First, decide how much you can afford in total. Then split it person by person, and spend most of your effort on the few people closest to you. There is no correct national figure for Christmas presents. Averages exist, but they mix food, drink and gifts together. So the only budget that works is one built from your own list and your own money.
On the Reddit forum r/AskUK, "How much are you setting aside for Christmas gifts?" received 152 comments. "Where do you draw the line with Xmas gift buying?" received 104. People want to know whether their amount is sensible, and how to stay within it once the shopping starts.
What people spend, by who it's for
The main UK figure comes from PwC's festive survey, as reported by Retail Week. It gives an average of £461 per adult for 2025, up from £449 the year before. That figure covers presents, food and festivities together, so it is not a gift budget. It is also an average across people with very different families and incomes.
We could not find a UK source we trust that splits Christmas gift spending by type of recipient. So instead of quoting one, here is how to think about each person on your list.
Children. This is where fairness matters most. Spend roughly the same on each child, because brothers and sisters compare. On r/AskUK, a thread asking whether £600 was reasonable for an eight-year-old received 366 comments. The right amount is the one your family can afford every year.
Your partner. An amount you are both comfortable with, ideally agreed together. Some couples set a figure, some buy one thing for the home, and some keep it a surprise with a maximum price.
Parents and grandparents. They are often the hardest to buy for, and the least interested in the price. One well-chosen gift does more here than several small ones.
Siblings and the wider family. This is where budgets grow, because the list is long. A family gift swap, a Secret Santa or a limit agreed in advance keeps the cost under control (see the questions below).
Friends. Follow what your group already does. A small gift that shows you know them is enough.
Colleagues, teachers and hosts. Small and fixed. At work, the limit is usually set for you, and it is often low.
Rules that keep you within your budget
Start from what you can afford. Work out a total that will not leave you short of money in January, then divide it.
Write the list before you shop. Write down everyone you will buy for, with an amount next to each name. Add a small amount for wrapping, cards and postage, because these costs are easy to forget.
Agree limits early. Suggest a family Secret Santa or a lower limit in October, not the week before Christmas.
Spend on gifts that suit the person. Three gifts that each suit the person are better than seven small extras that only fill the pile. We have written about why the best gift isn't the most expensive one.
Shop early for the people who matter most. At the last minute, people often spend more than they planned. They buy the first thing that seems good enough.
Keep a note of what you bought and what it cost. Next year's budget can then start from this year's real figures.
Once each person has an amount, the hard part is finding something that suits them at that price. Start from who they are, set the price, and swipe through gifts that suit them, from unique gift makers we select by hand.
Questions people ask
How do I tell my family I want to spend less this year?
Say it early and clearly, as a suggestion for the whole family. October is better than December, because nobody has bought anything yet. At the same time, offer an alternative, such as a Secret Santa, a lower limit or presents for the children only. In most families, at least one other person is hoping someone will say it first.
How to stop a family gift exchange?
Suggest something to replace the exchange, instead of just stopping it. For example, a draw where each adult buys for one other adult. Or presents for the children only, or a day out together instead. Ask the whole family at once, well before December, so nobody feels singled out or has already shopped. If people are unsure, try it for one year.
Are shower gels and socks normal Christmas presents in the UK?
They are common, especially as small extras in a Christmas stocking and in big families with long lists. They are not wrong, but they rarely say much about the person. To make a small gift show real thought, choose a version they would not buy themselves. For example, a scent they love, or socks in a pattern that suits them.
How to avoid giving a boring Christmas present?
Start from the person, not from a list of gift ideas. Think about what they do on an ordinary weekend, what they talk about, and what they would never buy for themselves. Then look for a gift that fits. A small gift clearly chosen for them is rarely boring. The boring ones are gifts that could have gone to anyone.