37 Gifts For Coworkers Who Make The Workday Bearable

Article by Christine Williams. Last Updated: Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022.

Finding great gifts for coworkers can be tricky. We know (and like) some better than others, and it can be tough to make sure nobody feels left out. Finding appropriate gifts they’ll actually appreciate doesn’t have to be an impossible task!

We’ve rounded up tons of great ideas for all kinds of coworkers below, so no matter who’s on your list you’ll find the perfect present.

Read on to find our list of the most awesome Gifts For Coworkers:

  1. A Succulent Planter
  2. A little green plant life can liven up any space, even a boring old office building. These are easy to take care of, requiring minimal light and water, and they look great too!


  3. A Light Bulb Terrarium
  4. Ben and Glenda Longenbaker's charming repurposed bulb brings lucky Marimo moss to your home or office. It's a quirky little desktop item that's fun to look at and a great way to spark up a conversation.


  5. An Amazon eGift Card
  6. Sometimes you can't figure out exactly what they've got their eye set on, and that's ok. Getting to personal with a coworker can actually be a bad thing sometimes, so there's no expectation that you'd know their inner most desires. An Amazon (or any other) gift card is a great option, and comes in any denomination you choose.


  7. An Under Desk Foot Stool Pillow
  8. Spending all day cooped up at a desk can be hard on the body. Good posture is key to preventing things like chronic soreness, etc. If you're looking for an awesome present for your coworker, consider one of these foot pillows that will help keep them comfortable and support proper seating positions.


  9. A Self Defense Pen
  10. This cool pen is far more than meets the eye. It functions as a boring old pen, plus it can be used for self defense and as a multitool. Pretty awesome, and great for any occasion!


  11. Cherry Blossom Snow Globe
  12. This magnificent piece looks great on any desk or shelf, in the workplace or at home! Shake this springtime snow globe for a blizzard of pink cherry tree blossoms. It's great for a retiring coworker, or anyone you want to bring a little serenity to!


  13. A Mesh Desk Organizer
  14. Everyone has that coworker whose desk looks like a small disaster site. If you're shopping for him or her (or even just someone who could use a little extra help), a new mesh organizer is an economical choice they'll actually get some use from!


  15. Spark Plug Plane Paperweight
  16. How cool is this? Recycled tools are welded together into the iconic shape of an airplane, giving this delightful mini-sculpture the power to take off with the conversation. If you have a coworker with a love of airplanes, or just appreciates cool trinkets, they're sure to love this paperweight.


  17. Beach Break Mini-Sandbox
  18. Bring this mini beach to your home or office with this executive sandbox and enjoy the peace and serenity year round. This is a fantastic gift for a coworker who is leaving the day to day rat race and likely to wind up on a beach!


  19. Galileo Globe Thermometer
  20. This globe thermometer is beautiful and functional at the same time! The colorful glass bulbs rise or sink when the temperature of the room (and the liquid) changes. They look great on a desk or shelf, and are great for just about anyone on your list!


  21. Workplace Wellness That Works
  22. Workplace Wellness That Works provides a fresh perspective on how to promote employee well-being in the workplace. In addressing the interconnectivity between wellness and organizational culture, this book shows you how to integrate wellness into your existing employee development strategy in more creative, humane, and effective ways. It's a great inexpensive option they can learn from!


  23. A USB Clock Fan
  24. These USB clock fans are so cool (pun intended)! They're powered and controlled by your computers USB port, and they'll help your fellow employee stay cool and see exactly when 5 PM rolls around.


  25. A Moving Card Holder Kit
  26. Serve up your business cards with kinetic, steampunk style. This cool piece is a great choice for the coworker who loves to tinker and build, or just has lots of interesting toys on their desk.


  27. Personal Air Circulator Fan
  28. The Vornado Flippi V6 is an innovative personal air circulator with chic style. Utilizing Vornado's signature Vortex technology, the Flippi V6 brings effective air circulation to your personal space. It makes a great desk fan for the dorm room or office and is good for use in a kitchen or bedroom.


