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41 Small Gift Ideas for Employees
– Staff Appreciation on a Budget

updated: February 13, 2024
41 Small Gift Ideas for Employees – Staff Appreciation on a Budget

Whether you are adapting to inflation, spreading your staff gift giving throughout the year for increased engagement, adding party favors to an event, or need a little something fun to go with a generous gift card, small employee gifts are a versatile tool for your employee appreciation program. With all these uses, you’re going to need a lot of ideas, and you’re in luck because we have them! The following small gift ideas for employees can come in handy throughout the year for Employee Appreciation Day in March, profession-specific appreciation days like Nurses Week and Teacher Appreciation Week, and during holidays as big as Christmas or as small as St. Patrick’s Day.

Wooden Planter Block

1. Wooden Planter Block

If you’re looking for gifts under $5, this herb planter gift set comes with a wooden cube planter, a seed packet, peat pellets and packaging wrap with printed planting instructions. Choose from tons of different herb and flower seeds for your recipients to grow. It’s the perfect thing to warm up both home and on-site office desks.

Cotton Tote Bags

2. Cotton Tote Bags

One of our most popular small employee gift ideas is our ivory-colored promotional tote featuring sturdy handles, a roomy interior, and a generous imprint area for your company logo or brand.

Office-to-Go Kit

3. Office-to-Go Kit

Small employee Christmas gifts are always appreciated during the holiday season. Check out this mini office supply kit complete with stapler, staples, tape, paper clips, rubber bands, a sticky-note pad and four sticky flag pads.

11 oz Budget Mug

4. 11 oz Budget Mug

These inexpensive quality mugs are waiting for your company logo. Coffee- or tea-drinking employees will appreciate the large handle and 11-ounce capacity as well as the thought behind the gift. Liven up a basic mug with funny, appreciative, or inspirational sayings.

SURF™ Phone Stand

5. SURF™ Phone Stand

A multi-purpose phone stand is one of the best small gifts for office staff. This wavy, durable stand can accommodate your brand as well as keep a phone and writing instruments nearby and ready for use.

Soft Touch Journal

6. Soft Touch Journal

When you want employee small gift ideas with long lasting impact, look no further than this imprinted journal book. This hardbound notebook works for either professional or personal use.

Snap Top Tin Candle

7. Snap Top Tin Candle

Our soy candles make perfect small employee gifts anytime of the year. Soy candles burn cleaner and longer than traditional styles. Bonus: they are also biodegradable and better for the environment.

8.Incline Stylus Pen

8. Incline Stylus Pen

Looking for gifts under $5? You can’t buy a good car on that budget, but you can afford a great multifunctional pen. It’s a simple and useful way to say thanks.

 Absorbent Stone Coaster- Round

9. Absorbent Stone Coaster- Round

Effortlessly elegant stone coasters make great small gifts for employee appreciation. Complete with cork backing to prevent slipping, these stone coasters absorb condensation from glasses to keep surfaces clean.

10.Ashley Canvas Accessory Pouch

10. Ashley Canvas Accessory Pouch

One of our popular small gift ideas for employees is this cute canvas pouch, which you can stuff with mini–Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey’s Kisses for a special occasion. This zippered pouch, perfect for stowing tech items, jewelry, or toiletries during business trips or at the company gym, is made of 8 oz cotton and features a coated canvas zipper pull and an interior pocket divider.

11.Shades Of Relaxation Adult Coloring Book- Animals

11. Shades Of Relaxation Adult Coloring Book- Animals

Encourage your team to prioritize down time with adult coloring books. These make great small gifts for staff that promote relaxation and calm.

12.Harvest Utensil Set

12. Harvest Utensil Set

Investing in little gifts for office staff like this travel utensil set can remind your team how much you appreciate them during lunchtime in the breakroom, or when they are working on the road. Your brand will be front-and-center on a protective case that houses BPA-free utensils.

