Last updated: February 2026
Kris Kringle is simultaneously the best and worst part of any office Christmas party. The budget's tight, you barely know Karen from accounts, and somehow you're expected to find a gift that's funny enough to get a laugh but not so weird that HR gets involved.
We've done the hard work for you. Every item on this list is available on Amazon Australia, comes in under $30, and works whether you've drawn your best mate or the new intern whose name you keep forgetting. We've got funny picks, practical picks, and a few that are genuinely cool. Because the best Kris Kringle gifts are the ones people actually want to keep.
These are the ones that get the biggest reaction at the unwrapping. Perfect for office parties, family get-togethers, or any Kris Kringle where laughs matter more than luxury.
There's a reason novelty socks are the unofficial mascot of Kris Kringle. They're cheap, one-size-fits-most, and always get a laugh when someone flips their feet up on the couch to reveal the hidden message on the soles: "If you can read this, bring me some wine." They come in a heap of variations too. Swap "wine" for "beer," "coffee," or "chocolate" depending on who you've drawn. The grip lettering means they double as non-slip socks, which is a nice bonus when you're shuffling to the kitchen to actually get the wine. Consistently one of the highest-rated novelty gifts on Amazon AU.
Every office needs one of these. It's a desktop notepad with "Other People's Problems That For Some Reason I Have To Solve" printed right on the cover. The kind of passive-aggressive desk statement that gets a laugh every time someone walks past. The best part is it's actually a proper lined notepad, so it gets used for meetings, to-do lists, or writing down all the things you're choosing not to care about today. It sits on someone's desk for months and earns its spot as one of the most practical gag gifts you can buy.
Here's the power move. You buy a normal, thoughtful gift. Then you put it inside one of these prank boxes, which are professionally printed to look like a real product with a completely ridiculous name. The "HotLips Face Heater" version is a kerosene-powered, strap-on face warmer with a "windproof match port" and "patented distance spacer." The packaging is so convincingly absurd that people genuinely can't tell if it's real. The entire room watches in horror as someone unwraps what appears to be the worst present ever given, only to find the real gift hidden inside. Two gifts in one: the laugh, then the actual present.
Some people get "World's Best" mugs. Your colleague gets this one. An 11oz white ceramic mug with "World's Okayest Co-Worker" in bold black text printed on both sides, so the joke lands no matter which way they're holding it. Dishwasher and microwave safe, and it fits perfectly next to the pile of unread emails on any office desk. It's the Kris Kringle gift that gets the biggest laugh at the unwrapping and then quietly becomes someone's favourite daily mug. Works for literally any colleague, which makes it the ultimate fallback when you've drawn someone you barely know.
Dad jokes are a universal language. Hand someone this pocket-sized book packed with 100 groan-worthy one-liners and you've given them both a gift and a weapon. They'll be inflicting these on colleagues for weeks. The bold black and gold cover looks great, there's a "From" box on the first page so you can add a personal touch, and it's part of a 3-volume series if you want to keep the pain going year after year. Works whether your recipient is an actual dad or just has the sense of humour of one.
For the colleague who needs more entertainment at their desk. So, everyone.
Bad meeting? Annoying email? Take it out on this little guy. A spring-loaded punching cylinder that suction cups to your desk and comes with two tiny red boxing gloves that fit over your fingertips. Flick it, jab it, give it a proper uppercut, and it bounces right back for more. The retro-style box says "Knock Out Your Stress" which is exactly what it's for. No batteries, no setup, and it's the kind of thing that everyone in the office will have a go at when they walk past. Cheap, cheerful, and surprisingly satisfying to punch.
The classic executive desk toy that never gets old. Pull back one ball, release it, and watch the physics do its thing. Click, clack, click, clack. There's something hypnotically satisfying about it, which is exactly why these have been sitting on office desks since the 1960s. This version has polished chrome steel balls on a sturdy black wooden base that looks clean and professional on any desk or shelf. It works for literally anyone, from the CEO to the work experience kid, and it looks good even when it's not in motion. The reliable Kris Kringle pick when you have no idea what someone's into.
