Secret Santa gift ideas: 30 gifts by budget and person · Santamigo
Secret Santa gift ideas: 30 gifts by budget, for him, for her and for a laugh
· 6 min read
Secret Santa gift ideas: 30 gifts at £5, £15 and more, for him, for her or for a laugh, plus a simple way to choose the right one.
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Finding Secret Santa gift ideas is often harder than the draw itself: a tight budget, someone you only half know, and the hope that the present won't end up at the back of a cupboard. Here are 30 Secret Santa gifts sorted by budget (£5, £15, then our guides for £10, £20 and £50), for him, for her or for a laugh, with a simple way to pick the right one.
Prices are rough guides. They change a lot in the run up to Christmas, so check the amount when you buy.
How do you choose a Secret Santa gift? Three questions
Before you browse the ideas, ask yourself these three questions. They save you from most of the classic mistakes.
What budget has the group set? Stay close to it, neither far below nor far above. If nobody has decided, our guide to the Secret Santa budget helps you settle it.
Has the person written a wish list? If so, it's your best lead. If it's empty, our guide to the Secret Santa wish list explains how to use it and what to do without any hints.
Where is the exchange taking place? Among friends, you can go for humour or something very personal. At work, a useful, neutral present is safer: our Secret Santa gifts for colleagues are made for that.
£5 Secret Santa gift ideas: small price, real thought
With £5, aim for a small everyday treat. The wrapping and a handwritten note count almost as much as the gift.
Funny Christmas socks
usually around £5
Reindeer, trees or gingerbread men: worn all through December, they raise a smile at the office and at home.
Start from the person's wish list if they've written one. Otherwise, go for a small useful item (travel mug, blanket, notebook), a sweet treat or a cosy gift, staying close to the budget the group set.
›What is a good £5 Secret Santa gift?
Christmas socks, a hot chocolate bomb, magnetic bookmarks, a lip balm or a mini notebook. Take care with the wrapping and add a short note: at that price, the thought makes the difference.
›What do you buy for someone you don't know well?
Choose a neutral, useful gift: a treat, a mug, a blanket, a subtly scented candle. Avoid sized clothing, strong perfumes and humour that could be taken the wrong way.
›Can you give a funny Secret Santa gift?
Yes, if the group is up for it and the joke isn't about the person's looks, age or job. The best is a funny gift that stays useful, like a mug with an in joke or a party card game.
›How do you find out what your Secret Santa recipient wants?
The easiest way is for everyone to write a wish list at the time of the draw. On Santamigo, it appears with the name you drew, and you can ask the person an anonymous question without revealing who you are.
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A hot chocolate bomb
usually around £5
Drop it into a mug of hot milk and it melts to release marshmallows. A little show at teatime.
A funny gift can be the best memory of the evening, as long as the person laughs too. Avoid anything about someone's looks, age or job. We cover these traps in our article on bad Secret Santa gifts.
An ugly Christmas jumper
about £20 to £30
The great classic, especially if the group is planning a themed party. Check the size discreetly.
Yes, if you enjoy baking or making things and the result looks neat. A few ideas that usually go down well:
a jar of cookie mix, with the recipe on the label;
a homemade spread or jam;
Christmas biscuits in a pretty tin.
Two rules: count the cost of ingredients and packaging to stay within budget, and check for allergies before giving food.
The best gift is still the one they asked for
All these ideas help in a pinch, but nothing beats a hint from the person themselves. On Santamigo, every participant can write their wish list, their letter to Father Christmas, and whoever draws them finds it with their result. The draw is free, needs no account, and is shared with a simple link, on WhatsApp for example. Start your Secret Santa draw in a few minutes.
