Not 100% sure, but I think a strict $15 cap is safest so interns dont stress. Be careful with ranges. Quick question though, is the company chipping in for food or drinks?

Unfortunately, I have seen these office gift exchanges go south more often than not. I have had issues with the price range approach you mentioned in the past; it is just not as good as people expect in practice. In my experience, one person spends ten dollars, another spends twenty, and suddenly there is this palpable awkwardness in the room when the gifts are opened. It is much better to be methodical and pick one firm number to keep the playing field level and safe for everyone. From what I have observed, fifteen dollars is unfortunately just too low these days, especially in a high cost-of-living area like Seattle. You mostly end up with plastic junk that people just throw away later. I typically recommend a hard twenty dollar limit as the safest compromise. It is basically the sweet spot for getting something like a decent bag of local coffee or a quality notebook without being a total financial drain on your interns. To give you a better recommendation though, I have a couple of questions. Are you planning on making this strictly opt-in so the interns do not feel pressured to join if they are struggling? Also, are you looking for a specific theme like books or local treats, or is it just a general free-for-all? Knowing those details helps determine if twenty is actually a realistic floor for your specific team.

Just saw this! I absolutely love organizing these things, it is such a fantastic way to build team morale! Regarding the price range issue: > Someone suggested doing a "range" like 10 to 20 dollars but does that actually work or do people who spend 10 feel bad when they get a 20 dollar gift? In my experience, ranges create too much technical friction with expectations. You really want a hard number that feels premium. Honestly, just look at Yeti or maybe some stuff from Moleskine. You just cant go wrong with those brands for office gifts, they always feel high-end regardless of the actual spend! Quick question tho before I give you a full breakdown of the math... are you guys doing a standard Secret Santa where everyone buys for a specific person, or more of a "White Elephant" style swap? The technical strategy for the price limit changes a lot depending on if people are stealing gifts or not!