- Shopping for coworkers doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money.
- You can find a unique, thoughtful gift under $50 without much research (because we’ve done it for you).
- Below, I’ve compiled 38 gifts under $50 that will serve you well – some are funny, some are thoughtful, all are affordable, and most are impossible to hate. Check out all of our 2019 holiday gift ideas here.
Shopping for coworkers can become a never-ending parade of mild pine-scented candles, Hallmark cards, and candy that is destined for retirement in a desk drawer for most of the month. It’s easier to buy thoughtful, impactful gifts for your closest loved ones, and it gets harder once you add in the subtleties and professionalism of the workplace.
But there are mountains of great coworker gifts out there. And they don’t have to be expensive – in fact, they probably shouldn’t be. The ideal colleague present is thoughtful, unique, and lands somewhere in the casual middle ground between re-gifting paperclips from the supply closet and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Caribbean.
The top 5 best gifts for coworkers:
- A magnetic Speks desk toy
- A three-month subscription to gourmet Driftaway coffee
- A cool candle from the startup Otherland
- A reusable Rocketbook notebook
- A Love With Food subscription to delicious organic snacks
Check out all 38 gifts under $50 for your coworkers:
A three-month subscription of freshly roasted whole bean, single-origin coffees
Driftaway Coffee Subscription, Three Months, available on Driftaway Coffee, from $44
If they’re practically tethered to the coffee pot, they’ll probably love the thoughtfulness of a three-month subscription to this cool Brooklyn startup’s beans. Driftaway sends freshly roasted, whole bean, single-origin coffees from around the world to their doorstep.
A really nice bottle of olive oil
Alive Olive Oil, available at Brightland, $37
If they like to cook, they probably already know the merits of high-quality olive oil. A drizzle of Alive Olive Oil from Brightland adds a vibrant, zesty flavor to any dish, plus the bottle is designed to be left out on display in their kitchen.
The most comfortable socks
Women's Fair Isle Calf Socks, available at Bombas, $15
Men's Fair Isle Calf Socks, available at Bombas, $15
Bombas are one gift we find ourselves giving friends and family every year. They're the best socks we've ever tried, and they're a little more expensive than someone is likely to spend on sock themselves, making them a great gift.
A happy, healthy houseplant
Maranta Plant, available on The Sill, from $14
Order them a houseplant for under $20 with The Sill. If you choose one of the company's chic potters, the cost is closer to $30 for small plants.
An Atlas Obscura calendar full of daily photos and tidbits about the world's strangest and coolest places
Atlas Obscura Color Page-A-Day Desk 2020 Calendar, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, from $14.99
Add some fun to their day-to-day routine with the Atlas Obscura calendar. There are hundreds of photos that celebrate the world's strangest and coolest places, festivals, and foods. Travelers and life-long learners are particularly good candidates for this one.
Mini succulents in ceramic planters
StarPack Home 3-Piece Ceramic Succulent Planter, available on Amazon, $15.97
If your desk-mate doesn't already have a plant, rest assured they would probably like one (fine print: if it requires next to no caregiving). Grab these ceramic planters from Amazon and fill them with an assortment of succulents. According to science, it may make them happier just to see the plants every day.
Fun kitchen towels that rate wines by how well they pair with certain foods
Wine Pairing Towel Set, available on Uncommon Goods, $28
If you've got a wine lover on the team, grab these fun wine pairing towels and a bottle to go with them. They're thoughtful, informal, and unique.
A candle that smells like their favorite state
Homesick Candles, available on Uncommon Goods, starting at $30
Homesick candles are a great gift for pretty much anyone in your life. They're a nice acknowledgment of something important to someone else that you're likely to know regardless of intimacy level. Plus, with a candle, they'll get to enjoy it for weeks to come - and if your gift deals with nostalgia, scent is a great place to start.
A three-month subscription to the book club that put "Gone with the Wind" on the map
Book of the Month, Three Months, available on Book of the Month, $49.99
If your team includes a bookworm, they'll appreciate a gift subscription to Book of the Month. It's been around since 1926, and it's credited with the discovery of titles like "Gone with the Wind" and "Catcher in the Rye". A team of experts and celebrity guest judges curate must-read books - usually new releases, hot topics, and debut authors - and send them to the subscriber's doorstep. If they're more into audiobooks or e-reading, check out a gift subscription to Scribd (full review here).
