Coworker gifts
Gifts for coworkers that are polite, useful and not weird
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DAWNTREES felt desk mat
A felt desk mat makes a desk look finished and protects the surface from mugs and keyboards.
Check price on AmazonWhat to look for: A size that fits a keyboard and mouse and a non-slip bottom.
The best coworker gift is useful at a desk, inoffensive and clearly modest: a desk mat, a charging cable, a good notebook, a stackable mug or a snack box. Skip anything personal, scented or likely to be read as a joke.
At a glance
| Pick | Best for | Skip | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAWNTREES felt desk mat Top pick | Coworkers who sit at a desk every day. | if their desk is already covered with papers or a glass top. | Check price on Amazon |
| YETI Rambler 10 oz stackable mug | Coffee drinkers at the office. | if the coworker already carries a large tumbler. | Check price on Amazon |
| Anker MagGo 3-in-1 foldable charging station | Coworkers who use an iPhone and travel for work. | if you do not know their phone; it will not work with every device. | Check price on Amazon |
| Anker USB-C to USB-C 60W cable 2-pack | Coworkers who use a laptop and a USB-C phone. | if the person uses lightning devices only. | Check price on Amazon |
| Nature Valley sweet & salty granola bar variety pack | Coworkers who skip lunch and sit through meetings. | if someone in the office has a nut allergy. | Check price on Amazon |
| Moleskine Classic hardcover ruled notebook | Coworkers who take notes by hand. | if they use only a laptop or tablet in meetings. | Check price on Amazon |
| Lifewit insulated lunch bag | Coworkers who bring lunch. | n/a | Check price on Amazon |
| Swiss Miss milk chocolate hot cocoa mix, 50 packets | Whole teams and shared kitchens. | for coworkers who are dairy-free or avoid sugar. | Check price on Amazon |
| New Bee desk headphone stand | Coworkers who wear headphones in an open office. | n/a | Check price on Amazon |
| Hydro Flask 21 oz wide mouth water bottle | Coworkers who are active or in meetings all day. | if they already have a tumbler they use every day. | Check price on Amazon |
| LED desk lamp with USB charging ports and touch dimming | Coworkers working from home or in a dim cubicle. | if the office has fixed lighting policies. | Check price on Amazon |
A gift for a coworker has one job: be pleasant without being personal. You want it to be useful at a desk, to look reasonable on a team’s shelf and to avoid any hint of favoritism.
It helps to decide first whether this is one person, a team, or an exchange with a limit, since the answer changes how far you can go.
How to choose
- For one person. Pick a desk accessory they will see every day: a mat, a lamp, a headphone stand or a good notebook.
- For a whole team. Choose shareable items such as a snack box or cocoa, so everyone gets the same thing.
- For your manager. Keep it small and useful, and ask HR about your company’s rules before giving anything above a token gift.
- For a remote colleague. Pick something that can be mailed in a flat box and used at home.
If it is a Secret Santa, see our Secret Santa gifts for coworkers for rules and price limits.
All the picks
-
DAWNTREES felt desk matOur pick
A felt desk mat makes a desk look finished and protects the surface from mugs and keyboards.
- Look for:
- A size that fits a keyboard and mouse and a non-slip bottom.
- Best for:
- Coworkers who sit at a desk every day.
- Skip:
- if their desk is already covered with papers or a glass top.
-
YETI Rambler 10 oz stackable mug
A small insulated mug keeps coffee hot at a desk and is a gift most people appreciate.
- Look for:
- A lid that fits and a dishwasher-safe finish.
- Best for:
- Coffee drinkers at the office.
- Skip:
- if the coworker already carries a large tumbler.
-
Anker MagGo 3-in-1 foldable charging station
A foldable charger that powers a phone, earbuds and a watch declutters a desk and suits travelers.
- Look for:
- Compatibility with the person's phone model and a travel-friendly fold.
- Best for:
- Coworkers who use an iPhone and travel for work.
- Skip:
- if you do not know their phone; it will not work with every device.
-
Anker USB-C to USB-C 60W cable 2-pack
A pair of good cables is the practical gift for a desk and a bag.
- Look for:
- A braided or sturdy cable and a length of 6 ft.
- Best for:
- Coworkers who use a laptop and a USB-C phone.
- Skip:
- if the person uses lightning devices only.
-
Nature Valley sweet & salty granola bar variety pack
A box of snack bars is the safe, shareable gift that sits in a drawer for the afternoon slump.
- Look for:
- A variety pack with a nut-free note if needed.
- Best for:
- Coworkers who skip lunch and sit through meetings.
- Skip:
- if someone in the office has a nut allergy.
-
Moleskine Classic hardcover ruled notebook
A hardcover notebook is a classic for meetings and lists and is good enough for a gift.
- Look for:
- A ruled page, an elastic closure and a size that fits a bag.
- Best for:
- Coworkers who take notes by hand.
- Skip:
- if they use only a laptop or tablet in meetings.
-
Lifewit insulated lunch bag
An insulated lunch bag is a practical gift for anyone bringing food to the office.
- Look for:
- A wide opening, an insulated lining and a washable material.
- Best for:
- Coworkers who bring lunch.
-
Swiss Miss milk chocolate hot cocoa mix, 50 packets
A box of cocoa packets is a low-risk gift that is shared in a break room.
- Look for:
- A box with individually wrapped packets.
- Best for:
- Whole teams and shared kitchens.
- Skip:
- for coworkers who are dairy-free or avoid sugar.
-
New Bee desk headphone stand
A headphone stand gives headphones a home and clears space on a desk.
- Look for:
- A weighted base and a design that fits over-ear headphones.
- Best for:
- Coworkers who wear headphones in an open office.
-
Hydro Flask 21 oz wide mouth water bottle
An insulated water bottle keeps drinks cold through a long workday and gets carried everywhere.
- Look for:
- A wide mouth for ice, a flex cap and a color that is not too bold.
- Best for:
- Coworkers who are active or in meetings all day.
- Skip:
- if they already have a tumbler they use every day.
-
LED desk lamp with USB charging ports and touch dimming
A dimmable LED lamp with USB ports improves a dim desk and charges a phone.
- Look for:
- Adjustable brightness, color-temperature options and a stable base.
- Best for:
- Coworkers working from home or in a dim cubicle.
- Skip:
- if the office has fixed lighting policies.
What to skip
- Perfume, clothing and body products. They are personal and sized without checking a chart.
- Joke gifts. Humor that is clear to you may not be to HR.
- Anything food-allergy risky. Check for nuts and dietary notes before sharing a box.
- Alcohol. Many offices ban it and it excludes those who do not drink.
For swaps, see white elephant gifts under $25; for smaller budgets, try gifts under $15.
Questions people ask
What is an appropriate gift for a coworker?
Something useful, modest and neutral: a notebook, a desk accessory, a snack or a good mug. Avoid personal items like clothing or perfume, and anything that might feel like a comment on the person.
Should I give my boss a gift?
Check your company’s policy first. Many workplaces discourage gifts to managers; a card, a group gift or a small shared treat is usually the safer approach.
What is a good gift for a remote coworker?
Choose something that ships flat and lasts: a notebook, a desk mat, a charging cable or a mug. Include a short handwritten note so it feels personal even from a distance.
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