Wooden Animal Stocking Fillers for Adults: How to Choose

A good adult stocking filler is small, personal and not something they would buy for themselves. A hand-carved, hand-painted wooden animal fits a stocking and can be chosen by recipient: a cat or dog like theirs for pet owners, a bird for a bird watcher, or a desk companion for a colleague. Order early if you want a name engraved, and check the delivery information shown on the shop listing.

What makes a good stocking filler for an adult?

A stocking filler for an adult has a harder job than one for a child. It has to be small enough to fit, light enough to wrap with others and personal enough that it does not feel like filler. Sweets and socks are fine, but the gift people remember is the small one that looks like it was chosen for them.

That is where a small wooden animal works well. It is a decorative item, not a toy, so it is an object for an adult's shelf, desk or windowsill. It is hand-carved and hand-painted, so it has a warmth that mass-produced trinkets lack, and an animal gives you an easy way to be personal: choose the one that matches their pet, their favourite bird or their sense of humour.

It also lasts. A chocolate is gone by Boxing Day, but a small figure stays on a desk for years and reminds them of whoever gave it.

Which wooden animal suits a cat lover or a dog owner?

For a cat lover, choose by colouring. The Faceted Tuxedo Cat is a smart black-and-white cat, 7 cm tall, and one of our best-loved small cats. The Vintage Tabby Cat is a classic sitting tabby that measures 4.2 × 3.9 × 6.5 cm, and the Calico Kitten Figurine is tiny at 4 × 2.5 × 4.5 cm. Our guide for cat lovers has more ideas.

For a dog owner, the Tiny Labrador is pocket-sized, 3.8 cm long, and comes in five coat colours, so you can match the dog. The Tiny Brown Puppy is 4.5 cm tall, and the Tiny Golden Retriever is a small desk-sized faceted dog. Our guide for dog lovers suggests breeds and styles.

If you know the pet's colouring, say so on the gift tag, for example this one reminded me of Biscuit. It is the line that turns a filler into a gift.

What about bird watchers and colleagues?

For a bird watcher, choose a bird they would recognise. The Blue Tit Figurine is a British garden bird, the Yellow Canary is bright and cheerful, and the Small Carved Bird is only 5 cm long. See our guide for bird lovers for more.

For a colleague or a Secret Santa, keep it light and widely liked. The Faceted Panda, just under 7.5 cm tall, sits happily on a desk or bookshelf, and the Possum at the Window is a conversation piece. Our guide to desk companions explains what to look for.

If you are unsure of someone's taste, a cat, a dog or a panda is the safest choice, because almost everyone likes one of them.

• Cat lover: Faceted Tuxedo Cat, Vintage Tabby Cat, Calico Kitten
• Dog owner: Tiny Labrador, Tiny Brown Puppy, Tiny Golden Retriever
• Bird watcher: Blue Tit, Yellow Canary, Small Carved Bird
• Colleague: Faceted Panda, Possum at the Window

Can you add a name or a date to a stocking filler?

On some pieces, yes. The Capybara and the Natural Wood Fox, for example, have bases that can be laser-engraved with a name, a date or a short message, and our personalised gifts page lists the others. A name and a year on the base turns a small animal into a keepsake.

Engraving takes extra time, so order early. Keep the wording short, write it out in full and check the spelling before you order, because engraving cannot be corrected afterwards.

If you would like a personal touch on a piece that is not engravable, write the name on the gift tag instead.

How do you choose when you do not know the person well?

Choose a classic. A cat, a dog or a panda is liked by most people, and a sitting animal with a calm expression suits almost any shelf. Avoid anything too specific, such as an unusual breed, unless you know they love it.

Think about their home. A clean-lined faceted piece suits a modern flat, a textured or vintage-style piece suits a traditional home, and a natural wood piece suits someone who prefers plain, warm materials. Our guide to wood carving styles explains the differences.

If you are filling several stockings, choose a different animal for each person, so no two gifts look alike, and keep one spare small piece for the person you forgot.

What about hanging pieces for the tree?

Some pieces are made to hang. The Orange Cat Hanging Pendant is 18 × 8 cm and works on walls, in windows and on Christmas trees, and the Football Cat Ornament is a tuxedo cat in a hand-painted football strip, made as a hanging ornament.

A hanging piece also works as a gift in itself: tuck it in a stocking, and the recipient can hang it straight away. Hang it where it will not be knocked, and keep charms and cords out of reach of very young children, because these are decorative items, not toys.

How do you order, and what should you check on delivery?

Single pieces are bought on our Etsy shop, which has a 4.9 star rating from 720 reviews. Each listing shows its own delivery information, and that is the information to rely on. We do not promise a delivery date for Christmas, so check the listing before you order and leave yourself some margin.

Order early for anything with engraving, and have the exact wording ready. If you are buying many pieces for a team or an event, you can ask about trade orders through our wholesale page.

Frequently asked questions