Giving a friend or a colleague a meaningful gift for Christmas is crucial to nurture your relationship. Sometimes it is hard to find that perfect gift for freelancers and people working from home. In this buying guide, I’ve selected the best last-minute gifts for freelancers by choosing gifts that will make them happy and, in many cases, improve their productivity.
Courses, accessories for their office, subscriptions and more: this guide is perfect if you don’t have ideas but want to surprise someone you like with a thoughtful gift.
Check the whole list or jump to the product you like the most by using the table of content below. Enjoy and happy shopping!
Table of Contents
23 Unique Last-Minute Gifts for Freelancers
This list includes only the best gifts for freelancers and people working from home.
1. Foot Rest Under Desk Pillow
This pillow is meant to help feet rest and not suffering because of the pain caused by long periods of sitting. It can be placed under the desk and used without shoes and it is so soft and comfortable that it become a pleasant habit.
2. Lap Desk
Switching from a desk to a sofa can be somehow normal for people working from home. To avoid chaos when working on the sofa or far from a desk, this Home Office Lap Desk is the perfect solution. It’s designed to make their work flow more efficient, and it will surely be loved.
3. Water bottle
A water bottle is essential for freelancers and home-office workers to avoid to forget to drink water and keep themselves hydrated. There are water bottles of every kind but we’ve chosen Hydro Cell Stainless Steel Water Bottle: this water bottle comes with a normal lid and a lid with straw, to make sure you can easily drink without making any effort. Cold liquids stay cold for 24 hours, and hot liquids will stay hot for up to 8 hours. Available in many different colors.
4. Shredder
A shredder may not be considered essential, but when someone works with a lot of papers and manages sensible documents, this is one of the unmissable accessories to have at home. This model from Amazon shreds up to 12 sheets of 20-pound bond paper at a time and includes 4-mode control switch (auto, off, reverse, forward).
5. Seat cushion
This ComfilLife’s seat cushion is perfect for freelancers seating all day in front of a computer. This gel memory foam seat cushion provides maximum support and comfort while reducing pressure on the coccyx / tailbone and promotes healthy posture.
6. Cell phone stand
This cell phone stand is compatible with all 4-8 inches smartphones in phone cases and it is made of high-quality aluminum alloy with a nice finish. It’s perfect to be put on a desk to check incoming notifications and calls when the phone is in silent mode.
7. Balance Disc Wobble Cushion
This disk has to be placed on top of any chair or seat to add instability to strengthen your core while improving posture and sitting comfortably. It’s great for office desk chairs and it helps to increase core strength and balance, while helping with posture.
8. Multifunctional Desk Pad
This desk pad is perfect to keep a freelancer’s desk in order and clean. It’s large enough for a laptop, mouse, keyboard, coffee cup, and can protect the desk from scratch while adding some color to a “boring” office environment.
9. Desk Lamp
A lamp for the desk is essential for every freelancer. If your friend or beloved one doesn’t have one, this is the perfect gift. The TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp features 7 brightness levels, and it also includes a built-in USB port to keep your phone always charged. This is only one of the many options available that we’ve already listed here, for a wider choice.
10. Coffee Maker
Who doesn’t love freshly brewed coffee, every time of the day? Well, a coffee maker is the perfect last-minute gift for a freelancer. Our article on the best coffee makers for a home office will give you great suggestions, but if you want to go directly to the products I recommend Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker.
11. Headphones
Working from home means that you need to constantly be focused and when you’ve to attend calls you need to be equipped in the best way. Give your working-from-home friend a pair of good headphones and you won’t listen to complaints. Check our article about the best 11 best active noise canceling headphones for freelancers, or choose one of the following models that we recommend:
- Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 – Available at Amazon
- COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones – Available at Amazon
- AirPods Pro – Available at Amazon
12. Laptop Stand
A laptop stand makes sure your back won’t have problems because of your posture. A good laptop stand is also really helpful to keep a computer cool if you’re running a lot of programs or you live in a hot climate. The perfect gift for freelancers!
