Gifts Under $100: From Drones to Telescopes

Between $50 and $100, complete objects: kits to build, telescopes, drones and lamps, for him, for her or for a kid.

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Gifts under 100 dollars, from $50 up, buy a science object that stands on its own: a complete kit to build, a drone with a camera, a microscope, a tabletop telescope, a Tesla coil or a Galileo thermometer. It's the price range where objects with a motor, a battery or optics become most common, from camera drones to first telescopes.

Choosing by the person

For him

Into mechanics? This budget covers a working engine. The Mini Stirling Engine ($62.99) starts once you light its wick, and shows every part of the Stirling cycle in a compact model. The Metal Oloid ($59.99) is formed from two circles and rolls with a steady wobble across the desk, in solid metal. For a fan of electricity, the Tesla Coil Music ($84.99) connects to a phone over Bluetooth and throws arcs of about 4 inches in time with the music.

For her

This budget also opens the door to fine glass instruments. The Teardrop Galileo Thermometer ($99.99) is a crystal glass teardrop whose five balls rise and fall with the temperature, from 64 to 79°F. The Storm Globe ($84.99) comes with a wooden or a glass base; its crystals change mostly with the room's warmth, far more than with the weather to come. The 3D Hourglass Sand ($59.99) builds sand dunes in a glass circle, in six sand colors.

For a kid

For a kid, this budget opens up drones, bigger building sets and electric circuits. The Micro Drone (from $79.99) is a durable drone that comes with three spare rotor blades, for ages 6 and up. The 3D Pen for Kids Starter Set ($59.99), for ages 8 and up, draws in the air with plastic that melts at low temperature, and comes with three spools of filament. The Electric Circuit Kit ($79.99) brings together 25 snap-on modules, with no soldering (two AA batteries, not included).

For a teen

For a teen, this budget buys something that stays in their room for years. The Molecular Model Kit ($59.99) has 267 color-coded atoms and bonds, used from high school to college chemistry. The Euler's Disk ($99.99) spins on a concave mirror and seems to speed up before it stops. The Infinity Cube Lamp (from $99.99) changes color and depth as you move around it, thanks to its dichroic glass.

For a grandparent

For a grandparent: a physics classic, in metal or in motion. The Metal Newton's Cradle ($69.99), all metal, lines up seven balls on a frame 7 inches wide and takes up little room. The Sand Pendulum ($67.99) swings above a basin of sand and draws a different pattern every time. The Orbital Solar System Desk Toy ($53.99) needs no power: a single push sets its gold and green spheres swinging.

What you'll find between $50 and $100

BudgetExamplesWho it suits
$50 to $70Orbital Solar System Desk Toy ($53.99), Sand Pendulum ($67.99)A birthday, a coworker's farewell, a gift from two people
$70 to $85Solar Stirling Engine ($79.99), Micro Drone (from $79.99)A teen into physics, a kid's bedroom
$85 to $100Newton's Cradle 7 Balls ($89.99), Childrens Telescope ($99.99)A milestone birthday, Christmas, a group gift

What this budget doesn't buy

Between $50 and $100, you'll find complete objects, but not the biggest showpieces: the motorized precision gyroscope or the V8 engine to build, for example, sit on our page of gifts over $100. No luxury brands here either: the price difference shows in size, number of parts or the technology inside (camera, battery, optics). Good to know: at this price, most single objects already qualify for free shipping on orders over $59.90. For a tighter budget, browse our ideas under $50 or our small-price selection, and our gift boxes if you'd rather have a ready-made set.

Frequently asked questions

What can you get with gifts under 100 dollars?

Between $50 and $100, you'll find complete objects: mechanical kits, camera drones, microscopes, lava lamps or Galileo thermometers. The Newton's Cradle 7 Balls ($89.99) has 7 balls, two more than a standard model. The Orange Lava Lamp ($89.99) stands 13 inches tall, with wax and deionized water in glass and aluminum. Choose by the person and the room where the object will live, then check the recommended age of each one.

What are good gifts under $100 for him?

Aim for a mechanism he'll enjoy showing off. The Solar Stirling Engine ($79.99) spins at 300 to 1,500 rpm, with no energy other than the light caught by its solar panel. The Cryptex Puzzle ($79.99), a metal cylinder with rings of letters, opens only with the right combination and can hide a small object. For a mechanics fan, the V8 Engine Model Kit ($119.99) is just above this budget, with 535 parts to build.

What are good gifts under $100 for her?

Think about the moment of the day she'll use it. For the morning, the Cone Coffee Cup (4 pcs) ($79.99) serves coffee in four 5 oz cone-shaped ceramic cups. For the evening, the Led Rotating Lamp ($77.99) floats a glowing sphere that turns slowly, with colors she changes with a wave of the hand. On her wrist, the Magnetic Ball Watch ($78.99) shows the time with magnetic iron balls that revolve with the hours.

What's a good gift under $100 for a kid?

Start with the recommended age of each toy. From age 8, the Drone for 8 Year Olds ($79.99) flies, rolls and skims across water, with 8 to 10 minutes of flight per charge. From age 3, the Kids Endoscope Camera ($59.99) slips its camera and LEDs into a burrow or a hollow log; it's dust and water resistant and stores about 100 photos. For a budding astronomer, the Childrens Telescope ($99.99) is recommended from age 8.

What can you find in gifts under 75 dollars?

Stay in the first band of the table and the start of the second. The Clip-On Phone Microscope ($74.99) turns a smartphone into a microscope that magnifies up to 200x. The Galaxy Light Projector ($74.99) sweeps the constellations across the walls in white, yellow or blue light. The Landscape Hourglass ($72.99) lets colored sand and bubbles flow in a 10-inch frame, a picture to watch more than a timer.

Can I exchange the gift if it isn't right?

Yes. You have 30 days to change your mind, which leaves time to give the gift and see whether it's a hit. If it doesn't suit them, you can send it back within that period. There's also free shipping on orders over $59.90, which most objects on this page reach on their own.