SECRET Santa gifts can be difficult to buy with the price limit on them, but they encourage gift givers to think outside the box, while also saving.
Some of the best Secret Santa gifts can be funny and joke gifts, smaller trinkets, such as jewellery boxes, jewellery, mugs, or beauty items, it depends on the budget you have been set.
With something for everybody and to suit every budget, these are the best Secret Santa gifts to buy this Christmas.
A great option for big groups, colleagues, friends or family members Secret Santas are great if you’re looking to save money or try something new.
Instead of buying gifts for everyone, each person picks one name out of a hat to buy a gift for in advance or sometimes, even on the day.
The group usually sets a budget for the gift so that everyone spends the same – this could be from as little as £5 to as much as you like.
The idea, however, is to save money by only buying one gift for one person.
The gifts themselves can be anything from small joke presents to more meaningful items.
So now you’ve got the rules down, we’re here to help and have picked out plenty of great ideas for everyone in this Secret Santa gift guide, even some suits-all suggestions for when you don’t know the person you picked all that well.
If you need more gift ideas, then check out our round-up of the best gifts for her and the best Christmas gifts for him, and even some last-minute ideas for those who need the perfect present – fast!
Best last minute Secret Santa gifts
1. Gin Flavour Selection Tasting Set
Gin lovers will enjoy receiving this mini gin-tasting set.
The box comes filled with a selection of tasty gins, which will keep both connoisseurs and newbies happy.
Your Secret Santa will get to sample a Jaffa Cake gin, as well as a Tanqueray lime gin and many more. What’s not to love?
- Drinks By The Dram Craft Gin Tasting Set, £25.95 from Master of Malt – buy here
2. Kinder Chocolate Gift Box![]()
If the person you are buying for loves chocolate, then this is a great gift set for them to tuck into over the festive season – or in one day (we won’t judge!).
This bundle contains a range of Kinder delights from Happy Hippos to Kinder Buenos, plus there’s next-day delivery for Amazon Prime members.
- Kinder Chocolate Gift Box, £18.99 from Amazon – buy here
3. 30 Minute Live Online Cookery Class![]()
Wannabe chefs can test out their skills with this fun virtual live cookery class hosted by MasterChef star Ann Hood.
Whip up an impressive feast following Ann’s expert tips and tricks as you cook along with her.
Recipients of this gift get to choose from a full timetable covering different fun and tasty recipes, from Japanese ramen to indulgent desserts.
Each session also includes a live Q&A with Ann, where you can ask all your burning culinary questions.
- 30-minute Live Online Cookery Class with Ann’s Smart School of Cookery, £5 from Virgin Experience Days – buy here
4. Office Bingo Card Coaster![]()
This one is bound to go down a treat amongst good-natured colleagues.
If you’re buying for a friend in the workplace it will guarantee the giggles (but also indirectly keep some in check!).
- Office Bingo Card Coaster, £4.99, Amazon – buy here
5. Winery and Brewery Tour for Two with Tastings![]()
We know Secret Santa gifts are normally for just one recipient, but this last-minute bargain is not to be missed.
Gift a winery or brewery tour for two people for just £12, down from £40, to score mega brownie points.
- Winery and Brewery Tour for Two with Tastings, £15 (Was £40) from Virgin Experience Days – buy here
6. Pink Glitter Suede Mule Slippers With Faux Fur
This Secret Santa option is a real find, as it’s not often that slippers cost less than £15.
Argos is a great place to shop for those looking for a last-minute gift, as you can often select same-day delivery, next-day delivery or in-store collection.
- Totes Suede Mule Slippers With Faux Fur, £13.50 (Was £18) from Argos – buy here
7. Starbucks Gift Card
Even if you’re not sure if your recipient is a coffee fan, there’s plenty they can spend a Starbucks gift card on, from frothy frappuccinos to tasty cakes.
This card can be bought online and loaded with as little as £5.
Alternatively, if you happen to be passing a Starbucks store (they ARE everywhere, after all), you can also buy gift cards in-store.
- Starbucks Gift Card, from £5 from Prezzee – buy here
8. Whispering Angel Rosé Wine
This trendy pink wine wins points for fabulousness but can in fact be picked up from most supermarkets (keep an eye out for offers), as well as from Amazon.
This is a failsafe gift idea for anyone who likes wine, as it’s a luxurious treat that they probably wouldn’t buy themselves regularly.
- Whispering Angel Rosé Wine, £21.25 from Amazon – buy here
9. Townhouse treatment
Want to give someone the gift of a moment of me-time? Luxe nail salon Townhouse has recently expanded to now include salons in Wilmslow, Bristol and Milton Keynes, plus plenty of locations in London.
So, if you know someone who loves a pamper, this is a great gift.
You can select a pre-paid amount for the gift card, or the amount of a particular treatment. Plus as the gift card is delivered electronically, you can leave it late to buy and no one will know.
