10 great ideas for employee gifts
The best employee gifts earn a place in someone’s routine — that’s where they make the biggest impact. Useful, high-quality items get used repeatedly, replace disposable habits.
Why are employee appreciation gifts important?
Employees are the backbone of any business. When people feel seen and valued, they’re more motivated, more engaged, and more likely to stay.
That’s why employee gifts are such a smart addition to your recognition efforts. The best employee appreciation gifts don’t have to be complicated, they just need to feel thoughtful, useful, and personal.
And it’s worth taking seriously: losing a great employee can be expensive. Depending on role and seniority, the cost of churn can range from 30% to 200% of an employee’s annual salary. That makes appreciation more than a “nice-to-have" it’s part of building a healthy workplace.
But it’s not just about gifting anything. It’s about choosing something that actually means something to the person receiving it.
How to choose the right gift?
The perfect gift for everyone doesn’t exist — we all have different habits and preferences. But if you keep the five points below in mind, the chances are much higher that your gift becomes a keeper and earns a place in someone’s day-to-day routine.
- It supports a daily habit
If the item fits an existing routine, it gets used. Hydration, commuting, note-taking, charging, and desk organisation are strong “keeper” behaviours. - It feels quality the moment you touch it
Weight, finish, stitching, paper quality, and small functional details signal value. A gift that feels durable is more likely to stay. - It is neutral enough to suit different tastes
A keeper gift avoids being too personal or too opinionated. Clean design, understated colours, and simple formats work across teams. - Branding is quiet and intentional
Subtle logo placement and design-led execution make the product feel like a premium item, not a giveaway. - One personal detail creates ownership
A name engraving, a team icon, or a short insert-card message can turn a standard item into “mine,” which dramatically increases the chance it gets kept.
When you combine daily relevance, quality, neutral design, quiet branding, and one personal touch, employee gifting stops being a one-off gesture and becomes a lasting reminder of appreciation. Below you’ll find 10 practical staff appreciation ideas that work for many teams and occasions and that can be customised to reflect your company’s brand.
Bottles are a keeper because hydration is a daily habit, and a good bottle quickly becomes the one people always take. A premium bottle made from non-toxic and/or recycled materials, with a minimally placed logo, a genuinely high-quality lid, feels elevated from the first touch. Choosing a high-quality brand such as Nalgene or Stanley can further increase the perceived value and daily use. This option works especially well for employees, onboarding, and event gifting that doesn’t feel like typical swag. You can make it especially personalised by engraving the employee’s name.
Tumblers are kept because coffee and tea routines are personal, but a well-designed tumbler is universally useful and quickly becomes part of a daily commute or desk setup. It stays tasteful when branding is quiet, the colour palette is neutral, the silhouette is clean, and the presentation includes a premium packaging sleeve. This option works especially well for client gifts, leadership gifts, and hybrid teams, and many teams consider Kinto tumblers a clear favourite.
Kinto
Tote bags are kept because a well-made tote replaces single-use bags and gets used everywhere, from commuting and errands to travel days. The best choice is durable fabric with reinforced seams, comfortable straps, and branding that stays minimal, such as a small woven label or a restrained print. An artsy tote with a strong slogan works especially well: at first glance it reads as a fashionable accessory, and only on a second look does the brand become recognisable. This makes it ideal for events, welcome kits, client meetings, and conferences.
Stanley Stella
Pairing a high-quality notebook with a good pen is one of the simplest ways to create a true “keeper” gift, because planning and note-taking never go out of style, from meeting notes and project planning to everyday to-dos. The notebook feels premium when the paper is thick and smooth, the typography is clean, and the branding is subtle, with thoughtful details like a ribbon marker; a strong example is the Custom Craft Stonepaper Notebook. The pen should match that standard, like the Custom Prodir True Biotic Pen, a set like that naturally becomes the default on a desk and in a bag.
A quality Custom Sweatshirt is one of those employee gifts almost everyone can appreciate. It’s casual, comfortable, and still polished enough for a modern workplace, especially when paired with simple branding.
With a customized crewneck you can reinforce your culture while giving a piece people will actually wear. Our Heavy Crewneck is made from 100% organic cotton, designed for long-lasting comfort and durability, and it’s unisex, making it a strong choice for diverse teams.
If sustainability matters in your company, this is one of the most reliable employee appreciation gifts: it’s certified by GOTS, Oeko-Tex 100, and PETA-Approved Vegan.
