Holiday shopping for a curious kid usually fails in one of two ways. You blow the budget on a huge box they aren’t ready for, or you stay under a nice round number and end up with something they finish before the wrapping paper is in the recycling.
This guide organizes the kits we actually sell by budget, using prices from our live product pages on November 10, 2026 (Pacific time). Prices can change, so check the product page before you order. Everything below lives in our Science & STEM Kits collection and on the Science & STEM kits page.
One more honest note: a lower price is not automatically a younger gift. The only item we list under $50 right now is a development board for someone already learning electronics. If you’re shopping by age rather than by budget, use how to choose the right STEM kit by age first, then come back here to see where that kit sits.
Bigly Brothers is a Canadian-owned company. We haven’t set a public holiday order-by date for these kits on the product pages, so we won’t invent one. If timing matters, order sooner rather than later and check the page you’re buying from for the latest shipping note.
Under $50
Dual-core WiFi and Bluetooth development board — CA$41.99 (listed compare-at CA$55.99)
This is the only kit in the collection under $50 as of the price check above. It’s a compact dual-core board with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, a USB-C port, a CP2102 USB-to-serial chip, 520 KB of SRAM and breadboard-friendly pins. The page says it works with the Arduino IDE and measures about 5.2 by 2.6 cm.
This is a strong stocking-stuffer for a teen or student who already prototypes on a breadboard. It is not a first STEM gift for a young child. If you want a hands-on kids’ build in this budget, we don’t currently have one in the collection.
Under $100
These sit between a stocking stuffer and a main gift. Most are builder or workbench pieces; one is a finished project a kid or teen can keep using.
Solderless breadboard kit — CA$53.99 (listed compare-at CA$71.99)
An 830-point board and a 400-point board, 140 pre-cut U-shaped jumper wires in 14 lengths, 65 flexible jumper cables and tweezers, packed in a storage box. No soldering. A practical gift for a student who’s ready to prototype, especially next to the development board above.
60W soldering iron kit — CA$71.99 (listed compare-at CA$95.99)
A 60 W iron with adjustable temperature up to 450°C, an on/off switch, five tips, a stand, a desoldering pump, solder wire, tweezers, a wire stripper and a carry bag. Give this to a teen or adult who’s ready for a real tool, not to a young child.
DIY wireless speaker building kit — CA$77.99 (listed compare-at CA$103.99)
The most gift-like kit in this band, and it’s listed for kids and teens. They build a working wireless speaker from wood panels, two drivers, a circuit board, wires, screws and a screwdriver, with a rechargeable battery and an illustrated guide that the page says needs no experience. LED lights flash with the music. After the build, they pair it with a phone to play songs. If you want one present under $100 that feels like a present — not a bag of parts — start here.
1390-piece electronic components kit — CA$77.99 (listed compare-at CA$103.99)
LEDs, 1% metal-film resistors (10 ohm to 1 megaohm), capacitors (0.1 to 1000 microfarad), transistors and diodes in a labelled storage box. A workbench gift, not a one-afternoon toy. Pair it with the breadboard kit if you’re building a starter bench over two holidays.
Mini development board 4-pack — CA$92.99 (listed compare-at CA$123.99)
Four compact boards with WiFi and Bluetooth 5, a 160 MHz 32-bit RISC-V processor, 400 KB SRAM and 4 MB flash. The page says they work with popular free coding tools like the Arduino IDE. A good “more than one project” gift for a student who already codes, or for a classroom maker table — not a first kit for a younger child.
About $140 to $150: the main-gift band
This is where most families shopping for a child will land. Four very different kits sit close together in price, so pick by interest, not by a few dollars.
Electronics Science Kit — CA$141.99 (listed compare-at CA$226.99)
Listed for ages 5 to 12. Snap 32 parts onto a base grid and work through 448-plus circuit projects, with no soldering. Lights, sounds, a mini vacuum, an RGB module and flying-saucer accessories are all in the listing, plus an illustrated manual. The page describes it as screen-free. If the child likes “why did that light up?”, this is the one.
Fossil Dig Kit 3-Pack — CA$142.44 (listed compare-at CA$213.99)
Three complete dig kits, each hiding a dinosaur fossil replica. A natural gift when more than one child will be in the room on Christmas morning, or when you want extras for a party or a classroom table. The listing includes 90-day returns and a 3-year warranty. No numeric age is printed; match it to a child who can handle a small excavation with help.
2-Pack Kids Science Lab Kit — CA$147.96 (listed compare-at CA$221.99)
Two identical kits, 70 experiments each: volcano eruptions, colour-changing reactions, crystal growing and more, with an illustrated guide. Adult supervision is recommended. The two-pack is the point — siblings don’t have to share one box. The listing includes 90-day returns and a 3-year warranty.
