Gifts

Best Pickleball Gifts Under $25 in 2026: 20 Small Gifts Players Actually Use

The best pickleball gifts under $25 for birthdays, league gift swaps, coaches, and Secret Santa: real-brand overgrips, paddle covers, edge tape, balls, and hats, with every price and rating checked by hand.

·24 min read

The $25 Pickleball Gift, Done Right

Twenty-five dollars is the budget for the gifts nobody plans ahead for. There's the league's end-of-season gift swap, a thank-you for the coach who fixed your serve, the birthday of someone from Tuesday open play, and the office Secret Santa. Most guides answer with a pile of novelty mugs and print-on-demand doormats.

This guide goes the other way. Almost everything here is real gear from the brands that make the paddles we recommend: Selkirk, CPX, ONIX, 11six24, and JOOLA. These are the small things every player goes through, like overgrips, edge tape, balls, and towels. Players rarely buy them for themselves, so they're the gifts that actually get used.

I'm a beginner, and a lot of what's on this page is stuff I didn't know existed six months ago and now buy on repeat. Every price was read off the brand's own store or Amazon on October 7, 2026. I quote a rating only when there's a real review count behind it, and where a store doesn't show reviews, I say so. If you want holiday-specific ideas like ornaments, gift boxes, and stocking-stuffer jokes, our Christmas gift guide covers those. This page works all year.


The Best Pickleball Gift Under $25

Best pickleball gift under $25$14.97

CPX Neoprene Paddle Cover

A padded neoprene sleeve that keeps the paddle face from getting scratched in a bag or car trunk. It has 5.0 stars from 552 reviews on CPX's site, the most review volume behind any gift on this page, and comes in six colors. Our link takes 10% off at checkout, which brings it to about $13.47, and CPX advertises a 90-day money-back guarantee.

CPX Paddle Cover ($14.97, about $13.47 with our link)

A good paddle costs $100 or more, and most players toss it into a bag with keys, a water bottle, and loose balls. Over time the face gets scuffed, and on raw carbon paddles the gritty surface that creates spin wears down faster. A cover is the simplest fix, and it's the kind of thing people mean to buy and never get around to.

The CPX cover is a zippered neoprene sleeve that weighs 2 ounces. It comes in black, green, gray, white, and two pinks. 5.0 stars from 552 reviews is a remarkable number for an accessory, and it's why this is the top pick over every other cover I looked at.

Two things to check first. Some paddles come with a cover, so take a look in their bag. If they already have a decent one, get them overgrips from the next section instead. Also, CPX lists this cover as fitting every CPX paddle. Neoprene has some give, so most standard-size paddles will fit, but if theirs is an unusual shape, the ONIX Pro Team cover ($19.99, about $17 with our link) lists exact dimensions: 21 by 9.5 inches. Selkirk's budget SLK case ($12, 4.8★ from 153 reviews) is another option, but only the black/volt color is in stock right now.

Buy the CPX Paddle Cover — 10% off

Make it a $25 gift: add CPX's edge guard tape ($9.97), and the pair comes to about $22.45 after the discount. More one-store bundles are further down.


Overgrips: The Gift Every Player Goes Through

An overgrip is a thin, tacky wrap that goes over the paddle's original grip. It soaks up sweat, adds a little cushion, and makes a worn paddle feel new again. Regular players replace theirs every few weeks, so a pack of overgrips never goes to waste.

Overgrips fit any paddle. The only choice is color.

11six24 Tacky Overgrips, 10-Pack ($14.99)

This is the one I'd give to someone who plays three or more times a week. Ten overgrips last most players a full season, and 4.8 stars from 169 reviews says they hold up. Teal is $14.99, and pink is $16.99. Purple, white, and black are sold out right now. 11six24 makes the Jelly Bean, one of the paddles in our beginner paddle guide, and its accessories are just as well made.

11six24 tacky overgrips in pink, lavender, and teal wrapped on three pickleball paddles
Buy 11six24 Overgrips — $14.99

Selkirk Tacky Overgrip, 3-Pack ($7)

This is the cheapest real-brand gift on the page, and it still has 4.6 stars from 161 reviews. Three overgrips in black or white (gray is sold out). It's an easy add-on to any other gift, or a stocking stuffer on its own.

Selkirk tacky pickleball overgrip 3-pack in black
Buy Selkirk Overgrips — $7

Also good: ONIX's paddle overgrip ($7.99, about $6.79 with our link) comes in pink, white, or black. If you're already placing a bigger JOOLA order, its 4-count roll is $11.95.


