Gifts for coworkers in the UK

Keep it small, useful and neutral

Coworker gifts have one job: show you noticed the person without making anyone uncomfortable. That means modest prices, nothing personal like clothing or perfume, and nothing that needs explaining. Tea, hot chocolate, desk items and small games all pass.

Pick from their working day. A coworker who lives on tea will use the Bird & Blend box or the T2 calendar. One who keeps borrowing a charger will use the Anker plug. One who cycles in will use the Muc-Off brushes. If you know nothing about them, a box of tea or the hot chocolate spoons are hard to get wrong.

Secret Santa budgets

Most office exchanges set a limit of £10 to £20, and most of this list fits. Stick to it. Going far over makes the other gifts look small.

Under £10 there are sticky notes and a solitaire game. Around the limit there are tea, a notebook, a thermal mug and a calendar. Bigger items like the vertical mouse or an afternoon tea voucher are for a team to share.

Thank-you and leaving gifts

A thank-you can be a little more personal. The afternoon tea voucher arrives quickly and lets them choose a venue near home, which suits a coworker anywhere in the country.

For a leaving gift, pool money with the team and buy one better thing. Choose something easy to carry home on their last day.

Timing and post

Order two weeks before the office party. Royal Mail and couriers slow down in December, and dated 2027 calendars sell out. For a remote team, light items like notebooks, tea and sticky notes are cheap to post.

Check the plug and the phone. The Anker charger has a UK plug, so it is right here. Food gifts need an allergen check: the Cocoa Loco spoons contain dairy.

What we would skip

Joke gifts that need context, anything about weight or age, and alcohol unless your workplace is relaxed about it. Scented soaps and candles are a gamble in a shared office. A plain gift that gets used beats a funny one that ends up in a drawer, and a clear name tag saves confusion in a pile of twenty.

Questions people ask

What is a good gift for a coworker?

Something small that fits their workday: good coffee or tea, a notebook, a spare charging cable, a box of chocolates or a quick card game. Aim for useful and neutral rather than personal, and avoid clothing, perfume and joke gifts. If you know one detail about them, such as tea over coffee or a daily commute, let that decide the gift.

How much should you spend on a coworker gift?

For Secret Santa, stick to the office limit, usually $10 to $25. For a coworker you are thanking personally, $15 to $30 is plenty. For a leaving or retirement gift, pool money with the team and buy one better item. Spending much more than everyone else can make the exchange awkward.

What is a good Secret Santa gift for someone you do not know?

Pick something almost everyone uses: a coffee bag, a box of chocolates, a notebook, a USB-C cable or a quick card game like Exploding Kittens. Avoid strong scents, food with nuts unless you check, and anything that only makes sense with an inside joke. Add a short note so it does not feel anonymous.

Is a charity gift appropriate for a coworker?

Yes, especially for someone who has said they want nothing or who already has a full desk. A gift like clean water supplies through Save the Children Canada comes with an eCard you can send. It works best when you know the person likes giving back. In a Secret Santa, add something small to unwrap so they are not left empty-handed.