5-in-1 STEM Remote Control Robot Building Kit — CA$148.99 (listed compare-at CA$237.99)
Listed for ages 8 to 13. 494 pieces, five robot forms, digital eyes and sounds, a 2.4 GHz remote, an optional coding app and a rechargeable battery the page says gives about 40 minutes of play. This is the “STEM toys for 8 year olds / STEM kit for a 10 year old” gift if they like building something that then drives across the floor.
About $200 to $280: benches, fleets and teen kits
Maker Workbench Trio Bundle — CA$203.97 (listed compare-at CA$339.99)
The 1390-piece components kit, the solderless breadboard kit and the 60W soldering iron kit in one box. A single present that sets up a teen or student bench instead of three separately wrapped tools.
12-in-1 solar robot building kit 4-pack — CA$273.52 (listed compare-at CA$410.99)
Four complete solar robot kits. Each rebuilds into different models and runs on sunlight, with no batteries needed. The page mentions siblings, a classroom table, or one builder who wants a fleet. A generous family gift when more than one child — or a whole table — will want to build at once.
Raspberry Maker Kit for Teens — CA$273.88 (listed compare-at CA$410.99)
An electronics project kit plus a workbench station. The product page is clear: the Raspberry Pi board is not included, so budget for a board separately if they need one. The listing includes 90-day returns and a 3-year warranty. For the teen who already takes things apart.
$300 and up: the big-box gifts
Ultimate Teen Arduino Maker Kit — CA$344.96 (listed compare-at CA$517.99)
Components, a soldering station and a digital multimeter for teen makers. The page says it ships from Surrey, BC in 2 business days. Plan to sit with them for the first soldering sessions.
STEM Gift Set Bundle — CA$368.97 (listed compare-at CA$614.99)
Three builds in one gift-ready set: the electronics science kit (448-plus circuit projects, no soldering), the DIY wireless speaker kit, and the 5-in-1 remote-control robot kit. If you want one box that covers circuits, sound and robotics — and you don’t want to choose between the $140-range kits above — this is the holiday bundle.
90mm astronomy refractor telescope — CA$395.98 (listed compare-at CA$593.99)
Listed for adults and beginners, not as a children’s toy. 90 mm aperture, 800 mm focal length, two eyepieces, a 3x Barlow, a 45-degree zenith mirror, a finder scope, a phone adapter, a stainless steel tripod and a carry bag. The page says it assembles in about 15 minutes and is ready for Moon viewing (including craters and seas), birdwatching and night-sky exploring. It ships from Surrey, BC in 2 business days. A family gift for someone who will actually take it outside.
A faster way to choose
- Young builder who likes lights and “it worked!” — electronics science kit, or the STEM gift set if you want extras in the same box.
- Ages 8 to 13 who want something that moves — the 5-in-1 robot.
- Two children opening gifts together — science lab 2-pack, fossil dig 3-pack or solar robot 4-pack.
- Kids or teens who love music — the wireless speaker kit (under $100).
- A teen who wants a real bench — Maker Workbench Trio, Raspberry maker kit (board not included) or the Arduino maker kit.
- A family that will go outside after dark — the 90 mm telescope.
- A student already coding — the dual-core board under $50, or the mini board 4-pack under $100.
For a side-by-side look at the range, see our roundup of the best STEM kits for kids in Canada. For classrooms rather than Christmas morning, we also wrote STEM kits for Canadian classrooms: bulk-order tips for teachers.
FAQ
Are these prices guaranteed until the holidays? No. They were checked on our live pages on November 10, 2026 (Pacific time) and can change. Confirm the price on the product page when you order.
What’s the best STEM gift under $100? If you want something that feels like a finished present, the DIY wireless speaker kit. If you’re shopping for a student already into electronics, the breadboard kit, the components kit or a development board will get more use. We don’t have a young-child build under $50 in the collection right now.
What’s the best STEM gift under $150? Match it to the child: circuits (electronics kit, ages 5 to 12), robotics (5-in-1 robot, ages 8 to 13), messy science (science lab 2-pack, adult supervision recommended) or fossils (fossil dig 3-pack).
Do you have a holiday shipping cutoff? Not one we’re willing to invent from a blog desk. Shipping is free across Canada, and most orders arrive in 2–4 business days after they ship (remote and rural addresses can take longer). Some listings, including the Arduino maker kit and the telescope, say they ship from Surrey, BC in 2 business days. Check the page you’re ordering from, and don’t leave a main gift until the last week if you can help it.
STEM kits have 90-day returns and a 3-year warranty, the store’s terms for non-projector items.
Where do I shop the full list? The Science & STEM kits page and the collection.
