The 30 Best Gifts for Every Kind of Coworker

Our favorite picks from Hydro Flask, Baggu, JBL, Uncommon Goods, and more

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Best Gifts for Every Kind of Coworker

The Spruce / Amelia Manley

Buying gifts for coworkers might sound tricky, especially when you're working from home and far removed from company camaraderie. However, a little something can go a long way when the moment calls for it.

To make your search easier, we researched the best personalized and functional gifts that align with your coworkers' potential hobbies and interests—whether it's for birthdays, holidays, or to simply say thanks. Some of our favorite picks include a classic coffee tumbler from Yeti, easy-to-make meals from Daily Harvest, and a modern monitor stand from Anthropologie.

Tip: Is it weird to get a coworker a gift?

A gift is always a nice gesture, no matter how big or small. If you have a closer relationship, it may be appropriate to buy a gift for their birthday, a major holiday, or a momentous occasion like maternity leave. Small gifts may be appreciated also when a coworker gets a promotion or does a great job on a project. It's also a sweet idea to gift a little something for retirement to show them how much you appreciated their contributions to the team.

Here are the best gifts for every coworker.

Gourmet Gift Baskets Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries

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Gourmet Gift Baskets Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Gourmet Gift Baskets

When in doubt, any and all occasions call for chocolate gifts. Say happy birthday, thanks, congratulations, or condolences with a set of dark-chocolate-covered strawberries from Gourmet Gift Baskets. Choose from six or 12 pieces of the decadent treat to surprise one person or the whole office. Customers love how fresh and delicious the berries were upon arrival.

Price at time of publish: $45

Yeti Rambler 20-Ounce Tumbler

Yeti Rambler 20 oz Tumbler

Rei

Keep coworkers happy with coffee that stays warm all day. This 20-ounce tumbler from Yeti keeps drinks hot or cold for hours thanks to its double-wall insulation. And with the MagSlider Lid, your coworker won't have to worry about spilling their favorite beverages on the way to and from work every day. There are tons of colors to choose from and you can even customize a Yeti with your company logo.

Price at time of publish: $35

Bentgo MicroSteel Heat & Eat Container

Bentgo MicroSteel Heat & Eat Container

Amazon

For the coworker who loves to bring lunch from home, this container from Bentgo makes it easy. This sustainable gift comes in four sizes and colors, and can be used to microwave food right in the container for up to 10 minutes, making it the perfect dish to bring to the office and heat up without an issue. The airtight lid keeps food fresh without odors, so any food can be office food.

Price at time of publish: $30

Hydro Flask Large Insulated Lunch Box

4.5
Hydro Flask Large Insulated Lunch Box

Amazon

Speaking of lunch, gift your coworker the perfect travel companion to bring their snacks, sandwiches, sodas, and more to the office with ease. Two layers of insulation in the Hydro Flask Lunch Box keep food fresh for hours. The interior can easily be wiped clean in case of spills, and there's even a pocket inside for storing utensils or an ice pack. The modern design comes in fun colors, so your coworker will always be able to spot their lunch in the community fridge.

Price at time of publish: $55

The Sill Jade Plant

The Sill Jade Plant

The Sill

Liven up the workspace with a plant from The Sill that fits perfectly on the corner of a desk. The jade plant needs bright sunlight but infrequent watering, so it's perfect for beginners. Also called a money plant or lucky plant, jade is said to bring financial prosperity to those who grow it. This would also make a suitable gift for a coworker who is retiring or moving on to a new role, to wish them well in their new endeavors.

Ecosusi Ecosusi Laptop Tote Bag

Ecosusi Ecosusi Laptop Tote Bag

Amazon

If a backpack isn't your coworker's style, opt for this chic laptop tote bag from Ecosusi. The middle compartment easily fits a laptop up to 15.6 inches. The other two compartments are perfect for keeping essentials organized and in one place. We love that the adjustable handle makes this pick super comfortable for long commutes. The durable vegan leather can withstand rain or snow and years of use, and it comes in five stylish colors.

Price at time of publish: $53

ODISTAR Desktop Vacuum Cleaner, Mini Table Dust Sweeper

ODISTAR Desktop Vacuum Cleaner, Mini Table dust Sweeper

Amazon

Keep your workspace clean with this mini vacuum cleaner. The battery-powered device quickly sucks up dust, crumbs, pencil shavings, and more without any noise. It's small enough to keep on your desk or in a drawer for easily grabbing for a quick cleanup. Additionally, the batteries last up to 90 minutes for a long-lasting clean. While this may feel like a subtle hint to your coworker, it's always easier to work in a clean space.

