Under Section 323A of ITEPA 2003, UK employers can give employees a gift worth up to £50 without triggering tax or National Insurance, provided it isn't cash (or a cash voucher) and isn't a reward for performance. That makes £50 a useful ceiling to shop against. The twenty picks below are all comfortably within it, so you can say thank you, mark a birthday or celebrate a milestone without opening a tax headache.
What makes a good trivial benefit gift?
Not every branded item is a good fit for a tax-free gift. The best ones tend to share a few traits:
- Priced comfortably under £50, so there's no risk of tipping over the exemption threshold.
- Genuinely useful or enjoyable, something employees will actually use rather than shelve.
- Branded subtly, so it reads as a thoughtful gift rather than a walking billboard.
- Available with sensible minimum order quantities, so it works whether you're gifting a team of five or five hundred.
1. Sports Socks — the stocking-filler everyone actually wears
Low-cost, high-appeal and impossible to get wrong — socks are the gift that quietly becomes a wardrobe favourite.
- Material: Combed cotton blend with elastane for stretch.
- Branding: Woven or printed logo across the ankle or sole.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £4.00/unit.
2. Bamboo Pen — an eco-friendly everyday essential
A pen sits on every desk, so a sustainable version is a small, tasteful way to reinforce your brand's values.
- Material: Sustainably sourced bamboo body with metal trim.
- Branding: Laser-engraved logo along the barrel.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £2.66/unit.
3. A5 Premium Notebook — for the employee who lives by their to-do list
A genuinely nice notebook signals more thought than a throwaway freebie, and it earns its keep in every meeting.
- Material: PU cover with FSC-certified paper inside.
- Branding: Debossed or foil-stamped logo on the front cover.
- Order: MOQ 50 · from £6.97/unit.
4. Printed Mousepad — a desk upgrade that's always in view
A full-colour mousepad is a low-cost gift with outsized visibility, sitting front and centre on the desk all day.
- Material: Neoprene base with a smooth polyester surface.
- Branding: Full-colour edge-to-edge print.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £2.50/unit.
5. Resin Keychain — a small keepsake with big personality
Great as a light-touch thank-you or add-on to a bigger bundle, and easy to make a custom shape out of.
- Material: Durable cast resin with a metal ring.
- Branding: Custom shape or full-colour logo embedded in the resin.
- Order: MOQ 1000 · from £4.37/unit.
6. Panareya Sunglasses — summer-ready and genuinely useful
A fun seasonal pick for summer events, team days out or festival-season gifting.
- Material: Lightweight polycarbonate frame with UV400 lenses.
- Branding: Printed logo on the temple.
- Order: MOQ 250 · from £3.60/unit.
7. Americano Mug — the classic that never goes out of style
Every office runs on coffee, and a branded mug is a dependable, well-loved gift that gets used daily.
- Material: Durable ceramic, dishwasher and microwave safe.
- Branding: Full-colour print or engraving.
- Order: MOQ 108 · from £4.04/unit.
8. Magnetic Phone Holder — a genuinely handy desk or car accessory
A small tech accessory that solves a real everyday annoyance, which is exactly what makes it get used.
- Material: Recycled ABS plastic with a magnetic mount.
- Branding: Printed logo on the base.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £5.30/unit.
9. Recycled Modular Charging Cable — solves the one thing every desk drawer is missing
A single cable that covers USB-C, Lightning and micro-USB means it's the rare gift that suits absolutely everyone.
- Material: Recycled plastic housing with interchangeable tips.
- Branding: Printed logo on the cable body.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £6.53/unit.
View Recycled Modular Charging Cable →
10. Premium Tote Bag — practical enough for the commute, the gym or the school run
A sturdy canvas tote earns daily use well beyond the office, quietly carrying your brand along with it.
- Material: Heavyweight cotton canvas.
- Branding: Screen-printed or embroidered logo.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £6.44/unit.
11. Baseball Cap — an easy win for the whole team
A well-made cap is one of the most reliably popular branded items, and it works for almost any team.
- Material: Cotton twill with an adjustable strap.
- Branding: Embroidered logo on the front panel.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £8.34/unit.
12. Knitted Scarf — a cosy pick for the colder months
A soft knitted scarf feels like a proper gift rather than a promotional item, ideal for winter birthdays or year-end thank-yous.
- Material: Soft acrylic knit.
- Branding: Woven label or embroidered corner logo.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £7.66/unit.
13. Stainless Steel Bottle — keeps drinks cold, desks tidy and plastic out of landfill
A well-insulated bottle is a gift employees will actually reach for every single day, at their desk or the gym.
- Material: Double-wall insulated stainless steel.
- Branding: Laser engraving or full-colour wrap print.
- Order: MOQ 50 · from £9.57/unit.
14. Wireless Mini Speaker — a genuinely fun gift that gets used at home, not just the office
A compact Bluetooth speaker is the kind of gift that gets a genuine "thank you" — useful, a bit fun, and easy to carry.
- Material: ABS housing with a fabric-wrapped speaker grille.
- Branding: Printed or engraved logo on the base.
- Order: MOQ 50 · from £10.34/unit.
15. Dad Hat — the off-duty piece employees will actually wear on weekends
Its relaxed, low-profile fit feels less "corporate freebie" and more "something I'd actually pick for myself".
- Material: Washed cotton twill, low-profile fit.
- Branding: Embroidered logo on the front.
- Order: MOQ 25 · from £13.30/unit.
16. Hardshell Tech Pouch — protects the charger, cables and headphones that always go missing
A protective pouch is a smart, slightly upscale gift for hybrid and remote workers who travel with their kit.
- Material: Moulded EVA shell with a soft-touch lining.
- Branding: Debossed logo on the front.
- Order: MOQ 50 · from £15.12/unit.
17. Felt Pouch — a smart way to organise cables, chargers or stationery
Simple, tactile and practical — a felt pouch is an understated gift that still feels considered.
- Material: Recycled felt with a zip closure.
- Branding: Debossed or printed logo.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £14.80/unit.
18. T-shirt – The Axel — a wardrobe staple that doubles as team spirit
A well-cut, soft-cotton tee is a gift people genuinely wear on the weekend, not just at company events.
- Material: 100% combed cotton, pre-shrunk.
- Branding: Screen-printed or embroidered chest logo.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £18.68/unit.
19. 13" Laptop Sleeve — practical protection for hybrid and remote workers
With more teams splitting time between home and office, a padded sleeve is a gift that gets used on every commute.
- Material: Padded neoprene shell with a soft interior lining.
- Branding: Embroidered or debossed logo.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £26.50/unit.
20. Polo – The Avery — a smarter option for client-facing teams or leadership gifts
Smart enough for client meetings yet still comfortable, a quality polo is a step-up gift that still sits well under the £50 cap.
- Material: Piqué cotton with a ribbed collar and cuffs.
- Branding: Embroidered chest logo.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from £30.37/unit.
Know the rules before you shop
Want to understand the tax rules first? Read our article on the £50 trivial benefits exemption.
Ready to put a shortlist together for your team? Browse the full Sunday catalogue to compare pricing, MOQs and branding options, or get in touch and we'll help you build a gifting programme that stays comfortably within the trivial benefits exemption all year round.
