Choosing good presents is not an easy task, especially when you need to decide what to gift a male colleague for his birthday. You probably don’t know his wishes very well, and it’s not appropriate to give overly personal items in such a situation. Therefore, it’s necessary to prepare for the holiday in advance and consider various options. It’s also worth learning more about the preferences of the birthday person himself. This will help you choose a good gift for the man to truly delight him. Proper preparation is the key to your success.
40 Gift Ideas for a Male Colleague

- Fine alcohol. This is a traditional male present and might only not be liked by a convinced teetotaler who is extremely negative about any alcohol.
- A luxurious leather wallet or billfold. It cannot be given empty, only with a bill inside.
- Leather business card holder.
- A tie box – a great gift for a male colleague who always wears a tie to work and probably has a whole collection of them.
- A beautiful leather keychain with unique embossing.
- A high-quality diary with an unusually designed cover.
- A ballpoint pen from a famous manufacturer, decorated with personalized engraving, helps if you don’t know what to gift a male colleague who often works with paper documents.
- A unique desk press with a photo of the birthday person for someone who works at a desk with papers.
- A watch. This is a universal male present, but not a cheap one, so it will only be relevant if such a cost is appropriate in the given situation, for example, if the colleague has a significant anniversary. The watch can be decorated with personalized engraving commemorating the holiday.
- A flask for water or alcohol depending on whether the birthday person drinks alcohol.
- A thermos or thermal mug with a unique print.
- A cute trinket to decorate the desk.
- A gift set of tea or coffee.
- A high-quality, reliable umbrella. A model that folds inward to avoid leaving wet traces will be relevant.
- A travel case – a great gift for a colleague who frequently travels on business.
- A document folder made of quality leather.
- A set of skewers with personalized engravings – a great gift for leisure time.
- A wireless charging device or a power bank. A fun-loving guy will like a device of a non-standard, funny shape, while a serious guy will suit a simple standard battery.
- A car vacuum cleaner – an excellent gift for a colleague who is a car enthusiast and takes care of his iron horse himself.
- A massage subscription – a universal present because it will be liked and useful for anyone.
- A beautiful and high-quality lighter with the recipient’s initials will be a great surprise for a person who smokes.
- A foot hammock that attaches under the desk and is designed for resting tired calves and feet.
- A beautifully decorated board game.
- Decorative souvenir weapon for decorating an office or home. Such a present will please most men and will only not suit a convinced pacifist.
- An anti-stress ball with a greeting and wish for the holiday.
- A set of pencils with a convenient sharpener, ruler, and stickers. It will be a great gift for people whose work involves drawing.
- A bright mug with a soft-touch rubberized coating, for a comfortable grip.
- A set of a ballpoint pen and a keychain flashlight in the same style.
- An “EcoCube” set for growing a plant, for example, a pomegranate, gardenia, or a mighty oak.
- A cooling sleeve, which helps keep your favorite drink cool.
- A personalized set of gingerbread cookies, made in the shape of items that remind you of your shared work.
- A set of different types of honey in ornately decorated jars. You can also present the currently trendy cream honey or honey with gold.
- A bag for papers, documents, or a sports bag for going to the gym.
- A personal seal, decorated with semi-precious natural stone.
- A stylish frame for decorating the desk.
- Stones for cooling drinks. You can also choose metal cubes finished with the recipient’s monogram. This gift is not necessarily for a person who often drinks alcohol, as they can be used to cool any soda, juice, or iced tea.
- A set of several jars of “homemade” jam or preserves with personalized labels.
- A magnetic holder for metal paper clips and other small items – a great idea if you don’t know what to gift a colleague who works with papers.
- A multi-functional screwdriver with different attachments – a gift that will come in handy for practically any man and any person who occasionally faces the need for minor household repairs.
- A USB flash drive – a great present for everyone who works with a computer. It can have a non-standard shape, resemble a toy or decoration, or simply perform its function of storing information. An excellent gift idea for a male colleague is a memory card with a code lock that reliably keeps secrets.
What to Gift a Male Colleague Inexpensively

