Featured in this article

• A Classy Desk Knife

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  I’m often opening letters and boxes at my desk, and too often I’m reaching for a pen or something other than an actual cutting tool and making a mess. Just get them Craighill’s Desk Knife. This weighty stainless steel knife feels wonderful to hold and cuts well. If you want to give them a safe way to store it, consider tossing the Desk Knife Plinth into your cart so they can keep their desktop scuff-free.

• A Gorgeous Task Light

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Gantri’s 3D printed lamps are made with plant-based polymers, and there is a dizzying array of options to choose from. The Analog Task Light is one of my favorites—especially in the orange color with the yellow accent. However, you can completely customize the color of the light—Gantri has tons of choices, so you can personalize your desk lamp to your giftee’s taste. They can rotate the cube to shine light wherever it’s needed, and the E12 bulb is replaceable.

• The Best Office Mouse

  • Photograph: Henri Robbins

  • Photograph: Henri Robbins

  • Photograph: Henri Robbins

  • Photograph: Henri Robbins

  It’s difficult to remember life before Logitech’s MX Master series. This ergonomic mouse connects to a computer via Bluetooth or Logitech’s 2.5-GHz receiver, and it’s responsive. There are two thumb buttons, but I love the scroll wheels. Yes, wheels, plural; there’s a thumb scroll wheel that’s great for horizontally scrolling through spreadsheets, and one push of the primary index-finger scroll wheel sends it wheeling through long vertical pages with zero effort. It glides like a machete through a melon, but there’s a button that enables more precise scrolling if needed.

  This MX Master 4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) adds haptics and the Actions Ring, a virtual ring that can be called up on the desktop at any time to trigger various actions—all customizable in the Logi Options+ app. The battery usually lasts me three weeks, if not more, between charges. (And the mouse can still be used while it charges, unlike some other mice.)

• A Sweet New Keyboard

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  This full-size Hall effect keyboard checks off all the boxes. The metal case is sturdy, satisfying to type on, and the switches are hot-swappable. It’s wireless, too, and your giftee can connect via a 2.5-GHz dongle or Bluetooth. It’s easy to remap keys with the browser-based Launcher app (or QMK/VIA). I love the volume knob, and thanks to the Hall effect switches, your giftee can take full advantage of the technology with features like Rapid Trigger and adjustable actuation distances.

• A Leather Surface

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Harber London

  Professional Leather Desk Mat

  Skip the boring mouse pad and get a desk mat instead. I love leather desk mats and have used one from Harber London for years. I’ve specifically used the Professional Leather Desk Mat for more than a year, and it oozes luxury. It has a rich pebbled design, is made from full-grain leather, and does a great job of staying put. I like how soft it feels, and it’s easy to clean. There are several size options and colors to tailor the mat to your giftee’s setup.

• Upgrade Their Mic Arm

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Your giftee probably has a good USB microphone already for their Zoom calls (if not, check out our Best USB Mics guide!). But chances are they’re using a cheapo mic stand that looks ugly. Upgrade to the Elgato Wave Mic Arm Pro, and they’ll thank you endlessly. It comes with a clamp to mount on desks, but I opted to snag the Wave Desk Plate to screw it on my desktop. Now, my microphone can smoothly move in and out of the way. There’s nothing better than a mount that glides your gear effortlessly.

• For Organized Wires

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  It might look like a smoothed-out Aztec pyramid, but this little object has magnets on top. Affix the included magnet clips onto USB cables and keep the cords neat and in one spot. Smartish also has a bigger version if your giftee has too many cables strewn about on their desk. It’s a nice little stocking stuffer if their cables routinely fall off their desk.

• A Lit-Up Desk

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Is your loved one always cowering over a keyboard in the dark, struggling to type? I have used variations of BenQ’s ScreenBar lamps for several years, and they’re truly a must-have for any modern desk setup. These space-saving lamps hang over your computer monitor (yes, even curved screens), and shoot light on the desktop, blanketing it with warm or cool tones—you can set the brightness and color temperature. I usually leave it on when I’m at my desk working and turn it off when I’m playing video games or watching a movie (the light can cause some glare when you’re watching dark content).

  This version is the ScreenBar Halo 2, which doesn’t have the controls at the top of the light; they’re available on a wireless, USB-C rechargeable remote. Your giftee can customize the color temperature and brightness, and one extra trick the Halo 2 has is a backlight—they can cast some bias lighting behind their monitor to reduce eye strain. This model also has a motion sensor, so once your loved one leaves the desk, the light will turn off. When they’re back, it’ll light up their workstation again.

