A good gift for a gamer doesn't have to cost much. Most people who play already own the expensive things: the console, the PC, the headset. What they often don't have are the small, personal things around the edges, the ones they would never think to buy for themselves. That is where a cheap gift does well. Here are affordable gifts for gamers at every price up to about $40, and how to make a small present feel like a considered one.
What makes a cheap gift feel good
- It gets used. Something that sits on the desk, hangs on the keys or goes on the wall is seen every day.
- It fits their taste. A design that matches the games they love, or the colours of their setup, says you paid attention.
- It is not a duplicate. Avoid games and controllers unless you know exactly what they have.
- It comes with a reason. One line in a card about why you chose it does more than another ten dollars.
Under $10: pins
A pin costs about $6 to $7 and is the easiest small gift there is. It goes on a backpack, a jacket, a lanyard or a pin board above the desk. Our pins come in three sizes, from 1.25 to 3 inches.
- A baby winged dragon pin for someone who plays fantasy RPGs.
- An astronaut skeleton pin for a fan of space horror.
- A city lights pin for anyone with a neon setup.
Two or three pins in one card make a nice small set for a friend, a sibling or a classmate.
About $15: keychains
A keychain is a gift a gamer will carry every day. Ours are acrylic, printed on both sides, and clip to keys, bags and zip pulls.
- The spiral galaxy keychain above, for anyone who plays space games or sims.
- A Robot Man keychain for a sci-fi fan.
- A cute ghost keychain for someone who likes cosy or spooky games.
- A Phoenix Fire keychain for a player who never gives up.
See keychain ideas for men for ways to wear one.
$14 to $37: a poster for their room
A poster is the cheapest way to change a gaming room. Our matte posters start at 8 x 10 inches, which suits a shelf or a desk wall, and go up to 24 x 36 inches. Pick a design in the colours of their RGB lighting and it will look as if it was always meant to be there. See the poster size guide and how to hang posters without frames.
$21 to $40: a desk mat
For a gamer who plays at a desk, a desk mat is the best gift in this price range. It is big enough to change the whole look of a setup, and useful every single day. Ours have a smooth polyester top for tracking, a natural rubber base that doesn't slide, and come in three sizes, the largest 31.5 x 15.5 inches.
- A Cyber Wave Escape desk mat for a synthwave fan.
- A baby dragon mouse pad for a fantasy player.
- A black hole desk mat for a dark, minimal setup.
See what matters in a gaming mouse pad and whether printed desk mats affect tracking.
Cheap gifts for gamers by budget
| Budget | Idea |
|---|---|
| Under $10 | A pin, or two in one card |
| About $15 | A keychain for their keys or bag |
| About $20 | A pin and a keychain in the same design |
| $14 to $37 | A matte poster for their room |
| $21 to $40 | A desk mat, in the size that fits their desk |
Prices are those on our site at the time of writing. Shipping is calculated at checkout.
Small gifts that work as stocking fillers
Pins and keychains fit in a stocking, a card or a gift bag. They are also good for a group: matching keychains for a gaming group or a team, one each. For an office or friends' gift swap, see white elephant gifts people actually keep.
How to choose a design
- Look at their setup. What colour is the lighting? Purple, blue, pink or green? Match it.
- Think about their games. Fantasy, sci-fi, horror, racing, cosy. There is usually a design that fits.
- When in doubt, go dark. Dark designs suit most setups and most rooms.
Ordering in time
Every piece is made to order. Allow 2 to 7 business days for production and 3 to 7 business days for delivery in the United States. International orders take 10 to 30 business days after production. For holidays, order early. See Christmas gifts for gamers for holiday dates.
More ideas
For bigger budgets, see our full guide to gifts for gamers. For setup ideas to go with a gift, see a cheap gaming setup that looks expensive. Browse keychains, pins and desk mats.