Very valuable, luxurious presents are rarely appropriate between colleagues. If the salaries in your company are not too high and the relationships between employees are not very close, it’s better to choose inexpensive symbolic gifts. Prefer things intended for work. But some small items for home will also be appropriate if you choose universal things that can fit into any interior. The best ideas for what to gift a male colleague:
- An anti-stress toy-trinket. It will decorate the desk and also help relieve excess tension that often arises during difficult work.
- A USB-heated mug warmer. It will help you always have a warm drink at hand that won’t cool down, even if you forget about it for a long time.
- A computer mouse, decorated with a unique print or made in the shape of a car or another object.
- A flexible keyboard for a computer.
- A massage cover for the office chair, so the back doesn’t hurt from long sitting.
- A massage ball-expander with soft spikes.
- A cute safe in the form of a book, so as not to attract unnecessary attention.
- A chameleon mug, that changes color after the temperature of its walls increases. You can also order a custom mug where a photo of the birthday person or another interesting picture appears.
- A passport cover or a set of cute covers for all documents. Since their sizes are standard, there will be no problems with the choice.
- Quality wireless headphones for a smartphone.
Since you work together, you probably know what you can gift a male colleague that is meant specifically for work. These could be some tools and devices related to your activities. If you are involved in repairs, various small tools might be needed, for example, wrenches. And for a driver, you could give, for example, an auto thermos mug.
When deciding to give a colleague an inexpensive gift, remember that it must be of high quality. It’s better to choose something very small but qualitative, something that can be purchased for little money.
Appropriate Home Gifts for a Male Colleague

If you have a fairly close and warm relationship with your colleague, you can choose a gift intended for the home. Of course, very personal items should be avoided, but there are quite decent ideas, for example:
- A soft blanket with sleeves and made of pleasant-to-touch material;
- Good cigars for a colleague who smokes;
- A set of cheeses;
- A light alarm clock that helps you wake up using gradually increasing lighting and pleasant nature sounds;
- A multi-functional knife-multitool that helps solve many everyday problems;
- An alarm clock-ball that can be safely thrown if the sound is annoying – a great symbolic gift for a colleague;
- An air humidifier, especially if you and the birthday person have discussed the problem of dry air in the house.
You can choose something purely practical as a gift that will come in handy in any home. Even if you know nothing about the birthday person’s living conditions, he will probably need towels at home. Therefore, they can be gifted, having previously packaged them beautifully and unusually. You can also present a cute plate or a teapot for brewing. Such practical things will definitely be useful and will be quite appropriate gifts for a male colleague from you personally or from the team.
Creative and Original Gifts

One of the best ways to please and surprise a person is to choose an unusual gift for them. To do this, you will have to study various creative ideas. This way you will find out what unusual thing to gift a male colleague that can surprise and delight at the same time. Most of us would probably like:
- Handmade air freshener;
- A smokeless car ashtray – a great gift for a man if he smokes;
- An original steering wheel cover;
- A heated ice scraper for cleaning the car of snow, if the birthday is in winter;
- A USB refrigerator for a can of your favorite drink;
- An unusual smartphone holder – for the car or intended for the desk;
- A puzzle;
- A book by a favorite author in a gift edition;
- Twister game – a great gift for a young, active colleague;
- A motivational scratch-off poster;
- Rotating glasses;
- A carved wooden comb.
If the birthday person likes various unusual gadgets, try to make the presentation of the gift original as well. Then your gift will immediately interest the birthday person and attract attention.
What Funny Thing to Gift a Male Colleague

If you have a close, friendly relationship with the birthday person, you can gift him something funny personally from yourself. Such gifts from the team are appropriate if there is a relaxed atmosphere at work. Good ideas for funny presents:
- Funny signs for the door or the desk. It will delight the birthday person and cheer up all employees every day.
- A funny certificate or medal for high achievements at work and success in any other areas.
- A set of funny smiley stickers.
- A desktop boxing punch bag for stress relief and mood lifting.
- A cute caricature, showing the birthday person from his best, but funny side. It can be made from a photo of the colleague.
- Desktop golf. If the birthday person likes such games, he will be happy to have a little fun during a work break.
- A funny wrist rest pillow – a great present for those who work on a computer.
- A funny holiday wall newspaper with photos and witty captions for them.
If you decide to choose a funny gift, do it carefully so that your joke is not perceived as mockery, and the birthday person does not get offended accidentally.
What to Gift a Colleague for an Anniversary