• Enjoy WFH Comfort

  L.L. Bean

  Scotch Plaid Flannel Robe

  What’s the point of working from home if they’re going to wear button-downs, blouses, and suit pants? Sure, put ’em on during meetings if you want to look presentable (or don’t). But when the webcam’s off, lounge in a nice robe instead. My wife bought me this Portuguese flannel robe from L.L.Bean, and it’s wonderfully soft and comfy. This one is a little thin, making it great for the shoulder seasons.

• Desk-Worthy Charging

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Most charging strips are shoved under the desk to help hide the mess of cables, but the Moonbase is designed to sit on the desktop. It’s utterly gorgeous, with its space-age design of domed AC nodes that glow (your giftee can change the color by pressing a button on the side). There’s a bright orange braided cable, and on the other edge are four USB-C ports, two of which output 30 watts, the third is 100 watts, and the fourth is 140 watts. That’s all the power most people need and then some.

  If they’re frequently plugging in devices at their desk, give them the gift of not having to bend down and mess with wires with this attractive and desk-worthy charger.

• A Compact Digital Notepad

  If your giftee takes copious notes and has expressed interest in a digital notepad, reMarkable’s new Paper Pro Move (8/10, WIRED Recommends) might be a great option for the desk. I like that it’s not as big as the flagship Paper Pro, meaning it’s easy to tote around from room to room (or from office to the home office). They still get the option to use colors, reMarkable’s excellent handwriting experience, and notes can be synced to the cloud. If you’re debating between the Marker and Marker Plus, the latter just adds an eraser function to the other end of the stylus.

• A Puzzling Paperweight

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  The Jack puzzle from Craighill is deceptively complicated. Your giftee will wish they never took it apart after unboxing it, but it’s a good way to take a break in between meetings (or during meetings) and work the brain a different way. Once complete, they can proudly keep it on their desk as an elegant paperweight.

  We’ve got more fun desk candy in our Best Desk Accessories guide.

• Porcelain Desk Accessories

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Ergonofis

  Desk Accessories Set

  Maybe they recently got a new remote work job, or maybe their desk just looks like a mess. This Ergonofis Desk Accessories Set can bring some elegance and organization to their workstation. It includes a Vertical Laptop Stand ($65), a Pencil Holder ($55), a Headphone Stand ($65), and a Catch-All Tray ($55), all made out of porcelain. (You can also purchase each item individually if you’d rather pick and choose.) I love the blush color, and they each do their job well. My 16-inch MacBook Pro had no trouble resting on the laptop stand, and my headphones were easy to pop on and off.

• A Great Stocking Stuffer (for iPhones)

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Belkin

  iPhone Mount With MagSafe for MacBooks

  Has your intended recipient complained about how crappy they look on video calls? (It’s the shitty webcam, I swear!) If they have a recent iPhone and MacBook, they can use Apple’s Continuity Camera feature, which turns iPhones into a high-quality wireless webcam. You can read more about how it works here, but they’ll need a place to position the iPhone to get the most out of it. That’s where Belkin’s MagSafe mount comes in. It magnetically sticks to the back of MagSafe iPhones and works as a phone grip and kickstand. But pop out a loop, and it can rest on top of MacBooks for perfect iPhone-as-webcam positioning. Nifty! There’s another version specifically for Mac displays, too.

• For Better Ergonomics

  Branch

  Adjustable Laptop Stand

  If your loved one predominantly works off a laptop, they need ways to elevate it for the most ergonomic typing experience. (Or you’ll start hearing their wrists make weird cracking sounds.) Gift them a laptop stand. Branch’s adjustable stand is versatile and doesn’t look hideous. It can lift the screen 7 inches high, and there are many options to adjust the viewing angle. The base and arms are made from anodized aluminum and don’t shift during use. It’s best left on a desk rather than moving from room to room.

• A Cushy Footrest

  Secretlab Premium Footrest

  You’re supposed to keep your feet flat when you sit at a desk for your body’s sake, but … go on, stretch those legs. No one’s home to tattle on you (or your giftee). Better yet, put ’em up on Secretlab’s memory foam footrest. The fabric is velvety soft, yet firm enough that your feet don’t sink into it, and it doesn’t slide around too easily when you rest your feet on it. It does a great job repelling pet hair and doesn’t take much effort to clean. I’ve had mine for more than three years and, while it could use a deep clean, it’s still in great condition.

