Christmas is packed full of rituals, from bagging coveted advent calendars to decorating the tree and gulping down mugfuls of mulled wine.
Secret Santa is amongst the festive fanfare, a way to spread cheer without putting too big of a dent in your Christmas budget. Names are entered by participants and drawn at random which must be kept under wraps until it’s time for the gift exchange.
Depending on whose name you’ve drawn from the hat (real or digital), the prospect of gift-giving may fill you with delight or dread - or perhaps a funny mixture of both. If you think getting something in budget for someone you know is tough, try summoning inspiration for the bloke you’ve only ever spoken to during the office fire alarm test.
Well, you can wipe the sweat from your brow because your friendly Christmas shopping elves (that’s us) are here to save the day with an edit of foolproof gifts that practically everyone, bar those with truly heinous taste, is bound to love. These are ideas that will be welcomed and used instead of gathering dust for 11 months before being shunted off to a future Secret Santa recipient (ideally not you).
To level the playing field, Secret Santas are usually set at an affordable budget, which should be respected at all costs. Going massively over it will make everyone else’s offering look paltry, and besides, the whole point of Secret Santa is for it to be cheap and cheerful.
For this reason, we’ve divided our roundup into price brackets: Under £20, Under £10 and Under £5.
With many of us back in the office for at least part of the week, Secret Santa has made a triumphant tinsel-strewn return this year. Get ahead of the game by adding an option below to basket now, ready to wrap up once you’ve picked your recipient’s name.
Our list also makes decent stocking filler inspiration or ideas for lesser family members or their partners.
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Best Secret Santa gifts under £20
Henry Hoover Desk Vacuum
Nifty desk accessories this cute are perfect Secret Santa fodder for desk buddies or anyone whose space could do with a festive spruce. Henry, aka the cutest cleaner in the known universe, comes in an adorable miniature format for cleaning desks, keyboards and mousepads. It’s powered by three AA batteries which you should include to ensure it will definitely be used.
Buy now £16.99, Amazon
Barbera Sicilia Xtra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml
With the price of olive oil as it is, who wouldn’t appreciate a tin of luxury EVOO? It may be a cooking staple, but this Sicilian-made product is anything but basic thanks to the colourful, patterned packaging that will make it the star of the kitchen countertop.
Buy now £14.85, Waitrose
Anthropologie Parker Monogram Mug
If your colleague or family member is forever making cups of tea, help make their next brew more distinctive with this beautifully crafted monogram mug.
The glazed stoneware and geometric print are endlessly cool and you can pair it with a matching saucer for extra brownie points.
Buy now £12.00, Anthropologie
Liberty Mitsi Highlighter Set
Double-ended highlighter pens are a must for any desk, and who better than Liberty to present them with a bit of style? Covered in the brand’s Mitsi flower print, they'll make editing and going over spreadsheets that much more pleasing.
Buy now £15.99, Liberty
Best Secret Santa gifts under £10
Fortnum’s Champagne Stopper
Champagne that’s lost its sparkle is a dreadful thing, not to mention a waste of excellent fizz. Forget the old trick of sticking a teaspoon into the top of open bottles, and get this F&M branded stopper instead. It snaps over the lid and creates an airtight seal to keep Champs fresher for longer. A genius gift for wine lovers.
Buy now £10.00, F&M
The Original Black Garlic Peeled Cloves 150g
Gourmet gems for the larder are rarely ill-received and black garlic is one of those ingredients that shines in practically any diet. It can be used in veggie, vegan and meat dishes, delivering deep, rich, umami flavour to everything from gravy and a casserole to a festive cheeseboard.
Buy now £8.50, Amazon
Tony's Chocolonely Rainbow Tasting Pack
The gift of Fairtrade chocolate is a universally loved one. Tony’s gets it right with irregular portions - so you can be as greedy or good as you like - and tasty flavours that promise to leave a smile on your chops.
This six-pack consists of the brand’s bestsellers, lined up in rainbow order. Stick a glittery bow on it, and you’re done.
Buy now £7.20, Amazon
Oliver Bonas Smiley Face Ceramic Chrome Ring Dish
It'll be smiles all round when they unwrap this sweet little dish finished with a smiley nodding to 90s style. It can be used for all sorts of things, from keeping jewellery to holding the perfect portion of almonds for afternoon snacking.
Buy now £6.50
Mr Bingo Bored of Wellness coasters
Art is such a fun and easy gift that will stand out amongst the pile of stuff your recipient will receive. Use your Secret Santa gift to promote independent artists like Mr Bingo, who has this tongue-in-cheek set of coasters ready for the friend who’s had their fill of wellness.
The set of four are hand printed in the UK and will be shipped by first class Royal Mail. A playful antidote to Dry January self-flagellation.
Buy now £8.50, Mr Bingo
Best Secret Santa gifts under £5 (ish)
Osco Faux Leather Smart Phone Holder
Best for: executive types
A simple design lifted with a faux leather cover in elegant grey, this phone holder is ideal for placing on an at-home desk or use in the office. It props devices up at an angle, making video calls a hands-free experience.
Buy now £6.00, John Lewis
Neom Organics London Ceramic Star Diffuser
Neom's candles may blow the Secret Santa budget, but the dinky diffusers won't. This star-shaped one is just a giver and comes with a little ribbon to hang it off doorknobs or on the tree, offering a boost of scent when required.
Buy now £5.00, Selfridges
Perelló Spanish Gordal Pitted Green Olives, 150g
Like your olives on the spicier side? Feel like you’re sunning yourself on the Med with a handy can of the iconic - because at this point, is there any other descriptor? - Perello olives. These queen-sized Spanish beauties are giant, juicy and pitted sparing teeth from chomping down on a wayward stone. Chunks of guindilla green peppers make these truly addictive; why not forward plan and get a multipack instead?
Buy now £4.50, Amazon
Himalayan Pink Salt, Selected by Maldon 250g
Secret Santa gifts at less than a fiver are challenging by any means, but it doesn't mean you can't give something a little special. Yes, it's salt, but it's Maldon, which we all know to be the Rolls Royce of salts. And this box contains Himalayan pink salt, which gives it gift-worthy status. Use the rest of the budget on extra special gift wrapping or a nice card.
Buy now £2.50, Amazon
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
A ferociously passionate fantasy tale which follows an enemies-to-lovers trope taking place within the mythical lands of Prythian, where faeries and humans live in violent opposition.
Whether you’ve come across A Court of Thorns and Roses via social media platforms such as TikTok, or are simply in the market for a new erotic fantasy series to devour, you’re in the right place. The first of Sarah J Maas’ five-book series, A Court of Thorns and Roses follows the plight of a huntress named Feyre who kills a wolf in an act of survival to feed her family. However, the wolf that Feyre killed was not what it appeared, and her violent act had untold consequences for the young huntress and her people.
For her actions, Feyre is kidnapped and taken away from her family. While held captive by the masked Tamlin, Feyre’s feelings become complex – turning from hatred to lust, as the two lovers attempt to navigate the bloody consequences of their relationship and fight to break an ancient curse.
Buy now £5.00, Amazon
Vadasz Hot Jalapeno Sauce 250g
Who knew a palm-sized bottle of sauce could offer so much happiness? Well, us - we did. Pickle company Vadasz has added sauces to its peppery, vinegary collection, including this hot jalapeno sauce. It's perfect for spicing up Christmas sarnies and party canapes, the fire sweetened with a little apple for balance.
Buy now £4.50, Sainsbury's
