Christmas gifts for coworkers are a different problem from gifts for a boss or a client. The budget is smaller, the relationship is closer but less formal, and the gift has to land well with someone you see every day, often in front of everyone else. This guide is for the colleague doing a desk-mate exchange, the person who drew a name in the Secret Santa hat, and the practice manager or team lead organizing a group gift. Every idea below is under $50 and is something a colleague will actually use at work.
Who this guide is for, and when to buy
Most office gift-giving falls into one of three situations:
- A gift for one or two close colleagues. The people you share a desk, a unit or a case load with. These can be a little more personal, and a little more thoughtful, than a whole-team gift.
- A Secret Santa or gift exchange. Usually a fixed spending limit, and often a name you barely know. The goal is something useful and neutral.
- A group gift. Several coworkers pooling money for one person, such as a supervisor, a retiring colleague or a teammate who carried the department this year.
Timing matters more than people expect. Office exchanges usually happen at the last team lunch or holiday party before people scatter, which is often a week or more before December 25. Order by the first week of December so there is time for shipping and wrapping, and earlier if you plan to add a name or initials to a leather piece.
How much to spend on Christmas gifts for coworkers
If your office runs a gift exchange, the stated limit is the budget. Stay close to it; going far over can make the person who drew your name feel they underdid it. Without a set limit, a modest, even amount for everyone you are buying for avoids the awkwardness of one colleague getting a noticeably bigger gift than another.
The etiquette advice from the Emily Post Institute is a useful baseline: keep coworker gifts simple and moderately priced, give gifts to your closest colleagues discreetly and preferably outside the office, and don't be surprised if they don't have a gift for you in return (Emily Post, Seven Holiday Gift Giving Tips for the Office). The same guidance names office accessories, fine pens and office decor as reliable go-to items, which is exactly where useful gifts for coworkers tend to live.
A rough guide that works in most workplaces:
- Under $25: Secret Santa, a team-wide gift for everyone on your floor, or a colleague you know only casually.
- $25 to $50: a close colleague, a work friend, or a mentor at your own level.
- Above $50: usually only as a group gift, where several people chip in.
8 Christmas gift ideas for coworkers, by budget
Under $25
1. A planner insert for the new year ($15 to $25)
January is when people reset their planning systems, which makes refill pages one of the most practical small gifts for coworkers who still write things down. The STIL notes insert is $15 and holds 80 pages for meeting notes and running lists; the undated daily insert is $20 and covers 90 days with an hourly schedule, priorities and a task list; the Get It Done insert is $25 and is built around a 90-day goal cycle with a weekly review. Because the daily pages are undated, they work whenever your colleague starts using them. Browse the full range in planners and stationery.
2. A slim leather card holder ($24.99 to $34.99)
A pocket-sized card case is a classic Secret Santa gift idea for coworkers because almost everyone carries a badge, a transit card or a few payment cards. The TheodoreLeather slim leather card holder is top-grain oiled cow leather, holds up to 16 cards and develops a patina with use. Vintage Brown is currently $24.99 and Vintage Black is $34.99, and laser engraving is offered as an option if you want to add initials for a close colleague.
3. A structured travel case ($24)
For the colleague who moves between shifts, sites or client appointments, a small organizer for chargers, pens and daily essentials is the kind of thing they would not buy for themselves. The STIL Dark Cherry travel case has a wipe-clean interior and gold hardware, and it sits in the same planners and stationery collection as the inserts above, so it pairs well with a refill pack.
$25 to $50
4. A set of stone-finish coasters ($33.80)
Coasters are an easy gift for a colleague's desk or home: no sizing, no personal-taste risk, and they get used every day. The Lynn & Liana Shoreline coasters are a set of four in a textured sandstone finish with sand dollar, starfish, sea shell and conch motifs, and the surface absorbs condensation. At $33.80, they sit comfortably in the middle of most coworker budgets.
5. A minimalist RFID bifold wallet ($34.99)
A slim wallet is a good upgrade gift for a work friend whose current wallet is falling apart. The TheodoreLeather slim bifold is top-grain Napa leather with RFID protection, ten card slots and a separate notes pocket, and it comes in Black or Vintage Brown with optional laser engraving. Find it in leather and desk gifts.