  29. 5 Pillars of the Visual Workplace
  30. A critical yet often overlooked area in the visual workplace is the concept of continuous improvement. In this important work, JIT expert Hiroyuki Hirano introduces his 5S System - Sort, Set In Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. These steps are designed to improve efficiency, strengthen maintenance, and provide continuous improvement in all facets of a company’s operations.


  31. A Sailboat Desk Clock
  32. If you have a coworker or employee who loves boating, this is a fantastic gift choice! Help them remember afternoons spent on the water with this contemporary sailboat sculpture and desk clock.


  33. A Sports Team Gift Box
  34. If you’re shopping for a coworker who loves sports (maybe you cheer for the same team), consider one of these awesome sports gift boxes! They contain hand chosen official merchandise for the sport and team of your choosing. The price isn’t as cheap as some of the items on this list, but it’s an epic idea!


  35. Shattered Glass Ceiling Paperweight
  36. A piece of manually cracked glass symbolizes breakthroughs achieved by women past, present, and future. This is the perfect gift for the badass female coworker who you're cheering for!


  37. Vintage Wooden Desk Calendar
  38. Stylish and practical, this wooden perpetual style calendar add a touch of style to their desk or office. It's made from sturdy MDF wood and features a white finish with golden text and numbers. Perfect for any occasion and economical!


  39. Ceramic Owl Succulent Pots
  40. Ideal for indoor or outdoor container gardening, this thumb style planter is a tough, lightweight alternative to ceramic planters. This planter offers excellent all-weather durability. Filled with plants, flowers or even candy, these favor pots make an excellent gift, and are available in 6 styles!


  41. The Decision Paperweight
  42. Can't make a decision? Spin this humorous, aluminum paperweight to have your challenging questions answered! Sort of like a magic 8 ball, but a lot more useful (it'll never tell you to ask again later). Some choices just aren't worth the stress! The manufacturer frequently has a $5 off coupon, so check for that before buying!


  43. A Snack & Chocolate Gift Basket
  44. Description *Free Ground Shipping or Save Off Expedited Shipping Savings will be reflected on the shipping calendar during checkout process This Snack & Chocolate Gift Basket makes a generous gift that no one can resist! Inside a gorgeous basket, your recipient will discover an impressive selection of delectable gourmet snacks and decadent chocolate treats. Complete with tempting crisp cookies, delicious chocolate truffles, and velvety milk chocolate caramels, this gift is guaranteed to please at any occasion!


  45. A Personalized Name Plate
  46. A new name plate is perfect for the colleague who has recently been promoted or is moving on to a new gig. They plates can be personalized with a name and optional title, so they can show off their position to any random soul who comes to their office.


  47. Magnetic Sand Hourglass
  48. The base of this one minute hourglass is magnetized, producing stalagmite-like sand sculptures. It makes awe inspring scenes, and can appeal to just about anyone. Be careful - there's a good chance you could stare at this all day!


  49. A Daily Mood Desk Flipchart
  50. Some days the office is like a tea party, other days it's a lions' den. That's why Fred and Friends the Daily Mood is a crucial desktop accessory. The Daily Mood spells out everyone's demeanor in no uncertain terms. There are 47 moods to choose from, each with its own smiley along with a snarky definition, fascinating facts, and sample sentences.


  51. A Cell Phone Stand
  52. If your coworker is always glancing down at their phone, and you happen to work at a desk, a new Cell Phone stand would do them wonders! They can use it to elegantly display their little sidekick in a way that makes it easy to view and stand out from the clutter.


  53. Knock Knock Funny Notes
  54. With Knock Knock's portable, communicatory Nifty Notes, you can pass judgment and spit wit on paper. The many style choices enable you to predict the future, critique friends' online communication styles, and handily pass along feedback to anyone (or everyone) who has it coming.


  55. A Desk Sculpture
  56. This awesome desk display piece and toy is a fantastic gift anyone will love! The magnet in the base allows them to arrange the metal balls into all sorts of fun shapes. It's great for stress relief, anxiety, and just as a great conversation starter!


  57. Desktop Golf
  58. Some coworkers would rather be on the links any day of the week, rather than at their desk. If you're looking for a great gift for someone who fits this description, let them fulfill their desires even when they are stuck inside. They can practice their putting at the desk with this great toy!


