How to choose a Secret Santa gift
The picker above suggests ideas for a budget and a few interests. This guide explains the thinking behind a good choice, so that whatever you pick lands well.
Start with the wishlist
If the person you drew has filled in a wishlist, use it. It is not cheating and it does not spoil the surprise: they still do not know who is buying, or which item you will choose. If the list is empty, look at the interests they ticked, or ask a mutual friend one casual question.
Treat the budget as a ceiling
The budget is the most you should spend, not a target to hit exactly. Going over it puts everyone else in an awkward position. Going a little under is fine if the gift is right. On a small budget, one good thing is better than three fillers.
Safe choices when you barely know them
Some gifts work for almost anyone:
- Things that get used up: good coffee or tea, chocolate, a nice hand cream.
- Small comforts: warm socks, a candle, a mug with some character.
- Desk companions: a notebook, a small plant, a puzzle for the lunch break.
Each of these is easy to enjoy and easy to pass on if it misses.
What to avoid
Skip anything that depends on size, such as clothing. Skip anything that comments on the person: diet books, anti-ageing products, self-improvement guides. Be careful with alcohol unless you know they drink, and with inside jokes that only half the room will understand.
Guides by situation
- On a tight budget: Secret Santa gifts under 10
- The most common budget: Secret Santa gifts under 20
- For the office: Secret Santa gifts for coworkers
- For a laugh: funny Secret Santa gifts
Frequently asked questions
How much should a Secret Santa gift cost?
Whatever the organizer set, and no more. Most office exchanges settle between 10 and 25 in the local currency; families and close friends sometimes go higher.
What if I do not know the person at all?
Choose something consumable or useful from the safe list above, and add a short handwritten note. A kind note does more than an expensive guess.
Is a gift card acceptable?
Yes, especially for a remote colleague or when time is short. Pick a shop most people use, and write a line about why you chose it so it does not feel like an afterthought.
When should I buy?
At least a week before the exchange if you are ordering online. Delivery slows down in December, and a late gift is the one mistake everyone notices.