Check our article with the 8 best laptop stands to buy or buy one of these:
- Nulaxy Laptop Stand: this laptop stand elevates the laptop to 6’’, and it is compatible with all laptops from 10 to 15 inches. It can support up to 4kg, it’s in aluminum and it can be disassembled into 3 parts for better storage.
- AmazonBasics Ventilated Laptop Stand: this stand is a metal-mesh platform and it’s perfect to elevate your laptop and also cool it down to avoid problems. Adjustable from 12 to 35 degrees.
13. Posture Corrector
Working in the right position is crucial and gifting a freelancer with a posture corrector is the best way to express love and care. Selbite Posture Corrector push the shoulders back and align spine. It’s adjustable and unisex, and can be placed under a shirt or above it. It’s also good for exercising.
14. Charging Stations
Help the freelancers in your life to keep their devices always charged and easily accessible with a charging station. The InkoTimes Charging Station is made of bamboo and can charge up to 6 devices and it works with all devices functioning with a USB.
15. Books
Gifting a book is always a challenge but you can be sure to hit the target if you give your freelancers’ friends a business book. We’ve selected the best 10 books for freelancers and highly recommend these:
- It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work – View on Amazon
- The Freelancer’s Bible – View on Amazon
- The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living – View on Amazon
16. Air Purifier
Working at home or having a home office doesn’t mean one has to forget about health. A purifier is perfect to keep the air fresh, especially in case of allergies. We’ve selected the best air purifiers for the home office, but if you want to buy one straight go for the TaoTronics HEPA H13 Air Purifier that removes everyday air pollution quickly with its advanced 3-in-1 air filtration process. It purifies 250ft² room every 12 minutes, 330ft² in every 15 minutes, 500ft² in every 22 minutes.
17. Grammarly Subscription
Is your friend in the writing business? Do the person you have to buy a gift work with words every day? Give them an annual subscription to Grammarly! Grammarly is an easy-to-use app/tool for writers that analyses pieces of text and suggest spelling, grammar, and style changes according to the tone of voice of the text and the recipient.
Check our Grammarly review for a better overview!
18. Online classes
Improving skills is crucial for freelancers. Too often, we’re caught up in our daily things and we forget to look for ways to improve and grow. Receiving a voucher for an online class is one of the best gifts for freelancers and people working from home because it puts us in a situation where we need to pick a course to thank the person who spent time researching for our gift. These are a few websites where to buy online classes:
- Udemy: it is one of the best online places where you can learn new skills and improve existing ones. There are a plethora of courses for everyone at every level and in every possible niche. Some of the courses are extremely thin and useless; others are worth the investment and the time.
- Coursera: collects courses organized by Universities Worldwide, and for this reason, the quality is quite high. Users can avail of a 7-day trial period and start one of the courses before signing up for a subscription that will include as many classes as they like.
- Skillshare: Skillshare is another platform where you can enroll in classes and courses of every type. Skillshare’s focus is on creatives, so you will find a lot of content created explicitly for freelancers to give them not only skills but also new ideas.
19. Audible Subscription
Audible is an Amazon company that produces and sells hundreds of thousands of popular audiobooks and original titles. Nowadays, Audible also offers access to podcasts of every type. Audible is available to people with a subscription model and it is perfect as a gift for people that don’t have time to look for books and read them in bed. Amazon will send your gift recipient an email on the day you choose along with redemption instructions or allow you to print and give it directly based on the option you select. The gift recipient can start their Audible Premium Plus membership right away. Current Audible members will receive all credits from a redeemed gift membership at once. Their current plan will not be extended or interrupted.
Prices of Audible Gift:
- 1 month: $15.00
- 3 months: $45.00
- 6 months: $90.00
- 12 months: $150.00
Read our Audible Subscription review for a better overview!
20. Universal Dust Cleaner
The keyboard is one of the dirtiest things ever, and for freelancers and people working from home in front of a computer all day long, it’s also one of the most needed accessories. This Universal Dust Cleaner is a unique product that makes up for a unique and useful gift. It’s made of biodegradable material, smells of lemon and it can be used to clean electronics, such as PC keyboards, car vents, camera, printer, telephone, calculator, speaker, air conditioner, TV, and other appliances.