Paddle Protection and Care ($8–$15)

These gifts show you actually know the sport. They're cheap, they protect an expensive paddle, and almost nobody buys them until something goes wrong.

Selkirk Edge Guard Tape ($8)

The edge of a paddle takes a beating from low dinks, scrapes off the court, and the occasional fence. Edge guard tape is a protective strip that wraps the rim. Selkirk's has 4.7 stars from 320 reviews, the highest count of any item under $10 that I found. It comes in 15mm and 20mm widths; the 30mm is sold out. If you don't know their paddle, 20mm is the safe middle choice.

Selkirk protection tape for pickleball paddle edges, 20mm, in retail packaging
Buy Selkirk Edge Tape — $8

CPX Edge Guard Tape ($9.97, about $8.97 with our link)

This is the pick if they play a CPX paddle, because it comes in widths matched to each model: 14mm for the Max, 16mm for the Ultra, and 19mm for the Pro. It has 4.8 stars from 211 reviews and comes in black, gray, green, or pink.

CPX pickleball paddle edge guard tape in black with orange and white CPX logos
Buy CPX Edge Tape — 10% off

A Paddle Eraser: Selkirk Cleaning Block ($10) or CPX Eraser ($14.97)

Raw carbon paddle faces have a gritty texture that grabs the ball and creates spin. Ball residue fills that texture in over time. A paddle eraser scrubs it clean in about 30 seconds.

  • Selkirk Raw Carbon Cleaning Block, 2-pack ($10) has 4.7★ from 100 reviews. You get two blocks, one for the bag and one for home.
  • CPX Paddle Eraser ($14.97, about $13.47 with our link) has 4.9★ from 157 reviews and comes in a gift-ready box.

Check their paddle first. Erasers only help on raw carbon faces, not fiberglass or painted ones. Most of the $99-and-up paddles from Vatic, JOOLA, and CPX have raw carbon faces. If you're not sure, the paddle's product page will say.

Selkirk raw carbon fiber pickleball paddle cleaning block
Buy Selkirk Cleaning Blocks — $10 Buy the CPX Eraser — 10% off

CPX Lead Tape Strips ($14.97, about $13.47 with our link)

Lead tape is how better players customize a paddle. A strip at 3 and 9 o'clock makes the sweet spot more stable, and a strip at the top adds power. CPX's pack has ten 3-gram adhesive strips and 4.9 stars from 62 reviews. It's the right gift for someone who talks about their paddle's "swing weight." For anyone else, skip it. 11six24's thinner tungsten tape ($14.99) is the alternative.

CPX lead weights, 10 adhesive 3-gram strips for pickleball paddles
Buy CPX Lead Tape — 10% off

Balls: The Gift Nobody Has Enough Of ($9–$17)

Balls crack, go over fences, and wear smooth. Every player I know is down to their last decent one at some point. The one thing to get right is indoor vs. outdoor. Outdoor balls are harder with smaller holes, and most people play outdoors. Our indoor vs. outdoor balls guide explains the difference.

Franklin X-40 Outdoor, 3-Pack ($9.97)

This is the ball most public courts use, and Amazon bills it as the US Open ball. It has 4.7 stars from more than 26,000 reviews and sells 9,000+ a month. If you don't know what they play with, this is the zero-risk choice.

Franklin X-40 outdoor pickleballs, 3-pack
Buy Franklin X-40 Balls — $9.97

ONIX Fuse G2 ($8.99 for 3) or Dura Fast-40 ($9.99 for 4)

ONIX makes two of the sport's best-known outdoor balls, and our link takes 15% off both.

  • Fuse G2 Outdoor comes in neon green or yellow, at $8.99 for a 3-pack or $16.99 for a 6-pack. ONIX says the welded seam resists splitting, which is how most outdoor balls die.
  • Dura Fast-40 is the one-piece ball ONIX bills as the official ball of the Senior Pro Tour. A 4-pack is $9.99 in pink, or $12.99 in neon green or yellow.

ONIX doesn't show public review counts on its store, so I can't give you a star rating for either one.

ONIX Fuse G2 outdoor pickleballs in neon green
Buy ONIX Balls — 15% off

For someone who hosts a weekly group, the CPX40 8-pack ($29.97) is a step over budget, but it comes in a gift box. It's in our gifts under $50 guide.


