The 20 Best Gifts Under $50, Handpicked by the Bob Vila Team

Buying a gift for a home improvement enthusiast or DIYer doesn’t have to mean splurging. From one of the best new cleaning tools of the year to some of our favorite smart home gifts, this list proves that you can snag some great gifts with a $50 budget. A couple of our favorites are the Zippo HeatBank 9s Rechargeable Hand Warmer and DeWalt TSTAK Long-Handle Tool Box: two useful products, perfect for gifting. Ahead, we have many more options so you can find the best present under $50 for the giftees on your list. 

Keep fingers nice and toasty with the Zippo HeatBank 9s Rechargeable Hand Warmer, one of our top tested picks for the best hand warmers. It has 6 heat settings and an ergonomic design that feels nice in-hand. Even better, it doubles as a power bank so giftees can charge their phone on-the-go. 

What our tester says: “We especially enjoyed the 9s’ design—the contoured S-shape makes it supremely comfortable to grip and hold in one hand, and we liked how the smooth metal exterior feels both in a gloved and bare palm.”—Chase Brush, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Zippo HeatBank 9s Rechargeable Hand Warmer at Amazon for $34.90

For the DIYer on your list who could use some workshop organization, snag one of the best tool boxes to help out. The DeWalt TSTAK Long-Handle Tool Box is an affordable pick, with enough space for a collection of hand tools, or a couple of power tools, plus accessories. It’s great as a standalone tool box, but they can also use it as a starting point for a larger TSTAK storage system.  

What our tester says: “There was a lot to like about the TSTAK tool box organizer during testing. In general, we just like the idea of the TSTAK system, so the fact that it has latches and connects to other boxes is appealing. We also like that the lid has a domed shape inside, which means bulkier items that stick up a bit won’t prevent the box from closing. Also, it feels like a steal for the price.”—Tom Scalisi, Product Reviews tester and writer

Read our full review: DeWalt TSTAK Long-Handle Tool Box

Get the DeWalt TSTAK Long-Handle Tool Box at Amazon for $32.99

The Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Powered String Lights are our pick for the best outdoor solar lights and the perfect gift for anyone wanting to upgrade their outdoor space. These lights are stylish, with a vintage-inspired Edison-style LED bulb. Their heavy-duty shatterproof and weatherproof construction and convenient solar-powered design makes them a long-lasting and user-friendly choice. 

What our tester says: “We love just about everything about these lights other than the fact that we now want another set to completely surround our patio. Still, one set is a great starting point, and the price is right for adding on more as needed.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Read our full review: Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Powered String Lights

Get the Brightech Ambience Pro Solar Powered String Lights at Amazon for $34.99

Convenient and compact, the Acebeam Tac 2AA EDC LED Dual-Mode Flashlight might just become your giftee’s favorite flashlight. It’s one of the best flashlights we tested, with tactical and daily modes, the ability to use rechargeable or AA batteries, and a dust- and water-proof construction. Whether for emergencies, backcountry trips, or home maintenance, it’s a useful light to have on hand. 

What our tester says: “In our tests, the Moonlight and low settings were great for close-up tasks, while medium, high, and Turbo put out ample brightness for varying levels of long-distance visibility. This pick also has an IP68 rating, making it completely dustproof and waterproof, and its ergonomic design and simple controls make it easy to operate.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Acebeam Tac 2AA EDC LED Dual-Mode Flashlight at Amazon for $29.99

Home gardeners will appreciate the Truly Garden Hori Hori Garden Tool With Sheath as a versatile tool to help with digging, cutting, and weeding tasks. We chose it as the best hori hori knife because of its excellent build quality. It has a full-tang blade, triple-riveted handle, fine serrations, and comes with a sharpening tool, all of which put it a step above the rest. 

What our tester says: “This hori hori knife was well balanced, moderately heavy, and felt very comfortable in my hand compared to the other models I tested. I especially appreciated the finely tuned handle finish with smooth, rounded edges that matched up seamlessly with the grind of the rivets and tang.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Read our full review: Truly Garden Hori Hori Garden Tool With Sheath

Get the Truly Garden Hori Hori Garden Tool With Sheath at Amazon for $49.99

The TP-Link Tapo Matter Outdoor Smart Plug is the best smart plug for outdoor use, providing extra convenience for controlling outdoor lighting. Whether for patio lights, landscape displays, or holiday decorations, it offers IP65 weather-resistance and two individually-controlled outlets for lighting control at your fingertips. 

