The 27 Best Gifts for Coworkers That Will Look Great on a Desk

Best For the Crystal Lover

This gemstone healing money tree will not only look fabulous on your coworker’s desk, it’s handmade in India with 300 Chakra gemstones to promote good luck and wealth. Gemstones are thought to be positive energy generators with the ability to heal, aid in meditation, bring peace of mind and improve concentration. Besides, what could be better than a plant that can’t die? This one features stones that represent all seven chakras, but you can choose from more than 40 options.

Best for the Phone Addict

You know that coworker who is always up-to-date on the latest Instagram news? This elephant-shaped cell phone holder, which is made from high-quality resin, is calling their name. Better yet, it will double as a vessel for all their favorite pens, pencils, scissors, paint brushes—you name it!

Best for the Super Stressed

These desk toys are made out of aerospace grade aluminum and have a helix-shaped groove milled alongside the whole surface. They spin silently, so your giftee won’t be bothering anyone even if you’re back in the office, and the base is removable to easily access the bearing. The best part, however, is how easy it is to get lost in its rotations, allowing your coworker to give their brains a much-needed midday break.

Best for the Meditator

This dual-functional fountain is the perfect little gift to bring a calm into the workspace. The gentle stream replicates the sights and sounds of flowing water found in nature for a quick deskside vacay—even when your work friend is stuck in the office. It has an easy on/off switch and a lighting feature that creates a soft reflection of the water’s surface. It also comes equipped with a built-in pump that will keep it algae-free.

Best for the Parent Who's Missing Their Kids

This photo frame (which, BT dubs, can also function as an alarm clock or calendar), has multiple slideshow modes and an on/off switch. A 1280 x 800 resolution allows for a decently clear picture, and you can easily hook it up to an SD card or USB drive to adjust your photos. Comparable models retail for twice as much, so we think this is a great value and a great gift for the family man or woman at work.

Best for the Cold-Weather Coworker

Brighten your coworker’s day—literally—by helping to elevate their vitamin D levels with this sun therapy lamp. Light therapy lamps are known to boost your mood. In fact, a 2009 National Institutes of Health study noted that as few as 20 minutes of exposure daily could ease symptoms of depression. This particular lamp is ideal because it uses 10,000 lux (the recommended amount for effective light therapy) is small, travels well (it can be folded up to put in a backpack or briefcase) and resembles a mirror or picture frame, so as to be discreet.

Best for the Dreamer

We all need words of encouragement to get us through those extra-sluggish Mondays. This inspirational calendar includes one year’s worth of uplifting messages in an evergreen format, so it can be used year after year.

Best for the Dog Fanatic

This is a great gift for the coworker who has so many pictures of their dog on their phone that it’s practically become the new office mascot. With a durable wooden build, this sturdy pick will not warm up their workspace, it will show them how much you care about their life away from the desk.

Best for the Java Fiend

Friends don’t let friends drink cold coffee! This coffee mug and warmer set will be a super useful gift for both in-office coworkers and those who are remote, as it can heat their cup of joe up to 158 degrees in a flash (between five to 10 minutes)—and keep it warm thereafter. The mug is made with food-grade stainless steel and there’s a stay-cool handle to boot. The eight-hour safety shut-off even ensures no accidents occur. Did we mention it’s also a heck of a lot more affordable than competing brands?

Best for the Office Hero

When a coworker saves the day by stepping in during a challenging meeting, fixes a troublesome website bug or gives you a heads up that your computer camera is on when you’re still in your jammies, they deserve a thank you—like this fitting desk sign. There’s even a reflective brass plate for quick lipstick touch-ups.

Best for the Jokester

Gifting someone an artsy wooden sculpture for their desk is already a cool idea, but this handmade one has a useful function, too. It holds eyeglasses or sunglasses to keep them safe and easy to find, while also making for a funny conversation starter.

Best for the One With Ultra-Dry Skin

Offices are known for having the A/C cranked up in the summer and the heat in the winter—something that creates unduly dry air, and consequently, dry skin. Keep your coworker feeling hydrated and fresh all year long with this cute miniature cactus humidifier, which can be easily hooked up to a USB. It has an automatic four-hour shutoff and is virtually silent while in use.

