Holiday Gifts for Coworkers: Secret Santa Picks, Boss Gifts, and Team Ideas

Buying for a colleague is a narrow target. You want something thoughtful but not personal, useful but not dull, and priced so nobody has to have an awkward conversation about it.

The best coworker gifts solve a small, shared problem. Nearly everyone travels at some point, and nearly everyone has dug through a bag for a charger. Start there.

What Are Good Gifts for Coworkers?

The best gifts for coworkers are useful, easy to like, and don't require knowing someone's personal taste. Travel organizers fit that description: packing cubes, tech cases, and toiletry bags work for almost anyone, from the colleague who flies monthly to the one who takes one big trip a year.

You don't need to know someone's style to know they'd rather not repack a full suitcase at the gate.

What Is a Good Secret Santa Gift?

A good Secret Santa gift is universally useful, fits a swap budget, and is a little nicer than expected. You're shopping for someone you may only know from the next desk over, so the goal is a gift that works for almost anyone.

Two easy answers:

• Packing Cubes. They keep clothes sorted by day, outfit, or category, so a suitcase stays organized past the first unzip. They come in sets of four or six and are made of water-repellent nylon. A mesh top lets you see what's inside at a glance, so nobody has to dig through the whole bag to find a pair of socks.

• Micro Carry-On Charm. A small, giftable nod to the carry-on. Every dark bag on the carousel looks like yours until it isn't, and a charm gives a bag something to be recognized by. It's built from the same durable polycarbonate shell as Away hardside luggage, and a metal clip attaches to any D-ring, so it moves easily between a carry-on, a backpack, and your keys.

What Is a Good Gift for a Coworker Who Always Has Cords Everywhere?

The Mini Tech Case holds cables, chargers, and earbuds in one place, which makes it a good fit for the colleague whose desk drawer is a tangle of cords. It moves from desk to bag without a second thought, so the charger is where it should be when the battery hits 3 percent. The durable hard-shell case has dedicated storage for cables, chargers, and headphones, with mesh pockets for visibility and elastic loops that keep cords in place. 

What Is a Good Desk-to-Airport Gift?

The Travel Glasses Case is a good pick for anyone who wears sunglasses, or collects them. It has a polycarbonate shell, a padded microsuede interior with a center divider, and room for three pairs. A microfiber wipe is included, and the case zips closed.

The hard shell protects what's inside, and the divider keeps lenses from rubbing against each other. Nobody wants to find their sunglasses crushed at the bottom of a bag.

What Is an Appropriate Gift for a Boss or a Big Milestone?

An appropriate gift for a boss is something useful they'll keep for years, not something personal or showy. Check your company's gift policy first, since some workplaces set limits or prefer a group gift.

Two options that work:

• Commuter Backpack. Built for the daily commute and the occasional business trip, so it earns its place whether the week involves a train or a flight. It fits a 16" laptop and has an interior organization system and a trolley sleeve, so it rides along on a suitcase handle between meetings and gates.

• Garment Duffle. A good fit for anyone who travels in a suit or dress clothes and would rather arrive without a wrinkle emergency. It's a 2-in-1: the hang-and-pack functionality of a garment bag with the ease of a weekender. A wide U-shaped main compartment fits packing cubes, folded clothes, and toiletries, and two expandable zippered shoe pockets each hold up to a men’s size 15 shoe.

Can You Gift Your Whole Team at Once?

Yes. Away offers corporate and bulk gifting for teams, clients, and company events. See our Away corporate gifting page for details on bulk orders.

Not sure what someone needs? A digital Away gift card lets them choose what fits. It's an easy answer for a coworker you don't know well, and for the team member who already owns everything on this list.

Quick Picks: Gift Ideas for Coworkers

• Secret Santa: Packing Cubes or a Micro Carry-On Charm

• Desk neighbor: Mini Tech Case

• Sunglasses collector: Travel Glasses Case

• Your manager: Commuter Backpack or Garment Duffle

• The whole team: Corporate gifting or gift cards

FAQ

What are good gifts for coworkers? Practical travel organizers like packing cubes, tech cases, and toiletry bags. They work for nearly anyone, and they don't require knowing the person's taste.

What's a good Secret Santa gift? Packing cubes or a Micro Carry-On Charm. Both are useful, easy to like, and easy to fit into a swap budget.

What is an appropriate gift for a boss? Something useful and professional, like a commuter backpack or a garment duffle. Check your company's gift policy first.

Does Away offer corporate or bulk gifting? Yes. See our corporate gifting page for bulk orders. 

Can I send a gift card to a coworker? Yes. A digital Away gift card lets them choose what fits.

The Short Version

A good coworker gift is useful, easy to like, and not awkward to give. Pick something that makes a trip a little smoother, and you've done the job.