A good notebook, a pen, a desk mat, a mug, a small LEGO plant: modest gifts that suit an office. The Emily Post Institute advises against a gift to a supervisor from you alone, which others can read as currying favor; pool with your team and give one gift from the group.
We earn a commission if you buy through a store link, at no extra cost to you.
Top picks
Start here
Gallaway Leather Desk Mat, 36 x 17 in, BlackA 36 x 17 in desk mat that works as a mouse pad and wipes clean
Skip if their desk is under 40 inches wide
Under $25
HumanCentric Aluminum Headphone Stand, Space GrayA weighted aluminum stand that gets headphones off the desk
Skip if they use earbuds, not over-ear headphones
The splurge
BenQ ScreenBar Monitor Light BarLights the desk from the top of the monitor, with no screen glare
Unexpected
LEGO Botanicals SucculentsNine LEGO succulents for a desk or shelf, no watering needed
Skip if they’d rather keep real plants
For meeting notes: 203 numbered pages and a table of contents
For the boss who clears every roadblock: record their catchphrase
Narrow these down by what they’re into in the gift finder.
HaulPlay Gift Awards 2026: Best Gift for a Boss, the winner and two runners-up.
By what they’re into
If they’re into cooking
YETI Rambler 14 oz Stackable Mug, BlackCeramic-lined, so coffee tastes of coffee, not steel; mugs nest
If they’re into gaming
HumanCentric Aluminum Headphone Stand, Space GrayA weighted aluminum stand that gets headphones off the desk
If they’re into reading
Wissotzky Tea Chest, 42 Tea Bags in 6 FlavorsA team-friendly pick: 42 wrapped tea bags in six flavors, one chest
If they’re into lego, pokémon & co
LEGO Botanicals SucculentsNine LEGO succulents for a desk or shelf, no watering needed
If they’re into music & tech
Gallaway Leather Desk Mat, 36 x 17 in, BlackA 36 x 17 in desk mat that works as a mouse pad and wipes clean
If they’re into home & decor
BenQ ScreenBar Monitor Light BarLights the desk from the top of the monitor, with no screen glare
For the boss who opens a bottle at dinner: keeps it up to 10 days
For long workdays: tracks on glass, the wheel free-spins through docs
A thank-you in a box: vanilla soy candle, up to 45 hours
For the boss always on camera: USB-powered light, warm to cool blue
A German fountain pen with a steel nib; takes LAMY T10 cartridges
Lights the desk from the top of the monitor, with no screen glare
A 36 x 17 in desk mat that works as a mouse pad and wipes clean
← → ↑ ↓ to move between finds, S to save, / to search, ? for every key.
You’ve seen it all.
18 photos tagged Gifts for Boss, in a new mix each day. Mostly from Kitchen, Tech & Desk and Gifts.
Checked : all 18 finds have a price.
What to write in the card
A line to copy, by how formal it needs to be.
Professional
- Thank you for a year of clear direction and fair calls. Happy holidays.
- Thanks for trusting me with the work that mattered this year. Wishing you a restful break.
- Working for you has made me better at my job. Thank you, and happy holidays.
- Thank you for backing the team when it counted. Enjoy the time off.
Warm
- Thanks for always making time for questions, even the small ones. Happy holidays!
- You set the tone for a team people want to be on. Thank you for this year.
- Thank you for the feedback, the patience and the extra day on that deadline.
- I hope the holidays give you as much calm as you give the rest of us.
Light
- A small thank-you for a big year. Please don’t answer email over the break.
- For your desk, from the team that keeps it busy. Happy holidays!
- Proof that I do read the whole email. Thanks for everything this year.
- Thanks for being the boss nobody complains about at parties.
Free printables
- Gift tags for your boss: Eight tags for a gift to a manager, professional to light, none of them awkward. PDF
No email, no sign-up, US Letter or A4. Every printable
Questions
How much do the gifts for boss here cost?
18 have a price read today, from $13.95 for Custom Easy Button Essential: Records a 30-Second Message to $109.00 for BenQ ScreenBar Monitor Light Bar. 7 under $25, 14 under $50, 17 under $100.
Hiding the price, gift receipts and returns, and the last days to ship for Christmas: Christmas deadlines and gift returns.