Christmas Wish List Maker

How to build a wish list that gets used

Start by adding five to ten items rather than fifty. A list of a few well-described things is easier to shop from than a list of everything you have ever liked. For each item, give the name as a shopper would search for it, such as "Noise-cancelling over-ear headphones", rather than a vague category. Add a price if you know one, so relatives can choose something at their own budget. Add a link if you want an exact product, and a note for anything that is easy to get wrong: size, color, edition, or "any brand is fine".

Mix price levels. Include a few small things under $15, a few mid-range things and, if you like, one bigger item that relatives can chip in for together. People who want to give something but are working to a tight budget will thank you for the lower end of the list.

Finally, think about who will read it. A list for your partner can be personal. A list for extended family should lean on practical items and consumables that are easy to ship. A list for a Secret Santa match, which is what the Secret Santa tool asks for, needs just three or four ideas and a note on things to avoid.

Adding items from anywhere on the site

You do not have to type everything by hand. On every gift card in the gift finder and in the gift quiz results there is a "+ Wish list" button. Our gift guides also show a small button next to each ranked item. Tap it and the idea is saved to your list with its typical price and a short note, and a small confirmation appears. You can then edit the name, price, link or note on this page.

If you shop elsewhere, add a custom item with the form at the top of the tool. Only the name is required. The list holds up to sixty items, which is more than anyone should hand to relatives.

Where your list lives

Your list is stored in your browser's local storage on this device. We do not receive it, and we have no account system to attach it to. That has two consequences you should know about. First, clearing your site data or switching to another browser or phone starts you with an empty list. Second, the list does not sync between your devices. If you want it elsewhere, share the link to yourself or copy the list as text.

Sharing your list

The "Share my wish list" bar creates a link that contains the entire list, compressed inside the part of the address after the "#" sign. Browsers do not send that part of an address to any server, so the list is never uploaded; it travels only from you to the person you send the link to. When they open it, they see a read-only copy with your list name, items, prices, notes and links. They can print it, copy it as text or save a copy to their own list, but they cannot change yours.

The share buttons cover Facebook, X, Pinterest, WhatsApp, Reddit and email, plus a copy-link button and, on phones, your device's own share sheet. Each message uses the title of your list. Because the data sits inside the link, a very long list makes a long link; the tool shows the link length and warns you when a list is too long for some messaging apps. If that happens, remove a few items or send it as copied text instead.

A practical note on privacy: anyone who has your link can read the list, and any link you post publicly can be copied. Do not put an address, phone number or anything private in item notes.

Print it, copy it or send it as text

The Print button produces a clean, ink-light page with just your list name and items, hiding menus, ads and buttons. It works well for a fridge list or a paper copy for grandparents who prefer not to click. The Copy as text button creates a plain list with one item per line, including the price and link, ready to paste into a message, email or notes app.

Tips for the person receiving the list

If someone shares a list with you, treat it as guidance, not a contract. Items near the top of a list are often the most wanted, but there is no ranking unless the writer says so. If you buy something from the list, tell the other family members, or agree in advance who covers which items, so nobody ends up with duplicates. Our gift budget guide explains how to set a limit fairly, and our return window guide is worth reading if you buy something for someone with a specific size or edition in mind.