The Pinterest holiday gift guide: top giving inspiration this season

The Pinterest Shop

The year 2020 presented many unknowns, but what has been clear is excitement for the holiday season. While Pinners are always early in their holiday planning, this year was earlier than ever with holiday searches on Pinterest up 77% in April compared with April 2019, including a 3x increase in searches for “Christmas gift ideas” 8 months before December1. With people spending more time at home than ever before, an eagerness to spread joy (and splurge on self care), along with historical highs in online shopping, Pinterest makes it easy to shop for everyone on your list.  

Enter the Pinterest Shop: holiday collection, a list of this year’s most-searched holiday gift ideas on Pinterest. It’s a shoppable inspiration guide that links directly to retailer product pages where Pinners can go from inspiration to purchase. 

This year, we’re making it even easier to shop the Pinterest Shop thanks to better discoverability, enhanced design features, and a mobile-optimized shopping experience. The Pinterest Shop Holiday Gift Guide is live in Shopping Spotlights now through December 21, right in the Search tab. The holiday guide will feature up-to-date prices and direct links to retailer product pages where Pinners can make their purchase. Short editorial descriptions organized by our most popular themes ensure Pinnes can scroll and discover top picks for everyone on their holiday list.

Aya Kanai, Head of Editorial Partnerships

“At Pinterest people come to us with a question, ready to explore, be inspired and find their answer. The holiday gift season is basically one giant question! What to get your loved ones (plus a little something for yourself) can be such a puzzle. The latest edit of the Pinterest Shop features hundreds of  items from a combination of small businesses, Black-owned brands and sustainable products. Inspired gifting this season means supporting meaningful brands and businesses where consumers can feel their purchases matter.” 

The Pinterest Shop

When thanks just isn’t enough

From teachers to essential workers, there’s no shortage of people to thank this year and with searches on Pinterest for “thank you gift ideas” +44%3we’re making it easy to gift some gratitude with these trending products.

Home is where we all are 

Going out is so 2019. Pinners are looking for ideas to make the most of this time at home with searches up for “cute loungewear 5.6x and “best poetry books” 2x. Offering everything from page-turners for voracious readers to super comfy essentials for avid streamers, this home-body haul will make long nights even more loungeable.

Level up your space 

Pinners are searching for ways to gift some space upgrades with “gifts for plant lovers” 2x and “indoor hanging chair” 3x among top searches for home gifts. Perfect for plant-lovers, art-enthusiasts and the constant-redecorators, these gotta-have gifts will turn any house into a home.

Spend small, give big

Spend small, give big with clever yet meaningful “mini gift ideas” 2x. From cute hair accessories to skincare refreshments and more— be sure to scoop up these mini pick-me-ups as a thoughtful gesture.

The beauty enthusiast 

Head-to-toe and ready to go. People are on the hunt for “best skincare products” +30% and “spa gifts” 2.7x. This edit boasts clean beauty starter kits and skincare for the budding MUA to scrubs and masks for every body (part).

Seasoned and amateur foodies

Meals to remember start with the right tools. With everyone becoming their own chef and at-home host, searches for “ceramic gifts” 3.5x are on the rise. Make their lives easier with barista-worthy pour overs, all-purpose cookware and more.

That kid magic

Gifts for the little ones don't have to be short on creativity. With increasing searches for “learning toys” +96% and “kids wooden toys” 53%, we have gifts that are sure to keep your littles busy this holiday. Enter a world of whimsical wonder with these captivating toys for the kids.

Gen Zers and the hard-to-buy for

Shopping for this generation shouldn’t feel like finding a needle in a haystack. It's all about “aesthetic gifts ideas” 3.7x this holiday. Nail their aesthetic with this assortment of unique fashion finds, on-trend accessories and more.

Treat yourself  

2020 totally owes you one. Why not find something for you while shopping for them? As people are traveling and going out less, they are looking to splurge a little on something special with searches for “luxury gifts” 3x.

The new adventurer

Pinterest searches for “hiking must haves” 2x and “outdoorsy style” 2x are up up up. Help weekend warriors answer the call of the wild with packs, quick-dry outfits and more. This roundup will have them well on their way to the next great escape.

Finding great ideas but not quite ready to purchase yet?

Create a board with sections to organize gifting this year. See items you’d like to see under your own tree? Create a wishlist board for yourself, or send a Pin to a loved one to give them a hint. 

Methodology: 

1Pinterest Internal Data; US, April ‘19 vs April ‘20

2StatSocial Study; US, 2020

3Increases are calculated by comparing normalized global searches in the month of August ‘19 to the month of August ‘20