I have no idea what to get for the office gift exchange

by Alison Green on November 26, 2024

A reader writes:

I’ve signed up to participate in my office’s gift swap, where everyone is supposed to bring a wrapped gift and we’ll each pick one to open. I think it’s a Yankee Swap, where people will pick one at a time and then can either keep what they opened or “steal” someone else’s gift. Since I don’t know who’s going to end up taking home whatever I bring, I have no idea how to shop for this! What’s a good generic gift to bring when you don’t know who it will be for?

You can read my answer to this letter at New York Magazine today, where I’m also answering these additional questions about holiday gift-giving at work:

  • Should I give my boss a gift?
  • Should I get my employees gifts?
  • My boss wants an expensive gift!
  • My company gives terrible gifts
  • My coworker gives me a gift every year – should I be reciprocating?
You may also like:
{ 209 comments }

{ 209 comments… read them below or add one }

    1. Somehow I Manage*

      I wonder what happened to the rest of the blankets because they said they only had three left.

      I hope gifted them year after year to one person…

      Reply ↓
      2. LaurCha*

        My last workplace was in South Louisiana, and there were a lot of home cooks in the department. Knives were actually very popular in our Christmas gift exchange. The guy who summered in Alaska brought one of those ulu knives one year, the head of our study abroad brought a lovely little set from Italy, etc. Obviously these were of the kitchen/dining type variety, not weird hunting or tactical knives.

        We did the yankee swap thing, and the most popular gifts were booze and knives. I don’t know what that says about the art department, but there you go.

        Reply ↓
    3. Artemesia*

      A decent one is really expensive; a cheap one is junk. If the dollar amount is high enough to get a nice cheeseboard with tools, it is a lovely gift but it is out of the range of the exchanges I have been in. A nice small box of candy is safe and easily regifted and of course the price range on that can be anywhere.

      In yankee swaps, oddly the gifts that were most popular in several exchanges I have been in were toys. I remember a bathtub submarine that was the most stolen item. Jigsaw puzzles — local art museums have cool ones. And in fact the gift shops of local museums often have things that would work well for exchanges including nice puzzles. I remember someone getting one of those vases that is flat and then folds out to hold water and flowers. And you get the double benefit of supporting a local institution.

      Alcohol is a know your group thing.

      Reply ↓
      1. Middle Aged Lady*

        Toys are always good. A few years ago Mr. Middle Aged Lady brought in a tiny Baby Yoda that was quite popular. Maybe a Wicked themed item this year would be good?

        Reply ↓
    4. Three Flowers*

      USB mug warmer (with an auto-off weight sensor for safety). I thought this was a total gimmick until I tried it. Now it has a permanent place of honor on my desk.

      Reply ↓
      2. LaurCha*

        Did you find one for less than those Ember ones that are like $100? I have a colleague who really needs one (her coffee always goes cold and she gripes about it)…. but I’m not spending that much!

        Reply ↓
        2. A Significant Tree*

          I have a no-name one that was a gift in a swap a few years ago, it works great and our gift budget was <$20 (US).

          Reply ↓
    6. Pottery Yarn*

      I did a pack of knives for last year’s white elephant exchange. We had three recent grads join the team and all were making plans to move into their first apartments, so I knew they would be useful!

      Reply ↓
      1. Norm Peterson*

        I saw a tiny vacuum (usb powered desk size) it is sitting in my Amazon cart while I decide if I want to spend the $14 to participate in our under $20 white elephant.

        Reply ↓
      1. NotBatman*

        It can also inspire some overly personal conversations by accident. The question “why don’t you drink?” has like 8 extremely personal answers (religion, medical condition, family alcoholism) and yet people feel the need to ask it at work all the dang time.

        Reply ↓
    2. Venus*

      I remember seeing a bottle of wine at one of these random gift exchanges, and the person wrapped it up to make it obvious that it was a bottle of wine and it was picked early on by someone who knew exactly what they were getting. I wouldn’t get alcohol myself, and wouldn’t suggest it, but in that case it worked well.

      Reply ↓
    3. Drago Cucina*

      It’s also a big matter of taste.

      I have a serious wine hobby: WSET 2, working on my wine judge certification, etc. But what I drink for pleasure is different than what I know about and have to judge. I don’t like sparkling wines. I can name at least 5 wine judges who don’t like sparkling wine. Invariably there are suggestions to give wine lovers Champagne.

      I would never give a bourbon drinker a brand unless I knew it was something they liked. The same fors for any alcohol, perfume, etc. It’s all a matter of personal taste and preference.

      Reply ↓
      1. Caramel & Cheddar*

        This is a Yankee Swap, though. The expectation that a gift will be personal and thoughtful isn’t realistic because it’s different from, say, a Secret Santa where you specifically draw someone’s name. Like, you shouldn’t pick any obviously bottle-shaped items at a Yankee Swap given your expertise and interest, but the person bringing the wine isn’t choosing one with Drago Cucina in mind, they’re just picking whatever was under the price limit at the store.

        Reply ↓
      2. Dido*

        sounds like a Yankee swap is not for you if your tastes are so specific and you’re not willing to regift what you get if you don’t like it

        Reply ↓
        1. Elizabeth West*

          This is why I hate them.
          Next time I’m forced to participate, if I get something I like, I’m immediately leaving. Or I’ll bring something I want but no one else would, then take it with me at the end.

          Reply ↓
          1. Eukomos*

            Office gifting events aren’t really about getting a thing you’re excited to own, they’re about social bonding. In fact, I’d go so far as to say all gifting is about bonding rather than getting an item. If you have a thing you want, go buy it. When you receive a gift, thank the giver for thinking of you and then feel free to toss that sucker directly in the trash the instant they glance away if you don’t want it, it’s not about the object.

