Gifts for Employees (Holiday and Appreciation)
- 20 gift ideas
- From under $10 to under $100
Good gifts for employees are fair, easy to give and useful: a box of treats for the break room, a desk upgrade like a laptop stand or monitor light bar, an insulated bottle, a soft throw or a handwritten thank-you card with a small gift. Add a personal note to each one.
Quick picks
- Best for big teams: Individually wrapped cookies for every desk Wrapped packs that go desk to desk and cover a whole department. Idea 4
- Best splurge: A high-end wireless mouse A desk upgrade worth giving after a standout year. Idea 7
- Best overall: An insulated water bottle Useful for the commute, the gym and the desk. Idea 12
- Best under $10: A soft fleece throw A soft, low-cost gift that works for a large team. Idea 15
- Most personal: A custom engraved name plate A small recognition gift that feels official. Idea 20
Giving gifts to employees works best when the gift is fair, easy to receive and clearly meant as thanks. We sorted these 20 ideas into treats for the whole team, desk upgrades, everyday carry and recognition gifts that make it personal, so you can choose by team size and budget.
Many of these ideas scale to a full team, and some are low-cost for a big group. They work as Christmas gifts for employees, year-end holiday gifts for staff or employee appreciation gifts at any time of year, and each idea says who it suits. If you also exchange gifts with peers, see Gifts for Coworkers.
Ideas 1 to 5
Treats to share with the team
Easy thank-yous that cover a whole team at once. Check for allergies and dietary needs before you choose.
1. Bakery cookies to share with the team
Bakery cookies are an easy thank-you to share, and a two-bag pack splits well across a small team. They suit offices where people like to gather around a treat in the break room. Leave them out with a short note so everyone knows who they are from, and check for allergies and dietary needs before you choose.
Tip: Ask about allergies first, and leave a card saying who the treat is from.
2. A big variety box of snacks
A large mixed snack box covers sweet, salty and savory tastes, so it suits a team with different preferences and works as a thank-you for the whole group. Leave it in the break room with a note. Check the contents for common allergens, and add a few options for people who avoid certain ingredients.
Tip: Leave it in the break room with a card so the thanks is clear.
3. A coffee, tea and cocoa pod sampler
A mixed box of coffee, tea and hot chocolate pods keeps the office machine stocked and lets everyone try something new. It only works if the office has a compatible single-serve brewer, so confirm the machine first. Place it next to the machine with a card so people know the thanks is for them.
Tip: Confirm the office machine takes this pod type before you order.
4. Individually wrapped cookies for every desk
Wrapped cookie packs are easy to hand out desk to desk, and a 20-pack covers a whole department, which makes them a fit for managers with a big team. Individually wrapped treats also make it easy to give each person their own. Add a short handwritten note to each pack if you can.
Tip: Hand them out in person, one pack per desk, with a quick thank-you.
5. A box of mini snack bars
Mini snack bars give the team a lighter option next to the sweets, and a variety pack lets people pick a flavor they like. They suit teams that snack at their desks between meetings. Leave them where everyone can reach them, and check the flavors for common allergens such as nuts first.
Tip: Check the flavors for nuts and other allergens before you leave them out.
Ideas 6 to 11
Desk upgrades they will use daily
Practical gifts for people who spend the day at a desk, in the office or at home.
6. A laptop stand for a cleaner desk
A laptop stand raises the screen and frees up desk space, a practical upgrade for employees who work on a laptop all day, in the office or at home. Look for a stand that fits their laptop size and has a cable opening. Ask the team which setup they use before you order for everyone.
Tip: Check the stand's size against the laptops the team actually uses.
7. A high-end wireless mouse
A high-end mouse is a desk upgrade people notice every day, which makes it a fitting reward for an employee who had a standout year. Look for a comfortable shape, quiet clicks and a wireless connection that works with the person's computer. Check which hand they use, and keep the gift receipt.
Tip: Check which hand they use and that their computer has Bluetooth.
8. A monitor light bar
A monitor light bar lights the desk without taking up space or reflecting on the screen, which helps in dim offices and home setups. Look for one that clips on without scratching the monitor and has brightness controls. It suits remote workers and anyone whose desk sits away from a window.
Tip: Check that the clip fits their monitor's top edge, especially on curved screens.
9. A large desk pad
A large desk pad protects the desk and gives the keyboard and mouse a smooth surface, and it is inexpensive enough to buy for the whole team. It suits employees who want a tidier workspace. Pick a neutral color so it fits any desk, and check the dimensions against the desk size.
Tip: Choose a neutral color that works with any desk, and check the size.
10. A compact two-port phone charger
A spare charger is handy at any desk, and a small two-port block is a useful low-cost gift for a big team. It can charge a phone and a second device at once. Check that the plug fits the outlets and whether people use USB-C cables before ordering for the whole group.
