How do you choose a gift for your brother or sister, for Christmas or their birthday?
Start with what you share: a childhood memory, a passion you have in common or something to do together. It’s the thought that counts, not the price.
A nod to your childhood
The game you played on holiday, a photo you have unearthed, an in-joke only you understand.
Their life today
A first flat, university, a baby, a new sport; let the gift fit what is going on in their life right now.
Time for the two of you
A workshop, an outing, a games night, rather than one more thing for their cupboards.
For their 18th, 30th or 40th birthday
The ideas in this article work all year round. For their 18th, an instant camera or a speaker; for their 30th, a portrait of the two of you or a LEGO set to build; for their 40th, an outing together or an album of your childhood photos.
We chose the products in this article based on each seller’s product page, without trying them, from shops that deliver in France. Live outside France? Check that the shop delivers to you.
Big brother, little sister, new parent: what to give depending on their age and stage of life?
A little sister will love a comic, a student brother a speaker, a big sister a piece of jewellery; a new parent, above all some time to rest.
A big sister or brother
They often looked after you: give them a small luxury people rarely buy for themselves.
- A silver bracelet
- A LEGO set to build
- A day for the two of you
A little sister or brother
Still a child or a teenager: a fun gift, and some time with you.
- Les Sisters, a French comic
- An Instax camera
- An outing for the two of you
A brother or sister who is studying
Tight budget, small flat: something for having friends round, playing games or feeling at home.
- A Bluetooth speaker
- A quiz game
- Cosy slippers
A new parent
Your brother or sister has just had a baby: give them time and rest.
- An evening of babysitting
- A soft throw
- A home-cooked meal
A brother or sister who lives far away
A gift that travels well and brings you closer despite the distance.
- A box of treats
- An album of your photos
- A visit at Christmas
A brother or sister who already has everything
An experience rather than an object: something to do, play or watch again together.
- A workshop with a craftsperson
- A boxed escape game
- A family video
Still not sure? Ask for their Christmas list: they note down what they would really love.
Gift ideas for your sister: jewellery, photos, cosy nights in
For your sister, choose a gift that suits her: a piece of jewellery to wear every day, a camera to capture your memories, some self-care or a bouquet to build for her home.
Our 2025 barometer: 58% of Christmas lists asked for fashion or jewellery.
Free for you: no fees or commission are deducted from your gifts. Some merchant links are affiliate links: the merchant may pay us a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Selfie mode
Appareil photo instantané Instax Mini 12, rose (Fujifilm)
Instant photos on 86 × 54 mm film, to keep a record of your celebrations: automatic exposure, selfie mode, batteries included (film sold separately). On offer on the day we checked the price.
€79.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Fnac
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
Interlocking rings
Bracelet Toi et moi en argent 925 (Histoire d’Or)
Two interlocking openwork rings on an 18.5 cm trace chain: a “you and me” to wear on her wrist.
€27.00
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Histoire d’Or
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
12 roses
LEGO Icons Le Bouquet de roses 10328
Twelve red roses at different stages of bloom and four sprigs of gypsophila, to build and then display: flowers that never wilt. On offer on the day we checked the price.
€38.39
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Carrefour
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
Faux fur
Chaussons mules Rivka (Etam)
Mules trimmed with soft, fluffy faux fur, to slip on at home. Choose her size: each pair covers two sizes (EU 36/37…).
€24.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Etam
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
Free message card
Coffret gourmand La Vie en rose, 8 produits (BienManger)
Eight sweet and savoury products, pink or rose-flavoured: strawberry, passion fruit and rose petal jam, smoked salmon spread, sparkling organic fruit juice… The gift box is sent to the address of your choice, with no price shown and a free message card.
€32.95
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at BienManger
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
Wendy and Marine
Les Sisters, tome 21 : À la sauce Marinade ! (BD)
A comic series (in French) about two sisters, Wendy and Marine: in this volume, Wendy sets out to write a French-to-Marine dictionary. For a little sister who loves reading, or to laugh about together.
€11.90
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Cultura
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
Gift ideas for your brother: music, games, LEGO
For your brother, focus on what he loves doing: listening to music, playing games, building things. Or give him an accessory he will wear all winter.
Our 2025 barometer: 39% of Christmas lists asked for tech or video games.
