Most of us spend at least 40 hours a week at work. That’s over a third of our waking lives … but who’s counting? (OK, clearly I’m counting.) It’s time enough to forge a bond with your coworkers, who understand a big part of your world in a way others can’t. Once the holidays roll around, you may want to show your appreciation with a little something, whether it’s for a casual cubicle buddy who makes the day go by a little faster or the work bestie you just can’t live without.
Finding the best gifts for coworkers can be tricky. You probably don’t want to spend too much or get too personal, but you still want something they’ll actually like and use — or maybe something to make ’em laugh. Well, we’re here to inspire you. From snarky printable art for their office walls to a satisfying fidget toy that will get them through their next endless video call, here are the best gifts for coworkers in 2024.
The best gifts for coworkers by price:
This one is for the coworker who always eats at their desk, ’cause you just know their keyboard harbors more crumbs and germs than the floor of a Chuck E. Cheese. Help them clean it in the most satisfying of ways — with this handy gel that gets into every nook and cranny. It’s not sticky and has a fresh, lemony scent.
Be honest: We all want to steal Milton’s red stapler. Your coworkers will get the chance with this game based on the 1999 cult classic Office Space. There are secret missions ranging from the relatively simple (secretly get a colleague to lend you a couple of bucks) to the risky (put a “kick me” sign on their back undetected) that are tailor-made to liven up a slow Friday.
When you’re just not sure what they want, resist the urge to regift that dusty candle that’s been in your closet for years. Instead, spring for some snacks. This little variety bag is a great size for one colleague, but you can also get larger boxes and become the break room hero.
“Per my last email? Those are fighting words, Linda.” Help your colleague channel their rage and add a little style to their workspace with these snarky but oh-so-relatable printables. They can pick their preferred size — small and subtle for a cubicle or large and in charge for the corner office.
Save a coworker from yet another trip to the microwave with this clever little 17-watt mug warmer. Got a little more to spend on a coffee lover? Check out Yahoo’s picks for the best heated coffee mugs, including a thriftier stand-in for the famous Ember.
When they’ve asked you the keyboard shortcuts for copy, cut and paste one too many times (“It’s still CTRL+C, CTRL+X and CTRL+Z, Linda!”) it might be time for drastic measures. Put this nonslip cheat sheet at their fingertips — it covers all the basics for Excel, PowerPoint, Word and more.
Keep your work bestie hydrated and on trend with this 40-ounce tumbler, a more affordable alternative to the “it” cup of the past couple of years, the Stanley Quencher. I can vouch for its sturdiness and temperature-retaining abilities — it pretty much lives on my desk now. It also comes in dozens of colors.
No one can vent quite like a couple of disgruntled coworkers, but it might help your cranky colleague to have another outlet — something like this “burn book for the discerning misanthrope,” perhaps. It includes 52 “prickly” writing prompts and an equal number of “demotivational quotes.” Now every day can be Festivus!
We all come home from the office with a stress headache every now and then — thanks, Linda! — so why not give your work bestie a healthier way to cope than binge-watching and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s? This wearable gel mask can be used hot or cold, and it’s light-blocking when pulled all the way down. Pushed up, it still covers the forehead and temples — and pairs exceptionally well with, well, binge-watching and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.
Fidgets aren’t just for kids. These magnetic silicone tubes are just the thing to keep a coworker engaged during a never-ending call or a repetitive task. Satisfyingly bendy, they also don’t make a ton of distracting noise (unlike everyone’s other favorite time-waster, Candy Crush).
You can’t keep everyone else in the office from being a pain in the, well … you know. But you can give the gift of a pampered posterior with this gel-infused, ergonomically designed seat cushion. It has a nonslip bottom, not to mention an army of 68,000-plus five-star Amazon reviewers.
If a colleague likes brown-bagging it instead of spending $20 on a burrito, congratulate them on their thriftiness, then gift them this. While it looks like a small slow cooker, this 20-ounce Crock-Pot is a food warmer that will help them eat a heartier meal at work — and spare them from fighting with Linda over the office microwave. The inner bowl is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
We all have that coworker who insists on coming in while they’re hacking up a lung. (Ahem, Linda.) This desk-size humidifier can help keep their nose and throat clear, and maybe give you the gift of less ear-splitting hacking. The half-gallon tank offers about a day of runtime, and there’s an essential-oil tray if they want to make their relief a little sweeter smelling.
Speaking of those work-from-home slobs, I’m their queen. My kiddos got me these warm, super-soft Bombas slipper socks last year, and they’ve been on my feet on every chilly day, work or play, ever since. As the name suggests, they provide much-needed traction on slippery floors. And, though they’re among our picks for the best slippers for women, men can’t go wrong with a pair too.
Who can’t use a little more organization for their tech these days, especially when it comes in a sleek leather package like this? If it keeps them from “borrowing” your phone charger when they can’t find their own, all the better. Add their initials for a personal touch.
Whether you want to treat one very special coworker or spread the love with a breakroom treat, Ohio-based Jeni’s sells some of the most indulgent, inventive ice cream you’ll ever eat. This collection of bestsellers ships ensconced in dry ice and includes my personal favorite, the drool-worthy Brown Butter Almond Brittle.
A classic for a reason, this pick from our roundup of the best gift baskets is sure to elicit some approving murmurs from the crew — yes, even from Linda. There’s no office drama that gourmet pears and a little Moose Munch can’t fix, right?
Here’s a no-fail gift for your work bestie — or a very generous present for a coworker who could use the gift of focus (which may mean a little more blissful silence for you — it’s a win-win). Our tech editor, Rick Broida, says these Soundcores are the best noise-cancelling headphones you can get on a budget, with balanced sound and long battery life. The Easy Chat feature is also tailor-made for offices: “Cup your hand over the left earcup and the headphones quickly switch into transparency mode so you can converse more comfortably,” he writes.
Tired of looking at the rat’s nest of power cords and charging cables under someone’s desk? Spare your retinas and help them streamline with this sleek Anker. It’s Yahoo’s best MagSafe charging station for good reason: “This thing is the whole power package, able to supply juice to up to eight (!) items at once,” writes Broida. The star of the show is a MagSafe phone mount that’ll keep their cell easily accessible.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Your go-to shopping guide: See all of our gift guides in one spot. We’ve got gift ideas for all the different people in your life — men, women, kids, you name it.