            Reply ↓
    4. Somehow I Manage*

      If it is a personal gift exchange, I’d agree. If it is a Yankee Swap kind of gift exchange, unless everyone buys some sort of alcohol, it can actually be pretty safe because SOMEONE will swap for it.

      If a non-drinker got it and said anything about not drinking, I’d swoop it up just to save them even if I didn’t like the specific alcohol.

      Reply ↓
    5. Strive to Excel*

      The reason alcohol gets suggested is that it’s available at a wide range of prices, easy to transport and store, and has high re-gifting function. No gift is going to fit everyone’s taste, not matter how hard you try.

      Reply ↓
      2. The OG Sleepless*

        My husband met me at my work holiday party one year, and I put him in charge of buying an item for the gift swap. I cringed when he showed up with a bottle of Bacardi Limon. As it turned out, the nondrinkers just didn’t reach for it, and the ones who were interested had an epic battle over it.

        Reply ↓
    6. Eukomos*

      Depends on the office, wine’s a big hit at mine. It’s pretty easy to package it so that it’s obvious it’s wine (indeed, I’d say it’s hard to disguise), so people who don’t want it can avoid it.

      Reply ↓
  4. Bettyboop*

    jigsaws always go down well. books. I tend to stay away from smelly stuff like soap and candles because they’re a bit old hat. often stuff like travel games go down well too

    Reply ↓
    1. Admin of Sys*

      oh, i like the idea of a jigsaw puzzle, I’m going to keep that in my hat for the next time one of these comes up

      Reply ↓
        1. A Significant Tree*

          Ooh thanks for the link, this would make a great gift for me! Now I have to find someone to strongly hint at… :-)

          Reply ↓
    3. IT But I Can't Fix Your Printer*

      My puzzle contribution was popular last year! I picked a wintry non-Christmas design so it would be festive without excluding anyone.

      Reply ↓
    4. Eukomos*

      In the puzzle vein, a couple of years ago at my office’s party when those simple Lego sets that were houseplants came out, multiple people brought them, and they were wildly popular.

      Reply ↓
    1. Sleeping Panther*

      This is more or less the direction I go. A festive box, a holiday mug, a gourmet cocoa mix, a couple of large candy canes in different flavors, and maybe some cozy socks if the price limit allows.

      Reply ↓
  6. NotBatman*

    I also think officeware can be nice for this kind of impersonal exchange — a matching mug and coaster set, a mouse trackpad, a chair cushion, a whiteboard and markers. Keeps things practical and increases the likelihood someone will use your gift.

    Reply ↓
    1. sacados*

      Agreed. Last year, the gift I got (after it had been stolen multiple times, so highly in demand) was one of those little mini “desktop vacuums,” the small battery-operated ones that kind of get all the dust and whatever else to clean off the top of your desk. It was such a great idea!

      In previous years, my go-to has always been a Starbucks (or wherever) gift card in the amount of the gift limit. Simple and most people do like it.

      But at my old job last year, there were actually two people who gifted lottery scratchers — like, an assortment of the $1-$5 scratch-off games. And those were also wildly popular. I did wonder if that also is a “know-your-audience” type of thing, in the same sense that alcohol is. (Is it not “work appropriate” to bring scratchers because someone in your office might have issues with gambling, or is that overthinking it …? I don’t know.) But personally I found it a fun idea.

      Reply ↓
      1. Martin Blackwood*

        I know some people at work (at least ysed to) contribute a few dollars to a pool, someone would buy lottery tickets, and the group would split the proceeds! Plus every stanley cup/superbowl/etc theres some sort of gambling game around it in the break room. I dont really sports or gamble, so Im not up on the details. So, i do think it would go over great in some offices!

        Reply ↓
      2. porridge fan*

        Given the harm that gambling can cause to people (and their loved ones) who can’t easily manage their response to the temptation it brings, it would be kinder to stick to a minivacuum or a Starbucks gift card.

        Reply ↓
    3. RLC*

      Mini whiteboard and markers is potentially a very useful gift for nearly anyone! Notepad and pencil sets are also widely useful at work or home.

      Reply ↓
  7. Manager*

    Last year I got my team JBL bluetooth speakers for $35 each. They LOVED them! It was possibly the most well received gift I have given my staff. If $35 is out of your budget, you can find versions for less on Amazon. I’ll post the link to the ones I got below. Highly recommend!

    Reply ↓
      1. NotBatman*

        That’s a great idea that’s practical, fun, but not so common (e.g. a mug) that everyone’s likely to have one already.

        Reply ↓
      2. porridge fan*

        It p*sses me off So Much when I go out in nature and can’t hear the stream and the birds for some entitled a-hole’s boombox.

        Reply ↓
        1. Resident Catholicville, U.S.A.*

          I do charity 5k’s and I do NOT want to listen to other peoples’ boomboxes while walking- that’s why I have my own headphones. (Inevitably, it’s someone with a stroller that they’ve hooked it onto- one memorable time, it was a woman with a tiny dog in a stroller.)

          Reply ↓
        2. Elle*

          I hate these people with the fire of a thousand suns. Headphones exist. I didn’t drive out to this trail to hear techno.

          It’s always the people with inappropriate shoes/not enough water/etc, too.

          Reply ↓
    3. A Simple Narwhal*

      Oh that’s a great gift, I don’t think anyone would be disappointed to end up with a good quality bluetooth speaker.

      I’m going to keep this in my back pocket for my family yankee swap next month!

