Christmas Gift Ideas for Friends

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — Christmas! And what better way to celebrate the holiday than spending time with friends? Friendships come in all shapes and sizes, quite like Christmas gifts — and we’re here to help you find the perfect gifts for Christmas this year! Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite Christmas gifts for friends, so you’re sure to find inspiration for your best friend, a new friend or any friend you have in mind.

DIY & Budget-friendly Christmas Gift Ideas for Friends

Christmas gifts for friends don’t have to be pricey, especially when the gift of friendship is truly priceless! These thoughtful gift ideas prove it’s the sentiment behind the gift that matters most.

Origami ornament: Origami ornaments are creative, personal and a cost-effective Christmas gift idea for friends. For a unique twist, try using holiday wrapping paper to create a festive ornament your friend is sure to love!
Homemade cookies, snacks, candy and other treats: Great food is always a staple during the holiday season and regarded by many as the key to loved ones’ hearts. Friends will be sure to love a homemade snack or dessert made by you.
Photo gift: Ever wonder what to do with many of the pictures on your camera, phone and/or social media account? Photos can prove very handy during the holiday season, as a variety of personalized, homemade gifts can be crafted using pictures, such as calendars, paper weights, mugs, coasters, pillows, clothing and much more!

Group Christmas Gift Ideas for Friends

Group gifts for Christmas for friends can be a special way to show your collective appreciation. These ideas make gifting extra personal and memorable for everyone involved.

Group photo album: Ask each friend to contribute a favorite photo showcasing the recipient, including a hand-written note about the time they shared and how much the friendship means. To add a holiday-themed twist, try using wrapping paper as the background on each page of the album.
Notes of inspiration: It can never hurt to be reminded of love and support from friends. Ask each member of your group to write a few uplifting messages for the recipient on small pieces of paper. Roll or fold each message and place in a mason jar, gift box, or other container. The recipient can opt to open a message each day, week, or whenever they need a lift. It’s a great way to spread love and cheer!
Themed stocking, stuffed with goodies: Each friend can contribute a special gift to fill up a stocking for the recipient, based on a fun theme. Is the recipient a fan of movies? Music? Coffee? Arts and crafts? A devoted dog or cat lover? Selecting a theme is always a fun way to spark creativity.

Acts of Service as Christmas Gifts for Friends

Sometimes the best gifts aren’t wrapped in paper but are shown through thoughtful actions. Here are some Christmas gift suggestions for friends that focus on giving your time and support in a way that’s both considerate and impactful.

Cleaning the recipient’s home: Coming home to a clean house can be a huge stress reliever and a great gift idea!
Painting and/or helping redecorate a room in your friend’s home: Is there a small project that your friend has been meaning to do, but can’t seem to find the time? Lend a hand!
Outdoor upkeep: Shoveling snow, raking leaves, mowing the grass, etc. — Seasonal upkeep can sometimes be a daunting task, and your friend will appreciate taking a break from outdoor chores.
Making a few meals for the recipient: This is especially ideal for busy friends who are pressed for time. Prepare a fresh meal for your friend or simply freeze a few dishes that he/she can warm up on busy evenings.
Babysitting: Offering to babysit if your friend has children, so he/she can enjoy time away.

A Christmas Gift Experience/Outing for Friends

Gifting an experience or outing is a wonderful way to spend quality time with friends, especially at Christmastime. Here are some Christmas gift ideas for friends that are sure to add a little magic to the season.

Budget-friendly activity: Plan a night in to enjoy each other’s company and conversation. Rent movies, flip through old photos, listen to music, snack on some of your favorite treats — sometimes the simplest get-togethers are truly the most memorable and heartfelt.
Plan a holiday themed outing: Attend a Christmas craft show, go sledding or ice skating, catch a Christmas movie at the local theater, go to a local holiday concert, attend a festival of Christmas lights — there are so many wonderful things to do with friends during this time of year.
A vacation or weekend away: A trip will likely take a bit more planning to line up schedules, as well as a monetary investment, but if you’re able to swing it, there’s nothing like some time away in a vacation spot that you and your friend(s) enjoy!
Learning something new: Are you and your friend eager to learn a new hobby, trade or craft? Gifting your friend with classes/lessons is a fun, interactive way to spend time together! A quick search of activities in your town will likely offer options for cooking classes, music lessons, pottery/craft/painting classes and much more!
A special dinner: Is there a new restaurant your friend has been eager to try? If longtime friends, did you visit a beloved restaurant together in the past, but haven’t been there for years? What about a guilty pleasure you can treat your friend to, that he/she doesn’t tend to eat regularly? A chance to indulge in great food and conversation is sure to please.

Virtual Christmas Gift Ideas for Friends Across the Miles

Spend the holidays together even if you’re miles apart with any of these digital Christmas gifts for friends!

Gift card: Pair a digital gift card with a personalized Christmas ecard, for fast delivery to the recipient. With a wide range or retailers to choose from, including Sephora, Nike, Starbucks, Fandango, Target and more, simply select the place you’d like to purchase a gift card from, and then enter the name and email of the recipient and send.
Songfinch: For a friend who loves music, gift them a custom, original song from Songfinch. You provide the details, and the perfect musician will compose a tune just for them!
Virgin Experience Gifts: From dinner dates and vineyard walks, give the gift of memories this Christmas with Virgin Experience Gifts.
Paris Digital Advent Calendar: New from Jacquie Lawson, this interactive Christmas countdown is filled with hidden surprises, activities and games in the beautiful setting of Paris!

No matter what you opt to give your friend this Christmas, he/she is sure to be delighted with any of the Christmas gift suggestions above. For more holiday inspiration, check out our guide on what to write in a Christmas card for friends.