Deciding on the best gift for your boss can either be a walk in the park or a huge pain, depending on how well you know her. Not to mention, there’s no rulebook on how much to spend or what’s deemed “office-appropriate.” But not to worry: We tapped Kate Bellman, the head of editorial and content at Nordstrom, for insight on navigating holiday gifting for your superior. Her first note? "A gift for a boss is a nice gesture, but not an obligation"—which means just by clicking on this round-up, you're already in good standing for that promotion you've been working toward.
With Bellman's insight, we scoured the internet to find the best holiday gifts for your boss, from a neck massager to lavish hand cream (which would also make a great gift for your coworkers). Even if you have just a general idea of your boss' taste, or at the bare minimum, a working relationship with her, it's hard to go wrong with one of the gift ideas on this list. As soon as your boss unwraps one of the below items, you’re sure to stand out from the rest of the office. Did I hear someone say, “Employee of the Year?”
What to Keep in Mind
- Consider Your Budget
"First off, start with a gift that works within your budget," advises Bellman. "Never underestimate the sentiment of a genuine, hand-written card if that’s what the budget allows!"
- Remember the Office Culture
"It’s also a great idea to recognize the culture of the office," says the Nordstrom expert. "Some have a no-gift policy, while others celebrate together through office parties or contribute to a singular team gift."
- Pay Attention to the Little Details
"When it comes to picking a gift for your boss, it’s best not to go too intimate or personal but to pick up on some details of their personality or interests. If they’re never without a cup of coffee, a nice mug and a Holiday java blend tap into recognizing their day-to-day. If they like to travel, a travel-based coffee table book would make a thoughtful gesture. Cozy categories such as candles and throws are always a fail-safe or a classic desk accessory to give their office a timeless touch," Bellman offers.
Shop for the Best Gifts for Your Boss
- Best Gift for the Organized Boss: Anthropologie Petite 17-Month Planner
- Best Gift for the Cashmere-Obsessed Boss: J. Crew Oversized Cashmere Wrap
- Best Gift for the Boss Who Loves Coffee: OHOM Ui Mug and Warmer Set
- Best Gift for Your Boss in Winter: Nordstrom Cashmere Lined Leather Touchscreen Gloves
- Best Gift for the Boss Who Packs Lunches: Modern Picnic The Mini Luncher
- Best Gift for the Boss Who's Stressed: Etekcity Cordless Neck Massager with Heat
- Best Gift Sets for Your Boss: L'Occitane Holiday Classics Set of 5 Hand Creams
Bosses tend to be extra busy, so why not help them keep track of meetings and events with a cute planner? You can even make it extra special by personalizing the cover.
Customer Review: "I really love this planner, it’s very classy and cute and keeps me organized! Received many compliments."—Anthropologie reviewer
Is your boss glued to her coffee mug? Now she doesn't have to sip on room-temperature coffee any more, thanks to you—and this warmer set! The sleek, modern mug comes in three colors and boasts a custom charger to heat up the liquid inside.
Customer Review: "Just started using my new Kopi Mug and totally in love!!!! I drink tea everyday and this mug keeps them warm all day long. Plus the wireless charger is also super convenient for my phone. Highly recommend."—Nordstrom reviewer
An uber-luxurious scarf isn't something people tend to buy for themselves, which makes it the perfect gift. J. Crew's oversized number is one of our top picks. It's hard-working in terms of winter-proof warmth and not overly mind-boggling expensive—which is always a major plus. It comes in at just under $200 (even less due to the current Black Friday discount) and is made of 100 percent pure cashmere, which makes its reasonable price tag almost too good to be true.
Customer Review: "I absolutely love this wrap. The cashmere is soft and substantial. Incredible price point. I wear these all fall and winter long."—J. Crew reviewer
Now she'll never not have the chance to send you an on-the-go Slack message. Plus, these leather gloves are far more stylish than your typical touch screen options.
Customer Review: "These gloves are well-made, warm, and really do allow cell phone use when worn. Measurements for hand size are accurate and I am hard to fit with very small hands!! I highly recommend these gloves!"—Nordstrom reviewer
Don't let your boss' hands suffer in the winter. This gift set includes hand creams in five different scents: Almond, Lavender, Shea Butter, Cherry Blossom, and Verbena. Her hands (and cuticles!) will thank you.
Customer Review: "This is another L'Occitane must have. My hands are always hydrated and silky, never greasy. I use it around three times a day or as needed, a small portion is just enough to nourish your skin."—Nordstrom reviewer
Does she carry her lunch to work every day in a plain old Tupperware container? This chic bag will change all that. With an insulated interior and crocodile-embossed vegan leather exterior, no one will be able to tell you're carrying last night's leftovers. It's a contemporary and grown-up take on the lunchbox, one your boss who loves to meal prep will definitely appreciate.
Customer Review: N/A
Since lighting candles is generally frowned upon in the office, gift her this luxe room spray to make her office smell amazing.
Customer Review: N/A
Everyone needs a journal, and this one by Montblanc feels extra luxe, making it the perfect gift for anyone at work you're hoping to impress. The cover is crafted from fine Italian leather; the lined pages are silver-edged (oh la la!); and the notebook features a built-in grosgrain ribbon bookmark. Your boss (or coworker) is going to want to pull this out during your next team meeting.
Customer Review: N/A
Who doesn't love cashmere? I can all but guarantee that this 100-percent cashmere beanie will not leave your boss' head this winter. Choose between a selection of neutral shades, including slate gray, oatmeal, ivory, and dark black.