      Reply ↓
    4. Wayward Sun*

      On the cheaper end, the Ikea VAPPEBY bluetooth speakers sound surprisingly good for what they are and are only $15. They’re not audiophile quality or anything, but I use them all the time for listening to podcasts in the shower or the garage.

      Reply ↓
  8. HE Admin*

    My go-to for this is a small cast-iron skillet (you can get one for about $10 on Amazon) and a bag of cookie mix so the person can make a skillet cookie for dessert.

    Reply ↓
    1. Admin of Sys*

      It’s a pretty common phrasing along the east coast in the us? When used in comparison to white elephant, white elephant swaps have the implication of ‘useless’ gifts, where as yankee swap tends to be cheap but usable things.

      Reply ↓
      1. A Simple Narwhal*

        I wouldn’t necessarily call it “cheap”, you can set it for whatever budget you’d like. (I tend to see around $20 but it can definitely be more or less.)

        But yes the idea is that you bring a good/real gift, not a gag gift.

        Reply ↓
    3. Jiminy Cricket*

      It’s a group gift exchange with rules. Everyone brings a wrapped gift. People take turns choosing and opening the gift. Then, there are complicated rules that vary by group that allow someone to “steal” someone else’s gift rather than keeping their own.

      It turns gift giving into a game and is supposed to be fun, with lots of laughing and stealing. Sometimes the point is to bring a real gift that someone might actually want. Sometimes the point is to bring something ridiculous to see who gets stuck with what.

      Reply ↓
      1. Not my real name*

        The rules do vary. One important “rule” I like is that you either open or steal. In my experience the more common way is to open a present. And then the person says, “I’ll steal the Godiva chocolates and you get the scented mug mats.” In my family, if you want the Godiva Chocolates, you steal them. Whoever you stole from then gets to open a present. I never “stole” in a Yankee Swap with the traditional rules because I never felt comfortable dissing a gift that someone made the effort to choose and bring.

        Reply ↓
    4. Somehow I Manage*

      Not sure if it stems from here specifically, but Michael Scott made an office Secret Santa into a Yankee Swap by insisting that gifts could be stolen. That was the first time I’d heard the phrase.

      Reply ↓
      1. NotBatman*

        I think OP would need to judge office culture and their own standing, but that it could be awesome. My husband got one for my mother one year, and it really is the best of being both funny and practical.

        Reply ↓
  11. Admin of Sys*

    I always used to get a small bag of coffee beans, a cheap but nice glass mug, and a stick of cinnamon. Or the same combo but with a selection of nice holiday themed teas. Invariably /someone/ wanted it. You can do it with hot chocolate mixes too. But I found adding the mug really elevated the gift.

    Reply ↓
    1. ferrina*

      Definitely! It’s nice to have a complete set in a gift. And this is the kind of thing that will definitely appeal to someone in the room.

      Reply ↓
  12. Venus*

    You can never go wrong with a variety of food or consumables, like chocolate, soaps, unusual local drinks (teas, coffee, booze), crackers and cheeses… because no one will hate it, and hopefully at least one person will be really excited to get it.

    I spent years of frustration with family who never seemed to like any gifts, yet thankfully they were quite happy when I switched over to food and drink. I also prefer it myself, because I live minimally and rarely need to buy myself things. It may not be everyone’s preferred gift, and it’s not very exciting, yet it works well enough.

    Reply ↓
    1. hereforthecomments*

      I like to give local food: honey, hot sauce, salsa. Gives business to small owners and the products are usually very desirable.

      Reply ↓
      3. Nah*

        There’s some local beekeepers who’s main selling season is now, they’ve just harvested the fall honey and will often sell a jar with a big chunk of comb in it and wildflower honey for like 8 bucks. fantastic gift and always popular, since it usually fits into all but a few specialty diets (especially great as a harvest/winter gift for my Jewish relatives that eat kosher, it’s vegetarian, and my Keto diet aunt likes to use it over more processed sweeteners/sugars)

        Reply ↓
  13. LifebeforeCorona*

    The only gifts that I remember that everyone wanted were: a 5lb bag of pistachio nuts (maybe not these days) a new word a day calendar or almost any kind of very nice themed calendar if you know the person you are buying for. An indoor/outdoor thermometer that can hang on a window, a book of simple magic tricks. These were for a gift swap and everyone really wanted the big bag of pistachios.

    Reply ↓
  15. Gift giver*

    The most popular uni-sex gifts that I’ve seen were the glass/ceramic Tupperware, a massage gun, kitchen mixer. The women really loved this high end skin care set. Fuzzy blankets, puzzles, family board games are safe options. Instead of alcohol, a wine/whisky glass set is a good alternative.

    Reply ↓
    1. Adds*

      I was at a beer league hockey team holiday party and one of the gifts was a set of small, perfect-for-leftovers-sized Pyrex… there was almost a fight over it.

      I think nice food storage containers are always a good choice.

      Reply ↓
  17. new librarian*

    my go to for swaps was always a neoprene lunch sack. They come in fun colors/patterns, fit the usual $10-$15 expense rule, fit all sorts of lunch containers, and are practical but not too work related.

    Reply ↓
  18. CoffeetoContracts*

    My team is all about plants. They can sit on a desk, go home, or easily re-gift. I’ve currently got a stash of monsteras in my bath tub just for holiday gifting purposes.

    Reply ↓
    1. LadyAmalthea*

      My go to gift when I don’t know the person getting the gift is a small teapot, big enough for 2-3 cups of tea. non offensive and generally useful for hot drinks other than tea.

