14 Office Gift Exchange Ideas That Aren't Awkward

A good notebook makes meetings slightly more bearable, and it's appropriate for literally anyone. The Leuchtturm1917 is a favourite of planners and bullet journalers because it has numbered pages, a blank table of contents, two ribbon bookmarks and paper that handles most pens. Choose dotted or ruled in a neutral colour. Add a Pilot G2 pen if you have a few dollars left.

Best for

Note-takers, managers and new starters.

Skip if

Your office is fully digital and nobody writes on paper. It will gather dust.

Coffee goes cold during back-to-back calls. A mug warmer keeps it at drinking temperature all morning. It is one of those small desk gadgets that sounds silly until you own one, and then gets used every day. The VOBAGA has adjustable heat settings and an auto shut-off, so nobody has to worry about leaving it on over the weekend.

Best for

Slow coffee and tea sippers.

Skip if

Your office bans personal heating appliances at desks. Some do for fire-safety reasons.

A memory-foam wrist rest for the keyboard and a matching one for the mouse is a small ergonomic upgrade. It feels caring without being personal. For people who type all day, it takes pressure off the wrists, and it makes a desk look a bit more put together.

Best for

Heavy keyboard users and developers.

Skip if

They use a laptop only, with no external keyboard. There's nowhere to put it.

Hybrid workers carry chargers, cables, a mouse and earbuds back and forth every week. A padded organiser with elastic loops and mesh pockets turns the bottom of the laptop bag from a tangle into something tidy. It's practical and unisex, and it's also useful for travel.

Best for

Hybrid and travelling coworkers.

Skip if

They're fully in the office with everything at their desk. They won't need it.

Walkers has baked shortbread in the Scottish Highlands since 1898, and a tartan tin looks classic under an office tree. It's a consumable, so there's no clutter, and it's easy to share with the team if the recipient prefers. The tin gets reused for years for buttons, cables or cookies.

Best for

Coworkers you don't know well.

Skip if

The recipient is gluten-free, or you don't know their diet. Choose tea or a plant instead.

A variety of good teas means there's something for everyone, and it fits in a desk drawer. Harney & Sons is a respected tea house whose Hot Cinnamon Spice has a cult following. It's a big step up from the office kitchen's generic tea bags, and it suits coworkers who don't drink coffee.

Best for

Tea drinkers, or when you're not sure who you'll get.

Skip if

You know they only drink coffee. The Stumptown pick below suits them better.

A snake plant is close to unkillable. It tolerates low office light, goes weeks without water and survives the holiday shutdown. It brightens a desk and is a gift that grows. Costa Farms plants ship in a decent pot, so there's nothing to repot.

Best for

Anyone with a desk, especially a bare one.

Skip if

You'll need to carry it home on a freezing commute, or the office has a clean-desk policy.

Office air dries hands out in winter, and this unscented, heavy-duty cream is a cult favourite for cracked knuckles. Because it's fragrance-free, it's safe for scent-free workplaces and anyone with sensitivities. At this price, pair it with the shortbread or tea to reach your limit.

Best for

Dry winter offices and hand-washers.

Skip if

The limit is $25 and you want one single gift. Use it as an add-on instead.

Hair Bender is Stumptown's flagship blend: rich and chocolatey, and a great introduction to speciality coffee for someone who usually drinks the office pot. A 12 oz bag feels like a genuine treat. Buy ground if you don't know whether they own a grinder.

Best for

Coffee lovers.

Skip if

They drink only decaf or tea. Check their mug before you buy.

A light bar clips onto the top of the monitor and lights the desk without glare on the screen. It's easier on the eyes during late meetings and winter afternoons. It's a desk upgrade people love once they have one but rarely buy for themselves. It's USB-powered, so there's nothing to plug into the wall.

Best for

Home-office workers and late-shift staff.

Skip if

They work on a laptop only. The clamp needs a monitor to sit on.

Tile is the rare tracker that works with both iPhone and Android, which matters when you don't know the recipient's phone. It clips onto keys, an ID badge or a laptop bag, and the phone can ring it or show it on a map. It's gender-neutral, practical and genuinely useful for the coworker who's always searching for their keys.

Best for

Anyone who loses keys or badges.

Skip if

You know they use an iPhone. An AirTag integrates more smoothly.

Open-plan offices are loud. Loop's earplugs lower background noise while keeping conversations understandable, so a colleague can still get your attention. They look like jewellery rather than foam plugs, come with several ear-tip sizes for a good fit, and they're also useful on flights, on noisy commutes and at concerts.

Best for

Open-plan workers and people who struggle to focus.

Skip if

They wear noise-cancelling headphones all day. They've already solved the problem.

Modern laptops have two ports and everything else needs a dongle. A compact hub adds HDMI for a second screen, USB-A for older accessories and an SD card slot. It lives in the laptop bag and saves someone every time they present in a meeting room.

Best for

Laptop-based hybrid workers.

Skip if

Your workplace issues docking stations to everyone. Check before you buy.

The Safari is the classic "first fountain pen". It's German-made, sturdy, comes in bright colours, and has a triangular grip that makes it comfortable for beginners. Writing with it makes signing forms and taking notes a small pleasure. Include a pack of ink cartridges.

Best for

Note-takers and anyone who loves stationery.

Skip if

They're left-handed and smudge easily. Fountain pen ink can smear, so a fine-tip gel pen is safer.