Get the TP-Link Tapo Matter Outdoor Smart Plug at Amazon for $22.49

A nature-loving giftee will adore the Best Choice Products 4-Hook Bird Feeding Station to attract twittering friends to their backyard. It’s one of the best bird feeders for new birdwatchers since it comes with a tube feeder, suet feeder, food tray, and water bowl, plus a support pole to hold it all up. 

What our tester says: “Overall, we liked this feeding station and thought it was a good product for first-time birdwatchers. It was easy to put together, and the assembly instructions were simple to follow.”

Get the Best Choice Products 4-Hook Bird Feeding Station at Amazon for $29.99

The Dreo Smart Humidifier is more than a boring old humidifier, which makes it great for gifting. The mini size is adorable. It works well, dispensing an ultra-fine mist that made a noticeable difference in comfort during our testing. A few drops of essential oil on the included essential oil pad also filled the room with a pleasant scent. From the app, users can control settings, change the lighting color, and view the room’s relative humidity level. 

What our tester says: “The Dreo HM306S smart humidifier is one of the best winter dry air solutions I’ve found to date. It’s a compact and quiet humidifier for bedroom, living room, or kitchen use, and it’s affordable. I would recommend it for families or individuals who appreciate the convenience of smart features, like customizable mist levels and remote humidity monitoring.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Read our full review: Dreo Smart Humidifier

Get the Dreo Smart Humidifier at Amazon for $49.99

We tested the ToughBuilt TB-316-2 Utility Pouch and Tool Belt for our guide of the best electrician tool belts, but it’s actually a useful choice for any DIYer in search of a solid tool belt. It has a variety of multi-sized pockets, holders, a chain, and a carabiner to hold tools big and small. It’s sturdy, and conveniently, also structured so it can stay upright as a useful organizer when it’s placed on the ground.  

What our tester says: “We liked that this tool belt provided plenty of storage thanks to its large structured pocket that can hold a meter and plenty of tools. We also liked that this belt could stand on its own, meaning DIYers can bring it to their project and place it down without its contents spilling out.“—Tom Scalisi, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the ToughBuilt TB-316-2 Utility Pouch and Tool Belt at Amazon for $44.99

The giftee that’s always cold will love the Westinghouse Electric Heated Throw Blanket, our favorite lap throw in our best electric blankets guide. It’s soft, drapes nicely, and has a memory function to remember the last-used setting. Our biggest complaint was that the highest setting gets quite hot, but that’s actually a pro for those who get really cold. 

What our tester says: “Our testing showed that Westinghouse makes some comfortable, well-designed electric blankets. This model’s six heat settings are easy to scroll through and track. There’s good heat distribution, and it became a favorite for couch lounging.”—Stacey L. Nash

Get the Westinghouse Electric Heated Throw Blanket at Amazon for $49.99

More Gifts for New Homeowners We Love

• Klein Tools Compact Laser Distance Measure: One of the best laser tape measures is a nice upgrade from a physical tape measure, calculating distances up to 100 feet at the press of a button. 
• Jiffy 36 Peat Pellet Seed-Starting Greenhouse Kit: Home gardeners will appreciate the best affordable seed starting trays for the next growing season. 
• AstroAI Snow Brush and Detachable Ice Scraper: If your giftee is still using some flimsy scraper, gift them this upgrade: it’s our ergonomic and effective choice for the best ice scraper. 
• Casabella Power Spin Scrubber: This power scrubber is very affordable but was actually effective in our testing, with four brushes and an extension handle to clean hard-to-reach spots. 
• Megaflint Keyless Entry Door Lock: This is the best affordable keyless door lock, offering convenient key code entry. 
• Levoit Core Mini-P Air Purifier: It’s hard to beat the value of this mini air purifier from well-regarded brand Levoit: it offers budget-friendly air cleaning for small spaces up to 254 square feet. 
• Tapo by TP-Link 2K QHD Security Camera: This indoor/outdoor camera proves that smart security monitoring doesn’t have to be expensive.  
• HBServices USA Self-Watering Self-Aerating Plant Pot: The forgetful plant parent on your list will make good use of this product, which is our choice for the best self-watering planter. 
• Thermacell E55 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller: This handy device banishes mosquitoes from a 20-foot zone for bite-free nights on the patio or in the backyard. 
• ToughBuilt GelFit Rocker Knee Pads: This is one of the best knee pads for the busy DIYer, suitable for construction and landscaping projects. 

 

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