      Reply ↓
    2. Resident Catholicville, U.S.A.*

      I’m choosing to believe that 1) you don’t use that tub and 2) you’ve turned it into one gigantic planter full of dirt and you just repot the monsteras as necessary out of your bath tub as necessary.

      Reply ↓
    3. AFac*

      I keep reading ‘monsteras’ as ‘monsters’.

      Which either says something about my brain on a holiday week or something about the size of your plants.

      Reply ↓
  19. Tradd*

    When I used to work places that had the White Elephant/Yankee Swap, I would just buy a 13 case of beer. It was the most popular gift. Other places I’ve worked since (and I don’t participate now) said no alcohol.

    Reply ↓
  20. Caramel & Cheddar*

    Consumables are really good for this sort of thing — I’m fussy about gifts in that I’m at an age and living space size where I no longer want stuff, especially in a context where the gift won’t really be personal, but consumables that I can either eat/drink myself or pass on to a friend are always welcome. Even if you don’t love the thing you ended up with, they’re great as a last minute gift or as a host gift for a holiday party you might attend, etc.

    I did always enjoy things like those weird “cozy” sets where you’d get a mug and hot chocolate combo, slippers and hot chocolate, a set of coffee syrups, etc. You can’t go wrong with gift cards to the coffee chain within walking distance of your office, but I’m always hesitant to go the gift card route because it’s the kind of thing where if too many people do it, the point of the game kind of gets lost.

    Reply ↓
    1. HE Admin*

      You could do a fun mug and then the gift card. Then even if EVERYONE did mugs and coffee gift cards people could steal for the mug design they liked best.

      Reply ↓
    3. Lily Rowan*

      The place I worked with the most fun Yankee Swap, people would try to disguise their gifts, so if someone was doing a gift card, they would wrap it with a huge can of pears or something. It was very funny.

      Reply ↓
  21. Wayward Sun*

    In my office we specifically do holiday ornaments for our swap. I like that because it avoids a lot of questions about what’s appropriate, plus it keeps the dollar limit low. I think ours is $20.

    Reply ↓
    1. Kendall^2*

      Holiday ornaments really means Christmas ornaments, though. If your office ends up with folks who don’t celebrate that holiday, they’ll always opt out, so you might not realize how it’s not welcoming for some.

      Reply ↓
      1. Wayward Sun*

        That’s true. Our office only has like eight people in it, though, so it’s easy to know if that’s going to be an issue. So far it hasn’t been.

        Reply ↓
      2. ferrina*

        But what about the Hannukah balls?
        (see the archives for the full story on the Hannukah balls- I got second hand cringe reading it)

        Reply ↓
    2. LaurCha*

      It also gives the artists/crafters an opportunity to make an ornament to give! We did Dirty Santa at a museum I worked in and the artist-made ornaments were always in high demand.

      Reply ↓
  22. Keira*

    I usually go to T.J. Maxx or a similar store and get one of those $20 gift baskets full of chocolate and snacks – Ghirardelli or Godiva, not cheap stuff. They’re always very popular and sought after during work exchanges where people can “steal” gifts.

    Reply ↓
    1. Spreadsheet Queen*

      Not this. I bought one once and I don’t know what the deal was, but it just flashed all night, which no. In my own bathroom, I ended up with those motion-activated magnetic puck lights and mounted them on the wall. They light up when you enter the toilet closet – just enough to see what you are doing – and turn off a bit after you go back to bed. Plus, you don’t have to figure how to both not touch them and not drop them in the toilet water when cleaning the bowl, like you do with the actual toilet lights.

      Honestly, I’d err on NOT giving toilet-associated gifts!

      Reply ↓
  26. shelly*

    If it is a fun group where people swap and it’s like under $20 you should def get a fun weird gift A few years ago someone gave in a wooden cat with spooky eyes that rotated around the office desks based on birthdays and accomplishments. If that is not your crowd I saw recently someone gave stamps and some postcards. Everyone can use stamps and the postcards were hysterical. I hate when it gets too serious. Last one I went to I gave a STACK of lottery tickets and everyone fought over them! Def scope out form a coworker what the vibe is.

    Reply ↓
  27. Steve*

    these are all great suggestions – I’ve been to some gift swaps that are “real” gifts and some that are “gag” gifts – be sure to know in advance which one you’re going to. lol :)

    Reply ↓
  28. Dave the Cat*

    Last year I brought a set of spices from a high quality spice place. It was a big hit. That said, I don’t like it when people bring food because there’s a chance someone with restrictions will get stuck with it. I don’t try to find something that will please everyone – I’d rather bring something that will make people say oh, of course Dave the Cat brought that one.

    Reply ↓
    1. HomebodyHouseplant*

      yes, it sucks to be that person with the food restrictions that somehow ends up with the food. one year I ended up with a giant reeses cup (allergic to peanut butter), cookies (outside of my macros), and wine (i don’t drink). so I ended up with…nothing. I didn’t choose any of these, they ended up being mine as a result of stealing/swapping. I ended up giving everything away.

