santa
Secret Santa gift ideas that feel personal (all under €20)
Finding good Secret Santa gift ideas is harder than it looks: the budget is fixed, sometimes you draw someone you’ve barely spoken to, and everyone gets to see what you gave. Nobody wants to be the one with the mug.
Here are 15 ideas sorted by price, for the office, the family or your group of friends. They all follow two rules: they stay under €20 and they don’t end up in a drawer.
How to get Secret Santa right
The golden rule is to stick to the agreed budget. Going over feels awkward, and going far under does too. With a clear limit, what makes the difference is showing you’ve paid attention to the person.
Secret Santa gifts under €10
€10 doesn’t mean settling for the usual. Look for something small that actually gets used.
A small plant
A cactus or succulent in a nice pot. It lasts for years and works for anyone, even if you know almost nothing about them.
Speciality coffee or chocolate
A bag of coffee from a local roaster or a bar of craft chocolate. A couple of weeks of small treats.
A card game for groups
Question or challenge games you can play in ten minutes. If it’s a Secret Santa among friends, you’ll all end up playing it.
Secret Santa gifts under €15
This is the most common budget and the one with the most options. Here’s our favourite idea for when the Secret Santa is among friends or family.
our favourite
4. The group chat, turned into a book
If your Secret Santa is among friends or family, the most original gift already exists: it’s in your WhatsApp group. The plans that worked out, the ones that didn’t, the photos and the voice notes everyone remembers.
With the PDF book (€12.99) you turn that chat into a digital book with a cover, contents page and voice notes as QR codes. It arrives instantly and you can print it at home. If a few of you want to chip in, the printed book starts at €24.99.
It’s a gift for whoever you drew, but it ends up being for the whole group. Read our customers’ reviews on Trustpilot.
A book that suits their taste
A novel in their favourite genre, a comic or a cookbook from the cuisine they love. If in doubt, one of the year’s bestsellers never fails.
A ticket for a plan
Cinema, a comedy show or a museum. You’re gifting time, and they can bring someone along if they want.
Secret Santa gifts under €20
With €20 you can go for something more personal. This is the time to use what you know about them.
Something for their hobby
Guitar strings, a hiking trail book or good brushes for someone who paints. It shows you know who they are.
A framed group photo
The best photo from the last trip or dinner, printed and in a simple frame. Cheap and always appreciated.
A brunch voucher
Breakfast or brunch at that café they keep saying they want to try. If it’s a colleague, you could go together.
Secret Santa gifts for coworkers
At the office, neutral wins: something useful and pleasant that can’t be misread.
Something for the desk
A good notebook, a pen that’s nice to write with or a small plant. Used every day.
Gourmet snacks
Mixed nuts, craft biscuits or a special tea. If you don’t know them, an edible gift never makes anyone uncomfortable.
Funny Secret Santa gifts (that won’t offend)
Humour works when it’s about the group and not at anyone’s expense. These get laughs without making anyone look bad.
A personalised trophy or certificate
“Always late award” or “Queen of voice notes”. Print it yourself or order it for a few euros.
The group’s stats
Make a free WhatsApp Wrapped of your group chat, print the summary page and frame it. Who texts the most, the favourite emoji, the most repeated word…
A quiz about the group
Write 20 questions about the group’s stories on cards. The gift is for one person, but the game is for everyone.
Ideas that always work
- Something to eat or drink, good quality, even if it’s small.
- An experience: cinema, a museum, a workshop.
- Something with a handwritten note explaining why you chose it.
- Something about the group: photos, memories, the chat.
What to avoid
- Mugs, socks and generic candles: the most repeated gifts of all.
- Perfume and clothes: too easy to get the size or taste wrong.
- Heavy jokes: what’s funny to you might make someone uncomfortable.
- Going over budget: it puts everyone else in an awkward spot.
Keep reading
- What to get your partner for your first Christmas together
- WhatsApp Wrapped: your chat stats as a book
- Original anniversary gift: 10 ideas
- How to print a WhatsApp conversation
Frequently asked questions
How much do you usually spend on Secret Santa?
The most common limit is between €10 and €20. What matters is that the whole group sticks to the same amount so nobody feels awkward.
What should I get for Secret Santa if I don’t know the person?
Something useful and neutral they can enjoy without knowing their taste: a plant, good coffee or chocolate, a nice notebook or a ticket for a plan.
What’s a good Secret Santa gift for coworkers?
Something for the desk, gourmet snacks or a treat that can be shared with the team. Best to avoid personal jokes and intimate gifts.
What’s a unique and cheap Secret Santa gift?
A PDF book of the group chat (€12.99), a personalised trophy or the group’s chat stats printed and framed. They’re cheap and nobody else will give the same thing.
The best Secret Santa is the one who shows they paid attention.