Price at time of publish: $17

Golden Coil Planner

Golden Coil Planner

Golden Coil

Staying organized is pivotal, no matter what kind of work you do. An amazing planner makes it easy to keep important meetings, due dates, and events organized. With Golden Coil, your coworker can customize every part of their planner, from the front cover to every page. Choose from daily, weekly, and monthly spreads with fun inserts like a meal planner or book trackers. At the end, be sure to customize the planner with a monogram and contact info in case it ever gets lost.

Price at time of publish: $80

Foster Grant Blue Light Glasses

Foster Grant Blue Light Glasses

Foster Grant

Blue light glasses protect your eyes from the harmful light produced by screens. For those working in an office job, escaping computers, phones, and tablets isn't a reality. Lessen the effects of screen time by gifting a pair of blue light glasses from Foster Grant. The brand has tons of colors and styles to complement every taste.

Progeny Coffee Alegria Single Serve

Progeny Alegria Single Serve

Progeny Coffee

Fuel their day with a new blend of coffee from Progeny. Progeny is dedicated to providing high-quality coffee from Colombian coffee roasters being paid a fair wage, while providing free education and technical agricultural support on new techniques to improve their farming methods and processes. If you don't have a ton of time in the morning to make coffee, these single-serve bags are perfect. Just put them in hot water, like a tea bag, and you're on your way.

Price at time of publish: $19

Anthropologie Workspace Monitor Stand

Workplace monitor stand

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Making your work-from-home station beautiful makes working from there all the better. This monitor stand from Anthropologie stays upright to hold notepads and planners, or lays on its side as a modern monitor stand. The earthy wood tone brightens up any desk, but blends seamlessly into any office decor. If your coworker doesn't use a monitor, this doubles as a laptop stand to avoid looking down all day and getting sore.

Vahdam Assorted Tea Gift Set

Assorted Tea Gift Set
Assorted Tea Gift Set.

Amazon

If your coworker isn't into coffee, opt for this assorted tea set from Vahdam. Depending on their preferences, choose from green, black, and chai sampler sets. Some have loose leaf teas while others come with tea bags. No matter what you choose, your coworker will be able to try out new high-end teas and maybe find their new favorite. Add this to a gift basket with some self-care items and a tea steeper, and you have the perfect relaxing gift.

Price at time of publish: $20

Funko TV: Pop! The Office — Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute, Jim Halpert

Funko TV: Pop! The Office - Michael Scott, Dwight Schrutte, Jim Halpert

Funko

Honor the quintessential office comedy with these figurines from Funko Pop. Whether you work in an office selling paper or not, keeping Michael Scott, Jim Halpern, and Dwight Schrute close reminds you to not always take things too seriously. Maybe even give the Michael figurine to the world's best boss. Your coworker can keep their new friends on their desk or on a shelf to be visible in their video call background.

Whether spicing up office parties, happy hours, or busy work days, a portable speaker makes a great gift. This one from JBL clips onto a keychain or belt loop to take to a beach party or to the gym. Though small, this speaker packs a punch with rich audio and deep bass. Even better, this pick is waterproof and dustproof, so you can even listen to your favorite tunes in the shower. With so many cute colors, you can't go wrong with this sleek tech gift.

Price at time of publish: $80

JuneShine Hard Kombucha Sampler Pack

JuneShine Hard Kombucha Sampler Pack

JuneShine

Bring happy hour home with a sampler pack from JuneShine. JuneShine makes hard kombucha handcrafted in San Diego without any artificial sweeteners. While drinking an alcoholic beverage, you'll still get all of the health benefits of drinking kombucha. What's more, JuneShine is completely carbon neutral and donates 1 percent of sales to environmental nonprofits. The sampler includes six cans of their four most popular flavors: Midnight Painkiller, Blood Orange Mint, Grapefruit Paloma, and Hopical Citrus. You can also customize your own pack with the different flavors you want to try.

Homesick Candles Home Office Candle

Homesick Candles Home Office Candle

Homesick Candles

When working from home, connecting with your coworkers becomes harder than ever. But, a small gift they can add to their work-from-home station can remind them they're not alone. The Home Office candle from Homesick Candles brings the outdoors inside on days when you rarely see the sun. It includes notes of water lilies, patchouli, and energizing cinnamon for an upbeat yet comforting scent that complements a day full of meetings.

Price at time of publish: $38

Baggu Standard Baggu Nylon Ripstop Tote

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Baggu Standard Baggu Nylon Ripstop Tote

Baggu

While reusable bags may seem like an odd choice for a coworker's gift, think about the possibilities. The standard reusable Baggu bags are perfect for grocery shopping, storing dirty gym clothes after early morning workouts, or even transporting work essentials to and from the office every day. The best part: These totes fold up into a tiny square, so you can always keep one on you in case of emergencies. Baggu has tons of fun colors and patterns to choose from, and you'll simultaneously promote sustainable practices for your company.