• A 4K Monitor

  Dell

  27 Plus 4K Monitor (S2725QS)

  If your giftee is still stuck on a tiny, 1080p monitor, upgrade them to the Dell 27 Plus 4K (8/10, WIRED Recommends). A 4K resolution on this 27-inch screen looks crisp, not to mention the smooth 120-Hz refresh rate, all of which comes in a package under $300. The built-in speakers are decent (though a good pair of computer speakers will always be better), and there’s the option to VESA mount it on a monitor arm if they want to reclaim desk space. Read our Best Computer Monitors guide for more options.

• For Upgraded Sound

  Not the kind of person to wear headphones? Get them a nice pair of computer speakers instead. If you’re going to have to listen to their music blasting through crappy laptop speakers, you may as well upgrade the music quality. The Audioengine A2+ is our favorite after testing more than 20 computer speakers. They’re compact enough for most desktops but push out some serious sound. Bass isn’t going to wow you since there’s no subwoofer (they can add one later on), but it’s not a deal-breaker. There are many ways to connect it—Bluetooth, USB, RCA, or 3.5 mm auxiliary.

• Fiddler’s Solace

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Speks

  Odds Silicone Fidget Magnets

  Who doesn’t love a desk knick-knack? And who doesn’t love magnets? Put them together and out comes a fun little thing to fiddle with during Zoom meetings. These magnetic balls are a little large, but I like rolling them around in my palm. Since they’re covered in silicone, they’re pretty silent when fiddling around with them, and the fun colors add a spot of color to the desk. You can get them in various shapes, and I have also tried and like the metallic Supers 33mm, though they’re quite loud.

• For Hybrid Workers

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Espresso Display 15 (Non-Touch)

  There’s been a big return-to-office mandate over the last few years, but maybe your loved one only has to go in a few times a week. For hybrid workers, a portable monitor can be a godsend instead of trying to get everything done on a cramped laptop screen.

  You can get good portable monitors for less, but the Espresso Display 15 is a statement piece and a great gift. This 15-inch 1080p screen has an aluminum chassis, is very thin, and comes with a nice magnetic stand to which the monitor attaches (the stand can even be raised quite high). All they need to do is plug in the included USB-C cable to their device and voilà, two screens. Just make sure they have a laptop bag that can fit the screen and their laptop, as it could be a tight squeeze.

• For Upgraded Zoom Calls

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  You can upgrade their webcam, too. I’ve used the MX Brio for nearly two years, and it’s been excellent. The 4K resolution is sharp, and while most video calling apps are still stuck on 1080p, I’ve cropped in on myself so that people don’t see all the clutter in my office, and I still get a good-quality image. There’s a privacy shutter for when it’s not in use, and it plugs in via USB-C.

• For Canceling Out Sound

• Handy Dandy Stationery Storage

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Most Modest Elin Desk Caddy

  This powder-coated aluminum caddy is much bigger than I expected—make sure there’s ample room on their desk for it (or in a cabinet). If your giftee likes to hoard pens and prefers to write down physical notes throughout the workday, this is a pretty way to store all of that stationery. The white oak handle is a nice touch and an easy way to tote it to another room. It’s not the kind of thing I’d buy for myself at this high price, but it sure as heck makes a great gift.

• Upgrade Their Office Chair

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Branch

  Ergonomic Chair Pro

  Have they been sitting in a ripped-up chair that’ll fall apart any day now? Swap it with the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro. This is the step-up version of the Ergonomic Chair I’ve long recommended as a starting point for anyone hunting for a new office chair. I like it a lot better and think it’s worth the small premium over the base version.

  This chair offers far more customizability than you’d expect, with options to change the seat depth, lumbar support, armrests, recline, and even seat tilt. And the seat itself is cushy. There’s a headrest attachment option, but I don’t think it’s necessary. If they have to be at a desk for eight hours a day, it may as well be a good chair, and it helps that this one is pretty too.

• A Discreet Standing Desk

  Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  Branch

  Four Leg Standing Desk

  Gifting someone else a desk is a tall order, let alone a standing desk (pun intended). But maybe your kiddo got a new job, or your nephew moved to a new city. A standing desk is far from a necessity, but it offers up more options so they can get the perfect height for their workstation, and it also lets them stretch their legs every so often.

  I used Branch’s Four Leg Standing Desk for several months, and it’s honestly hard to look at other standing desks now. Most desks have the same drab two-leg frame that screams standing desk, but this one is discreet and hides its standing functionality within the four telescoping legs. It’s a gorgeous design, though the motors aren’t the quietest.