Corporate gift exchange at the office — how much should you spend?
by Farhana Nordin·May 20, 2026
It's that time of year again. Raya / Christmas / year-end, the office gift exchange has arrived and I never know what the right amount to spend is.
Informal guidance I've gathered:
- Most Malaysian office gift exchanges cap at RM30—50
- If no cap is stated, treat RM30 as the default
- For a Secret Santa / Kris Kringle format, RM30—50 is standard
- For direct gifts to your manager or team lead: RM50—100 for a group gift is common; avoid giving individual gifts to managers if others aren't
Safe gifts at any amount: Quality food items (chocolate, cookies, premium biscuit tins), a nice notebook, something practical.
Avoid: Anything too personal (perfume, clothing), anything that could be read as commentary on the person, religious items unless you're certain of preferences.