30 Best Gifts That Start With I, From iPad to Instax

The Instant Pot is the kitchen I gift that gets used on weeknights, not just holidays. Pressure-cooked chili in 40 minutes, yogurt overnight and rice without a separate cooker make it ideal for a new homeowner, a college grad or a parent feeding a family on a schedule.

Pair the Instant Pot with its sibling for a full Instant countertop. The Vortex Plus crisps wings, reheats pizza without sogginess and roasts vegetables with almost no preheat, which suits anyone cooking for one or two who does not want to heat a full oven.

An immersion blender is a small I that punches above its price: blend squash soup straight in the pot, whip a smoothie in the cup or make mayo in a jar. It is a great gift for a soup lover or someone setting up a first kitchen.

Iron skillet is a fair I, and a Lodge is the one cooks trust. The 8-inch size is perfect for eggs, a single steak or a skillet cookie, and with use it becomes the pan someone hands down to their kids.

Infrared thermometers are a quirky I gift that home pizza makers genuinely need: a pizza oven floor needs to be properly hot before the first pie goes in, and this gun shows exactly when it is. It is also great for the griddle cook or the DIY-er checking drafty windows.

For an Italian-themed I gift, a high-polyphenol olive oil is the luxury version of something they use every day. This one is meant for finishing, drizzled over bread, burrata or soup, which makes it feel like a treat rather than a pantry restock.

Marcella Hazan's Italian classic is the cookbook serious home cooks eventually buy, and the anniversary hardcover makes a lovely gift. Pair it with the olive oil above for an Italian night basket that ticks the I box twice.

Ice cream is one of the most fun I gifts on the list, and this Cuisinart makes two quarts of it in about 20 minutes. It is perfect for families who want a weekend project or anyone who has opinions about flavors the store never stocks.

Ice is a clever I gift for the person with a home bar. These molds make four glass-clear spheres that look like they came from a cocktail lounge and melt slowly, so a bourbon or an old fashioned stays strong until the last sip.

Iced coffee drinkers will order it in a snowstorm, so give them a machine that does it properly. The K-Duo has a brew-over-ice setting for single cups and a full carafe for weekends with guests, which suits a couple with different coffee habits.

An insulated tumbler is an easy I that suits nearly anyone, and the Stanley Quencher is the one people ask for by name. The handle and straw make it a desk and car companion, and it keeps ice in a drink through an entire workday. It is our budget top pick.

For the hiker or gym-goer, the insulated Hydro Flask is the sturdier I alternative to a tumbler. The Flex Straw cap is leakproof in a backpack, and water stays cold for 24 hours on the trail.

A loose leaf tea infuser is a small I gift that works as a stocking stuffer or an add-on for a tea lover. The fine mesh catches even rooibos, and the screw lid means no leaves escape into the mug.

The iPad is the most obvious I there is, and it is also the one most people will actually be thrilled to unwrap. The current 11-inch model with the A16 chip starts at 128GB, so a student, a grandparent who video calls or a weekend sketcher will not run out of space. Make it the centerpiece of an I basket and tuck the Apple Pencil underneath.

An iPad pencil counts double: it is an I gift on its own and the perfect add-on to the tablet above. The USB-C version works with the 11-inch A16 iPad, snaps to the side magnetically and is precise enough for handwritten lecture notes or digital painting.

iRobot is a brand everyone recognizes, which makes the letter link instant. This Roomba vacuums and mops in one run, and its AutoWash dock scrubs the mop pads itself, so it suits a busy household with pets or kids who track in mud. It is the splurge I gift for someone who hates chores.

For the iPhone owner with three cables fighting for one outlet, this stand charges the phone, Apple Watch and AirPods together. It is an inexpensive I gift that makes a nightstand look instantly calmer, and the ambient light switches off for sleep.

Instax is the I gift tweens and teens reliably love. The Mini 12 sets exposure on its own, so every party shot comes out, and the selfie mirror makes it the hit of any sleepover. Give it with the film twin pack so they can start shooting right away.

Instant film is the I gift every Instax owner secretly wants more of, because ten shots disappear in one evening. It is a smart stocking stuffer on its own or the natural companion to the camera.

An illusion lamp is a fun I for younger kids: the flat acrylic panel looks like a glowing 3D shape in the dark. Sixteen colors and a remote let a child pick their own bedtime glow, which helps when the dark feels scary.

An illustrated encyclopedia suits the kid who asks why fifty times a day. Its question-and-answer layout and big color pictures make it a book they will pick up on their own, and parents get a break from inventing answers about volcanoes.

An indoor garden is a lovely I gift for apartment dwellers and winter cooks. Ten pods of basil, mint or lettuce grow under the built-in light with no soil, so fresh herbs are a snip away even in January.

For the plant parent with an overflowing windowsill, indoor planters with built-in reservoirs are a practical I. The three sizes let them repot a growing monstera, and the water gauge stops the overwatering that kills most houseplants.

Incense is a gentle I gift for someone who likes a calm corner for reading or yoga. The glass cover keeps ash off the furniture, and the 20 included sticks mean it is ready to use out of the box.

An ice roller is one of the cleverest small I gifts: chill it overnight and roll it over a puffy face or tired eyes in the morning. Skincare fans and anyone who stares at screens all day will reach for it constantly, and it is under $20.

An infinity scarf is a wearable I with a secret: a zippered pocket for a passport, card or key. It is a smart gift for a frequent traveler or concertgoer who hates carrying a bag.

An initial necklace is the most personal I gift here, especially for an Isabella, Ivy or Imani who can wear their own letter. It is dainty, under $10 and easy to add to a bigger I basket.

An inflatable paddle board is the big outdoor I gift for someone who lives near a lake or vacations at the beach. The kit includes paddle, pump and leash and packs into a backpack, so it fits in a car trunk or a closet.

The inflatable kayak is the I gift for couples or best friends, since it seats two. It inflates in minutes at the shore and costs far less than a hard-shell boat, making it a great way to test whether paddling sticks.

An insulated lunch bag is a modest I that gets used every day by commuters, nurses and anyone packing food for a day on the water. Two separate compartments keep a hot meal and cold drinks apart.