As a tech journalist, I have a lot of gadgets… not just the ones I research and write about, but the ones that keep me sane and productive day to day. I spend so many hours at my desk and I’ve learned that the right gadgets can turn any cluttered, boring, undesirable workspace into a spot I actually look forward to and enjoy sitting at.
I’m sure you know someone like that in your life—and maybe you’re trying to buy a gift for them but struggling to come up with fun ideas that are both practical and wanted. I’ve put together a list of the coolest desk gadget gift ideas under $50 that I’d genuinely be thrilled to unwrap.
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Brother P-Touch PT-N20 Label Maker
Brother
Oh, you wouldn’t believe the kind of power I’d have if I got a label maker as a gift! My family wouldn’t be safe as I printed out label after label, sticking them on everything. This label maker from Brother would be my top pick: compact, with a full keyboard, and the ability to customize your labels. There are three fonts to choose from, some 15 frames available, and a massive collection of 250 symbols, like smiling faces, hearts, and stars. All for $30? Who could say no?
Anker 9-in-1 Charging Station
Anker
I have a somewhat traditional power strip on my desk right now, featuring four AC outlets and three USB ports. But I’d love to swap it for this Anker 9-in-1 charging station because it’s so fast and versatile. Instead of trickle-charging, Anker’s desktop charger delivers 100W of power—fast enough to get my phone back to 100% in well under an hour. With a total of 3 AC outlets, 4 USB-C, and 2 USB-A ports, you can charge everything at once, complete with surge protection.
USB Mini Cooler (6 Cans)
Beichen
When the weather’s hot, I’m always thirsting for a cold drink. This USB mini cooler for desktops would be an amazing gift, with cooling for up to 6 cans at a time. It can be powered via USB or AC power (both cables are included), and it operates at under 25 dB so it’s pretty quiet—excellent for any desk and it won’t distract you. It only costs $44 when it goes on sale, which happens often (like now as of this writing).
Jack Pomodoro Timer
Jack
There will always be days when it’s hard to focus. On such days, I sometimes use a pomodoro timer app to keep me focused. The problem with using an app—for me, at least—is that once I pick up my phone, it’s game over. And that’s why I would love a physical pomodoro timer, like this compact productivity cube. In addition to being able to set up timers for 3, 5, 10, 25, 30, and 50 minutes, it has customizable sound effects, mute/vibration options, a magnetic base, and it’s recharged via USB-C.
Amicool USB CD/DVD Drive
Amicool
PCs and laptops don’t come with CD/DVD drives anymore, and they haven’t for a long time. Just last week, I rummaged through some boxes and found a bunch of old CDs with pics from high school—and I wished I could load it up and browse. If I had this USB CD/DVD drive, I could. It’d also come in handy for watching DVDs on my computer. Honestly, it’s the kind of gift that a techy would love simply because they probably never even considered it an option, yet they’d make real use of it.
LED Monitor Light Bar
Quntis
Some days I just want some soft lighting on my monitor, illuminating the vicinity without full-blown lights on in the entire room or switching on a desk lamp that’s too bright for late nights. This LED monitor light bar is great because it illuminates without screen glare, plus it can auto-dim and adjust both brightness and color temperature (so no distracting blue light at night). It’s something any PC user could use.
Ikago Mug Warmer Set
iKago
One of the worst parts of working in the winter is that my hot coffee goes cold when I’m too focused on work. That’s why I’d love a mug warmer set like this one by Ikago, which comes with a cute mug and a warmer plate with customizable temperature. It also has built-in safety: auto-shutoff after 15 minutes without a cup, or 2 hours without any activity. It’s a lot cheaper than other smart mug warmers, perfect for a gift.
Wireless Charging Mouse Pad
Tarkari
This mouse pad by Tarkari has a wireless charging pad on the top-left corner, delivering up to 15W of charging for phones. I would love this for my desk, allowing me to charge my phone while I work—and it even doubles as a magnetic stand, allowing me to see my notifications as they arrive without picking up my phone (again, good for my focus if I can keep my phone out of my hands).
Odistar Desktop Vacuum Cleaner
Odistar
Sometimes, against my better judgment, I snack at my desk. Sometimes, I get crumbs everywhere. It is what it is… and that’s why this desktop vacuum cleaner by Odistar would be a great gift, not just for me but for anyone who desk-snacks like I do. It runs on AA batteries (not included) and lasts about 6.5 hours on a pair, so you’ll probably want to gift a set of rechargeable AAs with it. Or not. It’s a great gift on its own.
Rocketbook Reusable Smart Notebook
Rocketbook
I’ve tried countless note-taking apps to keep info organized on my computer, but I always revert back to good ol’ pen and paper. The Rocketbook reusable smart notebook seems like something I’d enjoy using, though. It has 70 pages divided into 5 sections where you can write/draw whatever you want with the included pen, which has erasable ink. When you’re done, you can digitize pages with the Rocketbook app, then erase those pages with the included microfiber cloth. It’s ideal for students, but I’d make full use of it as a remote worker for sure.