Price at time of publish: $42

Games Adults Play The Misery Index

Games Adults Play The Misery Index

 Amazon

A great party game can bring the whole office together and can often makes for great icebreakers, as well. Based on the TBS game show of the same name, Misery Index challenges players to rank scenarios based on how awful they seem. Guess the average ranking and earn points in this hilarious, three-round game. Bring this game to the next happy hour to get to know your coworkers better, or add to a company holiday gift for hours of fun at home.

Price at time of publish: $30

Daily Harvest Gift Box

Daily Harvest Gift Box

Daily Harvest

Anything that makes the day easier for your coworkers either in the office or at home makes a great gift. Daily Harvest delivers delicious smoothies, grain bowls, and more right to your door for easy meals that take little to no time. For days when coworkers run from one meeting to another without a proper lunch break, a Daily Harvest meal is a lifesaver. Gift a custom box of some of the brand's most popular flavors, keeping in mind the preferred palate of your recipient.

Price at time of publish: $85

Final Straw

Final Straw

Final

If your coworker already has a cool lunch box and a full bento box setup, opt for one more meal essential that makes lunch hour that much more sustainable. Final is dedicated to limiting single-use plastics, creating high-quality reusable products, and reducing ocean pollution. This reusable straw comes in a convenient carrying case that clips to your keychain, with a tiny brush for easy cleaning. This way, your coworker can always have their Final Straw on hand during coffee runs, corporate lunches, and more.

Price at time of publish: $20

Staying hydrated at home and the office is essential, but how often do you really clean your emotional support water bottle? If this chore doesn't happen as often as it should, look to the LARQ self-cleaning stainless steel bottle. Though expensive, this innovative bottle neutralizes bacteria to sanitize and clean the inside of your bottle as well as your water every two hours. The insulation keeps your water cool as well, so your coworker can stop using plastic water bottles but continue to drink clean and cold water every day.

Price at time of publish: $99

Biom All-Purpose Cleaning Wipes Starter Kit

biom All-Purpose Cleaning Wipes Starter Kit

biom

Cleansing wipes may not be the most glamorous gift, but with Biom, the cleaning necessity becomes classy. Biom's all-purpose wipes are the perfect desk companion, especially for those going to the office, to keep your space clean and fresh. This wipe system comes with a modern-looking dispenser in trendy colors that won't be an eyesore on your coworker's workstation. Choose from a grapefruit or lavender scent for a functional gift that promotes a bit more cleanliness in any space.

Price at time of publish: $39

Uncommon Goods Therapy Dough

Uncommon Goods Therapy Dough

Uncommon Goods

When buying for a coworker, it's important to acknowledge how hard the working day can be. Gifting something fun and relaxing makes the work day a bit more manageable, especially during busy times. Uncommon Goods' Therapy Dough was modeled after the clay used by art therapists for a calming activity or fidget toy to play with during meetings or screen breaks. Even better, each dough is infused with a different essential oil for different benefits, from energizing to relaxing.

Price at time of publish: $15

Chamberlain Coffee Chocolate Covered Beans Bundle

Chamberlain Coffee Chocolate Covered Beans Bundle

Chamberlain Coffee

Coffee-lovers and chocolate-lovers come together for this all-encompassing gift from Chamberlain Coffee. Whether your coworker knows who Emma Chamberlain is or not, they'll appreciate the delicious chocolate-covered espresso beans for a midday boost. This bundle features milk and dark chocolate, so they can enjoy their favorite and share the rest with others. When that mid-shift slump comes around, they'll be happy you provided the perfect pick-me-up.

Price at time of publish: $19

Piecework Out of Office 500 Piece Puzzle

Picework Out of Office 500 Piece Puzzle

Piecework

It's important to remember that a gift for a coworker does not need to always revolve around work or the office. Celebrate those moments when you wish you were somewhere else with this aptly named Out of Office puzzle from Piecework. The 500-piece puzzle still provides a fun challenge, while still being manageable for first-time puzzlers. Once completed, they'll have a luxurious scene honoring those beloved days away from the office.

Price at time of publish: $32

Madewell The Leather Laptop Case

Madewell The Leather Laptop Case

Madewell

Keep your coworker's invaluable laptop safe with a sleeve from Madewell. The leather laptop case comes in classic black or stylish brown to fit any coworker's tastes. Add a personalized touch with a monogram to give an expensive appearance to this case. Now, their laptop will stay protected, rather than moving around in a backpack or tote during an hour-long commute.

