Secret Santa Ideas for IT Colleagues Who Have Every Gadget

A good Secret Santa gift for an IT colleague does not have to be another gadget. Someone who spends their day solving technical problems may have very particular preferences about equipment, or may prefer a present with absolutely no settings menu.

Start with what you know about the person. Their work gives you a possible joke; their interests give you the actual gift.

Set the budget before choosing the box

Check the exchange limit and decide how much is available for the real present. Purchased packaging and delivery add to the total. If a novelty box leaves too little for the gift, use a clean spare box and a handwritten label instead.

These are gift directions rather than a price-ranked shopping list. Check current prices and availability before buying, and do not assume an accessory will fit simply because it is sold as a “tech gift”.

1. A voucher that follows their interests

A bookshop, café, game shop or cinema voucher can work well when you know which one they actually use. Include a note connecting it to something they have mentioned, such as an author or a favourite lunch spot.

For a gaming voucher, confirm the platform, region and account requirements first. “They like games” is not enough information to choose a code that will work for them.

Use our gift-card presentation ideas to make the envelope feel like part of a proper present.

2. A small desk item they have asked for

A notebook in their preferred size, a pen refill for a pen they own, or a simple cable pouch can be more useful than an unfamiliar electronic accessory. Listen for a specific complaint or request rather than imagining what an ideal IT desk should contain.

Check dimensions and preferences. A very tidy colleague might love a pouch; someone with a carefully arranged desk might not want another object on it.

3. A screen-break present

A compact puzzle, a small book or a contribution towards a lunch out gives them something to do away from their usual work. Choose the subject based on their interests rather than automatically selecting a programming joke.

Keep any puzzle optional. Secret Santa should not make the recipient solve a technical support ticket before they can enjoy lunch.

4. A personal thank-you with the gift

If they helped you through a particularly stubborn problem, say so. “Thanks for rescuing the presentation five minutes before the meeting” is a more personal message than a generic claim that they are a computer wizard.

Avoid printing screenshots of real systems, internal tickets or workplace information on a novelty gift. A short description of the moment gets the sentiment across without sharing anything that belongs at work.

5. An impossible gadget on the outside

Once you have chosen a real present, the Wi-Fi Extension Cable novelty box offers a deliberately contradictory first impression: wireless internet, apparently requiring an extension lead.

It is an empty printed gift box. There is no working networking product or cable inside. Place your chosen present in it only after checking the fit, add suitable padding and wrap it normally.

The gag does not require a technical argument. Give them a moment to read the box, then let them open it. If the real gift is a voucher, put it in a clearly labelled envelope so it cannot be mistaken for an instruction leaflet or discarded with packing.

What to avoid guessing

Chargers, power banks, storage devices and adapters have compatibility and quality considerations. Buy one only when you know the exact specification or have a clear request. Do not ask the recipient to plug an unknown device into work equipment as part of the joke.

Likewise, avoid a gift that amounts to more work: a broken gadget to repair, a “fun” coding assignment, or a promise that they can now fix your home network. Appreciation should not arrive with an unpaid support contract.

If you barely know them

Ask the organiser whether participants have wish lists or preference notes. Choose a modest, broadly usable gift if you have no reliable clues. A friendly card is enough; you do not have to turn their job into a punchline.

For a mixed team, our colleague Secret Santa guide covers other personalities too. The principle stays the same: thoughtful contents first, questionable packaging second.