  59. Healthy Treats Gift Basket

  60. The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace
  61. This book will give you the tools to improve staff morale, create a more positive workplace, and increase employee engagement. How? By teaching you to effectively communicate authentic appreciation and encouragement to employees, co-workers, and leaders. If you're looking for a relatively cheap coworker gift that they'll benefit from greatly, look no further!


  62. The Big Red NO! Button
  63. The NO! Button was invented by two very tired parents, but the NO button can be used everywhere, and most espeically the workplace. A great funny gift for a coworker who is always telling people ummm no!


  64. A Cat Eyeglasses Holder
  65. This hand-carved kitty sits by your side, eliminating those frantic, blurry-eyed searches for your specs. Goes great on a desk, so if you're looking for a great gift for a bespectacled coworker, consider this cute guy!


  66. An Etched Wine Glass
  67. Congratulations on pursuing your dream of no longer working here! This awesome etched wine glass is a hilarious and fun way to say goodbye to a coworker who is headed for retirement or another job.


  68. Instant Hand Sanitizer Desktop Dispenser
  69. This whimsical little Hand Sanitizer buddy is great for helping maintain a healthy workplace. This little guy stands or sits on their desk, and easily dispenses a little hand sanitizer to help kill germs and prevent illness.


  70. Secretary Day Gift Basket

  71. A Meditation Box
  72. Create a calming oasis with this innovative box, filled with fine grains of sand that swirl and shift with your every inspiration. Perfect for a boring afternoon stuck in the office, or that conference call you're barely paying attention to.


  73. Deep Sea Sand Art
  74. Klaus Bosch's desk sculpture forms unique, natural landscapes with moving sand to create a calming presence in your office or home. They're beautiful to look at, and a fantastic way to strike up a conversation!


Homemade Gifts For Coworkers

  1. This fun, easy, and cheap DIY coworker gift is sure to be a hit with everyone on your list. It’s as easy as rounding up some candy, a ribbon, a decorative jar, and a printed note and combining them all together!


  2. The workplace typically has all kinds of cords that get tangled easily and can be a real mess. This awesome homemade gift is great for helping them keep their cords organized and easy to get to. Perfect for headphones, charging cords, and more!


  3. Desk organizers are a staple of a tidy workspace. There are all kinds of great commercial ones (including some on this list), but for a more personal touch, consider this how-to for making one yourself. They’ll appreciate it as something direct from the heart!


  4. This is one unique gift you might be able to make without even leaving the office! Putting together some common office supplies, you can make one of these awesome X-Wing fighters from Star Wars. Perfect as a little trinket of appreciation for a job well done!


  5. A DIY Cat's Cradle Toy
  6. The cats cradle is one of the most iconic desk toys out there. It’s also fairly easy to make one yourself if you’re feeling crafty. This video will walk you through it.


  7. Christmas is a great occasion, but you can easily go broke trying to find something for everyone in the workplace. Consider an inexpensive gift basket, which you’ve created yourself full of items you can actually afford! It doesn’t have to be lavish, chapstick, hand sanitizer, candy, and other cheap items can combine for a nice holiday treat!


  8. These cool notebooks are great for bulk coworker gifts. Find a set of tiles and a little glue, combine with some cheap notebooks and pens - and you got a great gift brewing! These can be themed for Christmas, Birthdays, Valentines, or any other gift-giving occasion.


  9. Easy, cheap, and useful are 3 great guidelines when you’re looking for bulk coworker gifts. These bags check all 3 boxes, with candy and chapstick in a decorative bag. They’re ultra useful (or delicious), cheap as anything else you can find, and couldn’t be easier to make!


  10. These awesome valentines treat are great in a healthy workplace, and contain no candy! They’re made up of snack treats you can find in any store, and they’re put together in a cute way. They say for kids, but what adult wouldn’t love one of these to brighten their day!


  11. A nicely packaged mason jar sewing kit is another great coworker gift that you can give in bulk. It’s inexpensive without looking cheap, and easy to put together. Just pick up some sewing supplies, a mason jar, and some decorative ribbon and you’re good to go!


