Secret Santa: rules, wish lists and gift ideas under €20
By Vidmantas Markevičius
Secret Santa turns ten stressful gifts into one good one. It's popular with big families, friend groups and offices, because everyone gives and receives exactly one present. Here's how to run it without awkward moments.
How does Secret Santa work?
- Gather the group and agree to take part (opting out is fine).
- Set the budget, for example €15 or €20 per gift.
- Draw names in secret. Everyone gets one person to buy for and must not reveal who.
- Share wish lists. Each person writes 3–5 ideas, and only their Santa sees them.
- Exchange gifts on the agreed day, and optionally guess who your Santa was.
Secret Santa rules that prevent problems
| Rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| One fixed budget (e.g. €20) | Avoids a €5 gift meeting a €50 one |
| A clear deadline | Gives Santas time to order online |
| No drawing yourself or your partner | Re-draw if it happens |
| A short wish list from everyone | The biggest cause of bad Secret Santa gifts is guessing |
| Say what to avoid | Allergies, alcohol, "no more mugs" |
| Keep it secret until the exchange | That's the fun |
How to draw names
- On paper: names in a hat. Simple, but it only works if everyone is in the same room.
- With a name-drawing tool or app: useful for remote families and offices. Many free tools send each person their match by email.
- For families with couples: exclude partners from drawing each other so the gift goes outside the household.
Claim A Gift doesn't draw names. It's for the wish lists: everyone makes a short list, and you send each list only to the person who drew that name.
The Secret Santa wish list (and the questionnaire alternative)
A Secret Santa gift goes wrong for one reason: the Santa barely knows the person. Two ways to fix that:
1. A short wish list (best). Each person adds 3–5 things within the budget, with details: size, colour, shop. The Santa picks one, and it's still a surprise which one.
2. A Secret Santa questionnaire. If someone refuses to make a list, ask them to answer five questions:
- What's your favourite snack or drink?
- A hobby you'd like more gear for?
- Something you use every day that's wearing out?
- Anything you definitely don't want?
- Clothing size, if relevant?
Secret Santa for coworkers
Office Secret Santa has a few extra rules:
- Keep it optional. Nobody should feel pressured to join.
- Keep it professional. No joke gifts that could embarrass anyone.
- Lower the budget (€10–15 is common) so everyone can join comfortably.
- Think inclusive: not everyone drinks alcohol or celebrates Christmas, so "holiday gift exchange" can be a better name.
- Wish lists help even more at work, because colleagues often know little about each other's lives outside the office.
Collecting money for one bigger gift for a colleague instead? See how to organise a group gift for a colleague.
25 Secret Santa gift ideas under €20
| Category | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Food & drink | specialty coffee, loose-leaf tea, hot sauce sampler, quality chocolate, local honey |
| Cosy | merino or fun socks, a scented candle, a mini hot water bottle, a soft beanie, hand cream |
| Desk & everyday | a nice notebook, a quality pen, a phone stand, a cable organiser, a compact power bank |
| Fun | a card game (Exploding Kittens, Dobble), a small puzzle, a mini LEGO set, a book they'd enjoy, a cinema voucher |
| Plants & home | a small succulent, seed kit, a nice mug (only if they want one), coasters, a mini photo frame |
More budget ideas: gift ideas under €20, €30 and €50.
FAQ
How does Secret Santa work?
Everyone draws one name in secret and buys a gift for that person within a set budget. Gifts are exchanged on an agreed day, often without revealing who gave what.
How much should you spend on Secret Santa?
Most groups agree on €10–25. Offices usually stay at the lower end. The important thing is that everyone sticks to the same amount.
What do you put on a Secret Santa wish list?
3–5 specific ideas within the budget, with size, colour or shop where it matters, plus anything to avoid.
Can you do Secret Santa online?
Yes. Use a name-drawing tool to send each person their match, and share wish lists by link so Santas can order online.
What if someone doesn't want to make a wish list?
Ask them a few quick questions instead (favourite snack, hobby, sizes, things to avoid) and give the answers to their Santa.
Make your Secret Santa wish list in 3 minutes — free, no sign-up.
By Vidmantas Markevičius, founder of Claim A Gift. Updated November 2026.