On the surface, it's a pen. Underneath, it's a modular fidget toy made of magnetic sections and chrome steel balls that click together in different configurations. Pull it apart and rebuild it into a stick figure, a bicycle, a pyramid, or whatever abstract sculpture your meeting-induced boredom inspires. It comes in a gift box with spare ink refills and a touch screen stylus tip, so it works on tablets and phones too. The perfect stealth desk toy because nobody can tell you're playing with it until there's a tiny magnetic motorcycle sitting next to your keyboard. Plus, it actually writes, so technically it's a "practical" gift.
A tiny vacuum cleaner that actually works, designed to clean crumbs, dust, and pencil shavings off your desk and keyboard. The ODISTAR runs on 2 AA batteries, has a 360-degree rotating base that gets into every corner, and is only about 8cm tall so it won't take up much desk space. Is it a bit of a gag gift? Sure. But here's the thing. Once someone has one of these on their desk, they use it constantly. Biscuit crumbs after morning tea? Handled. Keyboard looking like a crime scene? Sorted. It's one of those Kris Kringle gifts that people laugh at when they unwrap it and then genuinely appreciate three days later.
For the person whose personality is basically "foodie."
This is the Kris Kringle gift that makes you look like you actually put thought into it. The Simple Modern Voyager is a 16oz (roughly 470ml) double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumbler that keeps coffee hot for hours and iced drinks cold even longer. The flip lid seals tight so it won't leak in a bag, and the slim profile fits in a standard car cup holder. It comes in a heap of colour options, from muted tones like Lavender Mist to bold solids and patterns. It's the kind of reusable cup people say they'll buy but never actually get around to, which is exactly what makes it a great gift. Practical, good-looking, and something they'll use every single morning.
Nine sachets of hot chocolate, nine different flavours, zero effort required to make this look like a thoughtful gift. The Thoughtfully Gourmet Hot Chocolate Collection comes in a gorgeous gift box with a burlap ribbon, ready to hand over without any wrapping. The flavour lineup is properly good: Salted Caramel, Peppermint Mocha, Caramel, Toasted Marshmallow, Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Cherry, French Vanilla, and more. Each sachet makes one mug, just add hot water or milk. The packaging makes it feel more premium than the price tag suggests, which is exactly what you want from a Kris Kringle gift. Perfect for the person in the office who's always making a cuppa.
These have been trending hard and for good reason. A beech wood disc that sits on top of any rocks glass or tumbler. Load the mesh filter with wood chips, light them with a kitchen torch, and the smoke infuses down into the drink below. The kit comes with four tins of wood chips in different flavours including apple, cherry, and walnut, plus a gold cocktail spoon and cleaning brush, all in a slick black gift box. It takes about 30 seconds to smoke a drink and the difference in flavour is noticeable from the first sip. The kind of Kris Kringle gift where someone unwraps it and goes, "Wait, really? This is cool."
Pick a letter from A to Z and this silicone mould freezes a large, detailed initial that sits perfectly in a rocks glass or tumbler. The ice is oversized so it melts slowly, keeping drinks cold without watering them down in five minutes. It also includes a "Cheers" mould on the side for something different. Because you choose the specific letter, it feels like a personalised gift without the personalised gift price tag. At under $15, it's perfect if your Kris Kringle budget is on the lower end, or throw it in as a combo with a bottle of something to round out a $30 gift. Works for anyone who takes their whiskey, gin, or negroni seriously.
Gifts that are actually useful, but interesting enough to not be boring.
Everyone uses their phone at their desk. Almost nobody has a proper stand for it. The OMOTON phone stand is a weighted aluminium holder with an adjustable height pole and tilting cradle that lets you position your phone at the perfect angle for video calls, following a recipe, or watching something while pretending to work. It works in both portrait and landscape, fits phones from 3.5 to 7 inches, and the charging port stays accessible while docked. It's small, lightweight, looks clean in white and silver, and costs next to nothing. The definition of a Kris Kringle gift that's more useful than you'd expect.
For anyone who reads in bed and is sick of either blinding their partner with the bedside lamp or squinting in the dark. The Glocusent book light clips directly onto the page and casts a soft, even glow across the text without lighting up the entire room. It has multiple brightness levels and a warm amber mode that reduces blue light, which is easier on the eyes and less likely to mess with your sleep. USB rechargeable, no fiddling with tiny batteries, and a single charge lasts for hours. Slim enough to toss in a bag or use as a bookmark when it's folded flat. A gift that anyone who reads will immediately appreciate and use every single night.