We often spend more time with our coworkers than we do with even our families, so it’s incredibly important to show them how much they mean to you from time to time. There are lots of great products out there, and there’s always the DIY gift route if you’re feeling crafty. How do you balance finding something meaningful with the potential cost of buying these gifts in bulk? Well, we’re here to help!

Here are our top 10 Best Gift For Coworkers:

  • Gift cards for a coffee, or other small treat
  • Homemade gift bags with useful items like candy and chapstick
  • Desk toys or display items
  • Books about work-life balance and happiness
  • Desk organizers or cell phone stands
  • Personalized desk name plates
  • Notebooks or stationary
  • Desktop plants or succulents
  • Healthy snack items
  • Whimsical paperweights

Christmas Gifts For Coworkers

The Christmas season is the perfect time to show your appreciation to the people you work with. If you’re shopping for a large number of people, be sure to keep your choices economical.

We’ve outlined some great options above, but here are our favorite Christmas Gifts For Coworkers:

  • A vase or other display for the desk
  • Candy, hot chocolate, or other sweet treats
  • Handmade Christmas ornaments
  • Potted plants or succulents
  • Desktop organizers
  • Mittens or warm gloves
  • A new umbrella
  • Matching T-Shirts or funny socks

Gifts For Coworkers When You’re Leaving

Moving on to a new job (or retirement!) can be a stressful time in your life, and it usually means saying goodbye to the coworkers you’ve spent years of your life getting to know. A good parting gift is crucial!

Our picks for the best Gifts For Coworkers When You’re Leaving are:

  • Funny etched wine or other glasses
  • Socks with funny quotes
  • Pictures of you together in a frame
  • A succulent or other plant
  • Desk toys to help them relax
  • Art or other decorative office items
  • Handmade gift baskets with useful items
  • A hand written card

Cheap Gifts For Coworkers

If you’re shopping for multiple coworkers (or even just one you don’t like very much), it’s important to keep prices under control. Nobody expects you to break the bank on people you only see from 9-5, but you can still be thoughtful.

Here’s our list of the best Cheap Gifts For Coworkers:

  • Homemade treat bags with candy
  • Desktop organizers
  • DIY Mason Jar gifts with useful items
  • Gift cards for a coffee or other small treat
  • Small potted plants
  • Hand exercisers
  • A business card holder
  • A personal USB fan

Birthday Gifts For Coworkers

Birthdays in the workplace can be a little tricky, make sure you don’t go overboard with spending on some people at the expense of others. If you’re going to give, make sure you know everyone’s special day and don’t miss anyone!

Our favorite Birthday Gifts For Coworkers are:

  • A small gift card for a coffee
  • Candy, candy, and more candy
  • Gift bags or boxes with small useful items
  • Notebooks or stationary
  • Cards expressing thankfulness
  • Treat the office to cake
  • Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate
  • A mug or tumbler

How To Pick The Perfect Coworker Gift For Any Occasion

You spend up to 40 hours a week in the workplace, and form friendships of varying degrees with the people around you. Some of them are close, some not so much. So how do you pick a great gift for coworkers even if you don’t know the details of their life outside the office?

1) Check out their social media…

If you’re friends with them on facebook, instagram, or other platforms, these can be a gold mine of great ideas. Check for different brands they’ve liked or hobbies they participate in for inspiration.

2) Go with time tested winners…

Some things are a hit no matter who the recipient is. Items like candy, or health snack foods are a good item if the budget isn’t high or you’re out of other ideas. Coffee, tea, or other drinks are great too!

3) Consider giving an experience…

Getting outside the office for an afternoon of fun can be a great idea. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, go on a hike or just down to the local bar and buy the first round!

Our Time Tested Gifting Principles

Beyond the brainstorming basics, there are a few guiding principles you should keep in mind:

  1. Price isn’t everything - sometimes the best gifts are handmade, inexpensive, or free.
  2. Practical isn’t always best - treating him to something he may not buy for himself is always a good idea.
  3. Give from the heart - something that holds deeper meaning for him is sure to make a lasting impression.
  4. Be inventive - truly unique and creative presents mean thinking outside the box.
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