13.Smart Cookie Gift Bag

13. Smart Cookie Gift Bag

If you’re looking for small thank you gifts for employees that your spirit team can hand out, sweet treats are always loved. This cookie gift bag comes with three individually wrapped cookie varieties: brownie, chocolate chip and oatmeal cranberry.

14. Renegade LED Flashlight

14. Renegade LED Flashlight

Our custom engraved flashlight makes a great corporate gift that your staff can use in the office parking lot and beyond on dark winter nights. Sized to fit perfectly in a pocket, purse or bag, these handy flashlights feature nine bright white LED bulbs and a black carrying strap.

15. Full Color Soft Surface Mouse Pad

15. Full Color Soft Surface Mouse Pad

When you want a small gift for employees that they can use at their desks, consider this vivid mouse pad. Made of the highest quality and softest surface fabric, this mouse pad makes daily computer work a breeze while promoting your company brand.

16. 20 oz Thrift Tumbler

16. 22 oz Thrift Tumbler

Want your team to hydrate? Make it easy with these small gift ideas for employee appreciation. With its 22-ounce capacity, these stylish, customizable tumblers are sure to get plenty of use from thirsty employees.

17. Lip Balm Rubber Ball with Silicone Carabiner

17. Lip Balm Rubber Ball

When you need small gift ideas for office staff, this lip balm rubber ball is a unique yet useful option. Available in a variety of flavors and colors, this lip balm ball features your brand front and center.

18. Rhein Bamboo Cutting Board

18. Rhein Bamboo Cutting Board

These lightweight cutting boards / cheeseboards make perfect small gift ideas for staff, suitable for the winter holidays. Low price and high style collide on this uber handy engraved kitchen gift.

19. Aluminum Beverage Wrench™

19. Aluminum Beverage Wrench™

It’s one of those things you can never find when you need one: a good bottle opener. Well, when it’s also a keychain, you can find it! This beverage opener is one of many gifts under $1 that we offer for employee appreciation events.

20. 2023 Landscapes of America Spiral Calendar

20. 2024 Landscapes of America Spiral Calendar

Featuring eye-catching landscapes and scenes from across America, this 13-month wall calendar is one of the most practical small gifts to give employees that can help them plan the year to come.

21. Full Color Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

21. Full Color Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

Microfiber cleaning cloths are handy at home and in the office. One of the best small thank you gift ideas for employees, these cloths offer full-color imprint options that you can match to the theme of the occasion.

22. Best Coolie

22. Best Coolie

To find great staff appreciation ideas on a budget, look no further than our best can coolers. This budget-friendly giveaway promotes your brand and is one of those useful swag gifts everyone loves.

23. Push Pop Stress Reliever Keychain

23. Push Pop Stress Reliever Keychain

Fun and useful, this push-pop stress reliever keychain combo is one of the best small employee appreciation gift ideas. Not only does it encourage focus and self-soothing, but it also promotes your brand.

24. 18 oz The Roadmaster Travel Tumbler

24. 18 oz The Roadmaster Travel Tumbler

When it’s time for small employee appreciation ideas, check out this 18 oz double-wall insulated travel mug with sip-through lid. It maintains a 40-degree difference between the contents and the outside, keeping drinks hot or cool.

25. Tuscany™ Phone Pocket with Ring

25. Leeman Tuscany™ Card Holder with Ring

Little gift, big convenience, mega style! These classy debossed leatherette phone wallets are great pint sized small gifts for Employee Appreciation Day or any other time of year. Bonus: because they are flat and lightweight, they are easy to mail out to remote staff.

26. Icelandic Insulated Lunch Bag

26. Icelandic Insulated Lunch Bag

One of the best small gift ideas for employees is this insulated lunch bag that comes with a drink holder. Make healthy homemade lunches easier to tote with these quilted insulated totes that maintain food temperature.

27. Farmers' Almanac 2023

27. Farmers' Almanac 2024

Farmers’ almanacs are the perfect small gift ideas for office staff. Advertise your brand alongside one that's been around since 1818. It features tons of yearly weather predictions, natural remedies, and healthy recipes, as well as traditional gardening and fishing calendars.

