Christmas

What to Get Your Staff for Christmas: 2026 Gift Ideas They’ll Actually Use

Q: Can I give staff a gift voucher instead?

In the UK, a cash voucher can’t be a trivial benefit. In Ireland, a voucher can qualify only if it can’t be exchanged for cash.

Oct 19, 2026 The Workwear Co

The best staff Christmas gifts are the ones people still use in January. Here’s how to pick them, keep them tax-free in the UK and Ireland, and get them branded in time.

Key takeaways

Pick useful, wearable gifts: beanies, hoodies, fleeces, bodywarmers.
Let staff choose their own size and colour.
UK: non-cash gifts of £50 or less can be tax-free.¹ Ireland: up to 5 benefits, €1,500 a year.³
Allow up to 12 working days for branded orders to Great Britain.⁶

Staff Christmas gifts: the numbers that matter

£50UK tax-free limit per gift, per person (trivial benefits)Source: GOV.UK

€1,500Ireland: tax-free total a year, across up to 5 small benefitsSource: Revenue

£150UK tax-free cost per head for an annual staff partySource: ITEPA 2003 s.264

12Working days, at most, from approved logo to a GB doorstepSource: our delivery times

Gift picker: staff Christmas gift ideas by role

Match the gift to the job. Every pick below can carry your embroidered logo.

Site and outdoor teams

Cold mornings, all weathers

Snowstar® beanie, double-layer knit with a pom pom
Core bodywarmer
Full-zip outdoor fleece
PolarTherm™ jacket

Office and client-facing staff

Smart-casual layers

Warehouse, drivers and all-rounders

Worn at work and at weekends

College hoodie, in more than 100 colours
Zoodie (zip-up hoodie)
Original cuffed beanie

A thank-you for home

For the whole household

More ideas: Gifts & Accessories and Home & Comfort.

Team favourites this winter

Snowstar beanie with two-tone pom pom, a warm staff Christmas gift

Snowstar® beanieView product →

College hoodie in Atlantic blue, a popular branded staff gift

College hoodieView product →

Grey Core bodywarmer for outdoor and warehouse teams

Core bodywarmerView product →

Light heather quarter-zip jumper for office staff

¼ zip jumperView product →

Staff Christmas gifts: do’s and don’ts

Do

Ask for sizes (S, M, L, XL, 2XL) and colours first
Choose one quality item over a bag of bits
Keep the logo small and neat. See embroidery vs print
Add a personal note from the boss

Don’t

Guess sizes and hope for the best
Give cash or a cash voucher if you want it tax-free¹
Link the gift to performance or targets¹
Leave branded orders until December

Christmas staff gift packs: the easy option

Choose a pack, pick colours and add your logo
Each pack comes in a Christmas gift bag with your message on the front
A free WWC Christmas car air freshener in every bag
Minimum order: 25 packs
Plus branded Santa hats, made in the UK

See the 2026 gift packs

How to order staff Christmas gifts in time

Work back from your hand-out date using our standard turnaround times.⁶

Fri 25 DecChristmas Day 2026

Thu 10 DecChristmas Jumper Day⁵

12working days max to Great Britain

11working days max to NI and ROI

Today
Set your hand-out date

Party, last working day or Jumper Day.
Week 1
Collect sizes

Send a provisional order now and confirm sizes later.
Week 1
Send your logo

Follow our artwork guidelines so it stitches cleanly first time.
7–10 working days
We brand your order

Plain items take 2–4 working days.⁶
1 to 2 working days
Delivery

Next day to NI and ROI, 1–2 working days to GB, or collect free in Belfast.⁶

Tight deadline? Get in touch. We can often help with urgent orders.

Are staff Christmas gifts tax-free? UK vs Ireland

United Kingdom

£50

Limit£50 or less per gift¹
Can’t beCash, a cash voucher, a reward for work, or in the contract
DirectorsClose-company directors: £300 a tax year cap¹
AdminNo need to tell HMRC if all conditions are met

Law: ITEPA 2003, section 323A

Republic of Ireland

€1,500

LimitUp to 5 non-cash benefits a year, €1,500 in total³
Can’t beCash, a voucher redeemable for cash, or salary sacrifice
Over the limitA 6th benefit, or one over €1,500, is taxed in full⁴
AdminReport it to Revenue on or before the day it’s given⁷

Law: section 112B TCA 1997 (Revenue manual)

General guidance, not tax advice. Check with your accountant.

Staff gifts for lots of sites?

A Workwear Co B2B Shop is a private, branded store for your organisation.

Approved products, agreed pricing, your logo ready to go
Role-based bundles and budget controls
Deliver to one address or many

Ready to sort this year’s staff gifts?

Free delivery on UK orders over £99 ex VAT and Irish orders over €99.⁶

See Christmas gift packs Explore the B2B Shop Talk to our team

Staff Christmas gift FAQs

What is a good Christmas gift for staff?

Something they’ll use all winter, like a beanie, hoodie or bodywarmer, in their own size. Browse our beanies and hoodies.

How much should I spend on staff Christmas gifts?

It’s up to you. Many UK employers keep each gift at £50 or less so it can be a tax-free trivial benefit, if HMRC’s other conditions are met.¹

Are Christmas gifts to employees taxable?

In the UK, a non-cash gift costing £50 or less that isn’t a reward for work or in the contract is usually tax-free.¹ In Ireland, up to five non-cash benefits worth €1,500 in total a year can be tax-free.³

Can I give staff a gift voucher instead?

In the UK, a cash voucher can’t be a trivial benefit.¹ In Ireland, a voucher can qualify only if it can’t be exchanged for cash.³

Tags: Christmas Guides Staff gifts Staff portal

What to Get Your Staff for Christmas: 2026 Gift Ideas They’ll Actually Use

Key takeaways

Staff Christmas gifts: the numbers that matter