For the Tea Junkie

This 100 percent organic and all-natural bamboo tea thermos is both sleek and functional, making it ideal for your tea-loving coworker. According to its manufacturers, it can keep drinks hot or cold for up to 24 hours with its vacuum-insulated stainless-steel build, and it even has an included steeper for loose-leaf blends.

Best for Your Office Bestie

This Willow Tree keepsake box is the perfect meaningful gift for your BFF who just so happens to be your coworker, too. Made of hand-painted resin, it has a distinctive Willow Tree theme from artist Susan Lordi and a special hand-carved message for your pal inside: “Forever true, forever friends.”

Best for the Self-Care Queen

Everybody needs a little midday self care, right? Help bring the spa to work with this Essential Burt’s Bees kit, which includes a body lotion, the classic beeswax lip balm, hand salve and more.

Best for the Sentimentalist

If you’re looking to gift your favorite coworker something small to remind them of the difference they’ve made in your life, this dog tag comes in both silver and black and says, “May you be proud of the work you do, the person you are and the difference you make.” It’s also made of stainless steel to ensure that it will last for a good long while.

Best for the Golf Enthusiast

On days when your best colleague can’t find a client to hit the green with, they’ll just have to settle for writing up proposals with these golf club pens! Complete with mini golf balls, a flag and gift set, it makes for a fun deskside gift and will be sure to elicit a chuckle or two, too.

Best for the Overworked

You know those work days when all of your work BFF’s Slack messages to you start with “Ugh?” Those will be the perfect days for them to pull out their trusty “Everything is fine.” paper pad, which comes with 50 sheets and has a durable chipboard back.

Best for the Nervous Jitterer

Fidget toys are so in right now, and for good reason. Not just a fun game to pass the time, these trusty little games actually reduce anxiety and improve focus in the short-term, according to a 2018 study published in Scientific Reports. Gift your coworker this cool, grown up looking fidget toy to help them de-stress.

Best for the Plant Lover

One of the most classic ways to tell someone you care is with a fresh flower delivery. The Bouqs Co. provides farm fresh flower arrangements for all occasions and even offers a 30% discount for subscribers.

Best for the Gamer

When happy hour strikes, your coworker will love pulling out this tabletop cornhole game and blowing off some Friday steam! This set comes with all the fixings they’ll need to go nuts, including bean bags, an allen wrench for set up and full instructions.

Best for the One Who’s Always Cold

If you’re heard your coworker complain about being cold more times than you can count, you’d do well to get them one of these therapeutic heat pillows, which can be microwaved in the office to offer some warmth, and even potential relief from aches and pains. The Michigan orchard cherry pits inside allow for organic insulation, and the hands-sewn patterns are pretty cute, too.

Best for the Office Acquaintance

Personalized stationery is one of those things you’d never think to buy for yourself but would love to receive as a gift. Your office acquaintance will love to write professional “thank you’s” on this fancy, monogrammed paper, which comes two pads to a pack and features a “creamy cotton texture.”

Best for the Idea Person

If your coworker has too many ideas to contain to any one single meeting, introduce them to this 80-page Minted notebook, which features customizable paper (blank lined or graph) to jot down their every thought. The cover, which was created by the company’s community of independent designers, even has a customizable front that can be emblazoned with your coworker’s name.

Best for Your Forgetful Friend

A pretty mug makes everything better—including a desk. This option from Rifle Paper Co. is highly rated by Anthropologie customers for its gorgeous garden print and eye-catching gold handle and is available in every letter of the alphabet for a truly personalized pick. That means there will be no mistaking who this mug belongs to when your forgetful colleague inevitably misplaces it by the coffee machine.

Best for the Colleague Who Has Everything

What do you get the work friend who has everything (including that desk by the window)? A top-rated sunscreen by Supergoop! This one is a staff favorite for its weightless feel, scent-free formula and high SPF 40. Unlike most sunscreens, we’ve even found that it helps your makeup stay put longer, so the office glamazon can enjoy it, too!

Best for the Remote Worker

In the time of COVID, we’d be remiss to neglect all of those remote workers out there! Upgrade your virtual work bestie from their kitchen counters, home offices, beds or couches with this comfortable lap desk to knock out projects in a flash. It’s got a phone slot and a device ledge to keep their messages where they can see ‘em and a cozy, conforming cushion for the ultimate plushness.