IP67 waterproof
Enceinte Bluetooth JBL Go 4, bleue
A small, waterproof 4.2 W speaker (IP67) with 7 hours of battery life: it follows him from his bedroom to the bathroom, or away for the weekend.
€34.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Carrefour
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
493 pieces
LEGO Icons 10363 La machine volante de Léonard de Vinci
The ornithopter imagined by Leonardo da Vinci, in 493 pieces, with flapping fabric wings and a minifigure of the inventor: for a brother who loves history or mechanics.
€41.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Fnac
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
15 to 30 min games
Jaipur, jeu à deux (Asmodee)
A strategy game for two players, with games lasting 15 to 30 minutes: to relive your childhood rivalries head to head.
€17.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Fnac
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
One size
Bonnet Wilson (Geographical Norway)
A comfy black beanie with a badge on the front: for every cold day.
€29.00
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Geographical Norway
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
From 10 years
Le Plus Proche Gagne, jeu de quiz (Asmodee)
A quiz game (in French) where you win medals even without the exact answer: being the closest is enough. For ages 10 and up, with games lasting about 45 minutes.
€29.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Cultura
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
Haptic feedback
Manette sans fil DualSense noire, PS5 et PC (Sony)
The PS5 controller, with haptic feedback, also compatible with a computer or a phone: so you can play together, or replace a worn-out controller.
€74.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Carrefour
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
Personalised gifts for your brother or sister: childhood memories and games to share
A good personalised gift is about you: an album of your childhood photos, a box of memories, a family portrait made from your photos. You can also give a game from your childhood or an escape game to solve together.
An album of your childhood years
Find the photos in your parents’ albums, make copies of them and add a caption to each one.
A memory box
One shared memory per slip of paper, to pick out and reread whenever they feel like it.
A voucher for an outing for the two of you
A concert, a match, a Christmas market, on a date of their choice. Write it on a nice card.
Our 2025 barometer: 27% of Christmas lists asked for outings, experiences or subscriptions.
Free preview
Portrait de famille personnalisé d’après vos photos, sur toile (Lullae)
A portrait of the whole family, composed from a photo of each person in the style of your choice, then printed; free preview before you pay, canvas on offer on the day we checked the price. Lullae is a Listopia partner: a link exchange, with no payment involved.
€33.15
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Lullae
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
From 5 years
Mille Bornes classique avec plateau (Dujardin)
The card game from your holidays, with a board, cars and 3D hazards: no more adding up points. French edition, from age 5, so you can play with your nephews and nieces too.
€39.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Cultura
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
3 heists
Coffret escape game Arsène Lupin contre Sherlock Holmes (Larousse)
Recruited by Arsène Lupin, you pull off three heists, with Sherlock Holmes in the gang: an escape game (in French) to solve around the table on a festive evening.
€22.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Fnac
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
What to give your sister-in-law for Christmas?
For your sister-in-law, choose a warm gift that is not too personal: a Christmas candle, a throw, a tea to enjoy together.
A sister-in-law you don’t know well
A treat or something for the Christmas table; nothing that requires knowing her size or style.
A sister-in-law you know well
A workshop to do with her, a book you loved.
Ask for advice
Your brother knows what she likes, your partner knows their sister; if you’re a couple, sign the gift from both of you.
Our 2025 barometer: 46% of Christmas lists asked for things for the home, kitchen, garden or DIY.
Candied chestnut
Bougie de Noël parfumée en céramique blanche et dorée, 180 g (Maisons du Monde)
A marron glacé (candied chestnut) scented candle in a white and golden ceramic jar with a squirrel lid: one for the festive table.
€14.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Maisons du Monde
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
6 tea flowers
Coffret théière transparente et 6 fleurs de thé vert (Creano)
Six green tea flowers to watch open in the clear teapot: to enjoy with her.
€28.90
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at BienManger
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
130 × 170 cm
Plaid tartan doublé sherpa, 130 × 170 cm (Monoprix)
A dark green checked throw, backed with sherpa, in cotton and recycled polyester: for her winter evenings on the sofa.
€39.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Monoprix
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
What to give your brother-in-law for Christmas?
For your brother-in-law, a gift to share almost always goes down well: a game for Christmas Eve, a set of coffees to compare, a plancha grill if he likes entertaining.
Our 2025 barometer: 34% of Christmas lists asked for toys or board games.
A brother-in-law you don’t know well
A game or a treat to open that very evening.