Sweat, Sun, and Comfort ($8–$25)

This is the section to shop for someone who plays outdoors, plays hard, or plays in the heat.

11six24 Court Towel ($8)

It's a small black terry towel with an embroidered 11SIX24 logo, sized to hang off a bag or a fence. It has 4.95 stars from 42 reviews, the highest average on this page. It's an easy gift for a coach, and it pairs well with the overgrips.

Black 11six24 pickleball court towel with embroidered teal logo
Buy the 11six24 Towel — $8

ONIX Headband ($7.99) and Wristbands ($8.99)

Sweat in the eyes and a slippery paddle hand are the two classic summer problems, and these solve both for under $20 together. The headband comes in white, black, or orange, and the wristbands come in pink, orange, green, or blue. Both are mostly cotton, and our link takes 15% off.

ONIX pickleball sweat wristbands
Buy ONIX Sweatbands — 15% off

Selkirk Boost Glove ($18)

This is the gift for the player who keeps wiping their hand on their shorts between points. It's a single performance glove for the paddle hand, with 4.6 stars from 83 reviews. You'll need to know two things: whether they're right- or left-handed (it goes on the hand that holds the paddle), and men's or women's fit.

Selkirk Boost pickleball glove in white and black
Buy the Selkirk Boost Glove — $18

A Real Pickleball Hat: Selkirk ($20) or CPX ($24.97)

  • Selkirk Performance Core Hat ($20) has 4.4★ from 223 reviews. It's lightweight and sweat-wicking, with a non-glare lining under the brim for tracking lobs into the sun. It comes in black or white.
  • CPX Club Hat ($24.97, about $22.47 with our link) has 4.8★ from 68 reviews. It's an embroidered, adjustable dad-hat style that looks like a normal cap off the court. The white "Pickle" version is sold out, and the rest are in stock.
CPX Pickleball Club Hat in black with a small embroidered CPX logo
Buy the Selkirk Hat — $20 Buy the CPX Club Hat — 10% off

Selkirk Pickleball Socks, 3-Pack ($20)

Performance crew socks with a Selkirk logo on the cuff, with 4.7 stars from 64 reviews. They come in white or black. Medium is sold out in both colors right now, but small, large, and XL are in stock. Like anything with a size, include a gift receipt. Our pickleball apparel guide covers the rest of what to wear on court.

Selkirk pickleball performance socks in black with white Selkirk logo
Buy Selkirk Socks — $20

Fun Gifts and Gifts for New Players ($5–$15)

Not everything has to be gear. These three are fun without being junk.

CPX Pickle Keychain ($4.99, about $4.49 with our link)

It's an acrylic keychain of CPX's sunglasses-wearing pickle mascot holding one of its paddles. You pick the Air, Pro, Max, or Ultra version (the white Max is sold out). At $5, it's the best team gift on this page. Eight keychains come to $39.92 before the discount, which clears CPX's $30 free-shipping minimum, so a whole league team can get one without a shipping charge.

CPX acrylic keychain of a pickle mascot in sunglasses and a CPX cap holding a CPX Air paddle
Buy CPX Keychains — 10% off

JOOLA Pickleball Plushie ($12.95)

JOOLA's plush pickleball mascot, "Dink D. Ball," is a smiling yellow ball with arms and legs, on a cord loop for hanging from a bag. It's a good gift for a kid who plays, or for anyone who wants their bag easy to spot on a crowded fence. JOOLA doesn't show review counts, and its free shipping starts at $100, so buy it alongside something else from JOOLA.

JOOLA Dink D. Ball yellow plush pickleball bag charm on a black loop
See the JOOLA Plushie — $12.95

Pickleball For Dummies ($14.25)

For someone who has just started, or who keeps saying they're going to, Pickleball For Dummies is a better book than it sounds. The paperback is $14.25 and it has 4.6★ from 238 reviews. It covers rules, scoring, and basic strategy without being overwhelming. Pair it with a 3-pack of balls and it's a complete beginner gift for under $25. Our free how to play pickleball guide covers the basics too.

Looking for the jokes? The gag gifts, pun socks, and white-elephant winners are in our funny pickleball gifts guide, filtered for real review volume.


The Shipping Trap on Small Gifts

This is the part most gift guides skip. Every brand store has a free-shipping minimum, and almost every gift on this page is below it. A $7 pack of overgrips can cost more to ship than to buy.

