21 best last-minute Christmas gifts that can still arrive in time
The CBS Essentials shopping experts have found the best last-minute holiday gifts of 2023 that can still arrive in time. If you're shopping for great Christmas gifts, we've got you covered with an amazing host of holiday gift guides. These include gifts for everyone on your list -- we've found presents for readers, golfers, Disney fans, haircare and beauty lovers, teachers, home chefs, gamers, people who love their pets and so much more.
We'll be updating this piece with all the best Christmas gift ideas in 2023, plus links to our many CBS Essentials holiday gift guides. But you'll want to shop these gifts today, as Christmas shipping deadlines are approaching quickly.
Gifts that still arrive in time for Christmas
Shop these gifts from Amazon, Walmart and more. As of the time of publication, all of these gifts will arrive in time for Christmas 2023 if ordered now.
Under $20 Christmas gift idea: 'Murdle: Volume 1'
If you have a friend who loves solving mysteries, "Murdle" is a must-read. It's filled with bite-sized mystery puzzles that will immerse you in a world of clues and deductive reasoning. What's even more enticing is the buried secret in each murder, waiting to be deciphered once you've cracked them all!
At just $12, it's the perfect budget-friendly gift for the super sleuth or puzzle solver in your life. It comes with 100 mystery puzzles to decipher, providing hours or entertainment for the gift recipient.
If you're on a Christmas gift budget (or just love a great deal), check out our guide to the best Christmas gifts under $20.
Under $50 Christmas gift idea: Melissa & Doug Super Smile toy dentist kit
Inspire them with this 25-piece toy dentist kit from Melissa & Doug for ages three and up. With it, they can do teeth cleanings, treat cavities and fit retainers and braces on a set of pretend teeth.
This kit comes with pretend teeth, "cavity" stickers, examination tools, a toothbrush, a toothpaste tube, a dental rinse bottle and cup, two gauze pads, two tooth polish cups, top and bottom retainers and braces, a mask, a reusable ID tag on a lanyard and a double-sided reusable activity card.
This must-have toy set is just one of our many picks for the best Christmas gifts under $50.
Under $100 Christmas gift idea: Apple AirPods (2nd generation)
Snag these Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) today at Walmart for just $99 -- that's 30% off their usual $129 price.
These AirPods boast more than 24 hours total listening time (with the wireless charging case), a foolproof, one-tap setup for Apple device owners and a low-latency wireless connection (for full immersion when consuming movies and music).
For someone looking for high-quality stereo audio, at just $99, these AirPods (2nd Generation) are an unbeatable value. Hurry -- this Apple AirPod deal won't last for long and you'll need to order soon to ensure delivery by Christmas.
If you're looking for more Christmas gift ideas like this, check out our guide to the best Christmas gifts under $100.
The best toy of Christmas: Little Live Pets My Puppy's Home
Little Live Pets is huge every Christmas. This year's pick? The Little Live Pets My Puppy's Home. This set comes with a plush puppy and a kennel.
First, you can construct the puppy's home and fill its water bowl to see paw prints appear on the welcome mat. Then, you can name the puppy and attach its name to the front of the doghouse. Next, open the door to find your puppy inside. There are two types of puppies to discover. The puppy inside makes more than 25 sounds and reactions.
This gift is $49, reduced from $60. It's for ages 5 and up.
Looking for more toy gift ideas? Shop Amazon's 2023 Toys We Love list: The best toys of Christmas.
The most popular toy this year: Barbie Dreamhouse 2023
If you're looking for the perfect gift for the Barbie fan in your life, you can't go wrong with this year's Barbie Dreamhouse. This 75-plus piece set features a Barbie Dreamhouse with a three-story slide, a pool party area and pet accessories. It's a bestseller with CBS Essentials readers and our most popular toy of the year.
"This year's Dreamhouse showcases a harmonious blend of nostalgic elements we've loved from previous models with modern, innovative features that resonate with today's kids," reported one Amazon reviewer, adding that the Dreamhouse was a big hit with their kids.
Score this Barbie playset for 27% off now at Walmart.
The best gift for toddlers: Cocomelon 6V bumper car
This pint-sized car comes fully assembled. All you have to do is attach the bumper and power up the integrated 6V battery with the included 120V wall charger. This bumper car spins 360 degrees and can support children up to 66 pounds.
"These bumper cars are so much fun," one Walmart reviewer says. "The joystick controls are easy to use and allow kids to move forward, in reverse, and spin in circles. It is hilarious to watch them in action and the kids have a blast driving around."
If you're looking for more gift ideas for a three-year-old boy, check out our guide to the best Christmas gifts that will delight even the pickiest preschoolers.
Best Christmas gift idea for teens: Cosrx snail mucin hydrating serum
Snail mucin may sound like an odd gift, but it's currently a big hit with teens on TikTok. This TikTok-approved snail mucin serum is made with 96% snail secretion filtrate (snail mucin) and is designed to protect the skin from losing moisture. Snail mucin may also promote collagen production, which can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Social media users have been sharing their results after using the product. One TikToker even shared that after just one week of using the serum, her skin was so clear that she no longer felt the need to wear foundation. Even dermatologists have taken to TikTok to discuss the benefits of snail mucin, and share their tips and tricks for getting the most out of the viral serum.
