Gifts for Employees From a Manager Who Means It
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 16 hand-picked ideas
Ask a team what they'd like from their manager and the honest answer is rarely an object. It's an afternoon off before the holidays, a lunch they didn't have to organize, or a few words that show you noticed the work. Gifts still matter, but they land best as part of that bigger picture, and they land worst when they look like leftover conference swag with a bow on it.
This guide is written for managers and small business owners buying for a whole team. It starts with practical gifts you can order in bulk, makes the case for time off, then covers treats for the break room, a nicer gift for each person when the budget allows, and options that ship easily to remote staff.
If you're an employee looking for ideas the other way, see gifts for boss. For peer-to-peer gifts, try gifts for coworkers or Christmas gifts for coworkers.
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Practical gifts you can order for everyone
When you're buying for ten or forty people, the gift has to work for everyone regardless of age, role or taste, and it has to arrive in one shipment. The safest bets are well-made everyday things that get used at work and beyond it.
Quality matters more than branding here. A good tumbler with a small logo gets used for years; a cheap one with a huge logo goes straight to a cupboard.
- 1
Custom Embroidered Logo Quarter-Zip Pullover
~$45
A warm quarter-zip with the company or team logo embroidered small on the chest. It's the one piece of company clothing people tend to wear on weekends, provided it's a decent fabric. Collect sizes discreetly, offer a couple of colors, and keep the logo subtle; nobody wants to be a billboard at the grocery store.
- 2
Insulated Tumbler with Handle and Straw
~$35
A big stainless tumbler that keeps drinks cold through a full shift and fits most car cup holders. It's useful for desk workers and people on their feet alike, which makes it one of the easiest bulk gifts for a mixed team. Many sellers will engrave names or a logo on bulk orders.
- 3
Water-Resistant Laptop Backpack with USB Port
~$45
A padded work backpack with a laptop sleeve and organizer pockets. It's a generous, practical gift for teams that commute, travel or split time between home and office, and it replaces a lot of tired bags. Choose a plain, dark color so it works for everyone.
- 4
Pocket Notebook Pack with Pen Loop
~$18
Three pocket notebooks with a pen loop, cheap enough to give everyone and handy for anyone who works away from a desk. It's a good small add-on to a bigger gift, or an end-of-year token for a large team on a tight budget. Pair with a decent pen and it feels complete.
- 5
Rechargeable Hand Warmer
~$25
Rechargeable hand warmers double as small phone batteries, and they make a thoughtful winter gift for teams who work outdoors, on cold shop floors or in drafty warehouses. They are also a pleasant surprise for office staff with long winter commutes.
The gift most teams actually want: time
If you have any say over schedules, extra time off is the gift your team will remember. An afternoon off before a holiday, closing early on the last Friday of the year, or a floating day each person can take when they like is often easier to arrange than managers assume, and it means more than almost anything you can wrap. Announce it in writing so it doesn't get quietly forgotten when deadlines pile up.
Then think about budget and fairness. Every person on the team should get the same gift, or at least gifts of the same value; differences get noticed and compared. $25 to $50 per person is a common range for a team gift from a manager, and more if the company is paying. If you're spending your own money, nobody expects you to be lavish. One more thing to check: in the US, gift cards and cash from an employer are generally treated as taxable wages, while small physical gifts often aren't, so ask payroll or HR before you hand out cards in bulk.
Treats for the break room
A shared treat is an easy way to say thanks after a hard quarter, a big launch or a busy season. It works for every shift and doesn't need a ceremony.
- 6~$30
Individually Wrapped Snack Variety Pack
Around fifty single-serve chips, cookies and bars. Sealed portions suit shared kitchens and night shifts, and a box lasts a week or two.
consumable - 7~$28
Gourmet Popcorn Variety Tin
A big tin of three popcorn flavors to open at a team meeting. Festive in December, welcome in any other month too.
consumable - 8~$35
Single-Serve Coffee Pod Variety Pack
A box of assorted coffee pods for the office machine. Check which machine you have before ordering; pods aren't universal.
