How much should I spend on a coworker's wedding gift?

Anywhere from $50 to $150 depending on how close you are to them and your own budget. If it's someone you work with but don't hang outside the office, $50-75 is solid. For a closer coworker or someone you actually consider a friend, $100-150 makes sense. Obviously adjust if money's tight - they'll appreciate something thoughtful at any price point.

The other factor is whether you're going to the wedding itself or just sending a gift. If you're attending, you might lean toward the higher end since you're also spending on travel, time off, potentially a hotel. If it's just a gift from afar, the lower range works fine. Group gifts are also smart if a few coworkers want to chip in together - that way you hit a bigger number without each person spending as much.

Don't stress too much about the exact amount. A gift card to a restaurant or home goods store, something for their registry, or cash in an envelope all work great. People remember the gesture more than whether you spent $75 or $100.

I've found the attendance question matters way more than trying to guess the "right" number. If you're actually going to the wedding, spending something in the $75 - 100 range feels natural because you're taking time and maybe travel to be there. If it's just a gift sent from afar, $50 works fine and honestly most people won't even think about it - they're just glad you remembered. The real thing is don't stress about looking cheap; coworkers aren't counting your money, and whatever you give that fits your budget is the right call.

The attendance thing is real, but honestly what matters more is your actual relationship and what you can afford without stress. I've seen people overthink this when $50-75 to someone you barely know outside work is totally fine, and if you're close enough that you're genuinely excited about their wedding, bumping it to $100+ feels natural instead of like an obligation.

What's your actual budget without feeling the pinch? That's the real question, because a gift given grudgingly shows more than the price tag. Everyone here's nailed that attendance matters and closeness matters, but I'd add this: if you're genuinely strapped, $30-40 and a handwritten card does the job fine - most people appreciate the gesture more than hitting some arbitrary number. Don't stretch yourself thin trying to impress someone you see in the break room.

I think the attendance vs non-attendance split matters less than people make it out to be - what really counts is how much you can comfortably spend without it stinging your wallet. Everyone here's circling around dollar amounts, but honestly if you're stressed about the cost that's your real answer. Pitch something that feels manageable to you, whether that's $40 or $150, and call it good. The couple won't be checking receipts, and anyone who'd judge you for the amount isn't someone whose judgment matters anyway.

What's your actual financial situation looking like right now? The attendance question matters, sure, but I think people above are dancing around the real issue: if you can't comfortably spare $75-100 without it stinging, then $50 is completely acceptable and honestly more honest than stretching yourself. Nobody's tracking who gave what, and most coworkers understand budgets exist. Stick with what feels natural for your wallet and your actual closeness to them, and stop treating it like there's some magic number.

Most couples don't track who gave what, so the guilt trap everyone sets for themselves doesn't actually exist. What matters is showing up or sending something, not hitting a magic number - if you're tight on cash, $40-50 is completely acceptable and won't offend anyone who matters. The only time you'd want to stretch higher is if you're in the wedding party or going to a destination event where you're already spending on travel.

The trick nobody mentions is to check if they've set up a registry or honeymoon fund - that actually removes all the guesswork because you know exactly what they want and you're not overthinking dollar amounts. If there's no registry, I'd go with what feels comfortable to your wallet rather than hunting for some magic number, because a gift given without anxiety is way better than stressing over whether $75 was "enough." For a coworker you see every day but don't hang with outside work, $50-60 is totally fine and sends the right signal.