soft and comfortable to the touch, but they’re also thick and durable, meaning they’re borderline slippers. These are lifesavers in the winter months. Plus, the designs have a bit of a vintage charm to them.
Buy it: Amazon
11. For Anyone On-the-Go: USB Bracelet; $15
This bracelet doubles as a USB cable, perfect for anyone who travels a lot and always needs a charger handy. It’s small and compact, so it can wrap around your wrist or a backpack strap. Couple this with a portable charger and dead phones can be a thing of the past.
Buy it: Amazon
12. The Perfect Stocking Stuffer: Monopoly Card Game; $8
It’s pretty much like the classic Monopoly everyone loves, shrunken down to fit in any stocking. Perfect for any game night, this is the most cost-efficient way to play.
Buy it: Amazon
Sign Up Today: Get exclusive deals, product news, reviews, and more with the Mental Floss Smart Shopping newsletter!