Office Holiday Party Favors Employees Will Actually Use
Custom office holiday party favors that arrive on time: can coolers, wristbands, metal cards and more, with a free design proof and a simple ordering timeline.
Quick answer: The best office holiday party favors are small, useful and personalized with something that belongs to your team: the year, an inside joke or the party theme. Custom can coolers, silicone wristbands, metal cards, name badges and branded table decor all work well. Order about three weeks before the party. Standard orders take 3–5 business days to produce and 5–7 business days to ship, and a $30 rush option cuts that to 1–3 days of production plus 3–5 days of shipping.
What makes a good office holiday party favor?
A good favor passes three tests:
- People use it after the party. If it ends up in a desk drawer on Monday, it was decoration, not a gift.
- It fits everyone. Pick items that work for remote staff, people who don’t drink and people who skip the after-party.
- It says something about this year. “Team Ops 2026” or the name of your party theme turns a generic item into a keepsake.
Skip anything that needs a size chart unless you’re collecting sizes anyway. Small, one-size items are easier to order, pack and mail to remote staff.
5 office holiday party favor ideas (with examples)
1. Custom can coolers for the party theme
Can coolers are the easiest favor to theme. Print the party name, the year or a line like “Ugly Sweater Champs 2026” on them and set them out at the drink station. They keep drinks cold at the party and keep showing up at summer cookouts long after.
Example: A 40-person sales team hosts an ugly sweater party. Each can cooler says “Sweater Weather Sales Squad 2026” in the company colors, and the winner of the sweater contest gets a different color.
Browse holiday designs in our holiday can coolers collection or see all custom can coolers. Your design proof shows exactly what you’re getting before anything is printed.
Design tip: Keep text short and use strong contrast, such as gold ink on a navy can cooler. Thin, detailed fonts are hard to read on a curved surface.
2. Silicone wristbands for teams, raffles and gift exchanges
Wristbands are light to mail, fit almost everyone and are easy to color-code. Use them as:
- Raffle tickets: each guest gets a band with a number printed on it.
- Team colors: split departments into teams for party games.
- A year-end thank-you: “Thanks for an amazing 2026” in debossed letters.
Choose from debossed, embossed, printed or glow-in-the-dark silicone wristbands. Glow bands are fun if the party has a dark dance floor. Confirm band size and width on your proof. For more design ideas, read our guide to designing custom silicone wristbands.
3. Metal cards as a keepsake for key people
For managers, top performers or long-service milestones, a metal card feels like a real gift. Engrave the name, the year and a short line (“5 Years at Acme — Thank You”).
Example: An HR coordinator gives a metal card to each employee who hit a five- or ten-year anniversary, and hands them out during the toast.
See our custom metal cards. Engraved brushed-metal and NFC tap-to-share versions are available; confirm finish details on your proof.
4. Name badges and lanyards for big or multi-office parties
When several offices or a hundred-plus people get together, name badges help everyone mingle. Print holiday-themed PVC cards with a name and department:
- Sizes: 2.12 x 3.38 in (standard card size) or 3.15 x 4.72 in (larger, easier to read across a room)
- Finishes: glossy, matte or frosted
Pair them with custom lanyards in your brand colors, and confirm the attachment style on your proof. Shop PVC ID cards, or read our PVC ID cards ordering guide first.
5. Branded table covers and runners for the party room
Not every favor goes home. A logo table cover on the gift table or buffet makes an office party room look planned rather than thrown together, and you can reuse it at trade shows and open houses all year.
Table covers come in 4, 6 and 8 ft sizes, in throw, fitted or stretch styles. Add a table runner in a seasonal color for the holidays. Not sure which style to pick? Our guide to throw vs. fitted vs. stretch table covers explains the difference.
How far ahead should you order holiday party favors?
Work backward from the party date:
- Free design proof and your approval: allow 1–2 days for revisions.
- Production: 3–5 business days standard, or 1–3 business days with $30 rush.
- Shipping (free standard, USPS/UPS): 5–7 business days standard, or 3–5 business days with rush.
- Plan for: about 3 weeks before the party on standard, or about 1.5–2 weeks with rush.
Example: For a Friday, December 18 party, approve your proof by about November 25 to stay on the standard timeline. Business days skip weekends and holidays, so leave extra room around Thanksgiving.
Carriers get busier every December, so check the USPS holiday shipping dates if you’re mailing favors on to remote employees after they reach you, and build that second trip into your plan.
Bring Your Ideas to Life
Create custom occasions & seasonal for your next event, promotion or organization. No minimum order on most products.
Shop Occasions & Seasonal →How to avoid problems with your order
- Read the proof twice. Check spelling, the year, names and colors. Have a second person read it as well.
- Count remote staff. Decide before you order whether favors go to the office or straight to people’s homes.
- Order a few extras. New hires and last-minute guests show up.
- Open the box the day it arrives. We don’t offer refunds, but if there’s a valid issue with your order, report it within 24 hours of delivery and we’ll remake it free.
Frequently asked questions
What are good holiday party favors for coworkers?
Small, useful items personalized for the team: can coolers, silicone wristbands, a metal keepsake card or a themed name badge. Avoid anything that needs a size chart.
Is there a minimum order?
Most PrintVow products have no minimum order, so you can order exactly for your headcount.
How long does a custom order take?
Standard: 3–5 business days of production plus 5–7 business days of shipping. Rush ($30): 1–3 business days of production plus 3–5 business days of shipping. Production starts after you approve your free design proof.
Is shipping free?
Yes. Standard shipping is free worldwide, via USPS or UPS.
Do I see the design before it’s printed?
Yes. Every order includes a free design proof, and production starts only after you approve it.
What if something arrives wrong?
Report a valid issue within 24 hours of delivery and we’ll remake the order free. We don’t offer refunds.
Plan your office holiday favors today
Tell us your party date, headcount and theme, and we’ll send a free design proof.
- Email: hello@printvow.com
- Phone: +1 307-430-1110
- Shop: printvow.com/shop
Looking for ready-made holiday designs? You can also browse the Craft and Print Studio shop on Etsy.