Christmas gift guide: sex toys for her, him and couples

The best erotic Christmas gift matches the other person's experience, not your idea of impressive. Pick something small, soft and simple for someone new to toys, a different kind of stimulation or a more refined version of a favourite for someone who already owns a few, and a toy you wear or control together when the present is really for both of you. Not sure a toy is welcome yet? Then a gift set, a massage kit or a couples game is the gentle way in, and an advent calendar turns all of December into the present.

Everything below comes from our gift shop and the seasonal Christmas gifts shelf, sorted by situation, budget and who it is for.

The best sex toy gifts for Christmas by situation

• Best for making December last: IntoYou Luxury Advent Calendar. Twenty-four doors with a toy or an accessory behind each, It is a limited edition, so order this one first.
• Best small gift for her: Satisfyer Dipping Delight. Two motors that work separately and a flexible tip that bends to the angle she holds it at, in soft silicone with 12 programmes.
• Best first air pulse toy: Satisfyer Cloud Dancer. Air pulse in 11 intensities with 12 vibration programmes on top, waterproof and small enough for a closed hand.
• Best stocking filler for him: Alive Mini Masturbator. A soft, ridged sleeve with nothing to charge and nothing to learn.
• Best toy for him with more going on: Minothor Tornax. Seven thrusting speeds plus a sliding function, and the sleeve comes out, so it can be cleaned properly.
• Best gift set for him: Urban Sky Set with Penis Ring and Masturbator. One rechargeable vibrating bullet with three sleeves and a ring, so it works as a stroker or around the base.
• Best small gift for couples: Satisfyer Duelist. An adjustable vibrating ring with a textured outside, so it does something for both partners, with 12 settings.
• Best remote control gift: IntoYou Nami. A seamless egg of soft silicone with 10 settings and a remote small enough to hide in a closed hand.
• Best for a playful evening: Sexmatch Massage Edition. A matching card game for two where every match means a massage action, printed in eight languages.
• Best first step into bondage: IntoYou Starters Bondage Set. A mask, handcuffs, a feather tickler and dice: a light way to find out whether restraint play is for you.
• Best massage gift set: Shunga Naughtier Kit. Five pieces in one box, including a 165 ml water-based lubricant, a cream-gel for couples and a lip gloss.
• Best luxury gift for couples: LELO TIANI 3. Worn during sex, with a remote that changes the vibration as you tilt it, 8 patterns and a waterproof body.
• Best luxury gift for her: LELO SORAYA 2. A rabbit vibrator of 22 by 4.4 cm with a thicker, more flexible clitoral arm than the first version and 13 settings.
• Best luxury gift for him: LELO HUGO 2. A prostate massager that stays in place on its own, with 16 modes on the device and more through the app.

Christmas gifts compared

Prices change through the season, so the table shows the tier; the product page has the current price.

Gifts by budget

Under 25

This is the tier for a first toy or a stocking filler. The Dipping Delight and the Duelist both have real motors and silicone, which is rare at this level, and the Alive mini needs nothing at all to work. The full selection is on the gifts under 25 shelf.

Under 50

Under 50 is where rechargeable toys with more than one function start: the Cloud Dancer combines two kinds of stimulation, the Tornax thrusts on its own and the Urban Sky set gives one motor four jobs. The Sexmatch game also sits here, for couples who would rather play than unwrap a device. See all gifts under 50.

Luxury

With a luxury gift you pay for a quieter, deeper motor, silicone that lasts for years and packaging that already looks like a present. The three LELO toys, the Shunga kit and the advent calendar all belong here, and there is more on the luxury gifts shelf.

For her, for him or for both of you

For her

If she has no toys yet, an air pulse toy is the easiest first choice, because it stimulates without direct contact and most women find it gentle to start with. If she already has a vibrator, pick a different kind of sensation, such as a rabbit, rather than a second version of the same thing. More ideas are on the gifts for her shelf and in our guide to sex toy gifts for her.

For him

Most men have never bought themselves a toy, which is exactly why one makes a good present. A simple sleeve is a safe start, a thrusting masturbator is the upgrade and a prostate massager is for the curious. Browse the gifts for him and read choosing a masturbator if you are unsure about sleeves and sizes.

For couples

A couples gift works best when it fits into the sex you already have: a ring, a remote egg or a toy worn during sex. The gifts for couples shelf has all of them, and our comparison of the best couples vibrators explains which design suits which position.

Gift sets and the advent calendar

A gift set solves the biggest problem with buying a toy for someone else: you do not have to guess the one right thing. Several smaller items in one box mean something will hit the mark. Bondage starter sets, massage kits, Kegel ball sets and toy combinations are all on the gift sets shelf.

The IntoYou advent calendar is the most festive option of all: one door a day from the first of December. It is a limited edition, so do not wait until the end of November.

Beginners or experienced: how to choose

For someone new to toys, choose small, quiet and simple: one or two buttons, soft silicone and nothing that looks intimidating in the box. For someone experienced, look at what they already own and give the thing that is missing, such as thrusting, an app, a remote or a toy for two. Add a water-based lubricant; it suits every toy in this guide.

With the bondage set, agree a safeword before you start, check hands and feet for tingling or numbness, take the cuffs off straight away when something feels wrong and never leave someone alone while they are restrained.

Discreet packaging, gift cards and ordering on time

Every order is sent in a plain box with no logo and no sender name, so nothing on the outside gives the present away, not even to whoever takes in the post. The order deadlines for Christmas are on our shipping and returns page. Still unsure? A gift card lets the other person choose for themselves. Buying early is also the moment for deals: the current offers are collected on our Black Friday page.

Frequently asked questions