A funny mug that acknowledges the bond forged by people who have to fix the same defunct printer every week together
The This is Fine Mug, available on Etsy, from $25.19
A "This is Fine" mug is the perfect gift for the only other people on earth who can truly relate to the particularities of your job: a defunct printer, last night's too-fun team happy hour, and the occasional avalanche of meetings and high-priority emails. Here's a $25 nod to the fond shared stressors.
A charging stand for their desk to keep things organized
Anker Wireless Charger, available on Amazon, $16.99
Help them keep their cluttered wires under control with this wireless charger, which can charge through most protective phone cases.
A miniature golf course they can escape to from the comfort of their desk
Desktop Golf, available on Uncommon Goods, $35
Know somebody who'd rather be at the golf course, or who might appreciate the adult equivalent of doodling in class? Say no more.
A water bottle that keeps cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot drinks hot for 6 hours
Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Travel Coffee Flask, available on Amazon, from $20.90
It's often the most practical coworker gifts that make the best and longest impression, and this is one stellar candidate. The Hydro Flask is double-wall vacuum insulated and will keep their cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours, with hot drinks staying hot for up to six. We're big fans of the line.
The best portable battery you can buy
Portable Jackery Bolt 6000 mAh, available on Amazon, $32.99
If you want to get them something they're sure to love, save them from a dead phone on their next long commute or work trip. We ranked this one as the best battery pack you can buy because you can charge two devices at once, and because it has built-in lightning and micro-USB cables.
A self-betterment planner designed using the "best practices" of successful people in history
Best Self Co. Journal, available on Amazon, $31.99
If you work with someone especially ambitious or concerned with self-progress, they'll love this daily planner. It was created by a group of "human performance junkies" after researching the most successful, high-performing humans in history, and it uses their common practices and psychology tips to break down a 10-year plan into doable, bite-sized pieces.
Fun, collection-worthy socks
Keith Haring Socks Gift Box Set, available on Happy Socks, $48
Happy Socks makes some of the coolest and most elevator-small-talk-worthy socks in the industry. This gift set focuses on Keith Haring, but there are more options to choose from, including some inspired by Andy Warhol.
A green herbal tea kit that lets them create custom blends
Green Herbal Tea Kit, available on Uncommon Goods, $40
If they're more into tea than coffee, they'll love this thoughtful green herbal tea kit. It includes nine herbs and three varieties of green tea, so they can create their own custom blends.
Desk cable clips that keep cords neat and organized
Shintop 6-Piece Cable Clips Set, available on Amazon, $5.69
Pair a few of these cable clips with a nice card and some candy for a low-key, well-rounded gift that's fun and practical.
A beautiful candle from a cool startup
A Single Flame, available on Otherland, $36
This is one candle they will be excited to receive. Otherland is a startup created by Abigail Cook Stone, a former art buyer for Ralph Lauren. They're some of the most beautifully packaged and best smelling we've seen in a while- and they make great gifts.
An extra-long charging cable, which is the closest you'll get to gifting never-ending convenience
6 ft Charging Cable, 3-Pack, available on Amazon, $9.99
It's something every one of us will feel grateful for a couple of times per day, but always put off buying for ourselves: a serpentine, 6-foot long charging cable.
A custom portrait that immortalizes their pet
Canvas Pop Custom Pet Portrait, available on Canvas Pop, from $39
If your coworker is a pet parent, you may make the biggest impact by focusing here. Plus, in the days of dog and cat Instagrams, it's not too hard to find your own mini album of options.
A notebook they can wipe clean and reuse
Rocketbook Reusable Notebook, available on Amazon, $31.97
The $30 Rocketbook notebook is full of 32 reusable pages that wipe clean with a damp cloth when the owner uses a Pilot FriXion pen (included), so they can keep using the same notebook indefinitely. They can also send hand-written notes to Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, email, and more. I use my own a surprising amount.
An assortment of delicious dipping oils that looks put-together
Mini Dipping Oil Set, available on Williams Sonoma, $34.95
Everyone likes a food gift, and this set of dipping oils is perfect for the coworker who loves to cook or entertain.