Tip: Check whether the team uses USB-C cables before ordering a bulk set.
11. A keyboard that switches between devices
A multi-device keyboard lets someone switch between a computer, tablet and phone without pairing again each time, which suits hybrid workers who move between desks. Look for a compact layout and a connection that works with the devices the person uses. Ask what they use before you buy, since keyboard layouts differ by country.
Tip: Check the keyboard layout and device compatibility before you order.
Ideas 12 to 16
Everyday carry and comfort
Useful gifts for the commute, the break room and the work bag.
12. An insulated water bottle
An insulated bottle goes everywhere, from the commute to the gym, so it works as a safe, useful pick when you do not know each person's tastes. It suits employees who are always on the move between meetings and errands. Choose a neutral color and check the lid style and size before you order for a team.
Tip: Choose a neutral color so it suits any taste.
13. A bento-style lunch box
A neat bento box makes packing lunch easier and fits in a work bag, which suits employees who bring their own meals. Compartments keep foods separate. Look for easy-clean parts and a size that fits a standard work bag, and consider adding a note about a team lunch.
Tip: Check the dimensions against the bags people carry to work.
14. A slim power bank for long days
A slim power bank saves the day on business trips and long commutes, which suits employees who travel for work. A 2-pack lowers the cost per person and lets you give one to a colleague. Check that the cable type matches the phones your team uses.
Tip: Check the cable type your team's phones use before you order.
15. A soft fleece throw
A soft throw blanket is a cozy, low-cost gift that works at the office or at home, which makes it an easy pick for a large team when you do not know individual tastes. A neutral gray suits most spaces. Wrap each one with a short thank-you note and hand them out in person.
Tip: Pick a neutral color and add a short handwritten note to each.
16. Noise-canceling headphones for focus
Noise-canceling headphones help people focus in open offices and on calls, which makes them a strong reward for top performers. Look for comfortable ear cups, a good microphone for calls and a battery that lasts a workday. Keep a gift receipt, because comfort is personal.
Tip: Include a gift receipt, since fit and sound are personal.
Ideas 17 to 20
Recognition and choice
Gifts that say thank you in a personal way, or let each person choose.
17. A boxed Amazon gift card
A gift card lets each person choose what they want, which suits a team with very different tastes, and a boxed card still feels like a present to open. Check your company's gifting policy first, since some employers have rules about cash-like gifts. Add a handwritten note to make it personal.
Tip: Check company rules on gift cards before you buy for staff.
18. A big pack of thank-you cards
A handwritten note makes any employee gift feel personal, and a big pack lets a manager write a different card to every person on the team. Write one specific line about what the person did this year. It pairs with any other gift on this list.
Tip: Name one specific thing each person did well this year.
19. A book on building better habits
A book on building good habits is a straightforward gift for teams that like business or self-improvement reading, and a hardcover feels more like a gift than a paperback. Write a short note inside the cover about what you value in the person, and offer a team book chat if you like.
Tip: Write a short note inside the cover about what you value in the person.
20. A custom engraved name plate
A personalized name plate for a desk or door is a small recognition gift that feels official, especially after a promotion or a new role. Proofread the name and title twice, and check any workplace rules about desk items. Allow extra time for engraving before the date you want to give it.
Tip: Confirm the spelling and exact title with the employee's manager first.
Frequently asked questions
What are good gifts for employees under $25?
Good options under $25 include a large desk pad, a compact two-port charger, a soft fleece throw and a hardcover book on good habits. All four are easy to buy in bulk and easy to hand out. Add a short handwritten note to each so the gift feels personal rather than generic.
What should I give employees for Christmas?
Choose gifts that are fair across the team and easy to use: a treat box for the break room, a desk upgrade, an insulated bottle or a boxed gift card for people with different tastes. Check your company's gifting policy, avoid anything personal or alcohol-based, and include a handwritten thank-you card.
How do I choose employee appreciation gifts for a big team?
Pick one gift that works for everyone, such as individually wrapped cookies, a soft throw or a two-port charger, and add a personal note to each. For top performers, a mouse or headphones can recognize extra effort. Give people at the same level the same kind of gift so it feels fair.
How much should a boss spend on employee gifts?
There is no fixed rule. Choose an amount you can repeat fairly for everyone, check company policy and give the same level of gift to people at the same level. A small, fair gift with a personal note works better than a bigger gift for one person and nothing for the rest.
Is a gift card a good gift for employees?
It can be, because each person chooses what they want, and a boxed card still feels like a present. Check your company's rules on gift cards first, since some employers limit cash-like gifts. A handwritten note makes a gift card feel more personal and tells the person why you appreciate them.
