43 Gifts for Every Type of Boss

If their spreadsheets tend to be rainbow-hued, they’ll love these pastel-colored, two-in-one tip markers, which will let them switch between precise and broad lines.

Backyard barbecue enthusiasts will appreciate these spray bottles for dousing the grill, vegetables, and meat with olive oil. “The spray bottles have a nice matte sheen to them, so they kind of look fancy,” author-photographer Todd Selby told us.

Burning papers will be their new favorite way to freshen up a room: Simply fold the strip into an accordion shape, ignite it, and blow out the flame for “a nice, powdery, neutral smell,” says author Young Kim.

Their packed lunches will taste better (and feel fancier) with a sprinkle of smoked sea-salt crystals. With a light-as-air texture, the crunchy flakes can finish almost any food, from scrambled eggs to chocolate-chip cookies.

These extra-large Extreme Post-its will be a nice upgrade. They’re extra-sticky, don’t leave behind a tacky residue, and stand up to moisture, so your boss can even label their lunch in the break-room fridge.

Pocari Sweat is the Japanese equivalent of Gatorade and perfect for efficiently re-upping electrolytes after an intense workout. A member of the West Side Tennis Club told us that compared to Gatorade it “tastes more mild, so it doesn’t feel like there’s a bunch of artificial coloring in there.”

Help your boss stay on task with the Mooas Dodecagon Mini Timer, which New York Magazine editor-at-large Choire Sicha tipped us off to. He says it’s super-straightforward to use — just flip the polygon so that the desired time increment faces up (there are 11 options, ranging from 1 to 90 minutes).

If they spend Saturdays on the court, this basketball encyclopedia — written and illustrated by Ben Detrick and Andrew Kuo, the co-hosts of the podcast Cookies Hoops — will be right up their alley.

This sleek-looking stand will turn their smartphone into a second monitor that can be adjusted for vertical and landscape viewing. It’s a favorite of Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness.

A tea infuser will let your recipient unlock stronger flavors while eliminating the waste produced by single-use bags. The lid also serves as a drip tray so they can brew into a mug directly at their desk.

Get your manager this small-but-mighty space heater that’s also highly portable. It’s compact enough to fit under or on top of a desk, plus the ceramic coils are designed to heat up in seconds.

Redirect their dog’s energy to this plush lamb, which I can almost guarantee they’ll still want to play with even when the stuffing’s ripped out. But when it finally does needs replacing, it’s very affordable for a squeaky toy — and it happens to be the one an assistant to a best-selling novelist purchases on repeat for her boss’s pandemic puppy.

If they still write in ordinary black ink, make brown their new signature shade with this lightweight, quick-drying Pigma Pen. The slim barrel is designed to fit neatly in their hand, and the ultraprecise tip will keep their cursive consistent even as they scrawl down their notes.

This funky device helps restore your neck’s natural C-shaped curve, alleviating tension and pain. My parents introduced me to the Restcloud pillow, and they love how easy it is to use: Just lay down on it for ten minutes as it gently stretches your muscles.

Get them a gift that keeps on giving with Horti’s plant-of-the-month subscription box, which will start your boss off with hardy, beginner-friendly species (like snake plants) and then slowly introduce more exotic varieties. You can find more subscription-based gifts here.

If they’ve mentioned they prefer thrillers to romance novels, this book, the first installment in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series, follows a group of retired seniors who come together once a week to investigate unsolved murders. R.L. Stine calls the storyline “really top-notch.”

They can use this snap-on tripod stand for taking FaceTime calls or recording hands-free, but it also works great for watching videos while sitting at a desk. “It won’t help them cut down on screen time, but it’ll give their hands a nice break,” says our tech writer, Jordan McMahon.

They’ll be able to utilize empty wall space with these near-invisible shelves that fit nicely into even the most overcrowded offices.

This sleek infuser — which is durable and “easy to use,” according to MochaBox Coffee co-owners Harlin Thomas II and Floyd Sartin — is ideal if they drink cold brew year-round.

Give the frequent flyer this set of Dermalogica minis. They’ll have all the skin-care essentials they could ever need — including a deep-cleansing oil, cleansing gel, exfoliant, and moisturizer — in TSA-friendly sizes.

Portability is this folding keyboard’s key feature, which makes it a great gift for a boss who hates lugging around their company laptop. It also has a kickstand for propping up a smartphone horizontally and using it as a small screen.

This 60-minute timer could be a nice motivational tool for a boss who wants more structure to their work-from-home day. It’s completely disconnected to other devices, which will eliminate the temptation to check notifications (or doom-scroll).

Upgrade your boss’s next travel experience with this loop-shaped pillow that can comfortably support their neck or be propped behind their back for lumbar support. It’s made from soft, antibacterial nylon bamboo that always stays at just the right temp.

Declutter their workspace once and for all with this storage bar from Strategist-favorite Yamazaki, whose clean lines are practically a work of art. The floating arm is ideal for propping up pens or glasses, and the base tray can house smaller odds and ends, like keys or their favorite mints.

If they have their coffee routine down, consider this heated app-controlled mug, which will ensure their brew never goes cold again thanks to the charging coaster.

This standing-desk mat will be a welcome addition to their work-from-home setup. It doubles as a balance board, which encourages users to adjust their posture and engage their leg muscles — plus, it features a rolling massage ball and raised points that relieve foot tension.

For the hobby photographer: director Sofia Coppola’s go-to Kodak film. She told us that she loads hers into a Contax T3 camera, and that it gives photos a soft color that never looks overly contrast-y.

“Piles of paperwork” may be their office aesthetic, but this sleek-looking linen-wrapped tray will get at least one corner organized by both sorting out their essentials and wirelessly powering their device. And by cutting down on unsightly cords, you’ll also basically be saving them from a tripping hazard.

These monochromatic Bala weights, which can be worn around the wrists or ankles, are a simple way to add resistance to your boss’s daily lunch-break walk. Available as a one- or two-pound set, the slim bands are highly adjustable thanks to ultrastrong velcro, making them easy to hide under a pair of work pants.

If your boss keeps stealing your charger, get them this multi-device charging station that unfolds to give their phone — plus their AirPods and Apple Watch — some extra juice. And because there aren’t any cords or plugs involved, they can charge on the go.