How Much To Spend On A Leaving Gift At Work (UK 2026)
How much to spend on a leaving gift
Leaving collections are one of the few times a set figure genuinely helps - it stops people guessing and stops anyone feeling caught out.
These are the amounts most UK workplaces land on in 2026, for someone leaving after a few years and for a full retirement.
Leaving cards for the collection
Blank inside, so the whole team can sign it.
Whose Gonna Make The Brews Now? Leaving Card
£3.87
Ciao, Bitch (Italian-themed Goodbye & Good Luck Card)
£3.87
Good Luck For Your New Life in Dubai Card
£3.87
Adios, Bitch (Spanish-themed Goodbye & Good Luck Card)
£3.87
See You Later, Alligator (Funny Good Luck Card)
£3.75
Au Revoir, Bitch (French-themed Goodbye & Good Luck Card)
£3.87
What to put in the envelope
- Someone you barely worked with: £2 to £5, and sign the card.
- Someone on your team: £5 to £10.
- Someone you worked closely with for years: £10 to £20.
- Line manager organising it: often a little more, plus the card and the cake.
- Retirement after a long career: £10 to £20 per person is common, sometimes more from the immediate team.
Running the collection without the awkwardness
- State a suggested amount. Nothing else removes the guesswork.
- Use a digital collection so nobody has to find cash.
- Give people a private way to opt out - not everyone can spare it.
- Buy one good thing, not four small ones.
- Get the card round the office before the last day, not on it.
What people actually keep
- A signed card with real messages, read years later.
- Vouchers for something they would never buy themselves.
- A keepsake that marks the years rather than the job title.
- A plant or print for the next desk, or the shed.
How to write it so it lands
- Put the suggested amount in the message. Vagueness is what makes collections uncomfortable.
- Messages beat money in the card. Ask people to write a line, not just a signature.
Where to shop next
- How much to give as a wedding gift
- How much to spend on a christening gift
- Secret Santa spending limits
- Teacher gift etiquette and budgets
- How much to spend on a birthday gift
- Leaving messages for a colleague
- Retirement speech ideas
- Retirement party decorations
- How to make a balloon arch
- Photo booth prop ideas
- All guides
Frequently asked questions
How much should you give for a work leaving collection?
£5 to £10 is standard for a colleague on your team, £2 to £5 if you rarely worked together and £10 to £20 for someone you worked closely with or who is retiring.
Is it OK not to contribute to a leaving collection?
Yes. Sign the card and leave it there - a decent organiser makes opting out easy and nobody should be tracking who paid.
How much should a manager spend on a leaving gift?
Most managers top up the collection rather than buying separately, and cover the card and the send-off themselves.