A glass Chemex that makes full-flavored coffee every time
Stainless-Steel French Press, available on Williams-Sonoma, from $36.95
Grab a glass Chemex from Williams-Sonoma that will deliver flavorful, sediment-free coffee routinely. The glass is heat-resistant, and the wood and leather collar serves as an insulated handle.
A to-go sriracha sauce keychain for the hot sauce fiend of the office
Sriracha Keychain Gift Pack, available on Amazon, $16.99
Perfect for the coworker best known for adding hot sauce to anything sweet, savory, or edible. The pack comes with a bottle of Sriracha and two differently sized keychains.
A brownie pan that only makes edge pieces
Baker's Edge Nonstick Edge Brownie Pan, available on Amazon, $35.95
This is exactly the kind of gift that seems more fun and clever than it is practical - until you're using it once a month religiously.
Tools for a night off and the "Do Nothing" sloth card made by an independent artist
"Do Nothing" Three Sloth Stationery Cards, available on Society6, $11.99
Pair the sloth "Do Nothing" card with a few relaxing accessories (like face masks) to gift a well-deserved night off to a coworker. Like all of Society6's collection, it's also made by an independent artist - making it a bit cooler than what you might pick up from CVS.
A tiny, convenient Bluetooth key tracker
Tile Mate Key Finder, available on Amazon, $24.99
You can't go wrong with a tracker for their keys that's compact, thoughtful, and useful to pretty much everyone.
A gift card to a popular healthy eating startup
Gift Card, available on Daily Harvest from $25
Daily Harvest is a meal delivery startup that makes healthy fast food that takes as little as 30 seconds to prepare. Meals are delicious, under $10 each, and designed by a chef and nutritionist team for taste and balance. It's great for healthy eaters, busy lifestyles, and solves pretty much all of our main roadblocks to eating well.
A unique cocktail recipe book that matches a famous song with a complementary cocktail
Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks, available on Amazon, $19.80
Gift your favorite coworker a book that pairs some of the best music from the 1950s to the 2000s with cocktail recipes that match the song's mood, lyrical imagery, or the artists themselves.
A subscription that sends them cool new snacks
Gift Subscription, available on Love With Food from $7.99/3 months
Love with Food delivers organic, all-natural, or gluten-free snacks that serial snackers won't feel guilty about eating. The better-for-you chips, candy, and bars come from new and trending food brands. Plus, with every snack box that's delivered, Love With Food donates at least one meal to a family in need through a partnership with Feeding America.
A nice leather business card holder
Business Card Case, available on Leatherology, $45
Leatherology makes luxe leather goods for less, and their $45 business card case is a great workplace gift for under $50. It has an invisible magnetic closure, holds up to 20 cards, and comes in a variety of leather types and colors. You can also add a monogram for an additional $10.
A chiller to keep their post-work beer cold
Chillsner, available on UncommonGoods, $16.95
When all your coworkers get together after work to enjoy a beer, this will be the most-wanted accessory. The stainless steel Chillsner fits easily into the bottle and keeps beverages refreshingly crisp.
A convenient, reusable bag that folds up to the size of a business card
Small Baggu, available on Amazon, $10
Grab a trendy, reusable shopping bag that's perfect for packing lunch, extra shoes, or taking a last-minute trip to the grocery store. This one folds up to about the size of a business card, and its signature version can hold 50 pounds of stuff easily.
A fidget-friendly desk toy that's actually really fun
Speks Original Magnetic Desk Toy, available on Amazon, $24.95
These tiny magnets are one "office toy" we actually liked enough to dedicate a full article to- they're fun, space-saving, and you can fidget without drawing attention to yourself.
A Bob Ross chia pet they can grow
Bob Ross Chia Pet, available on Amazon, $15.97
Do yourself, your coworker, and your section of the office a favor with a Bob Ross chia pet. It will be a great conversation piece for as long as it lives.
An echo dot for the virtual assistant you can afford to give them
Echo Dot, 3rd Generation, available on Amazon, $34.99
If they don't already have an Echo Dot, this is a great tech gift without quite breaking $50.
Double condiment bowls that are impossible to hate
Marble Double Condiment Bowls, available on Williams-Sonoma, $26.99
This white marble serving piece can hold the exact right amount of pairings, condiments, and spices. It's small, beautiful, and functional enough to bypass even the pickiest of coworkers.
Looking for more gift ideas? We've got you covered.