      Reply ↓
      1. ferrina*

        One year one of the junior staff with food restrictions ended up with a giant gift basket of cookies that she couldn’t eat.
        The next year the senior staffers who were planning the party conspired to make sure that she got a present she could actually enjoy- if she got an edible gift that she couldn’t eat, one of them stole the gift from her, and she would get to pick something she could use. After that they kept an eye on anyone with food restrictions and would quietly steal a gift that someone couldn’t eat (especially for junior staff or lower paid positions- executives were on their own)

        Reply ↓
    2. Bast*

      There’s a chance that no matter what you bring someone won’t like it, though. I say this as someone who came from a company where Yankee Swap was usually an odd assortment of alcohol (wrapped very obviously), Visa Gift cards in the amount specified, and occasionally, an inappropriate adult gift (this was the owner of the company. He thought he was hilarious). I kind of acknowledged that the majority of the time I wasn’t going to get anything I would like or use, as someone who drinks very sparingly and is picky. The Visa gift cards were often the only real *useful* thing. I can’t tell you the number of times that I ended up with a bottle of something I knew I would never drink, and just ended up handing it off to another colleague who I knew had been hoping for it. I knew I was the odd man out though in not wanting alcohol, but since it was all in good fun and I wasn’t expecting a thoughtful gift, I wasn’t upset. It isn’t just food though. Of all the really nice gift suggestions listed on this thread, I can think of someone who wouldn’t like it for one reason or another.

      Reply ↓
  29. LM*

    I’ve seen cookbooks get stolen at these exchanges more often than not! From famous local restaurants/chefs, celebrity cookbooks, etc.

    Reply ↓
  30. Good Wilhelmina Hunting*

    I would prefer not to play this type of game. Only played it one year where I used to work, but having had at various times a nice toiletries set, a fun looking game, and then a book voucher (ideal, as I was about to start study), it was disappointing to up with a stupid comedy movie that I simply donated on the way home.

    Reply ↓
    1. Fíriel*

      When I’ve played there’s been a max rule for how many times an individual person can be stolen from for this exact reason (I think twice?) – losing out on the good stuff repeatedly sucks.

      Reply ↓
  31. Cate*

    Our office’s parking lot is in the woods and is surrounded by trees. As a result, sap regularly falls on our cars. Last year was especially bad, and we were constantly trading tips for how to best get it off our cars. So for last year’s Yankee Swap gift, I made a “sap removal set” – a bottle of the removal spray I swear by, a microfiber cloth, and car windshield glass wipes. (Our limit was $15, so it just made the limit.) The colleague who won it decided to leave it in the office for all of us to use when needed.

    Reply ↓
  32. Sangamo Girl*

    The mug with a coffee shop gift card I brought one year was very popular. Maybe because the mug said, “Did you read the f&$#*@% email?” It was stolen the maximum number of times.

    Reply ↓
  33. marta*

    pizza fixings- dough mix, jar of sauce, pepperoni log, bottle of hot honey; candle warmer, and several smaller jarred candles; vintage flower pot with plant rootings.

    Reply ↓
  34. Benihana scene stealer*

    I agree in general that you don’t need to get boss a gift, but I think there’s an exception to be made if we’re talking about a $5 secret santa item or similar.

    Reply ↓
  36. MAC*

    One year at Previous Job, we each brought a $15 gift card and did the open/steal thing with those. Another time it was coffee mugs. Sometimes having a theme makes it easier than being completely freestyle. Less hurt feelings when an opened gift DOESN’T get stolen, too.

    Reply ↓
    1. Pottery Yarn*

      Yes! We did $20 gift cards one year at my old job in college and it was awesome! I always dread getting a crappy gag gift in a white elephant exchange, so this was much better!

      Reply ↓
  38. Lore*

    My most successful gift for a swap was a mini French press and insulated cup. (I think the limit was $20.) The best gifts I’ve gotten were fun office supplies—snowman pen, cool paper clips—and travel games. My office used to do a variant where you did all the swapping with the gifts still wrapped so it was as much about fun and misleading packaging as about the gift, though, so it didn’t so much matter what you unwrapped at the end.

    Reply ↓
  39. Ami*

    I know the suggestion is to go with a generic gift that everyone might like, but I’ll chime in with some of the opposite advice and say, why not go for something distinctive? The yankee swap gift I remember most is a big brass candleholder shaped like a stag head. I think I might have been the only one who wanted it, since no one tried to steal it for me, but my reaction also made it pretty clear how much I loved it and we were a polite group lol. It’s perfect for my sense of decor and still sits in pride of place on my mantel; I’m never getting rid of it. I don’t think I ever would have been able to justify buying it for myself, but that’s exactly the kind of gift I love to get most. Maybe one of things you look longingly at in the store but think “oh I love it but that’s too much/I don’t have space for it” is going to be someone else’s favorite gift.

    Reply ↓
  40. Csethiro Ceredin*

    We do this kind of exchange for about $25 value. I have given and received some popular items:

    -An umbrella that folds up with the wet part on the inside (we’re in the PNW)
    -A set of fancy salt, oil, and vinegar with little dipping bowls
    -A high end pepper grinder I got on a really great sale
    -Nice faux-fur throw
    -A winter-themed serving plate with a tea towel
    -A waterproof bluetooth speaker
    -A blanket scarf

    Reply ↓
  41. Anonymous Penguin*

    I’m going for one of the small Dolly Parton cast iron skillets and a box of cornbread mix. Even if you don’t cook, the skillets are decorative, and Dolly Parton is very popular here.

    Reply ↓
      1. Anonymous Penguin*

        No, but some of them have her silhouette on them, and the one I love most says “Jolene, please don’t steal my pan!”

        Reply ↓
  42. Not my real name*

    Is anyone else having trouble accessing this site? I usually use chrome but beginning today there are issues. I tried a different browser and it worked fine.

    Reply ↓
  43. VoPo*

    The bad at gifting company reminds me of the first company I worked for out of school. Every Thanksgiving they would give everyone in the company a frozen turkey. I was 23. I travelled out of state to see family for Thanksgiving and lived in a dinky studio with a tiny freezer. The turkey wouldn’t even fit. It was also heavy and I commuted via public transit so just getting it home to find out it didn’t fit in my freezer was an ordeal. I ended up having to dumpster it after I couldn’t find anything else to do with it before it thawed too much.

    The following year, I just left mine at the front desk in a refusal to deal with it.

    Reply ↓
    1. Pottery Yarn*

      My partner’s work does this, but I believe they give employees the option to donate their turkeys if they don’t want or need them, which is nice and simple.

      Reply ↓
    2. Elizabeth West*

      OldExjob gave people a certificate for a turkey. Much easier than hauling a whole-ass bird around. I always gave my certificate to another coworker who fed a lot of extra people because I lived alone and don’t like turkey.

      Reply ↓
  44. Chocolate Teapot*

    I have 2 Secret Santa gifts to buy this year. One is a team member I know quite well and I have a good idea of what to buy them, the other is a recipient as part of a floor wide exchange.

    I vaguely recognise Floor Wide Recipient’s name and that’s about it. We all had to give a quote about ourselves and apparently I have an optimist to buy for.

    Reply ↓
  45. Rebekah*

    I’ve had good luck with a funny book like “100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings” or a funny notebook with a set of pens. One year someone in my office brought a bag of potatoes because he had forgotten to bring a gift but had some groceries in the car. It made people laugh and was surprisingly popular.

    Reply ↓
    1. Bast*

      We had someone gift one of the giant, company sized packs of toilet paper one year. Everyone laughed, but it was a useful present that others actually stole.

      Reply ↓
  46. Anon for this one*

    The most popular gifts I’ve seen at a “steal or open” work gift exchange:
    1) a heavy plastic skull (think anatomy class study aide) – yes, it was highly entertaining
    2) teapot set
    3) kits of various types
    4) postcards with stamps

    Reply ↓
  47. Susie and Elaine Problem*

    My office is doing a Yankee Swap – I saw some discussion the other Friday about gifts and picked up on someone’s hot sauce idea. I got a multi-pack “hot sauce from around the world” box with 4 different kinds: Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and interestingly enough: Australia.

    Reply ↓
      1. Susie and Elaine Problem*

        I saw one of those… also found sets with many more varieties but I wanted to stay under the $20 limit.

        I’m expecting a fair amount of swapping to get this gift since it seems that most of the people in my office like spicy food… especially our Big Boss.

        Reply ↓
  48. Sara without an H*

    Re office gift-giving: There was a Secret Santa every year at Tiny Women’s College, but participation was voluntary and not everybody participated. I never heard any complaints about the quality/taste level of the gifts, though.

    At Tiny Women’s College Library, staff occasionally brought small, low-monetary-value gifts for everybody. I had one staffer who made small felt sculptures as a hobby and brought in several to give to coworkers. Everybody liked them and there was no sense of imposing an obligation on anybody.

    As director, I didn’t give my staff gifts per se, but I did bring in chocolates during the run-up to winter break. Judging from the speed with which the bowl emptied, it was a good choice.

    Gifts, in my view, can be problematic at work. If they’re too expensive, they seem to impose an obligation on the recipient, and they can easily go wrong, as the terrible-gift-giving company episode shows. If you’re going to do it at all, keep everything voluntary, low-key, and low-cost.

    If this sounds like a recommendation for yet another round of gift cards to the local coffee shop — well, gift cards were invented for a reason.

    Reply ↓
    1. A perfectly normal-size space bird*

      I am very glad my employer doesn’t do December holiday parties or gift exchanges (we didn’t even before everything went remote). I’ve been at other employers where office gifting was the norm and it was always stressful to have to buy gifts for all my coworkers when it was a time of year that was already filled with Christian holiday parties and “optional” gift giving.

      I have a friend who, in July, was showing off the specialized crafting equipment she bought so she can make all her coworkers gifts for Christmas. I would be very uncomfortable knowing that a coworker spent that much money and effort making a gift. Especially since I know what the gifts will be and they are the kind of thing that requires the recipient to have a specific kind of doohickey with which to use it.

      Reply ↓
    1. A perfectly normal-size space bird*

      Those are good for all occasions. A friend of mine had a death in the family and I gave her a gift basket that included one of those. She said she would activate it on her desk whenever she was feeling sad and it cheered her right up.

      Reply ↓
  50. EngineeringUnicorn*

    Those cooky kitchen gadgets that are also animals (like the whale strainer and the vampire garlic mincer and loch ness monster ladle, etc) are generally really well received in my experience.

    Reply ↓
    1. Camp Staff*

      Along the same lines, my daughter took a Dash mini waffle iron to a swap last year and it was the most popular item.

      Reply ↓
  51. Hospital PT*

    Things that went over well in my office last year… A jar candle, soft throw blanket, scratch tickets, restaurant gift cards, movie tickets…

    Reply ↓
  52. Anita Brake*

    As someone who previously hated “Yankee Swap” and “Dirty Santa,” I have come to realize the fun of it! Along with the previous great suggestions, may I suggest:
    A “Squatty Potty.” Makes #2 easier, especially if pregnant.
    Duct tape-not along with zip ties
    Zip Ties-not along with duct tape
    Poo-Pourri
    Batteries
    A Home Depot Orange bucket-with or without gift card

    Reply ↓
  53. A Little Bit Alexis*

    Some of the hits from gift exchanges I’ve been a part of:
    – puzzles (especially with local ties/art)
    – fancy pasta and sauce set with wooden utensils
    – fun food/snack sets
    – A battery organizer and storage case
    – anything related to a local sports team
    – nice hot chocolate mixes
    – an oversized soup mug

    Reply ↓
    2. RLC*

      Flashlights, especially the compact ones which easily fit in pocket/purse/tote bag are just about the most perfect universal gift! With an attached wrist lanyard or carabiner clip, even more perfect.

      Reply ↓
  56. HomebodyHouseplant*

    im going to go against the grain and say not food. people have allergies and dietary restrictions for all sorts of reasons. at a friend’s white elephant a few years ago both me and my husband ended up with food gifts I couldn’t eat, so we basically ended up with nothing. it was really frustrating because we brought nice gifts. if you’re going to do something food related, include something that is not consumable so the person at least walks away with something in the end.

    Reply ↓
  57. The Formatting Queen*

    My go-to for yankee swaps that are in the $10-$15 range is a 5-pound bag of gummy bears (or Sour Patch Kids, coke bottle candy, etc.). You can find them on Amazon. It’s a big enough bag to be a “novelty,” and it’s rare that you’ll see someone else bring something similar. It works for work, family, and church groups, and appeals to both adults and kids if necessary (although their parents might disagree…) Other novelty candy or novelty-sized foods are options too – one time I gave a friend an 80 oz. jar of peanut butter and a 35 oz. jar of Nutella. $10 each and there’s just something about those giant jars that tickles people’s fancies.

    Reply ↓
  58. Spooz*

    For the Yankee Swap, I would get a quantity of “fun” stationery items according to whatever the gift budget is. Low? A pack of shaped post it notes. Medium? Glittery scented gel pens. High? Spend the whole lot on novelty paper clips!

    Most office workers use stationery, so whoever ends up with it can use it. No worries about allergies, dietary requirements or cultural misfits. Suits men and women. Tone absolutely appropriate for the office. Fundamentally consumable so no one is stuck with it forever.

    Reply ↓
  59. Spooz*

    For the person who gets gifts from their coworker and does not reciprocate…

    PLEASE don’t feel the need to reciprocate. This has been going on for several years. It is abundantly clear to your coworker that this is not a two-way gifting relationship. They have all the information they need to decide whether they want to get you a gift anyway. Some people truly do just like that sort of thing. Absolutely do NOT start getting them a gift just because they continue to get you one. If they don’t like it, they can just stop getting you a gift. It is 100% their decision to continue and 100% NOT your obligation to reciprocate.

    Reply ↓
  60. Honoria Lucasta*

    I’m a big fan of browsing those buzzfeed shopping articles that are, like, “65 amazing things under $20 at Amazon right now that you didn’t know you needed in your life!” Usually I see three or four things on there that I think could work as gift-swap item. Sometimes they’re a little goofy, like lightstaber chopsticks, and sometimes they’re useful but quirky like a keychain flashlight or a fire starter survival tool. Then I save them to a wish list so I have them gathered in one place when the time comes.

    Reply ↓
    1. Bast*

      I am also a huge fan of those lists, and have bought more than a few things for myself that I wouldn’t otherwise have thought of.

      Reply ↓
  61. Kay*

    To the last LW in the article whose coworker always gives them a small gift: a note of appreciation is an excellent idea. Even better, send some (honest and true) positive feedback to their manager and CC them on the email.

    Reply ↓
  62. Another Kristin*

    You could go completely ridiculous – my mom’s workplace swapped around a fluffy backpack shaped like a chicken. Whoever got it would have to bring it back the next year, it was always a hit.

    Or you could get, like, a nice mug and a box of herbal tea, that’s a pretty safe bet.

    Reply ↓
  63. Ana Gram*

    Ours has a $25 limit. I got a $20 Target gift card and some mini Nutellas and candies. Easy and fun for just about anybody.

    Reply ↓
  64. ES*

    I usually find something warm/fun at Costco. One year a plush throw blanket. One year a large Squishmallow. This year it’s a weird one-size blanket-hoodie combo (the Snuggie is back in different form because time is a flat circle). They’re all under $20 and they get stolen like crazy until they hit the theft limit in my office’s White Elephant exchange.

    Reply ↓
  65. JJLib*

    It can depend on whether the exchange is for decent gifts or gag/junk gifts. If you aren’t sure which kind of exchange this is, ask someone who’s been there for past ones, so that you don’t bring a good gift if everyone else brings silly stuff.

    For decent gifts: gift card/prepaid visa, mug and cocoa packets, candy, ornament, puzzle, hand towel

    For gag gifts, the discount bins at Target, or stuff from discount stores (Dollar Tree, Dollar General, 5 Below…) would work.

    I usually scope out the post-Christmas sales and find a few things on deep discount that would make good gifts and tuck them away until the next holiday season’s gift exchange(s).

    Reply ↓
  66. Lucifer*

    “What’s a good generic gift to bring when you don’t know who it will be for?”

    No booze, just to be in the safe side. Just go ahead and regift the wrapped candle that’s been in your linen closet since Christmas 2010 (look up “Christmas Candle SNL” on YouTube). There’s a reason that candle has made it all around the world twice.

    Reply ↓
  67. HonorBox*

    While you definitely have to know your audience, I think something completely absurd could be a lot of fun and make for some funny stories and memories. I’m thinking about something like this stuffed frog backpack that my daughter has. It is absolutely not anything I’d buy for myself, but if I got that as a gift, I’d 100% be throwing my phone and water bottle in it every day, or filling it with snacks. It is something usable but also ridiculous and people are unlikely to get themselves.

    Reply ↓
  68. SoapiestEagle35*

    I love finding an inexpensive board game or puzzle! Might I recommend the game Dutch Blitz – a fast paced card game! If you’re feeling extra generous you could also include a scratch off ticket!

    Reply ↓
  69. Spiders Everywhere*

    The best way I’ve seen gifts from companies done is when my partner’s company contracted with a service where you could go to a website and just pick out a gift from a catalog up to a specified tier. I think that might be the only time either of us got a company gift that we genuinely wanted (panini press!) Usually in my experience corporate gifts range from useless to vaguely insulting.

    Reply ↓
  70. wine dude*

    The most popular gift ever at our white elephant exchanges was a set of vibrating salt and pepper shakers. The, um, gay women at the party kept stealing them from each other, and much hilarity ensued!
    A party I’m invited to this year has specified that we should not spend money on the gift but rather to bring something we want to get rid of. I think that’s the perfect way to go!

    Reply ↓
  71. My Brain is Exploding*

    Wondering what happened to the LW who was being strong-armed by the BOSS to give $60 to the fund to buy something FOR THE BOSS. And was told it was mandatory.

    Reply ↓
    1. Heidi*

      I also wonder about the manager who’s going along with this and demanding $60 from everyone. Are they doing it out of fear for their own job? Do they truly think the boss deserves it?

      Reply ↓
  72. MotherofaPickle*

    Bought my last boss one of those gag gifts that was a pack of post-it notes that said something along the lines of “Reasons You Effed Up Today” with a bunch of check boxes, and a fun pen. Definitely a Read The Room-Office Culture call, but I knew that all of my coworkers who would inevitably receive one would start attempting to play “boss post-it bingo”.

    Boss rolled his eyes. Coworkers reacted as expected.

    Reply ↓
  73. Lizzianna*

    For gifting to employees, my agency doesn’t provide a budget for employee gifts, so anything we give is out of our pocket unless we can tie it to a team accomplishment that we can use our awards budget for.

    The last few years, I’ve just done handwritten cards and a small gift bag with a handful of Lindt truffles (I buy a big bag at Costco) or another small gift. I’ve gotten more feedback from the handwritten cards than any gift I’ve ever done before, even when I had a smaller team and could afford actual gifts.

    The year we did have a budget (our team was also celebrating a major project being completed so I was able to tap into our non-monetary awards budget), we did Yeti mugs with our logo and team name engraved. That was popular, and 2 years later, I still see people using them. But not something I could have afforded out of pocket.

    Reply ↓
  74. Essentially Cheesy*

    I got a coffee-pod-a-day advent calendar for my next white elephant gift exchange (the joke is supposed to be that we are doing this on Dec 6th, past the start of Advent) but it might be a good gift for exchange in general.

    Several of my office mates are coffee addicts.

    Reply ↓
    1. Lizzianna*

      Oh, this is a good idea. I need to go get our white elephant gift, and we just got a new office Keurig. I may go get a variety pack of fun K-cups.

      Reply ↓
  75. Retired Vulcan Raises 1 Grey Eyebrow*

    Thankfully I’ve never worked anywhere that had gifts or swaps, so I was spared this stress.
    As the “winter holiday” celebrations in the US usually seem to involve gifting, this is yet another reason to move them to January, a month for which there is no tradition of gifts.

    Reply ↓
  76. JFC*

    You have more options if it’s something where other people can steal a gift or swap if they don’t like it.

    Scratch-off lottery tickets are always fun, and you can choose how much you want to spend on them.

    Products that showcase your city/state/region can also be good — mugs, maybe a small piece of artwork, locally-made products at farmers markets.

    If your office has a lot of people that root for a certain sports team, you can do things like pennants, hats or flags.

    Reply ↓
  77. Tea Monk*

    Wow. this just reminded me I’m supposed to do secret Santa. It’ll be harder if I get someone on the other team ( we have teams of 4 to 5 employees that are managed by a single manager. This secret santa will involve two teams and I don’t meet with the other team as much as mine)

    Reply ↓
  78. pagooey*

    I’ve worked for two different companies that jumbled the concepts of Yankee Swap *and* White Elephant gift exchanges every year. So there would be a handful of thoughtful, fought-over gifts, and then a variety of hilarious disappointments, many of which came back and reentered the gift stream year after year; I remember a Celtic Woman Christmas CD, and a “paint your own chicken” craft kit, that emerged from the wrapping paper time after time. But my fondest work holiday memory is when I was leaving one of those teams, and a boss I detested (the feeling was mutual). The gift party was my last day, and I too brought in a re-re-regift I got the previous year: a wine-bottle holder in the shape of a cartoonish, Eye-talian-stereotype chef, in white coat and toque. He sort of…squatted, and balanced a bottle on his back/behind. Hideous. Anyway, Detested Boss chose and opened the squatting chef…AND NO ONE WOULD SWAP WITH HER. Sorry, it’s your turn, you old harridan!

    Reply ↓
  79. ILoveLlamas*

    At a recent Yankee Swap, there was a bitter fight over a dancing Santa. Hilarious. For my group, alcohol, scratch-off lottery tix, Bath & Bodyworks gift sets, chocolate are always popular. The Santa was an outlier…

    Reply ↓
  80. HigherEdEscapee*

    One thing NOT to do – live animals. Specifically invertebrates. It doesn’t matter if they’re in the proper carrying container, someone is going to open it and scream. Ask me how I know.

    Reply ↓
  82. Ginger Cat Lady*

    The things I’ve seen people fight over the most:
    “That was Easy!” button from Staples
    Power pack for phones
    Framed “free pass to bring this to next year’s swap instead of buying a gift” feat. photo of the boss

    Reply ↓

Leave a Comment

Before you comment: Please be kind, stay on-topic, and follow the site's commenting rules.
You can report an ad, tech, or typo issue here.

Subscribe to all comments on this post by RSS