Most stocking fillers are small plastic things that get a laugh on Christmas morning and end up in the bin by New Year. The good ones are things people actually use: everyday items they'd buy anyway, just a nicer, plastic-free version.
Here are 14 practical stocking fillers for adults, all easy to find in Australia, plus how to shop the Black Friday sales without filling the house with junk.
For everyone
- A bamboo toothbrush with natural bristles. Everyone needs a new toothbrush every 3 months, so it's a gift that always gets used. Look for natural bristles rather than nylon. Our Bambusa brush comes in firmer boar or softer horse hair, from $14.95, or $33.95 for a 4-pack that covers a year.
- Silk or corn-fibre dental floss in a refillable glass or metal container. It pairs neatly with a toothbrush.
- A solid shampoo or conditioner bar. No plastic bottle, and one bar lasts a surprisingly long time.
- Beeswax food wraps. A reusable alternative to cling wrap. For vegans, choose plant-wax wraps.
- A wooden dish brush with a replaceable head, so only the head gets swapped.
- Reusable produce bags for fruit and veg at the shops.
- A packet of seeds for herbs, veggies or Australian natives, for anyone with a garden or a balcony pot.
- Something local to eat or drink, like honey, jam or coffee beans from a nearby producer, in glass or paper.
Stocking fillers for him
- A stainless steel safety razor with a pack of blades. The handle lasts for years, and the blades are metal, not plastic cartridges.
- A shaving soap or solid aftershave balm in a tin.
- A firmer toothbrush. If he likes a strong scrub, a boar bristle brush has a medium feel. Not sure which? Read boar bristle vs horse hair.
Stocking fillers for her
- A solid body lotion bar or lip balm in a tin or cardboard tube.
- A soft toothbrush for sensitive gums. Horse hair bristles are fine and gentle, the softest natural option. Our guide to whether bamboo toothbrushes are good for your teeth explains why soft bristles matter.
Stocking fillers for teens
- Their own "grown-up" bathroom kit: a bamboo toothbrush in the bristle they choose, a shampoo bar and a reusable drink bottle. Practical, and it doesn't look like a kids' gift.
How to make the whole stocking plastic-free
- Skip the filler. One or two useful things beat a handful of novelties.
- Wrap in fabric or brown paper. A tea towel or scarf can be the wrapping and part of the gift. Avoid glitter and foil paper, which can't be recycled.
- Choose things that get used up or replaced, like toothbrushes, soap and floss, so the gift doesn't end up in a drawer.
Shopping the Black Friday sales without the junk
Black Friday in Australia falls on 27 November this year, with Cyber Monday on 30 November. It's a good time to stock up on things you'll use, as long as you keep it practical:
- Write your stocking list first, then shop the list.
- Buy what you'd buy anyway. Toothbrushes, razor blades and soap get used all year, so a sale on these is real value.
- Check the "was" price. A discount only counts if the item actually sold at the original price.
- Buy in multi-packs. A 4-pack of toothbrushes is a year of brushes for one person, or four stockings sorted.
We're running a Black Friday sale from 26 to 30 November. Join our email list at the bottom of this page for early access.
When to order for Christmas
Bambusa orders usually arrive within 7 to 14 business days, Australia-wide, with tracking. For delivery before Christmas, we recommend ordering by Friday 4 December. Carrier delays get more common in December, so earlier is safer.
Shop Bambusa bamboo toothbrushes, or give a year of fresh brushes with the Brush Club.