Funny Buttons for Coworkers: A Small Gift Buying Guide
By Badge Bomb | buttons, pins, stickers + gifts by your favorite | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: Buying Guides
A practical guide to picking funny buttons for coworkers, with sizing rules, bulk tips, and office-appropriate picks under $5.
Quick answer
For most coworkers, a 1.25-inch button is the safer pick: it reads clearly on a lanyard or jacket without taking over an outfit. Go with a 1-inch button only when you want a subtle desk-cubby surprise. If you are buying for a team, mix a few designs and keep the total per person under $5.
Why buttons work as office gifts
Buttons solve the office gift problem because they are small, flat, and easy to stash in a drawer or pin to a bag. They do not require a size, a color preference, or a dietary restriction. A coworker who would never wear a novelty T-shirt will often happily clip a funny button to a lanyard.
The catch is that a button only lands if the joke fits the relationship. A sarcastic caption works for a close teammate; a plant-based or zodiac design is safer for someone you know less well. Buy the message first, then the size.
Size first: 1 inch vs 1.25 inch
The two sizes in this catalog behave differently in daily office use. A 1.25-inch button is large enough to read across a desk and looks intentional on a jacket lapel, tote strap, or lanyard. A 1-inch button is closer to a coin and disappears on dark fabric, but it fits standard buttonholes and works well on a pencil case or monitor base.
If you are unsure, default to 1.25 inch for gifts that will be worn and 1 inch for gifts that will sit on a desk. Neither size is wrong; the mistake is buying a detailed design in the smaller size where the artwork gets cramped.
How to buy in bulk without overthinking it
For a team of five or more, pick two or three designs and order one of each per person rather than trying to match every individual personality. This keeps the cost predictable and gives people a choice, which matters more than a perfect match. A la carte buttons need 14 days to process, so order before the event, not the week of.
Keep a spare or two. Someone will always want the design you did not expect, and a spare button is a cheap way to avoid a second shipping wait.
Decision rules for coworker buttons
- Rule 1: Match the message to the relationship: For a close teammate, a sarcastic caption like "Everything Sucks" lands as an inside joke. For a new hire, a manager, or someone you rarely talk to, choose a neutral design such as a zodiac or plant-based graphic. If you would not say the caption out loud to that person, do not buy it for them.
- Rule 2: Let the size follow the use: Buy 1.25 inch for buttons that will be worn on a lanyard, jacket, or bag, because the larger face is readable at a glance. Buy 1 inch for desk items, pencil cases, or standard buttonholes where a smaller, subtler accent fits better. When in doubt, 1.25 inch is the safer gift size.
- Rule 3: Order before the 14-day processing window: A la carte and custom buttons need 14 days to process. Count back from the birthday, farewell, or team event and place the order at least two weeks ahead, plus shipping time. Put the order date on your calendar, not the event date.
- Rule 4: Keep the per-person spend under $5: Buttons in this catalog sit between $0.47 and $0.53 each at catalog price. That means you can give two or three designs per person and still stay well under a $5 office gift limit. Two buttons per person reads as more thoughtful than one, without breaking the budget.
Product facts to know before you buy
- Life Is What Happens When Your Phone is Charging 1.25" Button: Life Is What Happens When Your Phone is Charging 1.25" Button by Ephemera, catalog price USD 0.49 (comparison price USD 0.70). A la carte buttons need 14 days to process. The phone-charging joke is relatable for desk workers, and the 1.25-inch size makes the caption readable on a lanyard or bag. The 14-day processing window means you should order at least two weeks before a birthday or team event.
- Pisces 1.25" Button: Pisces 1.25" Button by Gemma Correll, catalog price USD 0.47 (comparison price USD 0.70). Measures 1.25 inches in diameter. Shows a Pisces zodiac illustration with vibrant, long-lasting design. A zodiac button is a low-risk gift when you know a coworker's sign but not their sense of humor. The 1.25-inch diameter gives the illustration room to read clearly.
- Plant Based 1.25" Button: Plant Based 1.25" Button by Seltzer Goods, catalog price USD 0.51 (comparison price USD 0.70). 1.25-inch diameter, plant-based graphic design, standard button material, easy to sew or pin. Custom orders require a 14-day processing period. This is the safest office pick because the message is a lifestyle nod rather than a joke at anyone's expense. The pin-or-sew option lets a coworker attach it to a bag or stitch it onto a fabric surface.
- Everything Sucks Cat 1" Button by Gemma Correll: Everything Sucks Cat 1" Button by Gemma Correll, catalog price USD 0.53 (comparison price USD 0.70). 1-inch diameter, ideal for most standard buttonholes. Cat illustration with the caption "Everything Sucks." Best saved for a coworker you know well, since the caption is openly sarcastic. The 1-inch size fits standard buttonholes, so it can be worn on a shirt or pinned to a fabric surface.
Is this the right gift for your coworker?
Best for
- Team birthdays, farewells, and desk-drop gifts where you want something small and low-pressure
- Coworkers who already decorate their bags, lanyards, or monitors with pins and stickers
- Group gifting where you need several identical or mixed designs at a low unit price
Not for
- Coworkers in a formal or client-facing role where visible novelty accessories are not appropriate
- Anyone you would need to explain the joke to, since a button only works if the message lands immediately
- Last-minute gifts, because a la carte and custom buttons need 14 days to process