21. Amazon Prime Subscription
For an all-inclusive experience, Amazon Prime is the perfect gift. The Amazon service is ideal for freelancers and people working from home and, trust me, receiving a subscription to Prime as a gift is always pleasant. Prime members can avail of a lot of benefits such as:
- Fast, free delivery
- Watch movies and TV shows with Prime Video
- Stream songs and thousands of playlists
- Also get free Kindle e-books, unlimited photo storage, exclusive access to deals, Twitch, and much more
meaning that if someone is an Amazon addict, this is the best gift ever to receive!
If you buy a Prime Subscription as a gift, Amazon will send your gift recipient an email on the day you choose along with redemption instructions. The gift recipient can start their Prime membership right away. If the recipient is already a Prime member, the gift can be exchanged for an Amazon.com Gift Card in the value of the original gift purchase price plus any applicable sales taxes paid. The gift membership does not automatically renew and is not eligible for promotional offers.
Prices of Prime Gift:
- 3 months: $39
- 12 months: $119
22. Coffee Mug Warmer
Nothing beats a cup of warm coffee or tea when working. This stainless steel coffee warmer is perfect for people who forget to drink their beverage when it’s still hot or drink it too slowly. It features touch-tech controls, an LED display, and a water-resistant plate. Temperature readings of the warming plate are precise down to 1 degree. User-friendly design makes it easy to use.
23. Mini Desk Fan
A mini fan is perfect in hot climates or in summer, and it’s the perfect gift for people always at their desks. This from Honeywell oscillates and it is equipped with an automatic shut-off timer, 4 levels of sound & power settings, and it doesn’t take too much space.
24. A Travel Print
If you know your recipient very well, a print is ideal as a gift. I recommend checking on Giuseppe’s travel pictures that you can buy online and get delivered. His extensive collection of travel photographs is just incredible, and the pictures will transport you in another dimension! Your freelance friends will love to hang the pictures in their studio!
Gift for Freelancers: 3 More Ideas
If the list above it’s not your cup of tea, I’ve 3 more ideas for you and they won’t cost you a penny.
- A voucher to avail of your skills: do you know how to cook? Are you a master of photography? Do you know how to code? This is the time to give back and show love and friendship by giving away your time and your skill to the person you love!
- A commitment to cooking dinner once a week: very often the person who works from home has to do all the chores, so relieving them even just for one day a week is a big help. This works if you live together.
- Homemade cookies: receiving cookies is always an act of love. And so it’s making them. If you’re looking for a foolproof recipe for delicious Christmas cookies, check this one… I’m sure your gift will be highly appreciated!
Buying a Present for a Freelancer: FAQ
In this last section of the article, I’ve collected a few more questions for you. The question I am sure you may have when looking for a gift for someone.
How Much Should You Spend On Gifts For Freelancers?
The amount of money you want to spend on your gifts is completely up to you. Just remember that love and friendship don’t have an economical value, so do not stress you out looking for the most expensive gift ever just to impress. Focus on meaningful and useful gifts, because that’s what counts.
How Do I Choose The Best Gift For a Freelancer?
To choose the best gift you need to make sure the item or the gift reflects the recipients’ passions, loves, hobbies, and life. Think about what you know about this person and make your choice based on this. If you don’t know this person that well, go for something more generic but still meaningful such as a box of candies for example. The best gifts for freelancers—as with the best gifts for most people—are the perfect combination of unique and thoughtful, so make sure that’s your thinking when buying a gift!
What to Get to Someone Who Has Everything?
Freelancers working from home usually are well organized with their stuff, but there’s always something missing or unique that you can give to them. Subscriptions are perfect in this sense, and so are items that are not that common to be bought by yourself (such as the mug warmer!). Gift cards are also a lovely gift, even if they’re somehow impersonal.
I hope that this list will give you some inspiration for your presents! Happy Shopping… and Happy Christmas!
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