We all know someone who loses their keys at least three times a week. This is the gift that fixes that. The UGREEN Bluetooth Finder clips onto keys, bags, wallets, or anything else that tends to disappear. It works with Apple's Find My network, so you can see its location on a map or make it ring a loud alert when you're tearing the couch apart. The battery lasts up to 12 months and it's IP67 water resistant, so it survives rain, spills, and the occasional trip through the washing machine. One of the most genuinely useful Kris Kringle gifts you can give because every single person has that morning panic moment, and this eliminates it entirely.
A flat piece of stainless steel the size of a bank card that packs over 40 functions into one slim profile. Screwdrivers, hex wrenches, bottle opener, can opener, wire cutter, blade, ruler, protractor, dividers, and a detachable money clip. Every function is clearly labelled on the card itself so you don't have to guess what each notch does. It fits in your wallet, your pocket, or on a keyring. Will it replace an actual toolbox? No. Will it come in handy at a BBQ, a camping trip, or when someone desperately needs a bottle opener at the office Christmas party? Absolutely. One of those gifts that costs almost nothing but gets a genuine "oh that's actually cool" reaction.
Because Kris Kringle doesn't have to be all jokes. Sometimes the best gift is permission to relax.
Think bath bombs, but for the shower. Drop one on the shower floor, let the hot water hit it, and the steam fills the whole bathroom with aromatherapy scent. This set from OrientLeaf comes with 8 different scents: eucalyptus, lavender, rose, peppermint, grapefruit, watermelon, citrus, and menthol and eucalyptus. Each tablet is individually wrapped and the whole set comes in a clean gift box ready to hand over without extra wrapping. They've become massively popular as gifts because not everyone has a bath (especially in apartments), and they feel like a small luxury you wouldn't normally buy for yourself.
This is one of those gifts that looks simple but feels amazing the second you try it. A solid wooden frame with five textured rollers that you place on the floor and roll your feet across while sitting at your desk or on the couch. It fits both feet at once, and the ridged rollers hit pressure points across the arch, heel, and ball of the foot. Brilliant for anyone who spends all day on their feet, whether that's tradies, retail workers, nurses, or anyone who walks a lot. No batteries, no charging, no setup. Just drop it under your desk and use it whenever you want. Compact, cheap, and a no-brainer Kris Kringle pick for anyone you don't know well.
It's an avocado. That heats up. And has a little smiley face. If that's not a perfect Kris Kringle gift, nothing is. The Gaiatop hand warmer is a rechargeable, pocket-sized electric warmer shaped like a halved avocado. It heats up in seconds with multiple temperature settings, both sides heat up independently, and it doubles as a power bank so you can charge your phone in a pinch. USB rechargeable, fits in a coat pocket or handbag, and lasts for hours on a single charge. The kind of gift that gets an instant "oh my god that's adorable" reaction at the unwrapping, and it's genuinely useful through winter for anyone with cold hands at the office, on the train, or at outdoor events.
Under $15: Novelty socks, sarcastic notepad, desktop punching bag, ice moulds, phone stand, credit card multi-tool, foot massage roller
$15-$20: Prank gift box, dad jokes book, fidget pen, desk vacuum, book light, shower steamers, hand warmer
$20-$30: Novelty mug, Newton's cradle, insulated tumbler, hot chocolate collection, cocktail smoker, Bluetooth key finder
When you don't know the person well: Go for universally appealing picks like novelty socks, a reusable tumbler, shower steamers, or the foot massage roller. These work for practically anyone regardless of age, gender, or interests.
When you want to get a laugh: The prank gift box is unbeatable for sheer entertainment value. Pair it with something actually useful inside and you've got the best of both worlds. The desktop punching bag and sarcastic notepad are also reliable crowd-pleasers.
When you want to look thoughtful without overthinking it: The cocktail smoker, insulated tumbler, or hot chocolate collection all feel like you put real thought into the gift, even if you found them in about three minutes.
When the budget is strict: The credit card multi-tool, novelty ice moulds, phone stand, and foot massage roller all come in well under $15 and still feel like proper gifts, not afterthoughts.
All products are available on Amazon Australia with fast delivery, most with free shipping for Prime members. Prices are approximate and may vary.
Happy Kris Kringle hunting!
