19 Employee of the Month Gift Ideas for Every Budget
published
October 22, 2025
People of all ages and backgrounds love to receive praise for a job well done. From elementary school to the work force and everywhere in between, receiving accolades for our achievements doesn't just benefit the recipient - research shows that employee recognition is motivational, increasing their productivity and loyalty. That's a win-win all around!
If you want to reward and motivate employees - even with a low budget – Crestline has just the right “Employee of the Month” gifts to honor your hard-working staff.
What is the purpose of celebrating an Employee of the Month?
Celebrating an Employee of the Month every month is a simple yet effective way to show your staff that you recognize their hard work and invaluable contributions. Doing so also boosts morale and can positively impact your organizational culture.
5 Budget-Friendly Employee of the Month Gift Ideas
Showing your employees how much you value them doesn't have to cost a fortune. If you're working with a low budget, don't buy more gifts than you need. Consider employee of the month gift ideas with a low or no minimum order requirement. Here are a few other low cost or free employee appreciation ideas to noodle:
1. Employee Appreciation Certificates
Presenting your best employees with a special Employee of the Month certificate in a custom award holder is an affordable way to show you value their contributions. You can choose from a range of shapes, sizes, and colors, such as:
2. A Relaxing Day Off
Your employees work hard to make your company successful. But with 66% of employees reporting burnout, sometimes the best appreciation gift is a day off to rest. To make their time away extra special, consider putting together a self-care gift bag, full of the following:
3. Lunch & Snacks on the House
Let’s face it — eating a packed lunch can be boring. Why not show your most valuable employees how much they mean to your organization by providing their favorite lunch and snacks?
You could offer them a gift card to a local restaurant or even throw an Employee of the Month catered luncheon to celebrate multiple outstanding employees at one time.
Keeping personalized snacks on hand is an easy and affordable way to give back. From custom cookies and brownies to branded candy and bags of popcorn and pretzels with your logo, they’re sure to find a treat they love.
4. Employee of the Month Coffee Mugs
Practical gifts often make the best gifts. Design a custom Employee of the Month Coffee Mug to give them bragging rights whenever they fill their cup. Here are some of the most popular inexpensive coffee mugs for your top performers:
5. Branded Notebooks
Design a personalized Employee of the Month line of notebooks that will remind them how vital they are to your organization. Available in a wide range of colors and sizes, the Soft Touch Journal and Castelli All Color Medio Lined Ivory Page Journal are popular, budget-friendly choices.
Make the journal even more special by including an extra item, like a pen. The Truman 2-Piece Journal Gift Set and the Manhattan II Gift Set with Magnetic Journal & Recycled Pen will give you the most bang for your gift-giving buck. Finish off your gift with artfully designed words of thanks and appreciation.
6 Employee of the Month Gifts for a Mid-Range Budget
6. Wireless Speakers or Earbuds
At home and even work, earbuds and wireless speakers are a must-have staple for music listening, conference calls and video chats, and more. Crestline’s branded wireless speakers, custom headphones, and earbuds are high-quality and budget-friendly.
7. Custom Employee of the Month Apparel
Praise should always be worn with pride. What better way for your best employees to do that than to give them branded Employee of the Month apparel? Design custom apparel—with options ranging from hats and accessories to long-sleeve shirts, quarter-zip fleeces, sweatshirts, and more.
Take a look at the most in-demand, affordable company apparel:
8. Food, Wine, or Beer Gift Sets
You can’t go wrong showing your appreciation for a job well done than by giving your best staff a food or drink gift set. Choose from a wide selection of gift sets, sure to give them more than a taste of your gratitude.
9. Plants to Celebrate Professional Growth
Offer the best in your ranks a gift with a botanical twist. Custom plant gifts symbolize growth and resilience — the traits your best employees exhibited to rise above the rest.
Celebrate their professional growth with a gift that mirrors their success, such as:
10. Indoor & Outdoor Games
Consider gifting your employees a custom indoor or outdoor game to show them how much you appreciate their dedication on and off the clock. That way, you can encourage them to spend their well-deserved downtime with their family and friends.
Some of the most popular recreational games include:
11. Office Gear
Every employee needs the best resources to get the job done right. Personalized office gear is not only a means to help them do that but also a way to offer your sincerest gratitude when they do.
Whether you choose a branded executive padfolio, Scafoldee Laptop Stand, or Modern Office Desk Lamp, your crème de la crème will know you value their talent .
8 High-End Employee of the Month Gift Ideas
Are you looking for the ultimate Employee of the Month gifts? Crestline has a high-end range of personalized gifts with a low-to-no minimum ordering requirement.
12. Custom Clocks
Your top-performing staff do their best work from the moment they clock in to when they clock out. Giving them a personalized custom clock to celebrate every second of their accomplishments is a first-class way to celebrate, especially with these in-demand gifts:
13. Inscribed Appreciation Awards
The film industry has its Emmy and Grammy awards, and the literary/publishing world has the Pulitzer and Carnegie for the best of the best. So, a custom inscribed appreciation award is only fitting for your top employees.
Choose from these high-quality Employee of the Month Awards:
14. Outdoor Luxury Gifts
When your movers and shakers aren’t in the office, many are spending time outdoors (weather permitting, of course). Hook them up with a custom outdoor gift they can enjoy during their downtime, including:
15. Custom Travel Gear
Your employees represent your brand everywhere they go. Equip them with custom travel gear. For instance, personalized luggage bags are an ideal way to ensure they’re comfortable traveling while also representing your company as they do.
16. Gifts for Adventure-Seekers
When your employees clock out, they reclaim their personal lives. For some, that means heading to the great outdoors! Show gratitude to your best employees by giving them the best custom corporate gifts to support their adventurous endeavors, like:
17. Employee Appreciation Party
If you’d prefer to avoid individual gift-giving, why not throw an employee appreciation party for the office? Start by designing custom Employee of the Month tablecloths and runners to make the event extra special. Next, roll out branded drinkware that your employees can take home and remember the occasion by. You could even design a custom backdrop or personalized banners for a more polished touch.
18. All-Inclusive Weekend Getaway
If you want to show your best employees how much you value them, sometimes a short time away is the best way to do it. An all-inclusive weekend getaway may just be the opportunity they need to refuel before the next work week.
Follow these tips to create a mini-vacation they won’t forget:
- Choose three to five popular destinations your staff can enjoy for a quick getaway.
- Hook them up with branded travel accessories that represent your organization.
- Book their mini-vacation on a corporate card to rack up airline miles and hotel points.
19. Executive Pens
Though we are living in a tech-forward world, high-quality writing instruments remain not only useful but in high demand. Custom-engraved executive pens are a classic way to show your top-tier employees how much they mean to your organization.
Choose from a variety of styles like:
Ready to Celebrate Your Employee of the Month All Year with Gifts from Crestline?
A company's success is a direct reflection of its employees' hard work and commitment. Acknowledging and rewarding their dedication each month is an easy way to give back.
Crestline's employee of the month gift ideas are suitable for any budget. With no-to-low minimum ordering requirements, you can purchase a one-off appreciation gift or stock up for the year (and beyond)!
Contact Crestline and let our team help you choose the right gift for your next Employee of the Month.