Price at time of publish: $88

Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion Pillow

Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion Pillow

Everlasting Comfort

Sitting at your desk for eight hours a day can take a toll on your back and shoulders. Try to lessen this discomfort with a seat cushion designed for desk chairs. As the brand name suggests, the Everlasting Comfort seat cushion molds to your body with the perfect support that your office chair lacks. Though constructed from memory foam, you can guarantee the cushion maintains its shape and bounces back to prepare for the next use.

Price at time of publish: $81

UBOTIE Colorful Computer Wireless Keyboards Mouse Combo

UBOTIE Colorful Computer Wireless Keyboards Mouse Combo

UBOTIE

Another simple way to elevate your work-from-home setup is a fun keyboard. This one from UBOTIE comes in bright green, pastel yellow, baby pink, and more for a colorful touch to your office. With a USB receiver, the keyboard and mouse easily pair with your laptop or monitor. Pair with a laptop stand for an ergonomic working station that lessens the stress on your neck and shoulders.

Price at time of publish: $46

Ban.do Week-To-Week Mega Desk Notepad- Daisies

ban.do Week-To-Week Mega Desk Notepad- Daisies

ban.do

For an affordable gift that makes weekly organizing a bit easier, consider this desk notepad from Ban.do. The sticky notes feature every day of the week with lines beneath each day to write reminders, events, and plans to keep track of. The set comes with 52 sheets for a full year of organization and features one of two adorable designs.

Price at time of publish: $15

Verilux HappyLight VT10 Compact

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Verilux HappyLight VT10 Compact Personal

Courtesy of Amazon

When working inside all day, especially during the winter, it can be difficult to soak in any much-needed sunshine. To keep spirits high, gift a coworker a light therapy lamp that provides signals to the body to help them feel energized and focused. It can also improve sleep, which makes for better days and better work. This compact version easily travels with you and provides bright light exactly when you need it. Especially helpful for those living in apartments with minimal light, the Verilux HappyLight fits perfectly on your desk or nightstand for beneficial light at your fingertips.

Price at time of publish: $40

What to Look for in a Gift for Coworkers

Hobbies and Interests

While it can be enticing to purchase something for a coworker directly related to work, be sure to keep in mind their interests and lifestyle as well. For example, don't gift a new keyboard to a coworker who prefers working on an iPad. Additionally, determine whether a coworker drinks coffee before gifting a new brand of beans. When gifting to multiple people, look for something everyone can use, like a reusable water bottle or candle.

Functionality

When it comes to buying gifts for a coworker who you may not know very well, gift something that makes life at the office (or home office) a bit easier. This can include a new commuting bag, an easy meal service, a desk organizer, or a travel mug.

Also, it's important to keep in mind your coworker's space and desk setup. For example, don't gift a mini plant to someone who works in the office and may not have natural sunlight. Instead, opt for a portable coffee warmer or pen set.

Personalization

If buying a large-scale, company-wide gift for one person, you can't go wrong with a personalized present. Monogram a new laptop sleeve or backpack. Add a coworker's name to a mug or coaster. On the other hand, feed into company pride and add your workplace's logo to a tumbler or cooler. These are safe choices that you can be sure your coworker will appreciate. They will definitely think of you every time they use their new engraved pen or sip from a personalized beer glass.

FAQ
  • How much should you spend on a gift for a coworker?

    There is no one right answer when it comes to a budget for a gift for a coworker. This will depend on your personal budget, your relationship with your coworker, and the type of occasion. Typical gifts range from $15-75, but there are plenty of more affordable options as well. A thoughtful card always makes a great, less pricy choice. Something homemade, like a batch of brownies, always works too. At the end of the day, you never want to spend more than what you earn at work!

  • What should a boss gift to their employees?

    This answer will vary depending on budget, how many employees, and the type of business. A thoughtful gift for coworkers often means something functional, like a new laptop stand or lunch box. Another option would be personalizing a coffee mug or wine glass with the company logo. It can be hard to please a large group of people with differing interests, so stick to something company-related or widely functional.

  • Is it appropriate to give gifts to coworkers?

    On holidays or birthdays, it is often appropriate to give small presents to coworkers. Other instances, such as a promotion or going away party, often warrant gifts as well. However, a present is never necessary. Gift etiquette experts often advise on reading the company's gift-giving policy—if one exists—before purchasing a present. Otherwise, giving something personal to a close coworker who has become a friend to you is always a thoughtful idea.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Julia Fields, a lifestyle writer for The Spruce covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, and the holidays. She's also covered similar topics in other roles, including toy reviews, product roundups, crafts, and more.

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