Coffee Loversconsumable - 9~$35
Gourmet Snack Box
A box of sweet and savory snacks that also ships to individual homes, so in-office and remote staff get the same treat.
consumable
One nicer gift for each person
For a small team, a good year or a manager who wants to do something more personal, a nicer individual gift goes a long way. Pair it with a short handwritten note to each person naming something specific they did this year; that note is what people keep.
- Our favorite10
Restaurant Gift Card
~$50
A gift card that covers dinner for two somewhere good. It's the individual gift most likely to be enjoyed by everyone on a diverse team, because people choose when and with whom to use it. For a team spread across several cities, pick a restaurant group with locations near everyone, or let each person choose a local spot.
- 11
Experience Gift Card (Cooking Class, Spa, Adventure)
~$100
A voucher that each person can use on a class, a tasting or an activity they pick themselves. It's a strong choice for a high-performing team after a big year, and it avoids the problem of guessing at a dozen different hobbies.
- 12
Online Store Gift Card in a Greeting Card
~$50
A gift card for a large online store, tucked inside a card with room for your note. It isn't exciting, but it's flexible enough that everyone can use it, from the new hire furnishing an apartment to the parent buying school shoes. Remember the tax point above and check with payroll first.
- 13
Under-Desk Foot Rest with Massage Surface
~$35
An adjustable footrest with a textured surface for anyone who sits for most of the day. It's practical and not personal, and it shows you've thought about how the job feels. Best for desk-based teams; skip it for staff who are on their feet all shift.
For remote team members
Remote staff are easy to leave out of office celebrations. Send their gift early and make sure it arrives before the in-office team opens theirs.
If you hold a team lunch or party in the office, give remote staff a way to join: schedule a video call for the gift opening, or let them expense a meal of their own on the same day. Being included matters more to most remote employees than the size of the gift.
14.Food Delivery Gift Card ~$50
A team lunch for people who can't come to the team lunch. Send it on the same day the office celebrates.
15.USB Monitor Light Bar with Auto-Dimming ~$45
A light that clips to a monitor and lights the desk. A real improvement for home offices and late-afternoon video calls.
16.Ergonomic Laptop Stand ~$35
Lifts a laptop to eye level for staff who work from a kitchen table. Pair with a cheap keyboard if they don't have one.
Shop this guide by price
$25–$50
Notes for managers
Give everyone the same thing, or the same value. Comparisons are inevitable, and fairness matters more than flair.
Write a short note to each person. One specific sentence about their year is worth more than an upgrade to the gift.
Time off beats almost any object. If you can give an afternoon, give it, and put it in writing.
Plan around everyone's diet and beliefs. Choose packaged food with labels and keep holiday gifts seasonal rather than religious.
Buying for a team with very different tastes? Use our gift finder to test a few options against a quick description of the group.
What managers ask
How much should a manager spend on employee gifts?
$25 to $50 per person is common for a manager buying for a team, and more if the company is paying. Smaller teams sometimes go higher; large teams often choose a shared treat plus time off. Whatever you choose, keep it equal across the team.
What's a good gift for a large team?
Something you can order in bulk that everyone can use: a good tumbler, a quality logo pullover, a snack box or a gift card to a restaurant group. An extra afternoon off works for any team size.
Are employee gift cards taxable?
In the US, gift cards and cash from an employer are generally counted as taxable income, while small, occasional physical gifts often aren't. Rules vary, so check with payroll or an accountant before giving cards in bulk.
What should I give remote employees?
Gifts that ship well or arrive digitally: a food delivery gift card, a snack box sent to their home, or a home-office upgrade like a monitor light or laptop stand. Send them early so they arrive in time for any team celebration.
The gifts people remember from a manager are rarely the most expensive ones. They remember being treated the same as everyone else, being thanked for something specific, and getting out early on a gray December afternoon. Get those right and almost any sensible gift on this page will do the rest.