Shop even more great Christmas gift ideas for teens here.
Best Christmas gift for people who love to cook: Yummly smart meat thermometer
We've found one gift that the master meat chef or griller in your life will love. This Bluetooth-enabled smart thermometer is a CBS Essentials bestseller. It boasts presets, timers and alerts for different types of meat, taking the guesswork out of cooking. Just connect to the compatible Yummly app, choose what you're cooking and how well you like your meat done, and it will set up a customized timer and send you alerts when your food is ready.
"This is great for cooking meat of any kind. I've used it in the smoker, grill, oven, air fryer and the meat is perfectly cooked every time," one Amazon reviewer says.
We found even more great Christmas gift ideas for people who love to cook.
Best Christmas gift for people who hate to cook: Factor meal plan
Forget everything you know about those old-fashioned, frozen TV dinners. When you gift a subscription to the Factor meal plan, the recipient can receive six, eight, 10, 12, 14 or 18 professionally prepared and pre-cooked meals that someone just needs to heat up before eating.
Every week, a new menu of delicious meal options is available –- with some that cater to anyone who maintains a keto, flexitarian, vegan, or vegetarian diet.
This is a subscription meal plan that can be paused or canceled at any time. The meals arrive at someone's door pre-cooked, but not frozen, so they'll stay fresh for a maximum of seven days (when refrigerated). There's no meal prep required. Each single-serving meal is shipped in a BPA-free CPET plastic container, which can be used to heat the food in an oven or microwave and then served in the same container. A $90, $110, $130 or $150 gift card is available from the Factor website. (A $130 gift card covers eight ready-to-eat meals.)
You can shop for even more Christmas gift ideas for people who hate to cook.
Best Christmas gift idea for moms: Aura Carver digital photo frame
This sleek, freestanding smart picture frame displays photos sent from an iPhone, Android and other smart devices. It comes equipped with an ambient-light sensor that automatically adjusts display brightness and dynamic orientation; that means recipients can switch the frame from portrait to landscape mode. It also offers wireless connectivity to make uploading photos easier.
This makes the perfect gift for the mom that's always pulling out family photos to show off or asking for photos of your kids. Got new photos to share? You can upload those too -- and surprise Mom with fresh images.
We've found even more great Christmas gift ideas for Mom.
Best Christmas gift for the coffee addict: Atlas Coffee Club coffee world tour gift subscription
Subscriptions make great last-minute gifts, and this one is sure to please coffee lovers. Real coffee lovers like to explore new tastes and terroirs. Plus, coffee drinkers are likely going to buy new coffee each month anyway, so this subscription is a great clutter-free gift that any coffee enthusiast will enjoy.
Each month the Atlas Coffee Club subscription features a coffee from a different country. You can select whole beans, ground coffee, espresso, Keurig cups and more. There are also different roast options, so your gift recipient can get a light, medium or dark roast to suit their preferences.
Get a one-year coffee subscription for $189 (regularly $199). You can also gift a 3 month subscription for $50 or a 6-month subscription for $99.
Shopping for the coffee fan in your life? Check out our guide to the best Christmas gifts for coffee lovers.
Christmas gift for women: Dyson Supersonic hair dryer
The quiet, quick-drying Dyson Supersonic hair dryer promises to be less damaging to your locks. It measures air temperature more than 40 times a second to regulate its heat. It also claims to increase smoothness and shine and decrease frizz and flyaways.
The lightweight Dyson Supersonic hair dryer includes five magnetic styling attachments for all hair types. It offers three speed settings and four heat settings.
The popular hair dryer is available at Dyson for $429. If you want it before Christmas, we recommend checking availability at your local stores on Sephora's website and opting for curbside pickup or same-day delivery.
You can shop even more cool gifts for Christmas via our guide to the best Christmas gifts for women.
A unique Christmas tech gift idea: Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses
There's a lot of hype surrounding virtual reality and augmented reality eyewear. These Ray-Ban Meta glasses are categorized as "smart glasses," and they're as stylish as they are functional. Designed to look like everyday fashion sunglasses from Ray-Ban, these smart glasses were developed in collaboration with Meta, the team behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
When someone puts on these glasses, they're able to stream music from their smartphone or smartwatch and listen through discreet, open ear speakers built into the arms of the glasses. This means the person's ears are not covered and they retain full situational awareness of what's happening around them.
The frames are prescription lens compatible. You can shop the absolute best Christmas tech gifts for someone who has everything and loves gadgets, here.
Under $500 Christmas gift idea: KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 stand mixer
This stand mixer features an impressive 10 speeds that cover everything from whipped cream to cookie batter. The Series 5 comes with a five-quart, dishwasher-safe stainless-steel bowl, a coated flat beater, a coated dough hook, a six-wire whip and a pouring shield.
