Buying a gift for a coworker is a delicate art.
It has to be:
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Funny, but not inappropriate
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Thoughtful, but not too personal
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Memorable, but still workplace-safe
The good news? Funny gifts can absolutely work at the office—if you choose the right kind of humor.
Here’s how to pick funny coworker gifts that get laughs, build goodwill, and keep HR blissfully unaware.
Why Funny Gifts Work So Well at Work
Work is stressful. Coffee is mandatory. Humor is survival.
That’s why funny gifts for coworkers are so popular—they:
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Break tension
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Spark conversation
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Make long days feel lighter
As we explained in Why Funny Mugs Make the Best Gifts (Even for People Who Have Everything), humor paired with something useful instantly becomes a win. At work, usefulness matters even more.
Stick to Relatable, Everyday Humor
The safest office humor focuses on shared experiences:
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Needing coffee to function
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Meetings that could’ve been emails
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The general chaos of adulting
This type of humor feels inclusive—not targeted—and that’s exactly what you want in a professional setting.
If you’re unsure whether a joke will land, ask yourself:
“Would this make me laugh if my boss saw it?”
If yes, you’re good.
Funny Gifts That Are Office-Approved
Here are coworker-friendly options that consistently work:
Funny Mugs
A funny mug is the gold standard of office gifts.
It’s practical, visible, and used daily—without crossing personal boundaries.
Light sarcasm or relatable humor is best here, which is why funny mugs are often the safest choice when you don’t know someone’s humor style well.
Snarky (But Subtle) Tumblers
Tumblers are great for coworkers who bring drinks from home or live on caffeine.
The key is subtle snark, not aggressive sarcasm.
As discussed in Funny vs Snarky Gifts: Which One Is Right for Your Recipient?, snark works best when you already know the person—but toned-down versions can still shine at work.
Funny Notepads
Notepads are perfect desk gifts. They’re:
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Low-risk
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Affordable
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Actually useful
A funny notepad adds personality without being loud—and they’re especially great for group gifting.
Avoid These Coworker Gift Mistakes
Even funny gifts have limits.
Avoid:
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Inside jokes only two people understand
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Anything referencing politics, religion, or personal appearance
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Humor that feels passive-aggressive
If you want to understand why some humor falls flat, What Makes a Gift Actually Funny (Not Cringey) breaks down exactly what to avoid.
When Funny Beats Fancy at the Office
You don’t need an expensive gift to make an impact at work.
Funny gifts:
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Feel personal without being awkward
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Get used instead of forgotten
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Create shared laughs across teams
That’s why mugs, notepads, greeting cards, and small desk items consistently outperform flashy but impractical gifts.
Why Coworker Gifts from The Laughing Lemon Work
At The Laughing Lemon, our gifts are designed to hit the workplace sweet spot:
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Funny, not forced
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Relatable, not risky
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Snarky when appropriate—but always smart
Whether you’re shopping for one coworker or the whole team, humor done right makes the office a little more fun.
Final Thought: If It Gets a Laugh and Gets Used, You Nailed It
The best funny coworker gifts don’t try to steal the spotlight—they just make the workday better.
And honestly?
That’s the kind of gift everyone remembers 😄