Safe, but still fun. That is the whole brief for Secret Santa stationery.
Here is the thing I wish someone had told me earlier: you do not need the perfect object for a mystery colleague. You need something they can use, keep on a desk or pass along without awkwardness. I would skip overly personal jokes unless you know the person well, because a gag that lands with a friend can feel strange coming from an anonymous gift-giver.
Start with the budget, not the person
Shop by spend first, then pick something easy to enjoy at work. The 15 ideas below run from gifts under £10, through picks up to £15, to desk treats up to £20. Prices are guide prices, so check current listings before you buy. Stationery costs shift between shops and designs.
Picture the draw: a colleague you have spoken to twice, and a budget that stops at £20. A useful notebook, a cheerful pen or a small desk treat can feel thoughtful without pretending you know their entire personality.
Under £10 and still worth unwrapping
Small budgets suit everyday stationery especially well. These are the things that disappear into a work bag, rescue a meeting or make a Monday list look a little less grim. Look for a simple finish rather than a premium brand name, since the prices below are targets and not fixed promises.
1. Pocket notebook, around £4. A slim notebook slips into a laptop bag and handles quick notes or the all-important lunch list. Choose a plain or lightly patterned cover so it does not feel too personal. The small pages fill up fast. That is the only catch.
2. Smooth-writing gel pen, around £3. A reliable pen is the office equivalent of a spare phone charger, because someone will always need one. Pick dark ink and a comfortable grip over a novelty colour that might never leave the desk. One pen alone can look a bit spare, so add a small card if you like.
3. Sticky notes in a cheerful shape, around £3. Bright notes are handy for reminders and give a desk a small flash of colour. A simple geometric or fruit design keeps things playful without going full novelty shop. Some decorative pads hold fewer sheets than standard blocks, so check the pack size.
4. Mini highlighter set, around £5. A few soft-colour highlighters work for planning, reading and marking up meeting notes. Because the purpose is obvious, they suit someone whose desk you have barely seen. Pastels may be too subtle for people who like bold marks.
5. Page-marker tabs, around £4. Reusable-looking tabs make it easier to flag a document or keep your place in a planner. Go for several colours in a clean design, not something covered in slogans. They are a quieter gift, so pair them with a pen if the budget allows.
Is a notebook ever a boring gift?
Not if it is the right one. With a little more room in the budget, you can give a single item that feels properly gift-like, and these still work when you do not know anyone’s favourite colour or desk setup. A neat format and useful details do most of the work.
6. A5 hardcover notebook, around £12. It is a classic for a reason. A5 is big enough for meeting notes yet does not take over a tote. A ribbon marker or elastic closure makes a nice small upgrade. Hard covers add weight, so they suit someone who travels light less well.
7. Desk pen and holder, around £14. A simple pen with a small holder gives the recipient something to keep within reach, especially if their desk is mostly paper and screens. Neutral colours are the safer bet when taste is a mystery. It takes up space, so skip it for a colleague who hot-desks.
8. Undated weekly planner, around £10. Undated pages remove the pressure of starting on 1 January and make the gift useful whenever it is opened. Pick a layout with space for tasks, not just appointments. Some planners feel overly structured, so look for a flexible weekly format.
9. Recycled-paper notebook set, around £13. A pair of slim notebooks lets you separate work notes from personal lists, and recycled paper adds a thoughtful touch. Check that the pages suit pens as well as pencils, because very thin paper shows ink through. A simple cover helps it feel grown-up rather than preachy.
10. Colourful fineliner pack, around £11. Fineliners make diagrams and colour-coded notes oddly satisfying, even if the recipient only uses them for the odd list. A compact pack gives variety without the commitment of a big art set. The fine tips dry out if left uncapped, so mention that with a grin.
Desk treats that earn their space
These picks are a touch more substantial but still easy to give to someone you do not know well. Think of a gift that makes a desk nicer to use, not one that demands a permanent place on it. In a shared office, that distinction matters.
11. Desktop weekly planner pad, around £16. A tear-off pad keeps the week visible at a glance and gives a to-do list a satisfying home. Look for a design with enough room to write, not just a pretty header. It is less portable than a notebook, so it is best for colleagues with a fixed desk.
12. Notebook and matching pen gift set, around £18. A coordinated set feels ready to wrap, which is a relief when you are shopping between errands. A neutral cover and a decent everyday pen keep it broadly appealing. The pen is often the weaker part of a set, so read the product details before committing.
13. Magnetic desk notepad, around £15. A notepad that sticks to a filing cabinet or metal board keeps quick reminders in sight. It suits someone who likes a visible list and does not mind a bit of clutter. It will not work on every surface, so think about whether the recipient’s office setup could take it.
Funny, but kind
Quirky stationery can be a lovely office Secret Santa idea, as long as the joke stays friendly. Aim humour at meetings, deadlines or the universal hunt for a working pen. Leave someone’s habits and job performance out of it. Keep the gift easy to use, too.
14. Novelty-shaped eraser set, around £7. Tiny erasers shaped like food or office objects bring a bit of silliness to a pencil case. They are cheap and light-hearted, which suits a colleague with a playful desk. Some are more decorative than useful, so treat the joke as the main attraction.
15. Funny desk notepad, around £9. A notepad with a gently amusing prompt can make routine lists less dull. Pick a joke broad enough for anyone on the team, not a pointed gag about work or one particular person. Writing space can be limited on novelty pads, so check the page layout.
What if you have no clues at all?
Start with the person’s work setup if you have noticed it: fixed desk or hot-desk, paper planner or screen only, lots of colour or a very tidy workspace. No clues? Choose an everyday item in a calm design. It is the safest route, and safe does not have to mean dull.
Then match your spend to the office limit. For secret santa gifts under £10, one useful small item is plenty, and there is no need to build a bundle just to make it look bigger. Up to £15, a notebook or planner feels considered. At £20, look for a set or a desk pad with a clear purpose.
Skip scented items, personal jokes and anything that needs a particular device or hobby. A colleague might love fountain pens, but a random ink bottle is a gamble. (I once watched someone unwrap exactly that, and the polite smile said it all.) And please do not buy a giant desk ornament for someone who may be packing up their workspace every evening. I would rather give a modest pen they will use than an elaborate object they have to store.
A short gift tag can make a practical present feel warmer. ‘For your next big list’ is friendly without overdoing it. Wrap it neatly, keep the receipt if that is easy, and call it done. My vote goes to the plain notebook and a good pen: it is boring in the best way, and nobody has ever been annoyed to receive one.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good stationery gift for a colleague I barely know?
A pocket notebook, a smooth gel pen or an undated planner. They are useful, neutral and hard to get wrong.
How much should I spend on Secret Santa stationery?
Follow your office limit. Under £10 buys one good small item, around £15 gets a decent notebook or planner, and £20 stretches to a set or desk pad.
Are funny stationery gifts a good idea?
Yes, if the joke is about meetings, deadlines or missing pens. Avoid anything about a person’s habits or job performance.
What should I avoid buying?
Scented items, personal jokes, bulky desk ornaments and anything that needs a specific hobby, like a random bottle of fountain pen ink.