Maybe best of all: Last time we counted, we found a dizzying 23 color options for this model.
It's currently $370, reduced from $450.
Looking for more? We adore these under-$500 Christmas gift ideas.
Best Christmas gifts for dogs: BarkBox toy and treat subscription box
Every month, the folks at BarkBox create a themed gift box for your dog that includes at least two toys, two treats and other goodies your canine will enjoy.
When you sign up for a 12-month subscription, each box is priced at $20 plus shipping, but you can choose a month-to-month plan for $35 plus shipping per box. If your dog is a heavy chewer, a separate subscription box option is available. Boxes can even be customized according to your dog's food allergies and play style.
Looking for more dog and cat gift ideas? We found even more of the best Christmas gift ideas for pampering your pet this holiday season.
For the minimalist who doesn't want a gift: Kindle Unlimited
If you're shopping for the friend that loves to read but doesn't want stuff, gift them a Kindle Unlimited membership, and give them access unlimited e-books and audiobooks from the Kindle Unlimited library.
Kindle Unlimited is a great way for the recipient to explore tons of popular titles without racking up spending on individual books. Plus, it's all digital, so they can read as much as they want without accumulating more stuff around the house.
You can gift a 6-, 12- or 24-month subscription. Gifted subscriptions start at $60 for a 6-month subscription.
We've found even more gift ideas for the minimalist who says they don't want anything.
Best Oprah-approved holiday gift: Beats Studio Pro
Looking for a great pair of headphones to gift? These Beat Studio Pro are on-sale and Oprah-approved. On top of adaptive noise cancelation, the headphones feature real-time audio calibration, fast charging and easy iOS and Android connectivity. The Beats Studio Pro also support spatial audio and offer great comfort, with many reviewers saying they stay comfortable even when they've been worn for hours.
"I love all things Beats. Some of us are over-the-head-headphone people, and if you know one of them, these are the best of the best," explained the former TV host.
Right now, these must-have headphone are 49% off on Amazon. Plus, shop more of our top gift picks from Oprah's Favorite Things.
Best stocking stuffer: Lifestraw emergency water filter
If you've got an avid camper or a hiker on your Christmas list this year, check out the Lifestraw emergency water filter. Rated 4.8 stars on Amazon, the device works like a straw to let you drink from streams and lakes in an emergency. It's designed to filter up to 99.999999% of water-borne bacteria and 99.999% of parasites. One straw filters up to 1,000 gallons of water.
But it's not just outdoor adventurers who could benefit from a Lifestraw. "There's no guarantee you'll have access to clean water or be able to boil water in an emergency, especially if you're away from home," says one Amazon reviewer, who highly recommends the Lifestraw for survival kits. "We keep one of these in our vehicle and another two at home."
Regularly $20, Amazon has these handy emergency tools on sale for half price, just $10. You can also shop more stocking stuffer ideas for the whole family.
For the expert Lego builder: Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Lego train set: $350 (30% off)
Here's your opportunity to put an absolutely epic, 4.5-star-rated Lego gift under the Christmas tree this year. The Hogwarts Express set includes Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station, the train engine, coal tender and a three-room passenger carriage with lights that reveal three classic scenes from the Harry Potter movies. A lever on top of this completed set will set the 1:32 replica train in motion. 20 Lego Harry Potter minifigures are included, so you can recreate the films' scenes.
Amazon reviewers say this set makes an excellent display piece. "We have it set on top of a bookcase for display and get lots of great comments about it," comments one reviewer. "I would recommend (it) to any Harry Potter fan."
Get this $500 Harry Potter Lego set for $350 at Amazon as a limited-time deal, while supplies last. Shop more last-minute Amazon gifts that can still arrive by Christmas.
Bedsure wearable blanket hoodie
Wearable blankets make an excellent cozy gift for just about anyone on your list. At under $20 for Prime Members, this wearable blanket hoodie also makes a great last-minute white elephant gift. This hoodie offers a conveinent zippered design and the feel of a soft, fluffy blanket. It's great for anyone that loves to lounge around and stream their favorite shows or the work-from-home friend that wants to stay warm this winter.
"How did I ever live without this wearable blanket? Straight out of the box, the softness of this thing blew my mind." said one Amazon reviewer.
Prime members can score exclusive savings and delivery before Christmas on this cozy last-minute gift. For non-Prime members, it is $27.
For the person that's hard to shop for: Amazon gift card
An Amazon gift card is a safe bet for just about anyone on your list, as the recipient can order whatever they want with it. The e-commerce giant sells groceries, clothing, beauty items, home essentials, tech and basically anything else you could think of. It's a great gift when you're not quite sure what to get someone.
You can also send a traditional physical gift card or a digital gift card. Amazon even has print-at-home gift cards with festive Christmas designs if you don't want to do email delivery but need to get the card right away. Load $10 to $2,000 on to this gift card and let the recipient treat themselves to a little online shopping.
You can also shop more of the best last-minute gift cards that will arrive by Christmas.
