Office Christmas Gifts for Coworkers, Employees and a Boss

Christmas gifts for coworkers, for employees and for a boss are three different tasks, because the direction of giving changes what is appropriate. This guide takes them one at a time, then gives desk gift ideas by size and the practical points of ordering personalized pieces before a holiday.

Three directions of giving at work

Who gives to whom at Christmas and what suits each

Direction	What suits it	Main risk
Between coworkers	Small, equal, optional. Often a Secret Santa with a spending limit.	Leaving someone out, or overspending the limit.
Employer to employees	The same gift, or the same level of gift, for everyone on the team.	Visible differences between people on the same team.
Team to a boss	One shared gift with a card, or a card alone.	Pressure on people to contribute.

Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Calling the exchange a holiday or year-end gift, and keeping it voluntary, costs nothing and includes everyone.

Christmas gifts for coworkers

Between peers, the gift should be small enough that nobody feels they owe one back. Under a Secret Santa limit, think of one desk piece, not a set; a full set is too much for a name drawn from a hat.

• A single piece. Coasters, a pen cup, a memo holder and a phone stand are sold one at a time through Build Your Desk Set, in the color you choose. Our page on desk accessories by the piece explains what can be ordered singly.
• A color they already have. If a coworker's desk has a color theme, match it. If you do not know, black, brown and gray are the least risky.
• Something for the desk, not for the person. Anything worn, scented or aimed at a habit is risky between coworkers. An object for the desk is neutral.

For a teammate you work with every day, a small matching set is reasonable. More ideas by relationship are in our guide to gifts for coworkers.

Christmas gifts for employees

When the employer gives, consistency matters more than the object. People compare, so choose one model and let only the color or the name differ.

• One set for every desk. A compact set keeps the cost per person predictable. The Luna 4-Piece Desk Set ($120) is a desk pad with a pen cup, a memo holder and a coaster; the Luna 5-Piece Desk Set ($125) adds a business card holder. Neither has a nameplate.
• A name on each. If every gift should carry a name, choose a set that includes a nameplate. Such sets can go in one order, each with its own name and title. Add each set to the bag separately, because sets in the same bag line share one nameplate text.
• Company colors. The Luna sets come in a wide range of colors, so a team gift can follow a brand color; red and green are there if you want the season.

For larger orders, logo printing, custom sizes and custom models can be requested; the corporate gifts page explains how to ask. Our guide to employee appreciation gifts covers giving at other times of the year.

A Christmas gift for a boss

A gift to a manager is the one direction where less is safer. A card signed by the team is always enough. If the team wants to give something, pool small voluntary amounts and buy one useful thing for the office. A set with a nameplate works here because it is clearly for work and clearly from everyone. The Luna 9-Piece Desk Set with Nameplate ($175) is a compact example with a phone stand and two pens.

How to collect without pressure, and how to pick a size without seeing the desk, are covered in gifts for your boss.

Desk gift ideas by size

1. One piece: a coaster or a pen cup from Build Your Desk Set. Each piece shows its own price in the tool.
2. Four or five pieces: a small set without a nameplate, for a teammate or for every desk in a team.
3. A compact set with a nameplate: for one person the whole team is thanking.
4. An executive set: ten pieces or more, for a shared gift from a department.

All sets of four to nine pieces are in the compact desk sets collection. Size is not a price order, so check the price on each product page against what the group has agreed to spend.

Ordering before a holiday

• Start with the names. Collecting correct spellings and titles takes longer than choosing the gift. The name line takes up to 32 characters and the optional title up to 36, and the plate is printed exactly as typed.
• Do not plan for the last day. The shipping policy gives current delivery estimates. They are estimates, not delivery dates, and carriers are busy in the weeks before a holiday. Shipping costs are shown at checkout before you pay.
• Plan the wrapping yourself. Allow time to wrap the set and to write a card.
• Proofread in the bag. Read every name before checkout. If one turns out to be wrong after ordering, write to us through the contact page right away: nameplate text can be changed until the order has shipped, and not after.

Common questions

What is a good Secret Santa gift for an office?

Something small, useful and neutral. One desk piece in a plain color can be all three; each piece shows its own price in the tool and shipping costs are shown at checkout, so check both against the agreed limit.

Should every employee get the same gift?

Within one team, yes, or at least the same model at the same level. A different color or a personal name is a difference people enjoy; a different value is one they notice.

Is a personalized gift too personal for work?

A name and a job title on a desk nameplate are work details, not private ones. It is personal in the sense that it was made for one person, which is why it reads as thoughtful.