StoreFree shipping starts atWhat that means for a $25 gift
AmazonFree with PrimeThe cheapest way to send a single small gift
CPX$30Two items or a team order gets there. The lowest minimum of any brand store
ONIX$40Combine gifts for two people, or add something for yourself
Selkirk$55Small orders pay shipping
11six24$75Small orders pay shipping
JOOLA$100 (before discounts)Only worth it alongside a bigger JOOLA order

My advice: if you're buying one small gift, buy it where shipping is free or the minimum is low (Amazon, CPX). If you're buying several, put them all in one brand-store order. A coach gift, a Secret Santa gift, and a pack of overgrips for yourself will often clear ONIX's or Selkirk's minimum together. The bundles below are built the same way.


Build a $25 Gift Bundle (One Store, One Order)

One $8 item can look like an afterthought. Three that go together look like a real gift. Each of these bundles ships from a single store, so it's one order and one box to wrap.

BundleWhat's in itTotal
The Selkirk paddle-care kitTacky overgrip 3-pack ($7) + edge guard tape ($8) + cleaning block 2-pack ($10)$25.00 + shipping
The CPX protect-the-paddle kitPaddle cover ($14.97) + edge guard tape ($9.97), before our 10%$24.94 → about $22.45
The ONIX sweat kitHeadband ($7.99) + wristbands ($8.99) + overgrip ($7.99), before our 15%$24.97 → about $21.22
The Amazon new-player kitFranklin X-40 3-pack ($9.97) + Pickleball For Dummies ($14.25)$24.22, Prime

The CPX and ONIX totals are what you'd pay through our links after the discount applies at checkout, before any shipping. The Selkirk kit has every item on Selkirk's site at $7–$10, and it's the most "I know what you need" gift on this page, as long as their paddle has a raw carbon face for the cleaning block.


Pickleball Gifts Under $25 Compared

Every pick on this page, by price
GiftPriceRatingWhereBest for
CPX Pickle Keychain$4.99—CPX (10% off)Team and league swaps
Selkirk Tacky Overgrip 3-Pack$74.6★ (161)SelkirkCheapest real-brand gift
ONIX Headband$7.99—ONIX (15% off)Outdoor, hot-weather players
Selkirk Edge Guard Tape$84.7★ (320)SelkirkBest under $10
11six24 Court Towel$84.95★ (42)11six24Coach thank-you
ONIX Fuse G2 Balls (3)$8.99—ONIX (15% off)Outdoor players
ONIX Wristbands$8.99—ONIX (15% off)Sweaty paddle hand
ONIX Dura Fast-40 Balls (4)$9.99—ONIX (15% off)Competitive outdoor play
CPX Edge Guard Tape$9.974.8★ (211)CPX (10% off)CPX paddle owners
Franklin X-40 Balls (3)$9.974.7★ (26K+)AmazonAnyone, zero risk
Selkirk Cleaning Block 2-Pack$104.7★ (100)SelkirkRaw carbon paddles
JOOLA Plushie$12.95—JOOLAKids, bag charm
Pickleball For Dummies$14.254.6★ (238)AmazonComplete beginners
CPX Paddle Cover$14.975.0★ (552)CPX (10% off)Best overall
CPX Paddle Eraser$14.974.9★ (157)CPX (10% off)Raw carbon, gift box
CPX Lead Tape Strips$14.974.9★ (62)CPX (10% off)Players who tinker
11six24 Tacky Overgrips 10-Pack$14.994.8★ (169)11six24Frequent players
Selkirk Boost Glove$184.6★ (83)SelkirkSweaty hands
Selkirk Performance Core Hat$204.4★ (223)SelkirkSun and lobs
Selkirk Socks 3-Pack$204.7★ (64)SelkirkComfort, if you know the size
CPX Club Hat$24.974.8★ (68)CPX (10% off)Wears off-court too

A dash means the brand's store doesn't show a public review count for that item, not that it's poorly reviewed.


Pickleball Gifts Under $25 by Occasion

League or team gift swap. Buy one thing that everyone uses. CPX keychains at $4.99 each clear free shipping at eight. For a $15 swap limit, the 11six24 10-pack of overgrips is the gift people fight over.

Thank-you for a coach or clinic instructor. Coaches are on court all day, so give them something for that. The 11six24 towel plus a handwritten card is plenty. For a bigger thank-you, the Selkirk hat is better.

