Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Remote Coworkers: Easy to Ship, Easy to Love

Remote Secret Santa is a strange little puzzle. You've been matched with someone you've only ever seen in a small square on a video call, you have a budget, and the gift has to travel across the country. No pressure.

The good news is that the best remote Secret Santa gifts are also the simplest: small, useful, a little bit pretty, and easy to ship. Here's how I'd think about it, plus a handful of ideas that suit almost anyone who works at a desk.

What makes a good remote Secret Santa gift

A few rules of thumb take most of the stress out:

• Keep it small and sturdy. Flat, light things ship easily and don't break.
• Make it useful at a desk. Everyone at your company works at some kind of desk.
• Stay away from anything too personal. Skip clothing sizes, perfume, and anything that assumes a lifestyle.
• Stay inside the budget. Spending a lot more than the group limit makes people uncomfortable.
• Ship early. Order a week before the exchange, not the day before.

Stationery for the person who takes notes all day

Pens are a classic for a reason. People use them, run out of them and never buy the nice ones for themselves. A set of gel pens in a mix of colors is a cheerful gift that works for almost anyone, including people who barely write by hand.

The Paper Mate InkJoy gel pens come as a 14-count set of assorted colors with 0.7mm medium points and a comfort grip. They're retractable, and the ink is meant to dry fast, which is good news for lefties and for anyone who smudges.

If your recipient loves a planner or colorful notes, a set of soft highlighters is another easy win.

The Zebra Mildliner set has a broad chisel tip on one end and a fine tip on the other, in soft translucent colors that are gentler than a regular neon highlighter. They come in a 15-pack.

A little glow for the desk

Warm string lights are one of those gifts that look nice even to people who say they don't care about decor. They can frame a window, trim a bookshelf or sit on the back edge of a desk, and they make video calls look cozier.

The Twinkle Star 33-foot fairy lights are USB powered with 100 warm white LEDs, a remote, brightness control and a timer that runs six hours on and eighteen hours off. Because they run on USB, they can plug into a laptop or a regular phone charger.

A cozy gift that fits in a small box

If your budget stretches a little further, a soft hot water bottle with a knitted cover is a great pick for anyone who works in a chilly room. It's small enough to ship and cozy enough to feel like a real present.

Make it feel like it came from a person

A gift that arrives in a plain shipping box feels anonymous, even when it's a good gift. Two small touches fix that:

• Wrap it in kraft paper and tie it with twine, then add a sprig of rosemary or pine if you can.
• Write a short note, even just "Happy holidays from your Secret Santa. Hope your January is gentle."

If you're giving anonymously, double-check how the gift will be shipped and whether your name or the sender's name will show up on the label.

A quick Secret Santa shipping checklist

• Ask the organizer for the recipient's shipping address as early as possible.
• Ship at least a week before the exchange.
• Pick something that doesn't need a size or a color match.
• Choose a gift receipt if the shop offers one.
• Keep a note of what you sent and when, so you don't forget.

For a bigger list of ideas, our cozy Christmas gift guide for remote workers is a good next stop, and our Black Friday gift list plan will help you shop calmly. Prices change often, so check the current price on Amazon before you buy.