Updated for Christmas 2026

Christmas Gifts for Employees Under $25

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

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

1Most memorableBest for remote teams

Santa for Teams

A Santa call for the whole family, with change left over

At $9.99 per family, a Santa greeting leaves room in a $25 budget for a small treat alongside it. Each family picks a video call, a phone call or a personalized video with their child’s name. Parents fill in the details, so HR never touches children’s data.

✓ Video call, phone call or video
✓ 29 languages, any time zone
✓ No shipping, pay by invoice
✓ HR never handles kids’ data

Where it disappoints: it only works for employees whose kids still believe in Santa. For a team with few young parents, pair it with a gift for everyone.

Team size:families →$499.50

50 × $9.99 · one price per family, however many kids

Get a quote for your team →

Disclosure: Santa for Teams is made by the same team that writes this guide. We put it first because it’s the gift we built for exactly this problem. Every other idea on this page is independent of us.

🎅 “Ho ho ho, Emma! I’ve heard all about your year…”

Real example of a Santa video call

Best overall

An insulated tumbler

$15–25📦 Needs shipping

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

Where it disappoints: Budget tumblers often don’t fit car cup holders. Check the base diameter.

See options on Amazon ↗

A mug and cocoa gift set

$18–25📦 Needs shipping

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

Where it disappoints: Sets from marketplaces sometimes arrive with chipped mugs. Order a couple of spares.

See options on Amazon ↗

A portable charger

$15–25📦 Needs shipping

A slim 10,000 mAh power bank will save someone’s day at least once a month.

Where it disappoints: 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 Older micro-USB models are already outdated.

See options on Amazon ↗

A plush throw

$18–25📦 Needs shipping

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

Where it disappoints: Cheap polyester throws shed. Read reviews for “shedding” before buying in bulk.

See options on Amazon ↗

A mini Bluetooth speaker

$20–25📦 Needs shipping

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

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

See options on Amazon ↗

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.

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

See options on Amazon ↗

Cozy slipper socks

$15–20📦 Needs shipping

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

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

See options on Amazon ↗

A slim card wallet

$15–25📦 Needs shipping

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

Where it disappoints: Many people now pay by phone and have stopped carrying wallets. It suits older teams better.

See options on Amazon ↗

A herb garden kit

$18–25📦 Needs shipping

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

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

See options on Amazon ↗

Budget pick

A clip-on book light

$10–15📦 Needs shipping

It’s perfect for readers, and it pairs well with a paperback you think the person would like.

Where it disappoints: It only lands with readers. Everyone else gets a gadget they won’t use.

See options on Amazon ↗

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.

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

Tip: Remember that gift cards are taxable wages in the US.

♡ 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 early Dec	✓
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 without becoming a significant taxable benefit for non-cash gifts.

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?

Choice platforms and gift cards avoid misses, but they feel less personal, and gift cards are taxable. A single well-chosen item with a note usually lands better.

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.