Stocking fillers are harder than they look. Too cheap and it's tat. Too generic and it gets binned. Wrong faction and it's worse than nothing. Under £20 is the sweet spot for "thoughtful but not main-gift" — and it's the bracket most hobby retailers ignore. Here's a list of stocking fillers that work for any tabletop wargamer, painter, or roleplayer, regardless of what game they actually play.
The under-£20 rule
For stocking fillers, prioritise things that get used immediately — tools, organisation aids, single display pieces. Skip anything that requires him to "find space for it" or commit to a project. Stocking gifts that sit in the stocking and get pulled out same day are the ones that land.
1. A single display stand for a favourite model
The most practical sub-£20 gift in the entire tabletop hobby is a single tiered display stand. He has a favourite painted model — every hobbyist does. A small modular display tier lets him take it off the shelf, set it on his desk, and look at it every day. The WarSplay Classic sits comfortably in this bracket and works for any standard 28-32mm infantry model.
Why it lands: it's not "more miniatures" (which adds to the pile), it's something that elevates miniatures he already owns. He'll open it, immediately think of which model to put on it, and have it set up within an hour.
2. Quality precision tools
Most hobbyists use the same basic clippers and hobby knife for years past the point those tools should have been retired. A pair of decent sprue cutters, a precision craft knife, or a set of detail files under £20 replaces something he's been quietly cursing.
- Sprue cutters / clippers: Used every single time he assembles a new model. £12-£18 for a quality pair.
- Hobby knife and replacement blades: The blades go blunt quickly. A premium grip plus a pack of spares is genuinely appreciated.
- Detail files or sanding sticks: Used to clean up mould lines on miniatures. Hobbyists rarely splash out on these.
3. A magnetisation starter kit
Magnetising miniatures lets hobbyists swap weapon options, transport models safely, and stick them to display surfaces. A small pack of neodymium magnets plus a pin vice (a small hand drill) is one of the most useful sub-£20 gifts you can buy. See our magnetisation and transport guide for context on how it gets used.
4. A daylight LED desk lamp clip
Not a full hobby lamp — those run £40-£80 — but the clip-on LED lights that attach to a desk or shelf sit comfortably under £20 and dramatically improve painting visibility. Look for "daylight balanced" or "5500K-6500K" colour temperature.
5. A storage tin or paint organiser
Hobbyists accumulate paint pots. Lots of paint pots. A small wooden paint rack, a tool storage tin, or a magnetic paint holder all sit in the £10-£20 range and instantly tidy a hobby desk that's been chaos for months.
Browse the miniature storage and hobby accessories collection for UK-made options.
6. Premium brushes (in a sensible way)
Buying paintbrushes for a painter is risky — they have strong opinions about brands. But there's a safer subcategory: synthetic detail brushes (size 0, 00, 000) from a recognised hobby brand. These wear out and most painters keep buying replacements. A small set under £20 is consumables they'll definitely use.
Avoid: kolinsky sable brushes (£15-£40 each, picky preferences), basecoat brushes (every hobbyist has six already), and "starter sets" from non-hobby retailers (the bristles fall out).
7. Texture, basing, or terrain materials
Sub-£20 stocking gifts that go straight into use: a tub of texture paste, a bag of basing flock, a sheet of tufts, or a small terrain feature. Faction-agnostic basing materials work for any army or game system.
8. Microfibre cloths and display cleaning kit
If he already displays his collection, dust is a constant battle. It's a losing battle without a routine, too: the average home generates roughly 40 lb of dust a year, and more than 90% of household dust is fine fibres and shed skin that settle on every open surface. A set of soft microfibre cloths, a soft-bristle brush for between-model dusting, and a small can of compressed air make a practical kit. Pairs naturally with a display stand gift.
For more on dust management, see the open displays without dust-proof cases guide.
9. Dice — but only the right kind
Standard six-sided dice are a common gift trap. Every wargamer has a thousand of them. But premium themed dice, weighted casino-grade dice, or oversized D20s in the £8-£18 range are genuinely appreciated. Stick to neutral colour schemes — red, black, white, gold — and avoid faction-specific themes unless you're certain.
10. A measuring tape or laser measure
Tabletop games involve constant measurement. A retractable tabletop tape measure (often called a "gaming tape") in inches and millimetres, or a small laser measure, both sit under £20 and replace the tatty tape his army has been using since 2019.
For the Secret Santa angle
If you're shopping for a Secret Santa exchange where the recipient is a known hobbyist but you don't know them well, the safest bet from this entire list is a single display stand. It's faction-agnostic, the size and shape says "I know your hobby," and it has visible value at the £15-£20 price point. See the Secret Santa gifts for gamers collection for curated picks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the safest sub-£20 gift if I know nothing about his hobby?
A single display stand for a 28-32mm base. It's recognisable, useful, and faction-agnostic. The Classic tier from WarSplay sits in this bracket.
Are paint sets a good stocking filler?
Generally no. Most hobbyists already own duplicates of every standard paint colour. Sets of specific niche colours (washes, contrast paints, technical paints) are safer than basics, but tools and display items are safer still.
How do I avoid buying something he already has?
Avoid consumables he probably already owns (basic paints, basic brushes, glue, primer). Focus on either upgrades (premium tools replacing cheap ones) or new categories (display, storage, lighting).
Is dice always a bad gift?
Standard dice yes — he has hundreds. Premium themed dice or unusual D-sizes (D24, D30, oversized novelty dice) are different and can land well.
Should I wrap the gift even if it's going in a stocking?
Yes — particularly for the more substantial sub-£20 gifts like display stands. The unwrapping moment matters more than the bulk.
Disclaimer: WarSplay® products are independently manufactured by Blubbercove Ltd. We are not affiliated with, authorised by, or endorsed by Games Workshop Limited or any tabletop publisher. Trademarks are used solely to indicate compatibility.