Recognition matters, and it doesn’t need a big budget. Here are ten appreciation gifts that work for teams in Singapore and across APAC, with what each one costs on our shop and how to get them to people without the shipping headache.
Practical, well-made gifts that suit the local climate tend to beat big, generic ones.
1. Branded swag boxes
A box of branded items is a popular way to say thanks. Notebooks, drinkware, tote bags and a handwritten note packed together feel like a proper gift.
A four- or five-item box usually lands between SGD 60 and 100, and the gift box itself costs SGD 2 to 9. Source and pack it in the region and you skip the international shipping, customs risk and delivery guesswork.
2. Branded drinkware
Custom tumblers, mugs and water bottles are practical, long-lasting and used every day, so people see your brand every morning.
Tumblers run SGD 11 to 20 a unit, water bottles SGD 9 to 19 and mugs SGD 5 to 18. In Singapore’s heat, an insulated bottle that keeps water cold all afternoon gets used far more than a ceramic mug.
3. Portable fans
Singapore is hot and humid all year, and a rechargeable mini fan gets used on the commute, at outdoor lunches and in stuffy meeting rooms. It’s a small, slightly unexpected gift that people actually reach for. Most portable fans cost SGD 16 to 19.
4. Snack and coffee kits
Snacks and coffee are an easy win and simple to put together. For APAC teams, include snacks from Singapore or from each person’s home country so it feels picked for them.
If you’re sending food to Muslim colleagues in Singapore, Malaysia or Indonesia, check that everything is halal-certified.
5. Wellness gifts
A cooling towel, a quick-dry gym towel or a branded yoga mat is a nice way to look after people outside of work. These suit remote and hybrid teams, where work and home life tend to blur. Towels cost SGD 7 to 17.
6. Tech accessories
Phone stands, wireless chargers and cable organisers are useful for anyone who works at a desk, and they’re easy to brand. Phone accessories cost SGD 6 to 19, and power banks SGD 16 to 37.
7. Gift cards
A gift card for a coffee chain, food delivery platform or online retailer lets people choose what they actually want. Add a small branded item so it doesn’t feel like cash in an envelope.
For Singapore-based employees, local options like GrabFood or FairPrice make more sense than US-focused alternatives.
8. Experience vouchers
An affordable local experience, like a cooking class, a wellness session or an online workshop, gives people something to look forward to. These work as team gifts or individual rewards, and you can pick one that suits wherever each person is based.
9. Team game night kits
A small board game or trivia set with some snacks works well for in-office or hybrid teams, especially at the end of the year or when a big project wraps up.
10. Personalised notes
Not every gift needs a budget. A handwritten note from a manager or founder that names what the person actually did often means more than the gift itself. Tuck one into any of the above.
When to say thanks in Singapore and APAC
Thank-yous work best when they’re tied to a moment: a work anniversary, a project win, the end of a busy quarter or the end of the year. Across the region, a few festive seasons matter too:
- Chinese New Year in Singapore and Malaysia. Our Chinese New Year gifting guide has the 2027 order-by dates.
- Hari Raya Puasa (Eid) in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
- Deepavali in Singapore and Malaysia.
- Christmas, which matters a lot in the Philippines. See our Christmas gifting guide for this year’s dates.
Getting gifts to APAC teams
Picking the gift is the easy part. For companies outside Asia, getting it to people in Singapore, Malaysia or the Philippines is where it usually goes wrong.
International shipping from the US or Europe to Singapore typically costs USD 40 to 100 per package, takes 5 to 10 business days and comes with customs risk. For a team of 20, that adds up fast before you’ve spent anything on the gifts themselves.
It’s simpler to use a partner in the region who sources, brands, packs and delivers for you. Your gifts skip the long-haul shipping and customs delays, and arrive on time.
Related: Budget corporate gifts · Swag ideas for remote employees · How much corporate swag costs in Singapore