Best Coworker Gift Ideas Under $30

Coworker gifts are a minefield. Too personal and it's weird. Too generic and it screams “I grabbed this at the gas station on the way to work.” And if you're doing a Secret Santa at the office, there's extra pressure because everyone opens gifts in front of each other.

After running office exchanges for three years straight (and watching people's faces when they open both great and terrible gifts), I've learned what works. The sweet spot is thoughtful but not intimate, useful but not boring, and under $30.

The Safe Bets (People Genuinely Like These)

These are the gifts that get the “oh, this is actually nice” reaction. Nothing groundbreaking, but reliably good:

• Specialty tea or coffee sampler ($15-25) — a curated pack from a local roaster or an interesting tea brand. Something they wouldn't pick up at the grocery store. If you know they drink coffee, go for single-origin beans. If you're guessing, a mixed sampler is safe.
• Premium notebook and pen set ($15-25) — not the branded company notebook nobody uses. Something with nice paper and a pen that actually writes well. Leuchtturm1917, Rhodia, or a Moleskine with a good pen is a real upgrade.
• Insulated travel mug ($15-25) — everyone has one. But everyone also has a crappy one they wish they'd replace. A decent insulated mug with a good lid is one of those gifts that gets used daily.
• Desk plant ($10-20) — a small succulent or pothos. Low maintenance, livens up a desk, and won't die even if they forget about it for two weeks. Add a small ceramic pot and it looks like you put thought into it (you did).

For the Foodie Coworker

If you know they like cooking or trying new flavors, lean into that:

• Gourmet snack box ($20-30) — mixed nuts, dried fruit, artisan crackers, good chocolate. Put together a small box yourself or order one curated
• Hot sauce or seasoning set ($12-20) — three interesting bottles they can try at home. Everything Bagel seasoning, a smoky chipotle, and a Thai chili sauce is a solid trio
• Fancy olive oil ($15-20) — the kind from a specialty shop that changes how you taste salad forever

For the Stressed-Out Coworker (So, Everyone)

• Hand cream and lip balm set ($10-20) — office air is brutal. Aesop, L'Occitane, or any brand with nice packaging
• Scented candle ($15-25) — stick to universally pleasant scents: vanilla, eucalyptus, cedar. Avoid anything too strong or polarizing
• Blue light blocking glasses ($15-25) — legitimately useful for anyone staring at screens all day. They don't need a prescription

When You Have No Idea What They Like

Sometimes you get matched with someone from a different team you barely know. It happens. For these situations, consumable gifts are your best friend:

• Coffee shop gift card ($15-25) — everyone gets coffee
• Streaming gift card ($15-30) — Netflix, Spotify, or Audible
• Bakery box ($15-20) — pick up a box of pastries from a good local bakery

Gift cards sometimes get a bad reputation as “low effort,” but honestly? A $25 coffee shop card is more useful than a decorative paperweight that sits in a drawer. Don't overthink it.

The Gifts to Avoid

A quick list of things that seem like good ideas but usually aren't:

• Cologne or perfume — too personal, too much room for error
• Clothing — you won't guess the size right, and taste is subjective
• Alcohol — unless you know for sure they drink (and what they drink)
• Self-help books — nobody wants to unwrap “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” in front of their boss
• Anything with their name on it — personalized mugs and keychains feel like gas station gifts

Still Stuck?

If you're genuinely stuck, GiftDice has an AI gift recommender that suggests ideas based on the occasion, budget, and your relationship with the person. A few of our users use it specifically for office Secret Santa when they get matched with someone they barely know. It's free to try.