The holiday season is approaching, and that means office parties, festive celebrations, and of course—gift exchanges! Whether your workplace is hosting a Secret Santa or a White Elephant exchange, finding the perfect gift can be a fun yet challenging task. You want something thoughtful, practical, or funny enough to stand out.
To help you with your search, we’ve put together a list of creative and exciting gift ideas that your coworkers are sure to love.
Gift exchange ideas for the workplace
The following examples for a workplace gift exchange can give you some ideas about what to shop for:
Office gadgets
Office gadgets are some of the most popular gift ideas for work gift exchanges because of their affordability and practicality. For example, reading lights, blue light filtering glasses, phone stands, earphones, wireless chargers and other gadgets make excellent gifts for the office.
Food and snacks
Snack boxes, gift baskets with food items, candies and other snacks and treats make thoughtful presents for a workplace Secret Santa. Try to find out as much as you can about your recipient’s preferences and favorite snack items to choose delicious and unique items for your gift exchange.
Beverages
Wines, beer and other unique beverages make great ideas for a gift exchange. You can even find specialized gift cards or gift certificates for wine and spirits for the coworkers who love to sample diverse beverages.
Handmade gifts
Consider handmade items, especially if you have a talent for a type of craft, like crocheting, knitting or sewing. Not only will your coworker appreciate your thought, effort and time, but you can also make handmade gifts more personal. For instance, if you know your coworker loves knitted hats and you can knit, you can make a handmade gift that they’ll love and that doesn’t go over your budget.
Office accessories
Decorative bulletin boards, pushpins, computer stands, desktop organizers, unique pens and pencils and other office accessories make excellent gift exchange ideas because they’re affordable and highly useful. Additionally, several small office accessories combined into a small gift basket is another great idea if you decide to purchase these types of items.
Mugs and cups
Coffee cups and mugs make easy and affordable presents for a work gift exchange. You can personalize many coffee mugs, and if you have a coworker who likes to bring their coffee with them, travel mugs make more great options. Additionally, unique glassware—like tumblers, rocks glasses and hurricane glasses—is also an excellent idea, especially for the coworker who likes to sample beverages and mix up different drinks.
Engraved pens
Stylish and customizable fountain pens are affordable and provide a personal gift that is also practical. Check online for unique designs, colors and pen styles that you can customize with a name, initials or another word or phrase that is unique to your recipient.
Notebooks and journals
Notebooks, diaries and journals are more ideas that can suit any coworker. Bullet journals, journaling accessories (like stickers and stencils) and other related items are useful, and you can find many items that will fit your coworker’s personality and style.
Baked goods
Similar to a charity exchange, a cookie swap or gift exchange with only baked goods would make a great way to celebrate the holidays. In this type of gift exchange, everyone would choose a name similar to a Secret Santa, but instead of buying gifts, you would bake your recipient’s favorite treats.
Art-inspired gifts
Think about giving the gift of artwork for your work gift exchange. For instance, paintings, small figurines, collages and other art-inspired items are excellent for gift giving. You can take your art-inspired gift a step further, too, if you purchase from a local artist.
Scented candles
Scents like candles and incense make wonderful presents to the coworkers who love accessories for aromatherapy. You can find natural soy and beeswax candles, handmade incense and other aromatherapy items across many different online stores. Additionally, candle and incense holders and other unique aromatherapy accessories make good gifts, too.
Home goods
Home decor items also make thoughtful gifts to give in an office gift exchange. Trinket boxes, small dishes, hand towels and other home decor items would be perfect for your coworkers who love these types of accessories.
Bath and beauty
For a spa-like gift idea, consider things like organic and handmade soaps and lotions, body scrubs, bath bombs, shower gel and other unique bath and beauty items. These types of ideas are great for a coworker who loves to unwind in a relaxing bath at the end of a long week.
Humorous gifts
Gag gifts make fun and humorous ideas for a work gift exchange. Things like humorous quotes on mugs, mousepads and notepads are fun gifts that can work in a White Elephant type of office gift exchange, where everyone gives a present that is funny (yet appropriate) in nature.
Coffee gifts
Choose gifts for coffee lovers like seasonal blends, new mugs, thermoses and other coffee drinking accessories. You can even find coffee-themed gift baskets that can make excellent gifts for a coffee enthusiast.
Books
Books also make great gifts. For instance, choose books that are related to your recipient’s interests, like technology, business, self-development and other topics they’d like to read about.
Pet products
If your gift recipient has a pet, consider purchasing something they can use for their furry friend. Fun toys, care items, special treats and other pet accessories make great ideas for pet owners.
Hats and caps
Baseball caps, visors, bandanas and other types of hats are also great ideas to give to a coworker. Consider personalizing these types of gifts with something unique to your recipient’s interests, such as a sports team, club insignia or other personalization.
Tabletop games
Desktop games and entertainment gadgets make good gifts in the workplace, too. Card games, jigsaw puzzles, miniature tabletop golf or ski ball and other fun accessories are just a few types of things to consider giving in a workplace gift exchange.
Fidget gadgets
Fidget spinners and sensory gadgets aren’t just for kids. Stress relievers like tension balls, fidget cubes and other gadgets that you can manipulate in your hands can be highly useful in the office and are affordable and easy to find.
House plants
Consider giving a living present for your office gift exchange. House plants make excellent additions both in the office and at home, and with so many varieties, you can find just about anything that will thrive in an indoor environment.
Bags and purses
Fanny packs, bags, small totes and backpacks are more ideas that you can shop for. Computer and tech bags are also great ideas so your coworker can easily carry laptops or tablets easily and securely.
Health and fitness gifts
Health and fitness accessories and gadgets like step counters, exercise bands, water bottles, yoga mats, meal planners and recipe books make wonderful presents for coworkers who are interested in fitness activities.
Tips for your office gift exchange
Here are several tips for making the most of your work gift exchange during the holidays:
- Suggest a gift exchange theme. Consider some gift exchange themes that differ from the traditional Secret Santa. For instance, a grab bag idea where everyone adds a gift to the “bag” and when it’s time to exchange gifts, each employee pulls a gift from the grab bag without looking.
- Make it a party. Plan a party for the afternoon or morning of the day of the gift exchange. This way, coworkers can enjoy some time to socialize before, during and after exchanging gifts.
- Set a reasonable budget. If your work gift exchange has a set budget to spend on gifts, stick with that. Otherwise, set a budget for yourself at a reasonable amount.
- Personalize your gifts. If you decide to purchase office accessories like pens, planners or similar items, consider personalizing the gift with the coworker’s initials or another fun customization.
- Gain insight into your coworkers. Secret Santa gift exchanges are quite common in the office, so if your workplace plans this type of gift exchange, try to get as much insight into your gift recipient’s interests as you can without revealing your Secret Santa. This can help you choose an appropriate gift for your coworker.
With these fun and unique gift ideas, you’re sure to find something that will delight your coworkers during your next office gift exchange. Whether it’s a practical item, a funny novelty, or a personalized touch, the most important thing is to enjoy the spirit of giving and have fun celebrating the holidays with your work family!
Happy gifting!