28. Collapsible Stainless-Steel Straw Kit

28. Collapsible Stainless-Steel Straw Kit

Looking for eco-friendly small gifts for employee appreciation? Help your staff keep plastic straws out of the ocean with this stainless-steel straw, silicone tip and wire cleaning brush set. It comes in a protective plastic travel case with carabiner to latch onto purses or backpacks.

29. Hot & Cold Plush Eye-Mask

29. Hot & Cold Plush Eye-Mask

Looking for small employee gift ideas that promote wellness and self-care? Our hot and cold eye masks are a classic choice. Using innovative “Aqua Pearl” bead technology, these custom masks easily deliver warm or cold therapy.

30. 4-Port USB Hub with Phone Stand

30. 4-Port USB Hub with Phone Stand

Small employee Christmas gifts like our 4-Port USB hub punch above their weight because they keep more expensive devices charged and ready for use. Personalize this gift with employees’ names for a special touch.

31. Multi-Bit Pocket Screwdriver

31. 8-in-1 Multi-Bit Pocket Screwdriver

Help employees knock down their to-do lists with handy employee small gift ideas for the home. They’ll love this convenient pocket-sized screwdriver with interchangeable flathead and Phillips heads.

32. Sticky-Note Book

32. Sticky-Note Book

This sticky-note book is one of the best small gifts for office staff. This hardbound book with 250 sticky-notes tucks comfortably into a purse, briefcase, or glove compartment.

33. Color Pop Earbuds

33. Color Pop Earbuds

When employee small gift ideas are on your to do list, earbud headphones are a great option that can help them block out home or office noise while trying to work, or while traveling for business.

34. 16 oz Pint Glass

34. 16 oz Pint Glass

Our pint glasses make the perfect small employee gifts to toast your staff anytime of the year. It’s easy to imprint your company brand or logo on the crystal-clear class for all to see.

35. MopTopper™ Stylus Pen

35. MopTopper™ Stylus Pen

MopTopper pens are favorite small gifts for employee appreciation because they are fun and multi-functional. These pens double as a stylus, and triple as a screen cleaner!

36. Jumbo Cool Clip

36. Jumbo Cool Clip

One of our popular small gift ideas for employees is this handy magnetic clip. Employees can conveniently hold memos and hang them on non-metallic surfaces for easy access. These clips are also great for closing chip bags. But wait, there’s more! Check our list of unconventional and creative uses for magnetic clips.

37. Playing Cards in Case

37. Playing Cards in Case

Promote a little fun with these cards in a plastic case. They make great small gifts for staff that they can use throughout the year. Your business logo reminds recipients how much you appreciate them.

38. Single Serve Butter Popcorn Bag

38. Single Serve Butter Popcorn Bag

Investing in little gifts for office staff like popcorn for the snack room is always appreciated. Preservative-free, these 1.5 oz. servings of popcorn feature your imprint on a full color label.

39. True Colors Cap

39. True Colors Cap

If you need small thank-you gifts for employees to go with a summer event, we suggest great-looking, comfortable baseball caps. These cotton twill caps have an adjustable fabric strap with a hook and loop tape closure.

40. 36 Arc Telescopic Folding Automatic Umbrella

40. Kraft Gift Box With Sweet Cranberry Crunch

Need a fun corporate gift for under $10? Treat your team with a delicious and healthy sweet cranberry crunch snack. It comes in a kraft paper gift box featuring your custom imprint and a decorative ribbon.

41. Clip on Ring Light

41. Clip on Ring Light

If you want practical and job enhancing small employee appreciation ideas, consider this clip-on ring light that’s perfect for video conferences and Zoom meetings. Custom ring lights provide the perfect lighting for virtual communication.

Regardless of how small your gift-giving budget may be, we have options to help you show your appreciation to your most important asset: your people. From budget custom t-shirts to mugs to pens, these small gift ideas for employees are sure to surprise, delight and encourage your team during the holiday season and throughout the year.

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