Birthday for someone from open play. You probably don't know their paddle or their size, so go universal: the CPX cover or a 3-pack of Franklin X-40s.

Office Secret Santa or white elephant. If the person plays, the ONIX sweat kit lands under $22. If it's a mystery recipient, go funny. Our funny gifts guide has a whole white-elephant section.

Stocking stuffers. Selkirk overgrips ($7) and edge tape ($8) both fit in a stocking. For ornaments and holiday novelties, see our Christmas gift guide.

Someone who's never played. Give Pickleball For Dummies and a pack of balls, then offer to take them to their first open play. When they're ready for gear, our starter set guide has the two-paddle sets that get a couple playing.

Your mom, wife, dad, or husband. Our gifts for her and gifts for him guides cover every budget.

Spending a bit more?

$9–$50
Pickleball gifts under $50

Real-brand slings from Selkirk and ONIX, protective eyewear, a USA Pickleball-approved paddle, and one-store bundles that land right at $50.

See gifts under $50arrow_forward

What NOT to Buy Under $25

Pickleball score keepers. It seems like the perfect cheap gadget gift, but on Amazon today the wristband, clip-on, and paddle-butt score keepers all rate between 3.5 and 4.1 stars, and the best-rated "pickleball" scoreboards have only a handful of reviews. Players keep score out loud, and most of these end up in a drawer.

A $20 paddle. At this price you're buying wood, or an outlet paddle you can't return. JOOLA's Agassi Champion 12mm is marked down to $20.95 right now, but it's an outlet item, and JOOLA's outlet items are final sale. JOOLA's own page also says it isn't eligible for USA Pickleball competitions as of May 1, 2026. If you want to give a paddle, our gifts under $50 guide has real ones starting at $33.

A paddle eraser for a fiberglass paddle. It does nothing on a fiberglass or painted face. Check the paddle first.

Anything that needs a size you're guessing at. Socks and gloves need a gift receipt. Overgrips, edge tape, balls, covers, towels, and hats don't.


Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best pickleball gift under $25?

The CPX Paddle Cover ($14.97, about $13.47 with our link). It protects an expensive paddle in their bag, comes in six colors, and has 5.0 stars from 552 reviews, the most validation of any gift under $25 that we found. If their paddle already has a good cover, a 10-pack of 11six24 Tacky Overgrips ($14.99, 4.8 stars from 169 reviews) is the next-best gift, because every player goes through overgrips.

What's a good pickleball gift under $10?

Selkirk Edge Guard Tape ($8, 4.7 stars from 320 reviews) protects the paddle's edge from chips and scrapes. A Selkirk Tacky Overgrip 3-pack ($7) or a 3-pack of Franklin X-40 outdoor balls ($9.97, 4.7 stars from 26,000+ reviews) are also safe choices. All three work for any player, whatever paddle they use.

What's a good pickleball gift for a league or team gift exchange?

Pick something everyone uses, regardless of skill level. Overgrips are the classic, and the 11six24 10-pack ($14.99) fits a $15 limit. For a whole team, CPX's pickle keychains are $4.99 each, and eight of them clear CPX's $30 free-shipping minimum.

What's a good thank-you gift for a pickleball coach?

Something they'll use on court every day: an 11six24 court towel ($8, 4.95 stars from 42 reviews) with a handwritten card, or a Selkirk Performance Core Hat ($20) with a non-glare brim for long days in the sun. Coaches go through overgrips quickly too.

Is it cheaper to buy small pickleball gifts on Amazon or from the brand?

For a single gift under $25, Amazon with Prime or CPX is usually cheapest, because every brand store has a free-shipping minimum: $30 at CPX, $40 at ONIX, $55 at Selkirk, $75 at 11six24, and $100 at JOOLA. If you're buying several gifts, put them in one brand-store order to clear the minimum. Our links also take 15% off at ONIX and 10% off at CPX.

Do I need to know what paddle they use?

Only for a few gifts. Overgrips, balls, towels, hats, and edge tape work with any paddle. A paddle eraser or cleaning block only helps on raw carbon faces, so check the paddle first. Edge tape comes in widths. 20mm is a safe default, and CPX sells widths matched to each CPX model.


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Charles McQuain

Written by Charles McQuain

Started pickleball as a total beginner in 2026 and has been documenting the journey ever since — first paddle, first upgrade, and everything between. Every recommendation comes from real on-court experience: no sponsored opinions, just honest reviews from someone leveling up right alongside you.