18 Gifts for Mom Under $20
Updated: Jan. 26, 2023
For her birthday, Mother's Day or as a "thinking of you" gesture, it's not hard to find cheap—but beautiful—gifts for mom under $20.
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Sur La Table Hand Soap
That 99-cent container of grocery-grade hand soap is fine. But the Lemon Basil hand soap from Sur La Table makes the mundane task of hand-washing more pleasant. Feeling crafty? Make a tasty food gift for Mom, too.
Kiehl’s Hand Cream
Even the most regimented moisturizing routines can fall short. Keep Mom well equipped with an ultra-rich hand lotion, like this light-to-the-touch Kiehl’s hand cream from Macy’s.
Pretty Notepad
I never met a notepad I didn’t like and couldn’t put to good use. Like most people, I learned the art of list-making from my Mom, making this Paper Source notepad from Nordstrom a practical and thoughtful gift. (See, I really was listening to her all this time!)
Serving Tray
A well-made tray has near endless uses. It can be used year-round as home décor, hold a collection of catalogs and magazines or as a piece of serveware for appetizers. This handwoven serving tray is up to the task!
Moscow Mule Mug
This generously proportioned Moscow mule mug from World Market made our list for its clever design and ability to keep the popular cocktail cool long after it’s poured.
Soy Candle
Mom needs a candle that’s better than basic. Find her one that smells better, burns longer and add a touch of elegance to the room. The Tea Rose candle from Sur La Table is subtly sweet and clean.
Sun Hat
Surprise mom with a super chic hat. This straw hat from World Market goes with literally everything; it also looks cute with shorter hairstyles!
Light Shawl
Help your Mom layer in style with this ivory shawl from World Market. It will be the unifying element that makes her outfit complete!
Nail Polish
In a pinch, every gal needs her own go-to nail polish, because real life and chipped nails happen. Make sure Mom has a gorgeous shade of Essie’s nail polish from Ulta.
PopSocket Stand
Give her a bit of bling for the accessory that’s always with her; snag this floral PopSocket stand for Mom’s cell phone. It’s one of those items we never think to buy for ourselves, until someone does it for us and we wonder how we functioned without it.
Pineapple Letter Opener
Those cheap plastic letter openers are giveaway quality at best—and they’re boring. Surprise your Mom with a fun letter opener, like this pineapple version. It’s comfortable to hold, long enough to open large envelopes with ease and you’ll be helping her say goodbye to paper cuts!
Beautiful Journal
Having a notepad is great for grocery items and a short to-do list, but there’s no substitute for an all-purpose journal. This gold foil journal is designed to lay flat and includes 142 beautiful blank pages for Mom to jot down recipes, musings or thoughts.
Cutting Board
Our kitchens always seems woefully short on servingware during a dinner party. This gorgeous cutting board is a beautiful option, perfectly sized for displaying all sorts of snacks and apps.
Salad Servers
Serving utensils are some of the hardest-working gadgets in anyone’s kitchen. They endure serious wear and tear, making the idea of an extra set not only welcome, but necessary. Upgrade her stash with these wood salad servers.
Cross-Body Purse
In so many settings, a large carry-all purse is completely impractical. Wristlets are a nice idea, but for maximum ergonomic comfort, it’s hard to beat a well-made cross-body bag. Even if she loads it up with a billfold-sized wallet, cell phone and keys, this cross-body purse is light enough to keep Mom on the move with her essentials for all-day errands.
Jewelry Holder
Raise your hand if you have ample storage for all the jewelry you’ve collected thus far. Yeah, neither do we, which is why this jewelry holder made the list. It’s small, making it ideal for the often-used pieces in her collection.
Hand Towels
Refreshing her kitchen hand towels is a thoughtful and practical gift. Fewer fabrics show their stained badges of honor more prominently, and who wants to use a clean kitchen towel that looks anything but? These hand towels come in several colors to choose from.
Calming Bath Salts
If it evokes a soothing scent and the word “calming” is involved, we’re all ears. These Herbivore Botanical Calm Bath Salts from Nordstrom caught our attention for these very reasons—plus the essential oils infused into these pink Himalayan sea salts.
Up next—Looking for more mom gift inspiration? Check out our holiday gift ideas for moms.
