Gifts for Coworkers and Secret Santa

Office exchanges with a spending limit

Office gifts have one job: be useful or funny enough that nobody has to fake a reaction in front of the whole team. You probably know how they take their coffee and what is on their desk, and not much else, so aim for things that get used at work or eaten by Friday.

Under $25 11 ideas

  1. Contigo Autoseal West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug, 16 oz

    The lid locks shut until you press the button, so it can ride in a laptop bag without a coffee incident. Keeps drinks hot through a long morning of meetings.

    ContigoWhite elephant

    See it on Amazon

  2. Exploding Kittens Card Game

    Fifteen-minute rounds and rules you can explain in one breath make it a reliable lunch-break or team-party game. A white elephant favorite that tends to get stolen.

    Exploding KittensWhite elephantStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  3. Throw Throw Burrito Card Game

    A card game where you throw squishy foam burritos at each other. Loud, silly and good at breaking the ice at an office party where half the room has never spoken.

    Exploding KittensWhite elephant

    See it on Amazon

  4. Rubik's Cube, The Original 3x3 Color-Matching Puzzle

    Something to fidget with on calls that turns into a real challenge if they bother to learn the method. The official Rubik's version turns much more smoothly than knockoffs.

    Rubik'sWhite elephantStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  5. Lindt LINDOR Assorted Chocolate Truffles

    Individually wrapped, so it doubles as a desk candy bowl that makes them popular for a week. Nobody dislikes these, which matters when you drew a name you barely know.

    LindtGets used upStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  6. Pilot G2 Premium Gel Roller Pens, Fine Point, 12 Pack

    The pen people quietly take home from the supply closet. A whole pack of their own means they can stop guarding it.

    PilotStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  7. Anker 313 Wireless Charger (Pad)

    A flat Qi pad that sits on the desk so the phone tops up between meetings without hunting for a cable. Works with recent iPhones and most Android phones.

    Anker

    See it on Amazon

  8. Logitech Pebble Mouse 2 M350s

    Slim, near-silent clicks and Bluetooth that pairs with up to three devices. A real step up from the laptop trackpad for anyone who works from a café or a hot desk.

    Logitech

    See it on Amazon

  9. Death Wish Coffee Ground Dark Roast

    Famously strong coffee in a skull-and-crossbones bag, which makes it a joke gift that is still genuinely good to drink. Ideal for the person who lives on the office coffee machine.

    Death Wish CoffeeGets used upWhite elephant

    See it on Amazon

  10. TRUFF Original Black Truffle Hot Sauce

    Comes in a fancy faceted bottle that looks far more expensive than a hot sauce should. Mild enough for most people and a fun thing to unwrap in a swap.

    TRUFFGets used upWhite elephant

    See it on Amazon

  11. Amazon.com eGift Card

    Arrives by email in minutes and you choose the amount to match the office limit. The honest answer when you drew someone from another floor and the exchange is tomorrow.

    AmazonArrives by email

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Under $50 10 ideas

  1. Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, 24 oz

    Sip through the built-in straw or tip it back from the spout, and the locking lid keeps it from leaking in a bag. It is the bottle a lot of people already wanted.

    OwalaWhite elephant

    See it on Amazon

  2. Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook

    Write meeting notes with the included Pilot FriXion pen, scan them to email or the cloud with the app, then wipe the pages clean with a damp cloth. Good for the colleague drowning in legal pads.

    Rocketbook

    See it on Amazon

  3. What Do You Meme? Core Game

    Players pair caption cards with photo cards, and the office-safe base deck means nobody ends up in an HR meeting. Always draws a crowd in a white elephant.

    What Do You Meme?White elephant

    See it on Amazon

  4. LEGO Botanicals Mini Orchid 10343

    A small, calm build for an evening and a desk plant that never needs watering afterward. Adults get competitive about stealing these in gift swaps.

    LEGOFor displayWhite elephant

    See it on Amazon

  5. Bedsure Sherpa Fleece Throw Blanket

    Soft sherpa on one side and flannel on the other, and it fits over a desk chair for the colleague who is always cold in the office. A safe crowd-pleaser in any exchange.

    BedsureWhite elephant

    See it on Amazon

  6. Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar Large Jar Candle

    Their best-selling winter scent: woodsy, not sweet, and fine for both men and women. A large jar burns for a long time, so it outlasts the holidays.

    Yankee CandleWhite elephantGets used up

    See it on Amazon

  7. Jellycat Bartholomew Bear, Medium

    A very soft, slightly goofy bear that adults buy for themselves more than they admit. Wins white elephants because three people will try to steal it.

    JellycatWhite elephantFor display

    See it on Amazon

  8. Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

    Sounds better than it has any right to at this size, and the battery lasts through a whole workday of desk music. It has been a steady seller for years.

    AnkerWhite elephant

    See it on Amazon

  9. Crock-Pot Lunch Crock Food Warmer

    A tiny plug-in pot that warms leftovers at their desk, so there is no queue at the office microwave. A practical gift for the person who brings lunch every day.

    Crock-PotWhite elephant

    See it on Amazon

  10. Fellowes Foot Rest

    Adjustable tilt and height for anyone whose feet do not quite reach the floor at their desk. Not exciting, but they will notice the difference by mid-afternoon.

    Fellowes

    See it on Amazon

Under $100 1 idea

  1. Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse

    A thumb rest, quiet clicks and a scroll wheel that flies through long spreadsheets. A good group gift for a manager or a team member who is leaving.

    Logitech

    See it on Amazon

$100 and up 2 ideas

  1. Ember Mug 2, 10 oz

    Keeps coffee at the exact temperature they choose, so the cup forgotten during a meeting is still hot after it. A pooled team gift, not a Secret Santa.

    Ember

    See it on Amazon

  2. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

    Waterproof, glare-free and light enough to read on the train. A thoughtful gift when the team chips in for a retirement or a farewell.

    Amazon

    See it on Amazon