Secret Santa is one of the most fun traditions of the festive season: a name drawn at random and a secret gift for that person, within an agreed budget. It's perfect for the office, groups of friends, classes and big families. But finding the right gift, maybe for someone you barely know and on a strict budget, isn't always easy. Here you'll find cute, funny and original Secret Santa gift ideas for budgets of £5, £10, £15 and £20.
Secret Santa gifts under £5
With a £5 budget you can find lots of cute little gifts: pencils, special pens, stickers and small stationery accessories make perfect Secret Santa gifts for anyone who loves writing and drawing, and they raise a smile at the office too. Explore Legami's stationery.
Secret Santa gifts under £10
With £10 the choice widens: Christmas gel pens, small beauty products for lips and hands, fun socks, plush tree decorations, stress toys and desk accessories. Secret Santa gifts under £10 that always make a good impression.
Secret Santa gifts under £15
Gifts under £15 are the most popular range for swaps between colleagues and friends: a special pen with a little notebook, a pair of Christmas socks, a hand cream with a lip balm or a tree decoration. Pairing two small items creates a generous gift without going over budget.
Secret Santa gifts under £20
With a £20 budget you can choose bigger gifts: a small beauty set, a Christmas headband, a game to play as a group, a diary or a travel accessory. They're perfect Secret Santa ideas to surprise the colleague or friend you've drawn.
How to choose the perfect Secret Santa gift
- Stick to the budget: it's the golden rule of Secret Santa.
- If you don't know the person well, choose a universal gift, like a pen, a mug or a pair of socks.
- If you know them well, go for one of their passions.
- A touch of humour always goes down well, without overdoing it.
- Don't forget the wrapping: it's part of the surprise.
Secret Santa at work and with friends
At the office, the best gifts are ones that get used at the desk: pens, diaries, mugs, stress toys. With friends you can be bolder with funny Secret Santa gifts, novelty Christmas gifts, beauty treats and games. Find more ideas in our Christmas gifts for colleagues, stress toys and fun games.
How to organise a Secret Santa
Agree a shared budget and a date for the swap. Draw names the traditional way or digitally: write the participants' names on slips of paper and take turns drawing one without revealing it, or use an online Secret Santa generator. On the day, put all the gifts under the tree, open yours according to the name on the tag and have fun guessing who chose it.
Secret Santa ideas for someone you don't know well
When you draw the name of a colleague or a friend of a friend you barely know, the safest choice is a universal, useful gift: a special pen, an illustrated mug, a pair of colourful socks, a stress toy. They're all-rounder gifts that never cause awkwardness and always go down well.
Secret Santa wrapping
A Secret Santa gift deserves careful, fun wrapping: a Christmas gift bag, a ribbon and a tag with the recipient's name from our Christmas gift wrap. If you're looking for little gifts for lots of people outside the swap, explore our small Christmas gifts.
