16 best Christmas crackers for 2023, from luxury to personalised designs

Everything from the contents to the snap of the cracker was considered (iStock/The Independent)

Christmas crackers are the ultimate table decoration, and for many households, no festive place setting is complete without them. While every kind of brand (from beauty to beer) has jumped on the luxury advent calendar bandwagon, varied and unusual Christmas crackers can be a little trickier to find – unless you know where to look.

“Crackers are certainly still a cherished element of festive gatherings,” says Charlie Murray, Christmas buyer at John Lewis. “They add both a touch of tradition and excitement to the Christmas dinner experience, and searches for crackers are up 33 per cent on last year already.”

In line with modern table décor styles, Murray reveals that “there’s a trend in customers wanting crackers that feature unique icons or characters”, and when it comes to contents, “it’s all about the fun family games”.

Yet, for some, Christmas crackers have long been associated with unnecessary waste, owing to years of throwaway trinkets and plastic packaging that so often end up in landfill. So, is it possible to make crackers a part of your festive décor with minimal environmental impact?

“Crackers are much more sustainable now than they have been in previous years,” suggests Murray. “Look out for packaging that is FSC certified [meaning the paper used to make them comes from forests that meet strict environmental and social standards] and contents that are plastic-free. Lastly, they should also be recyclable – including the paper hats and mottos.” Plus, of course, there’s always the option to purchase reusable crackers, which you can fill with your own meaningful gifts year after year.

How we tested

A selection of the best Christmas crackers for 2023

(Danielle Wilkins )

We selected our favourite designs from a whole range of brands covering a wide variety of price points. During testing, we looked closely at everything from the packaging and the price to the “snap” and the sustainability of the materials. Finally, we checked out the all-important contents to make sure there weren’t any disappointing surprises. Only the best designs made it onto the list – all so you can have a cracker of a Christmas (pun fully intended).

The best Christmas crackers for 2023 are: