Updated for Christmas 2026 · Sep 24, 2026

Christmas Gifts for Coworkers and Employees Under $25

Twenty-five dollars is where gifts get good. For Christmas gifts for employees under $25, it’s enough for something people use every day, rather than a token. These 12 ideas all come in under $25, the last few under $20, and none of them has a logo on it.

Quick answer

Under $25, choose something used every day: an insulated tumbler (about $10–25), a mug-and-cocoa set, a USB-C power bank, a plush throw, or a waterproof mini speaker. At $9.99 each, a Santa greeting for employees or their kids leaves room for a small treat alongside it. Avoid logos; they turn a gift into merchandise.

By Andrei Zhizdra, Founder of Santa AI and Santa for Teams · How we make money

1Most memorableWorks for every employee

A call from Santa for every employee, or their kids

A video call, phone call or personalized video from Santa, for employees’ kids or for employees themselves. Nothing to ship, and HR never handles anyone’s data.

✓ For kids or grown-ups
✓ Video call, phone call or video
✓ 29 languages, pay by invoice
✓ Order by Dec 15

Watch out: the grown-up version is playful, so preview it before sending to a very formal team.

Team size→$99.90Get an invoice for 10 employees →

Made by us · How we make money

Type a name and hear Santa say it

Christmas gifts for employees under $25

Best overall

An insulated tumbler

$10–25📦 Needs shipping

Unbranded 20 oz tumblers from good generic brands keep drinks hot for hours, for well under the price of the famous names.

Our pick: BUILT Torrent 20 oz Insulated Tumbler

Double-wall stainless steel, 20 oz, about 7.5 in tall.

★ 4.7 from 14,560 Walmart reviews

What 1–2★ reviewers say: 341 of 14,560 reviews are 1–2★, and nearly all are about the lid: leaking, not sealing, or breaking. The cup itself rarely gets complaints.

Watch out: Budget tumblers often don’t fit car cup holders. Check the base diameter.

$9.97 at Walmart ↗Compare on Amazon ↗Price checked Sep 24, 2026. Prices change often.

A mug and cocoa gift set

$15–25📦 Needs shipping

A boxed set arrives ready to give, with no wrapping required.

Our pick: Warner Bros Elf 10 oz Mug with Cocoa

10 oz ceramic Buddy the Elf mug with a packet of hot cocoa inside; microwave safe.

★ 4.5 from 224 Walmart reviews

What 1–2★ reviewers say: 21 of 224 are 1–2★, mostly a mug that arrived cracked or a store substitution, not the mug itself.

Watch out: Sets from marketplaces sometimes arrive with chipped mugs. Order a couple of spares.

$15.00 at Walmart ↗Compare on Amazon ↗Price checked Sep 24, 2026. Prices change often.

A portable charger

$15–25📦 Needs shipping

A slim 10,000 mAh power bank is the kind of thing that saves someone’s day now and then.

Our pick: Liquipel Powertek 10,000 mAh Power Bank

USB-C and USB-A, 20 W fast charging, 0.55 lb.

★ 4.4 from 330 Walmart reviews

What 1–2★ reviewers say: 37 of 330 are 1–2★: units that stopped recharging after a few uses, and one buyer measured less than the stated capacity.

Watch out: Airlines limit power bank size, and heavy ones stay in drawers. Keep it slim, around 10,000 mAh.

Tip: Get one with a USB-C port. Older micro-USB models are already outdated.

$16.88 at Walmart ↗Compare on Amazon ↗Price checked Sep 24, 2026. Prices change often.

A plush throw

$18–25📦 Needs shipping

It’s the coziest gift you can buy for this money, and people use it all winter.

Our pick: Bare Home Microplush Fleece Blanket

100% polyester microfleece, 300 gsm, machine washable; sold in several sizes, so pick the throw size.

★ 4.6 from 5,292 Walmart reviews

What 1–2★ reviewers say: 374 of 5,292 reviews are 1–2★. Beyond missed deliveries, the recurring complaints are shedding and a flatter, thinner feel than expected.

Watch out: Cheap polyester throws shed. Read reviews for “shedding” before buying in bulk.

See sizes at Walmart ↗Compare on Amazon ↗

A mini Bluetooth speaker

$18–25📦 Needs shipping

It’s good for the shower, the kitchen and the home office, and it’s small enough to fit in a stocking.

Our pick: VILINICE Portable Bluetooth Speaker

IPX7 waterproof, about 12 hours of battery, 15 W, Bluetooth 5.0.

★ 4.3 from 2,719 Walmart reviews

What 1–2★ reviewers say: 335 of 2,719 are 1–2★: units that stopped charging or shut off on their own, and thin sound with little bass. Expect a shower speaker, not a stereo.

Watch out: At under $25 the sound is thin. Present it as a shower or kitchen speaker, not a music system.

$17.89 at Walmart ↗Compare on Amazon ↗Price checked Sep 24, 2026. Prices change often.

Lamplig 1000-Piece Puzzle, Lakeside Cabin Moonlight

A 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle

$15–22📦 Needs shipping

It’s a whole-family activity for the slow days between Christmas and New Year.

Our pick: Lamplig 1000-Piece Puzzle, Lakeside Cabin Moonlight

1,000 cardboard pieces with lettered backs; poster of the picture included.

★ 4.6 from 72 Walmart reviews

What 1–2★ reviewers say: Only 4 of 72 reviews are 1★: missing pieces, colors darker than the box photo, and one older buyer who found it too hard.

Watch out: Puzzles are a hit with puzzle people and clutter for everyone else. Better for small teams you know well.

$16.99 at Walmart ↗Compare on Amazon ↗Price checked Sep 24, 2026. Prices change often.

Minimalist Slim Bifold Wallet with RFID Blocking

A slim card wallet

$14–25📦 Needs shipping

A small, grown-up gift that looks more expensive than it is.

Our pick: Minimalist Slim Bifold Wallet with RFID Blocking

Faux leather, holds 9 cards plus cash, snap closure.

★ 4.8 from 21 Walmart reviews

What 1–2★ reviewers say: No 1–2★ among 21 reviews.

Watch out: Many people now pay by phone and have stopped carrying wallets. It suits people who still carry cards and cash.

$13.99 at Walmart ↗Compare on Etsy ↗Price checked Sep 24, 2026. Prices change often.

Buzzy Seeds Basil, Cilantro & Chive Windowsill Kit

A herb garden kit

$17–25📦 Needs shipping

A gift that keeps growing. It’s especially good for people who like to cook.

Our pick: Buzzy Seeds Basil, Cilantro & Chive Windowsill Kit

Organic seeds with a metal windowsill planter, about 11 × 4.5 × 4.5 in.

★ 4.2 from 127 Walmart reviews

What 1–2★ reviewers say: 18 of 127 are 1–2★: few seeds in the packet, poor germination for some buyers, and no drainage holes in the planter.

Watch out: Kits need a sunny windowsill and weeks of patience in winter. Some people will give up before anything grows.

$16.99 at Walmart ↗Compare on Amazon ↗Price checked Sep 24, 2026. Prices change often.

A streaming or audiobook e-gift

$15–25📧 Arrives by email

A month or two of audiobooks or music arrives instantly and suits remote staff.

Watch out: Many people already subscribe, so a gift month just pauses their own billing. It feels like less than it cost.

Tip: If you send it as a gift card, it counts as taxable wages in the US.

See options on Amazon ↗

Christmas gifts for coworkers under $20

Cozy slipper socks

$15–20📦 Needs shipping

A step up from novelty socks: warm, grippy and worn at home every evening.

Watch out: Sizing matters more than with regular socks. Pick ones sold as one-size or collect sizes first.

See options on Walmart ↗

DAYBETTER Rechargeable Clip-On Book Light

Budget pick

A clip-on book light

$9–15📦 Needs shipping

A good fit for readers, and it pairs well with a paperback you think the person would like.

Our pick: DAYBETTER Rechargeable Clip-On Book Light

3.3 × 2 × 1 in, three color temperatures, stepless dimming, USB rechargeable.

★ 4.7 from 7 Walmart reviews

What 1–2★ reviewers say: None of its 7 reviews is below 4★, but that’s a small sample.

Watch out: It only lands with readers. Everyone else gets a gadget they won’t use.

$9.49 at Walmart ↗Compare on Amazon ↗Price checked Sep 24, 2026. Prices change often.

♡ Your shortlist

Tap the heart on any idea, then send the list to your manager for approval.

Physical vs digital gift

At $25 you can afford a real physical gift, but only if you have addresses and time to ship. If you don’t, spend the budget on something digital.

Criterion	📦 Physical	📧 Digital
No shipping or packing	✗	✓
No home addresses to collect	✗for remote staff	✓
Works for remote and international teams	✗customs, delays	✓
Can still order in mid-December	✗order by mid-Nov	✓
Something to unwrap	✓	✗depends on the gift

Why you should trust us

Who writes this. Andrei Zhizdra builds Santa AI, which made more than 14,000 Santa greetings for families last Christmas. HR teams asked us what to give instead of another mug, and this guide is the answer.

How we choose. We favor gifts people use every day, gifts that reach families, and gifts that don’t create shipping headaches. Prices are typical ranges at major US retailers. Our six tests

What we skip. Logo merchandise, scented products and anything that ends up in a drawer by January. Idea #1 is our own product, and we say so. How we make money

Questions HR teams ask

What is a good $25 gift for an employee?

Something used daily: an insulated tumbler, a portable charger, a cozy throw. Things people use every day feel more generous than decorative items at the same price.

Is $25 a normal amount for an employee Christmas gift?

Yes. $25 is a common per-person budget for company-wide gifts. It’s enough for a quality everyday item, and small non-cash gifts like these usually count as tax-free de minimis benefits in the US.

Can I split $25 into two smaller gifts?

Yes, and it often works better: a $10 treat plus a $10–15 experience or a gift for the family. Pairing a physical item with a digital one also covers people who are away over the holidays.

Should I let employees choose their own gift?

Often, yes: in vendor surveys about three in four employees say they’d rather choose. The trade-off is that it feels less personal, so add a note. Gift cards are taxable wages in the US; items sent through a choice platform usually aren’t.

More gift guides

Under $10Small gifts that still feel thoughtfulRead the guide →On a budgetCheap gifts that don’t look cheapRead the guide →Your work teamGifts from a manager to the teamRead the guide →Office staffDesk upgrades and shared treatsRead the guide →

Or browse all our christmas gift ideas for employees.