Employee holiday gifts: How to choose, budget, and send in 2026
By Kate Monica●5 min. read●Oct 12, 2026
Giving employees the right holiday gift isn’t difficult. Most people prefer to receive money.
In 2023, we surveyed 1,500 U.S. employees across 10 industries about their holiday gift preferences. Here’s what we learned about what workers want most from their employers.
Key takeaways
Holiday gifts between $50 and $100 satisfy most (67%) employees.
People in operations or production, IT, finance, and senior management roles tend to have higher expectations for holiday gifts.
Higher-income employees prefer a gift from their boss, while lower-income employees prefer a gift from the company.
The right gift can boost job satisfaction for three months or more for ~75% of employees.
Holiday gift preferences for 2026
While physical gifts might seem like a more personal pick for employees, our data shows that it’s hard to hit the mark. Survey respondents said gifts like assorted jellies, hams and turkeys, and gift cards for small denominations were disappointing.
So, what do they actually want? Cash (or cash equivalents like prepaid Visa cards). 65% survey participants said a $50 to $100 bonus around the holidays would satisfy them.
And small gifts can pay off big for HR professionals and business leaders. About three-fourths of survey takers reported they experience an increase in job satisfaction for three months or more after receiving the right holiday gift from their employer.
While cash is universally appreciated, preferences vary across demographics. Employees making more money tend to have more expensive tastes. Some people, particularly in IT, expect some level of personalization to their gift, and many have strong opinions about who the gift should come from.
Step-by-step guide to employee holiday gifting
Here are some key details your HR team will need to think through as you put together your employee holiday gifting plan for 2026.
Who should get holiday gifts?
If it’s just a few people, you can type their names and emails into most gifting interfaces. If it’s a bigger team, use a CSV file to import names, amounts, and a custom message, if you want to include one.
When should I send out holiday gifts to employees?
If you’re unsure of when to give the gift, perhaps err on the side of earlier in the holiday season. This is particularly important if you’re in retail or another business that ramps up around Christmas. Remember that a majority of employees feel more satisfied with their jobs for weeks or months after the gift. So, why not have that glow begin during the times you’re asking them to work harder, rather than the aftermath?
How much should an employee holiday gift be?
For most employees, a $50 to $100 gift feels right. Think very hard before sending less than that, because cheap gifts often backfire. If you’re recognizing higher-paid employees, that might not be enough. Also think about whether it makes sense for your workplace to give everyone the same gift, or to use a formula or other criteria for who gets how much.
Who should the gift be from?
Employees seem split on whether it should be sent from the company leadership or their direct manager. You can make that call. But definitely don’t note HR as the sender, that clearly falls flat.
How should I send employee holiday gifts?
At most places of employment, emailed gifts are probably the simplest.
Should I personalize employee holiday gifts?
According to our Employee Holiday Gifting Survey, 85% of employees say a personal thank-you note is all the personalization they need. So in most cases, you can skip the custom engraving and individual gifts.
Employees in certain professions care more about personalization than others, but interest is still relatively low across all demographics:
25% of those in IT/software want a personalized gift
22% in senior management
18% in marketing
16% in admin
16% in product supply
“Including cash in a holiday card with a personal note of thanks” is enough personalization, according to one respondent.
“A gift makes me feel appreciated as it usually comes with a nice ‘thank you for all your hard work’ note,” said another.
Sending along a few words of appreciation with the gift is relatively low effort and gets the job done. Consider personalizing gifts for senior managers or IT personnel who prefer something picked out just for them.
Here are a few ways to make this happen:
A note with the money. Employee reward platforms like Tremendous make it easy to send an individualized note to each recipient. That way, you can tell Alice you appreciate how she helps her teammates, praise Bob for his patience with difficult clients, and commend Rahul for seeing a new product launch over the finish line. Or you can suggest ideas of where to spend the money without choosing for them.
A separate email. If you’re not able to include a gift note, send a direct email each staff member right after sending them the money.
A physical gift along with money. For a little extra budget and effort, you can deliver a thoughtful physical gift alongside a cash payout. A potted plant, a gift card to a local retailer, or a box of chocolates can show you went the extra mile. Send the money first and then follow up with the physical item so the most exciting part of your gift arrives first.
A physical Visa card and holiday card. If physical delivery is important to you, it’s easy and affordable to order prepaid Visa cards in bulk and insert them in handwritten cards.
Tell them in person. Employees remember words of praise and gratitude. There’s no need to overcomplicate a positive message if you can deliver it sincerely in person.
Summary
Giving the right employee gift this holiday season is easy with the right data to guide your choices. While some HR departments and business leaders want to give employees and staff festive gifts with a lot of personal flair, it’s best to give what people overwhelmingly want: money.
Food items, branded swag, and team dinners tend to backfire more often than not. While thoughtful, these gifts rely on assumptions about what employees enjoy or need. Even when your instincts are solid, it’s hard to please everyone. Giving each employee cash or a cash-equivalent gift like a PayPal transfer or a prepaid Visa with a note from their boss will put most people in the holiday spirit.