In our country, there is a tradition of celebrating round dates with particular pomp. Choosing a gift for a colleague’s anniversary must be done very carefully, remembering that it should be special, more expensive, and representative. If you don’t know what to gift a colleague as a keepsake, pay attention to solid, useful things or those intended for interior decoration. Good ideas:
- A magnificent briefcase for papers;
- An expensive tie from a famous designer;
- A solid leather business organizer;
- A nice picnic set with unbreakable dishes and other necessary things;
- A collection of favorite movies on discs;
- A magnificent office chair, if the birthday person works sitting down;
- A watch box with automatic winding – a magnificent keepsake gift for a colleague.
An anniversary is a serious occasion to prepare an unusual and even unforgettable greeting. You can use self-written poems or record a masterful video greeting that the birthday person will watch more than once in his leisure time.
A portrait of the birthday person will be a wonderful anniversary gift. It can be ordered from a popular artist or made to order at a photo studio. The second option will be significantly cheaper, but such a painting looks like a real piece of handmade work. If desired, the source photo can be processed in Photoshop so that the portrait resembles the work of a famous artist.
What Else Can You Gift a Colleague

- A barbecue grill for a cottage or private house;
- A set of personalized glasses for strong alcohol or another drink to the birthday person’s taste;
- A cooler bag for outdoor recreation;
- A desktop Japanese garden;
- A poker set.
A delicious cake with a unique design will be an excellent addition to any gift for a colleague. A great decoration for it would be a photo of the recipient on rice paper, figures made of marzipan depicting the birthday person and colleagues, a pleasant and funny inscription.
Gifts for a Colleague Who Has Everything

It is very difficult to choose a gift for a man who has everything. Therefore, it is better to choose gifts that are useful or so original that they will undoubtedly impress him. The best ideas:
- A family tree for those who have children, grandchildren, and a lot of beloved relatives;
- An aquarium with a live or mechanical fish, or with several;
- A folding deck chair for outdoor recreation with maximum comfort;
- A photo album in a magnificent leather cover with several photos of the birthday person with colleagues, at the workplace, etc.;
- A glass vase for flowers with commemorative engraving.
Non-Material Gifts for a Colleague

Various adventures and entertainments are usually given to friends and close people, but you can also give an appropriate non-material gift to a colleague. It’s better to choose entertainments that don’t require a lot of time to complete, so as not to affect the birthday person’s plans. It’s better to gift certificates with an open date so the recipient can choose when to use them himself. It is important to consider the colleague’s tastes and health condition. This way you can choose a gift that he will like. The best ideas:
- A hot air balloon ride for those not afraid of heights;
- Participation in a quest;
- An exciting tour of your hometown and its surroundings;
- Quad biking or snowmobiling;
- A river cruise;
- Horseback riding or dog sledding;
- Indoor skydiving in a wind tunnel;
- A spa salon certificate;
- Tickets to an event to the birthday person’s taste;
- Dinner for two at a luxurious restaurant.
If you can’t figure out what to gift or how best to present your present, involve the entire team in solving the issue. Together you can not only choose a wonderful gift but also organize the best presentation. You can arrange a small quest to find the present or a large-scale theatrical congratulation. The main thing is that everyone tries together and puts a piece of their soul into organizing the event.
What Not to Gift a Colleague
A very important stage when searching for an answer to the question of what to gift a colleague is to decide what cannot be gifted. This will help avoid many mistakes and choose the best present. To avoid spoiling the holiday, you cannot gift a man:
- Health goods and anything that might remind him of old age, aging, illnesses. You can only talk about age in a positive key, as about experience, wisdom, etc.
- Standard and common household appliances, for example, irons, electric kettles, vacuum cleaners. Probably, the birthday person has all this at home, and such presents are unlikely to lift the mood.
- Things associated with bad omens. For a superstitious person or one who even listens to omens sometimes, such a gift can easily spoil the mood.
- Clothing, cosmetics, perfumes, and other very personal items. It is not worth gifting them to a person with whom you are not connected by family or romantic relationships.
- Animals. It is unlikely that colleagues know the birthday person’s wishes and his home situation well enough to determine whether he needs, for example, a dog and whether he can take care of it.
The question often arises, can you gift flowers to a man? You can and even should do this, because a bouquet allows you to make any gift even brighter and the holiday more pleasant. But it is important to remember some rules. A male bouquet should have a muted and not too bright color. It is better to avoid very exotic and too small flowers. A round composition shape reminiscent of a wedding one will be inappropriate. For male bouquets, elongated silhouettes striving upward are desirable. Flowers are usually given by female colleagues.
Using our advice, you will be able to select an appropriate present and also present it beautifully. In addition, one should not forget about elegant packaging and various little things. Men also love heartfelt greetings on cards and will be happy with your sincere wishes. Remember this, and you will definitely delight your colleague, and your further cooperation will be pleasant and productive.
Author: S. Quill
See also:
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