Christmas gonks and gnomes for shelves and mantelpieces
Marco Paul Interiors
Gonk snow globe lantern with swirling snow and timer, 29 cm
Prices checked on Amazon UK on 3 October 2026; they may have changed since. The price ranges and medians quoted in the text of this page come from the check of 29 September 2026. Ratings and review counts are those of Amazon shoppers. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Christmas gonks by size and type
Most of the gonks and gnomes here are soft sitting figures, joined by a lantern snow globe, window stickers and a felt kit. Prices run from about £4 to £20, half of them sit between £8 and £14, and the average rating is 4.5 out of 5.
| Type | Size in the listings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sitting pairs and trios | 25 to 38 cm | Cotton, wool or polyester, with a sand or gravel base |
| Small sets of two or three | About 18 cm long (7 in) | Polyester or plush, handmade |
| Large single gnome | 46 cm tall | Polyester with a sand base |
| Light-up gonks | 30 to 35 cm tall | LEDs inside, batteries needed |
| Lantern snow globe with a gonk | 29 cm tall | LEDs, swirling snow and a timer |
| Window stickers | 6 per pack | Reusable and double-sided |
Picking Christmas gonks and gnomes
Size and where they sit
A gonk sits with its legs over an edge, and the listings mention fireplaces, coffee tables, windowsills and stairs. Check which measure a listing gives, because a sitting figure can be quoted by its height or by its length with the legs out.
Base and finish
Sand or gravel in the base keeps a gonk upright, and several listings say so. One lists a weighted bottom and a bendable hat. Handmade listings add that size and weight differ slightly from one figure to the next, so two gonks from the same set will not match exactly.
Light-up gonks and batteries
The light-up gonks and the lantern snow globe run on batteries. One set takes 3 AAA batteries and the globe takes 3 AA, and both listings say the batteries are not included. Plain plush gonks need nothing.
Stickers and kits
Window stickers, 6 to a pack, cling to the glass and show from inside and outside. The felt kit has pre-punched shapes, thread and stuffing for one gonk of 10.5 x 13 cm, and it is one of the cheapest items here.
Gonks, gnomes and tomte
Shops use the names loosely. The listings call the same kind of figure a gonk, gnome, tomte, nisse, dwarf or elf, and describe it as a Scandinavian farm guardian said to bring good luck. For where the gonk comes from and why it became a Christmas craze, read the Christmas gonk craze explained.
The Scandinavian look fits the styles in Christmas decor styles explained. Gonks belong to the wider Nativity, villages and figurines range, and for a lit globe on the same shelf see snow globes and music boxes.
Frequently asked questions: Christmas Gonks & Gnomes
What is a Christmas gonk?
A Christmas gonk is a soft figure with a long hat and a beard or hair that covers the face, made to sit on a shelf edge with its legs hanging down. The ones here are cotton, wool, polyester or plush, mostly 25 to 38 cm tall, with a sand or gravel base. Some light up and take batteries.
Are gnomes and gonks the same thing?
In shops the two words overlap. The listings here call the same figures gonks, gnomes, tomte and nisse, so compare size, base and fabric instead of the label.
Are gonks good luck?
The listings describe a gonk or tomte as a good luck charm, taken from Scandinavian folklore, where the tomte or nisse guards the farm and its animals. That is a tradition and a story, not a rule. A gonk is a decoration first.
How big are large Christmas gonks?
The largest gnome listed is 46 cm tall, a 38 cm gonk comes next, and most sitting pairs and trios are 25 to 38 cm. The smallest sets are about 18 cm long (7 in). Check whether the listing gives the height or the length.
Do Christmas gonks light up?
Some do. Two sets of three have LEDs inside the figure, and a 29 cm lantern snow globe with a gonk has LEDs, swirling snow and a timer. One set takes 3 AAA batteries and the globe 3 AA, and both listings say the batteries are not included.
How much do Christmas gonks cost?
The gonks and gnomes here cost from about £4 to £20, and half of them sit between £8 and £14. Sets of two or three plush gonks cost about £7 to £16. The cheapest items are the felt kit and the window stickers.
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