Customer Review: "Beautiful soft and light cashmere beanie, this is the second one I have purchased from this company. Love the beanie it is light weight, super soft, love it."—Amazon reviewer
If your boss travels a lot, gift her this amazing weighted eye mask. This snooze-ready style features four equally weighted pods that contour to the face to block out light and offer slight pressure to soothe and stress-relieve. It's made of cotton jersey and microfiber that feels comforting to the touch. This eye mask instantly soothes in-flight headaches and will help your boss get some much-needed sleep.
Customer Review: "Love love love this!!! This weighted eye mask is my absolute favorite. I ordered one for home and one for travel. Helps me get right to sleep!"—Anthropologie reviwer
Who doesn't love a plushy blanket they can wrap themselves in and snuggle their work worries away? This one from Nordstrom's mainline is one of team MC's favorites, as well as a personal pick from Bellman. It measures in at 50 inches by 60 inches, features four-inch fringe, and comes in seven different cute colors, including dark navy and moody gray.
Customer Review: "These blankets are amazing!!! I have purchased 3 of them and the colors have a beautiful sheen! I am extremely pleased with the quality for the money."—Nordstrom reviewer
Buying your boss jewelry doesn't need to be scary. This pair of chunky gold hoops are so classic, she'll want to wear them every single day.
Customer Review: "[I've] had these earring for a while now and I love them! They haven’t faded or irritated my ears which I love. I usually have to get new earrings by now because the color or the gold faded. definitely worth it!!!"—Amazon reviewer
The holidays can be a stressful time, so your boss, who already has mountains of obligations on her plate, may be in need of some TLC. This cordless and heated neck massager is a thoughtful gift that they'll definitely appreciate. There’s nothing like a mid-day neck massage to relieve some stress.
Customer Review: "Wow! This thing ROCKS! It's like getting a deep massage at home. You can reposition it to target precisely where you have those awful muscle knots, and it works like a charm to relieve tightness and tension. The heat is a gentle heat that deepens the massage. I love it!!"—Amazon reviewer
We love an on-brand holiday gift. Sunday Riley's C.E.O. Glow contains Vitamin C and turmeric to decrease redness and instantly brighten skin. Your boss will be reminded of how much of a badass she is when she does her skincare routine after coming home from a long day.
Customer Review: "After using the product for a few weeks, I have noticed my age spots are not as dark and I have gotten 3 people asking me what I use on my face. Love using this in the morning to give my face a mini massage to start the day"—Sephora reviewer
This beautiful coffee book celebrating iconic and inspiring women makes for a touching and inspiring present for a woman you also look up to. The book features illuminating interviews with and portraits of admirable women, some of whom are famous, others relatively unknown, but all of with worthwhile stories. Some of the women featured include political activist Angela Davis, author Margaret Atwood, conservation and animal welfare activist Jane Goodall, professional golfer and Olympian Lydia Ko, and 196 more.
Customer Review: N/A
There's a good chance your boss is on her phone for a good portion of the day, and all of those germs and screen time builds up. This small, but mighty device will charge your boss' phone and sanitizes it at the same time thanks to UV-led technology.
Customer Review: N/A
This desk-friendly cactus isn’t just cute decor. At the touch of a button, it becomes a handy humidifier, making your boss’ time in the office a bit more enjoyable, especially in the dryer winter months.
Customer Review: "I LOVE this cute little cactus humidifier! I got it for my desk at work where I was suffering from the extreme dry heat this winter. This little guy makes a HUGE difference."—Amazon reviewer
If the pandemic taught us anything, it's that we can never be too careful when it comes to germs. Your boss will surely appreciate this dual set of moisturizing hand sanitizers that smell amazing.
Customer Review: "I love this entire line of sanitizer spray. They smell amazing and they hydrate instead of drying my hands out. Also these particular sanitizers cost $16 individually so you are saving $7 by buying the duo set."—Sephora reviewer
If your boss travels a lot for work, this handy gadget is the perfect gift. It connects your AirPods to the in-flight TVs so your boss will never have to use those uncomfy wired headphones again.
Customer Review: "So handy for travel! I don't have to buy separate wired headphones or get the crappy airline ones anymore when I fly, and I'm not tied to the seat in front of me or dropping my earbuds on the ground when I have to get up. I've had no issues connecting or charging, and they've worked seamlessly so far. Very small and easy to pack too."—Amazon review
Not everyone is a coffee drinker, and that's ok! There are plenty of gifts for the tea lover— like this black tea sampler bundle. A selection of the best-selling black teas, including English Breakfast and Organic Darjeeling, this set is a thoughtful gift for a tea-drinking boss.
Customer Review: N/A
Whether your boss is a huge jet-setter or just needs a little extra neck support, this pillow will do it all. With its versatile shape, this pillow can provide all kinds of comfort whether it be a back pillow or headrest.
Customer Review: "I will never go back to a traditional neck pillow! This is my new favorite thing to bring with me for travel (plane, train, car rides etc.) You can configure this in a million different ways to support your neck/shoulders/lower back etc. For long-haul flights in economy, I've used this sleep soundly."—Amazon reviewer
What do you get your boss when you haven't got a clue what she likes? How about a gift that hits on three different interests? Firstly, this chic decor is a candle inspired by the iconic Le Labo Santal 33 perfume). Inside the wax you'll find a clear quartz crystal, perfect for your boss to use against negative vibes. Once the wax is gone, you can turn the label into a plant with some soil. It's a win-win-win!
Customer Review: N/A
For the boss with a hundred family pictures on their desk, this digital frame will clean up some of the clutter and streamline their sentimentality. Allow your boss to show off their kids and other wholesome memories with this slim, 10-inch digital picture frame.
Customer Review: N/A
Meet the Expert
Kate Bellman is the Head of Editorial and Content at Nordstrom.
She is a fashion industry executive with 20+ years of multi-faceted management experience acquired in top brands such as Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Kate Spade.
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