Stanley Stella
Everyone runs out of battery sooner or later. A power bank solves a universal problem, which is why it tends to get kept and used, and it also feels genuinely valuable as a gift. To make it feel premium, focus on a compact form factor, a subtle logo, a well-presented quality cable, and travel-friendly packaging. A mini power bank or a magnetic power bank works particularly well for client gifts, sales teams, field teams, and anyone with an event-heavy schedule.
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
One of the most practical employee gifts is something people use every day. That’s why skincare products, like shampoo, hand soap, body wash, and sunscreen, make excellent employee appreciation gifts.
To make it feel even more meaningful, choose products that can be customized with your company branding. A great example is our Custom Eco Sunscreen: a mineral-based SPF 30 sunscreen made from organic materials and certified by Ecocert. Both the tube and the box can be customized, turning a simple product into a memorable gift.
This is also one of the most seasonal staff appreciation ideas: sunscreen is ideal to give before summer holidays, when employees are about to unplug and recharge. It’s a simple way to say thank you and enjoy your time off.
Lunch items are a keeper when they travel well and feel intentionally chosen, because they are genuinely practical for office days, travel, and routine meal prep. Options like lunch boxes, reusable cutlery sets, and food containers work best with a minimal colour palette, clean shapes, and hygienic packaging that suits different tastes. You can also personalise a lunch box in the same way as drinkware by adding the recipient’s name, which increases the sense of ownership and daily use. This category works especially well for employee gifts, wellness initiatives, and seasonal kits, and it performs particularly well as part of a set alongside items like drinkware or desk essentials.
Socks are a keeper because they are lightweight, size-flexible, and surprisingly wearable when the design is clean and modern. The experience feels more premium with a soft knit, a restrained pattern, and minimalist sleeve packaging in your brand colours. This option works especially well for onboarding, team gifts, and culture moments.
If you’re looking for employee appreciation gifts that feel celebratory, pre-mixed drinks are a fun and modern choice. They work especially well for milestones, project launches, team wins, seasonal celebrations, onboarding bundles, or end-of-quarter thank-yous.
On the Sugarcoat website, we offer pre-mixed drinks that can be included as a stand-alone gift or combined into a curated appreciation box. It’s one of those staff appreciation ideas that encourages employees to relax and enjoy the moment, whether that’s at a team event or at home after a long week. Add a short thank-you card and you’ve got a simple, memorable gesture that feels genuinely rewarding.
Personalisation that makes gifts feel “mine”
One personal element can dramatically increase “kept” rates because it creates immediate ownership. Adding the recipient’s name on drinkware, a small team or cohort detail such as an icon or colour accent, or a short, well-written insert card can turn a standard item into something that feels intentionally chosen. Even simple labelled packaging, like names on sleeves or stickers, makes the unboxing feel curated and personal rather than generic. On our website, you can find more inspiration in, including design-led examples of subtle branding and personalisation that still feel premium.
Kit strategy: why sets feel more intentional
A kit is often the smarter choice when you want the gift to feel like a complete experience, not just a single merch item. The purpose of a kit is to tell one clear story, such as “welcome,” “commute,” or “desk,” and to make the gesture feel more intentional because every item has a role.
The most effective kits are built around one clear use-case, because a set feels intentional when every item has a job. A commute kit can combine a tumbler, a power bank, and a tote for daily travel. A desk kit works well with a notebook, a pen, and one desk accessory that reduces clutter. A welcome kit often lands best with a bottle, a notebook, socks, and an insert card to create a complete first-day moment. If you want support building sets that match your brand, budget, and shipping needs, our team is happy to help you with selection, branding approach, and packaging execution.
FAQ
What are employee gifts and when should you give them?
Employee gifts are items you give employees to mark moments like onboarding, milestones, project wins, or end-of-year thanks. The best timing is tied to a clear reason so it feels intentional.
Why do employee appreciation gifts matter?
Employee appreciation gifts help people feel valued, which supports morale and retention. They also reinforce the behaviors and culture you want more of.
How do you choose mployee gifts people will actually use?
Pick practical “daily-life” items (hydration, commute, desk, charging) with quality materials. Neutral design + one thoughtful detail usually beats flashy branding.
What are the best employee appreciation gifts for remote or hybrid teams?
Choose easy-to-ship, no-sizing gifts like drinkware, notebooks, totes, or power banks. Consider a simple kit so it feels more complete without being complicated.
How can mployee gifts be personalized without feeling overly branded?
Use subtle branding and add one personal touch (name engraving, a short note, or role/team detail). Keep the personalization clean so it feels premium, not promotional.
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