Ireland's Small Benefit Exemption lets employers give staff up to €1,500 a year, split across a maximum of five non-cash benefits, without any tax, USC, or PRSI hitting either side. That's a wide runway for genuinely thoughtful gifts, not just a token voucher at Christmas. Below are 20 branded merchandise ideas spanning apparel, drinkware, tech, bags, and stationery, at a range of price points, to help you build a gifting programme employees actually use.
What makes a good tax-free gift?
With up to five benefits to plan a year, it's worth choosing items that earn their place rather than gather dust in a drawer. A few things to look for:
- Everyday usefulness: something they'll actually reach for, at their desk, on the commute, or at the gym.
- Quality that reflects your brand: a well-made bottle or backpack says more about your company than a cheap giveaway.
- Room to mix price points: combine a few premium pieces with smaller items across your five allowed benefits, rather than spending it all in one go.
- Easy, tidy branding: a subtle embroidered logo tends to work better for personal gifts than a large printed logo.
1. Urban Lite Backpack — the big-ticket standout
With five benefits to play with under the exemption, one premium piece like this lightweight backpack sets the tone for the rest of the programme. It's built for daily commuting and looks sharp enough for client meetings too.
- Material: Recycled polyester shell with a padded laptop compartment.
- Branding: Debossed logo patch or embroidery on the front pocket.
- Order: MOQ 25 · from €80.34/unit.
2. Windbreaker – The Kai — for Irish weather
A packable windbreaker earns its place in any Irish employee's wardrobe, rain is never far away, and it doubles as a wearable reminder of your brand every time they layer up.
- Material: Lightweight ripstop nylon with a water-resistant finish.
- Branding: Embroidered logo on the chest, print on the back for team events.
- Order: MOQ 25 · from €32.56/unit.
3. Polo – The Avery — smart-casual staple
Smart enough for a client visit, casual enough for a Friday, a quality polo is one of the most-worn pieces of branded apparel in any office.
- Material: Piqué cotton blend.
- Branding: Embroidered logo on the chest.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from €30.37/unit.
4. T-shirt – The Axel — the easy everyday yes
A soft, well-cut tee is the easiest yes in any gifting basket, an ideal smaller item to pair with a bigger-ticket benefit elsewhere on this list.
- Material: Combed cotton jersey.
- Branding: Screen print or embroidered logo.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from €18.68/unit.
5. Stanley Quencher — the crowd-pleaser
It's the tumbler everyone already wants. Handing one out as a company gift is an instant crowd-pleaser and a permanent fixture on their desk.
- Material: Double-wall stainless steel with a reusable straw.
- Branding: Laser engraving or logo decal.
- Order: MOQ 25 · from €49.60/unit.
6. Ocean Bottle Big — the values-led pick
For teams that care about sustainability, this bottle funds ocean plastic collection with every purchase, a values-led gift that still looks great on a desk.
- Material: Recycled stainless steel with ocean-bound plastic components.
- Branding: Laser engraving on the body.
- Order: MOQ 25 · from €44.30/unit.
7. Stainless Steel Bottle — reliable and budget-friendly
A reliable, everyday bottle at a lower price point, useful if you're spreading the €1,500 allowance across all five benefits rather than a couple of big items.
- Material: Double-wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel.
- Branding: Laser engraving or single-colour print.
- Order: MOQ 50 · from €9.57/unit.
8. Americano Mug — the desk essential
A branded mug for the desk or the kitchen at home is a small, low-cost gift that still gets used daily, ideal alongside larger benefits.
- Material: Ceramic, dishwasher and microwave safe.
- Branding: Full-colour print or logo decal.
- Order: MOQ 108 · from €4.04/unit.
9. Espresso Mug — for the coffee obsessives
For the coffee obsessives on the team, a proper espresso cup adds a bit of personality to a gifting bundle without stretching the budget.
- Material: Ceramic.
- Branding: Debossed or printed logo.
- Order: MOQ 108 · from €8.44/unit.
10. Wireless Mini Speaker — a bit of fun
A compact speaker for the desk, kitchen, or garden brings a bit of fun to the gifting mix and works well as a standalone benefit on its own.
- Material: Recycled ABS housing with a built-in rechargeable battery.
- Branding: Laser engraving or pad print on the base.
- Order: MOQ 50 · from €10.34/unit.
11. Recycled Modular Charging Cable — practical and sustainable
Practical, sustainable, and genuinely useful for anyone juggling multiple devices, this is the kind of small gift that quietly earns goodwill.
- Material: Recycled plastic housing with multi-connector tips.
- Branding: Printed logo on the casing.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from €6.53/unit.
View Recycled Modular Charging Cable →
12. Magnetic Phone Holder — solves a real annoyance
A tidy desk or dashboard accessory that solves a real everyday annoyance, an easy pick if you want a fifth benefit that doesn't need much explaining.
- Material: Aluminium and silicone with a magnetic mount.
- Branding: Logo engraving on the base.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from €5.30/unit.
13. Hardshell Tech Pouch — a home for the cables
Cables, chargers, and earbuds finally have a home. It's a practical gift for hybrid workers who move between office and home.
- Material: EVA hardshell with a mesh interior pocket.
- Branding: Debossed logo on the front.
- Order: MOQ 50 · from €15.12/unit.
14. 13" Laptop Sleeve — used every single day
Protective, well-made, and used every single day, a laptop sleeve is one of the more practical items an employer can hand out.
- Material: Padded neoprene with a recycled lining.
- Branding: Embroidered or printed logo.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from €26.50/unit.
15. Canvas Duffel Bag — the mid-price treat
Ideal for the gym bag or a weekend away, this duffel is a versatile mid-price gift that feels like a genuine treat rather than a token.
- Material: Heavyweight cotton canvas with leather-look trims.
- Branding: Embroidered logo or printed patch.
- Order: MOQ 25 · from €34.90/unit.
16. Canvas Travel Pouch — a neat little extra
A neat little pouch for cables, toiletries, or loose bits in a bag, useful enough to earn a permanent spot in their travel kit.
- Material: Cotton canvas with a water-resistant lining.
- Branding: Printed or embroidered logo.
- Order: MOQ 25 · from €8.30/unit.
17. Dad Hat — for the warmer months
An easy, wearable gift for the warmer months (or the Irish version of them), a well-fitted cap gets worn far more often than people expect.
- Material: Cotton twill with an adjustable strap.
- Branding: Embroidered logo on the front panel.
- Order: MOQ 25 · from €13.30/unit.
18. A5 Premium Notebook — for the note-takers
A step up from the standard notebook, this is a small but thoughtful gift for anyone who still likes to write things down.
- Material: PU cover with recycled paper pages.
- Branding: Debossed logo on the cover.
- Order: MOQ 50 · from €6.97/unit.
19. Bamboo Pen — the sustainable stocking-filler
A neat, sustainable stocking-filler that pairs naturally with the notebook above, useful if you're rounding out a gift bundle on a budget.
- Material: Bamboo body with metal trim.
- Branding: Laser engraving.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from €2.66/unit.
20. Leather Luggage Tag — the personal touch
A small personal touch to close out the list: a leather luggage tag suits frequent travellers and makes a thoughtful individual add-on to any of the benefits above.
- Material: Genuine or vegan leather.
- Branding: Debossed logo or initials.
- Order: MOQ 100 · from €7.64/unit.
Get the tax rules right first
Want to understand the tax rules first? Read our article on Ireland's €1,500 Small Benefit Exemption.
Ready to build your own gifting programme? Browse the full Sunday catalogue to mix and match products, add your logo, and get a quote for your team.
