Top 29 Gifts for Colleague
1Gold-handled porcelain mug printed with classic book spines; a small, well made gift for a reader. For book-gift-ideas, section 3: book accessories.
$24Rifle Paper Co.
3A5 Snap Journal | Full Grain Leather, Timeless Journal Design, Leatherology Black Onyx
CNN Underscored lists it for a first anniversary: a full grain leather journal that suits paper-themed gifting and can be personalised with initials.
$100Leatherology
5ER20XS | High Fidelity Earplugs - Standard
Reusable earplugs made for musicians that cut loudness evenly so music still sounds natural, a thoughtful gift for anyone who plays or goes to gigs (for stockin
$24.99Etymotic
7Uncommon Goods | Mason Jar Indoor Herb Garden | Hydroponic Grow Kit
A small hydroponic grow kit from PureWow's teacher list that brightens a desk or classroom windowsill.
$20Uncommon Goods
9
Sharpie S Gel Gel Pens Fine Point 0.5mm Black Ink Gel Pen 12 Count - Office Depot
Smooth gel pens a retired teacher told CNN Underscored she trusts for grading; a practical thank-you that gets used every day.
$15.99Office Depot
11Circadian Optics Lora Light Therapy Lamp | 10,000 Lux
A compact 10,000 lux light therapy lamp that CNN Underscored suggests for someone low on energy or stuck indoors during a rough patch.
$54.99Circadian Optics
13NBC Select's teacher gift pick: a flip-cap 27oz water bottle that stays on a desk all day, a useful thank you for a teacher.
$32.00Bink
15The plant pet that tells you when it's thirsty.
$98.99Plantsio
HintDrop perk: 8% off
17Pairfum London Sleep & Pillow Spray 100ml
A 100ml pillow and linen spray made with essential oils, with calming scents such as linen and lavender for winding down at night.
$35.00Pairfum London
19OutIn Nano Portable Espresso Machine (Space Grey)
The original OutIn: 670g, heats up in about 200 seconds, rich crema at 20 bars.
$149.99OutIn
HintDrop perk: 15% off
25PureWow picks this planner for teachers juggling lesson plans, trips and projects, with daily, weekly and monthly sections.
$35Papier
27OutIn Fino Portable Electric Coffee Grinder
Fresh ground beans anywhere, with an even grind every time.
$179.99OutIn
HintDrop perk: 15% off
2Best Smelling Moisturizing Natural Hand Cream – SALT & STONE
InsideHook picks it as a stocking filler that feels like a small luxury; a fast-absorbing hand cream with seaweed extract and vitamin B3. For christmas-gifts-fo
$20Salt & Stone
4Uncommon Goods | Desk Yoga Card Deck | Desk Yoga
Food Network lists it among its teacher gifts; 52 quick stretches and breathing practices a teacher can do between lessons.
$20Uncommon Goods
6PureWow recommends this tin of bakery cookies as a treat teachers will happily share in the staff room.
$28Milk Bar
8
Glow Mist Rosewater Revitalizing Hand Sanitizer - Touchland | Ulta Beauty
A pretty, rose-scented hand mist that CNN Underscored recommends for teachers who wash and sanitise their hands all day; a small treat under $20.
$16.00Ulta Beauty
10Bento Box Lunch Containers for Adults & Kids (3 Pack, 39 oz)
CNN Underscored lists these bento containers in its fitness gifts for anyone who meal preps; a practical stocking filler for the gym-goer.
$19.99Fit Strong & Healthy
12A neat, well-made desk pen at a small price, picked by CNN Underscored as a practical thank you for a teacher.
$10Craighill
14Lindt Lindor Assorted Milk Chocolate Truffles Large Bag - World Market
Named in NBC Select's teacher gifts for a sweet tooth; a big shareable bag of truffles that is a safe, modest thank you.
$13.29World Market
16Pairfum London Reed Diffuser Tower, Classic
100ml of fragrance oil with natural essential oils and ten black reeds; they say it scents a room for three to five months. Ships from London, duties included.
$53.00Pairfum London
18Fresh ground espresso anywhere: a cordless grinder and espresso maker in one gift box. Pre order.
$349.99OutIn
HintDrop perk: 15% off
20Latte art foam at home for under $50, a lovely little stocking filler.
$49.99OutIn
HintDrop perk: 15% off
24Comforting Collagen Hand Cream
PureWow editors praise this rich, gently scented hand cream, a kind pick for anyone washing their hands all day.
$24Havyn
26Everything for coffee on the road: the Mino, a folding stand and a light travel case.
$249.99OutIn
HintDrop perk: 15% off
Keep it proportionate to the relationship
A colleague gift works best when it matches the actual closeness of the relationship - genuinely thoughtful without needing to be personal in the way a gift for family or close friends would be. Something specific to a shared interest or a running joke usually lands better than anything generic.
For leaving gifts or office collections, a group pot keeps it simple
For a leaving gift, a big office birthday, or any collection everyone's chipping into, a group pot means no more chasing people round the office for cash - everyone contributes what they're comfortable with, and it's all tracked in one place.
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