Gifts for Coworkers: Desk Gifts That Suit the Office
Gifts for coworkers go wrong in two ways: too personal, or too large. A gift for the desk avoids both, because it is about work and it can be as small as one piece. This guide sorts ideas by how well you know the person, which is the question that decides everything else.
Start with how well you know them
| Relationship | Right scale | Example |
|---|---|---|
| You work near them, not with them | One small piece | A coaster or a pen cup |
| A teammate you work with daily | A few pieces, or a small set without a nameplate | A four-piece set |
| A work friend of years, or a milestone | A group gift | A matching set with a nameplate, from everyone |
When in doubt, go one level down. A small gift that is used every day is remembered longer than a large one that made someone uncomfortable.
Level one: a single desk piece
Individual pieces are sold through Build Your Desk Set. You pick a model, add only what you want and choose a color, and there is no minimum: one piece is a complete order. Each piece shows its own price in the tool, and shipping costs are shown at checkout before you pay. Pieces that work as a small gift:
- Coaster. Sold individually. Nearly every desk has a cup on it.
- Pen Cup. Clears loose pens off a desk in one move.
- Phone Stand. Useful for anyone who takes calls or checks messages while typing.
- Memo Holder. For someone who still writes notes. It is the holder only; paper is not included, so add a pad of note paper yourself.
- Business Card Holder. For a coworker who meets clients or has just received new cards.
Which pieces exist differs a little by model. The page on desk accessories by the piece lists them.
A single piece needs no occasion. Leave it on the desk with a line about why you chose it; a specific reason is what turns an object into a gift.
Level two: a small matching set
For a close teammate, a few pieces that match look like one considered gift and not a handful of items. The sets of four to nine pieces are in the compact desk sets collection, and all of them use the smaller desk pad, 13.4 × 18.9 in (34 × 48 cm), which suits a shared office or a cubicle.
- The Vega 4-Piece Desk Set ($125) is a desk pad with a pen cup, a memo holder and a phone stand.
- The Vega 9-Piece Desk Set ($160) adds a calendar holder, a business card holder and three coasters to the Vega 4.
Neither has a nameplate, which makes them easy gifts: there is nothing to spell and nothing to get wrong.
Level three: a group gift for a milestone
A work anniversary, a promotion, a return from long leave or a last day are the moments when a team gives together. A shared gift can carry a name. A personalized desk name plate can be ordered on its own, or as part of a set that includes one.
Nobody should have to say what they gave, or whether they gave; one card goes around for all signatures. If the occasion is a coworker leaving for another company, our guide to new job gifts covers what suits a desk you have never seen.
Occasions when coworkers give
Most gifts between peers belong to one of a few moments: a birthday the team marks, a holiday exchange, a thank-you after a hard project, a work anniversary or a last day. The first three call for level one. The last two are where a shared gift makes sense, because the whole team has a reason to take part.
Choosing a color for someone else's desk
Look at the desk first: a mouse pad, a notebook or a mug often shows a color the person already chose. If nothing stands out, a neutral is the lower-risk choice, and a bright color suits a desk that is already colorful. In the tool, most models can be built in the full color range; a few have a shorter list. The method for matching a desk surface is in how to choose a desk set color.
What to avoid
- Anything that comments on the person. Diet, age and habits are not gift themes at work, even as a joke.
- Gifts that create a debt. If your gift is clearly more expensive than what the office usually exchanges, the other person has to respond to it.
- One gift in an open office. Giving to one teammate in front of five others is awkward. Hand it over quietly, or give to everyone.
- Ignoring the gift policy. Some employers limit gifts between staff. If yours does, the policy decides.
Coworker gift questions
Is a desk gift too impersonal?
It is impersonal in the right way: it says you noticed how someone works, not how they live. The choice of piece and color is what makes it theirs.
Can I add a name to a small gift?
Yes. A nameplate ordered on its own takes a name of up to 32 characters and an optional title of up to 36, printed on a metal plate. Check the spelling against an email signature before you order.
What if I need the same gift for a whole team?
Choose one model and let the colors differ. How to pick a set when you are buying for someone else is covered in desk set gift ideas.