A brother-in-law you know well
A gift for his passion, whether cooking, coffee or games.
A couple, like your sister and her partner
One gift for them both, an outing or a workshop as a pair, rather than two small gifts.
4 players or more
Codenames, jeu d’ambiance (Iello)
Two rival spymasters and twenty-five identities hidden behind code names: just the thing to liven up Christmas Eve. French edition, for ages 12 and up, 4 or more players, with games lasting 15 minutes.
€23.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Cultura
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
Ethiopia and Colombia
Coffret dégustation de cafés bio et équitables en grains (Terres de Café)
Two organic, fair-trade coffees from Ethiopia and Colombia, to compare cup after cup: for a brother-in-law with his own coffee grinder.
€31.30
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at BienManger
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
Up to 6 guests
Plancha électrique Accessimo CB560811 (Moulinex)
A 1,800 W plancha grill with an adjustable thermostat, to treat up to 6 guests, indoors or out on the terrace.
€39.99
Price checked on 15/11/2026 at Carrefour
Excluding delivery, wrapping and extras.
An inexpensive gift for your brother or sister: what budget?
Between siblings, no set amount is expected: a comic, a game or a candle under €25 makes a welcome gift. For a pricier gift, club together, or draw names: then everyone gives just one gift.
A benchmark: according to our 2025 Christmas List Barometer, the median price of a wish was €26.
Are you a teenager or a student? A letter recalling a childhood memory, printed photos from your holidays or a voucher for a games night mean as much as a bought gift.
Under €25
6 ideasA little something for each of them, when you give to all your siblings.
€25 to €40
12 ideasA gift from you alone, or your gift in a draw between siblings.
- Bracelet Toi et moi en argent 925 €27.00
- Coffret théière transparente et 6 fleurs de thé vert €28.90
- Bonnet Wilson €29.00
Le Plus Proche Gagne €29.99
- Coffret dégustation de cafés bio et équitables en grains €31.30
- Coffret gourmand La Vie en rose €32.95
- Portrait de famille personnalisé d’après vos photos €33.15
- Enceinte Bluetooth JBL Go 4 €34.99
- LEGO Icons Le Bouquet de roses 10328 €38.39
- Mille Bornes classique avec plateau €39.99
- Plaid tartan doublé sherpa €39.99
- Plancha électrique Accessimo CB560811 €39.99
€40 and over
3 ideasA bigger gift, from you alone or clubbed together with a gift pool.
Lots of siblings? Drawing names between brothers and sisters
With five or six of you, a gift for each person soon gets expensive: draw names, and everyone gives one single, nicer gift to the person they drew.
1. Set a budget together
The same for everyone, €30 or €40 for example: nobody feels awkward, and nobody goes overboard.
2. Draw names on Listopia
Create a group event for Christmas and add each brother and sister. Switch on the draw (three people or more), then set the budget: Listopia shows it to every participant. Then, with one click, everyone finds out who they will give to; the app doesn’t announce it to the others.
3. Everyone opens the list of the person they drew
The “Give a gift now” button opens their list: you choose their gift from their wishes, with no risk of duplicates.
Draw
This year, you are giving a gift to:
Hugo
Children in the family? Leave them out of the draw when you create the event, or untick “Takes part in the draw” when you add them: their list stays visible to everyone, and anyone can give them a gift.
The simplest option: one Christmas list for all the siblings
Not sure what to give them? Ask for their list: with one link for all the siblings, everyone adds their wishes and reserves the others’, with no duplicates.
1. One link for the whole family
On Listopia, create a group event for Christmas and send the link to your brothers and sisters: everyone adds their wishes. It’s free, with no sign-up.
2. No duplicates, and the surprise stays intact
Others see a reserved wish as taken. By default, the person cannot see whether their wishes are reserved, or by whom.
3. A big gift? A gift pool
For an expensive wish, start a gift pool for it, as long as nobody has reserved it: everyone notes their pledge and sees what is left to raise.
Our 2025 barometer: on a family list, each person asked for a median of 5 gifts.
Siblings’ Christmas
- You’re contributing
An instant camera
Léa
€60 pledged by you and Hugo €20 remaining - Not reserved yet
A game for two
Hugo
- Reserved by Max
A LEGO set to build
Hugo
- Reserved by Hugo
A beanie
Max
No payment goes through Listopia: the gift pool keeps track of pledges, and the money is settled between you.