6. A bamboo desk organizer ($39.99)
If your colleague's desk is a pile of pens, sticky notes and charging cables, this is the most practical gift on the list. The bamboo organizer has ten compartments in a tiered shape, with taller sections at the back, and it arrives fully assembled. It is also a smart pick for a teammate who just moved desks or started a new role this year. It is in the same leather and desk collection as the wallet.
7. An A5 planner binder ($44)
For a coworker who lives by their planner, a new cover is a more personal gift than another notebook. The STIL A5 six-ring binders come in Black Pebble or Onyx Croc vegan leather (the croc version with gold or silver hardware), and both are $44. Note that the binder does not include pages. On its own it fits a $50 limit; for a close colleague, adding a $15 notes insert makes it a complete set at $59.
8. A Tenure Gifts gift card ($10 to $100)
When you draw a name you really do not know, Emily Post lists gift certificates among the safe choices. A Tenure Gifts gift card comes in $10, $20, $25, $50 or $100, arrives by email, never expires and can be used on anything in the store. That makes it the simplest last-minute Christmas gift for a colleague, with nothing to ship.
Going in together: group gifts for a colleague
For a teammate who deserves more than a $25 exchange gift, pooling money is the usual answer. Emily Post recommends that gifts to a boss or supervisor come from the department as a group, with contributions kept optional and anonymous. Our group gifts page explains a simple way to do it here: each person buys a gift card for their share and sends it to the organizer, who combines the codes at one checkout. A group budget opens up options like a leather padfolio or an engraved pen; if the recipient is your manager, see our guide to Christmas gifts for your boss and clients for ideas and budgets.
Matching the gift to the colleague
- The organizer who plans everything on paper: a planner binder plus a refill insert.
- The colleague always on the move (between floors, clinics, showings or courtrooms): the travel case or the card holder.
- The desk-bound teammate: the bamboo organizer or the coasters.
- The work friend you know well: the wallet or card holder with their initials engraved.
- The Secret Santa name you barely know: a gift card or a set of coasters.
What to avoid
- Personal items. Emily Post specifically flags perfume, cologne and pajamas as gifts of too personal a nature for the office. Clothing in general is risky because of sizing.
- Alcohol in the office. The same guidance suggests food rather than alcoholic drinks for workplace gifting. If you know a colleague well enough to give wine, hand it over outside work.
- Gag gifts that single someone out. What is funny at the party can feel pointed on Monday. Keep jokes for people you know well and exchanges that agree on them in advance.
- Uneven gifts in front of the team. If you are buying for some coworkers and not others, give those gifts privately.
- Overspending on a manager. A large individual gift to your boss can look like currying favor. Go in as a group instead.
A note for government and regulated workplaces
Some employers set firm rules for gifts between colleagues. Federal executive-branch employees, for example, generally may not give gifts to an official superior, but on occasions when gifts are traditionally exchanged they may give non-cash items worth $10 or less, or food and refreshments shared in the office (5 CFR 2635.304, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations). Hospitals, law firms and large companies often have their own policies too, so if you are unsure, ask HR or check the employee handbook before the exchange.
FAQ
How much should I spend on a Christmas gift for a coworker?
Follow the office exchange limit if there is one. Otherwise, under $25 is typical for a casual coworker or Secret Santa, and $25 to $50 for a close colleague.
Do I have to buy Christmas gifts for all my coworkers?
No. It is fine to give to a few close colleagues, as long as you do it discreetly rather than in front of the whole team. A shared treat for the break room is an easy way to include everyone.
What is a good Secret Santa gift for a coworker I don't know well?
Choose something useful and neutral: a gift card, a set of coasters, a planner insert or a desk organizer. Avoid anything personal, like fragrance or clothing.
Should I buy my boss a Christmas gift?
A group gift from the team is usually the better choice than an individual one. If you do give individually, keep it small and modest.
Can I add a name or initials to these gifts?
The TheodoreLeather card holder and bifold wallet both offer an optional laser-engraving add-on. If you want engraving, order a little earlier than you otherwise would.
What if I run out of time to ship a gift?
A Tenure Gifts gift card is delivered by email, so it works even on the morning of the exchange.