- Townhouse gift card, from £25, Townhouse – buy here
10. Everyman Cinema Gift Voucher
If you know someone who loves films and is always the first person to watch the latest release, gifting a cinema gift voucher is a great gift, and useful one too.
However, a gift voucher to an Everyman cinema is even more luxurious and more of a treat, as the venue has plush seats, some of which are two-seater, and you can indulge in an array of tasty treats and fizz too.
- Everyman Cinema Gift Voucher, from £20 from Everyman – buy here
11. Advanced Gradual Self Tan Tanning Face
If, like us, you know someone who loves to look a little sunkissed, but can’t treat them to a winter sun, a self tan is a great alternative.
St. Moriz has a range of bundles which have been expertly curated, or you can shop individual products for the body and face.
We particularly love this Face Mist, which is easy to apply, is streak-free, and provides a subtle sunkissed glow, all for under £10.
- Advanced Gradual Self Tan Tanning Face, £9.99 from St. Moriz – buy here
12. Create Your Own Medium Gift Pouch
The Body Shop is the place to shop natural and eco-friendly beauty products, which is a huge tick for many shoppers.
The Body Shop’s Medium Gift Pouch is a genius option for those. who want to shop affordable, yet gentle products, and customise their gift to make it even more thoughtful for the recipient.
- Create Your Own Medium Gift Pouch, £4 from the Body Shop – buy here
Best Secret Santa gifts 2023
1. At Mama’s Table by Rochelle Humes
Rustle up some tasty treats this Christmas with a helping hand from Rochelle Humes.
Rochelle Humes’s debut cookbook is filled with hearty home-cooked meals for the entire family to enjoy.
Whether your recipient is a budding chef or needs a little helping hand in the kitchen, there’s something for everyone to cook and enjoy over Christmas and well into the New Year.
- At Mama’s Table By Rochelle Humes, £11.12 from Amazon – buy here
2. Satin Gift Set![]()
When festive parties are in full swing, getting a full night’s sleep can be tricky.
Constant tossing and turning can cause damage to the hair and skin, which is why satin pillowcases and scrunchies are a favourite with beauty experts.
This luxe-looking gift set includes a satin sleep mask, pillowcase and two scrunchies for gifting your Secret Santa the joy of a glamorous night’s sleep this Christmas.
- Satin Gift Set, £12.95 from Beauty Bay – buy here
3. Rascals Mr & Mrs Pocket Edition Game
Nothing says Christmas more than games: card games, board games, trivia games…we love them all.
This game is perfect for couples to test how well they know their other halves – just like the show.
- Rascals Mr & Mrs Pocket Edition Game, £9.99 from John Lewis & Partners –buy here
4. Sanctuary Spa Lost In The Moment Gift Set
This hamper is a bit of luxury for a bargain price tag[/caption]
Sanctuary Spa never fails to deliver when it comes to gift sets, and this unmissable deal is a great Secret Santa treat.
The gorgeous package includes a salt scrub, body butter, heel balm and more – perfect for some post-Christmas pampering for your recipient to enjoy in the comfort of their own home.
- Sanctuary Spa Lost In The Moment Gift Set, £19.99 from Superdrug – buy here
5. Mattel Scrabble Original Board Game
Scrabble is a Christmas classic to play with the whole family on Christmas Day, plus those blurry few days in between Boxing Day and the New Year.
A great gift for someone who has a competitive streak and who loves playing games, and ideal for all ages too.
- Mattel Scrabble Original Board Game, £11.99 (Was £14.99) from Smyths – buy here
6. The Flat Lay Co Pink Velvet Make Up Bag![]()
Beauty buffs are arguably amongst the easiest to buy for, as you can easily snap up plenty of coveted beauty gift sets and accessories in the lead-up to Christmas.
This flat-lay make-up bag is the gift beauty fans probably never knew they needed.
It can hold all your essential cosmetics and makes it easier to pack them away too, and we love the luxe pink velvet design.
- The Flat Lay Co Pink Velvet Makeup Bag, £21.89 from Sephora – buy here
7. Must-Have Cologne Multi-Pack
Buying fragrance can be expensive – not particularly useful when on a Secret Santa budget – but Hollister has a solution.
The one thing many people comment on when they walk in the doors of a Hollister store is the distinctive scents. Well, why not bottle them and gift them this Christmas?
- Hollister Men’s Must-Have Cologne Multi-Pack, £12 from Hollister – buy here
8. Luxury Hot Chocolate Selection
For those who are not tea drinkers, coffee connoisseurs or boozy beverage guzzlers, a hot chocolate selection may be the answer.
This trio includes a selection of hot chocolate powders, including Whittard’s luxury hot chocolate, white hot chocolate and 70% cocoa hot chocolate, so they can sip on a warm cup of cocoa while watching their favourite movies this Christmas.
- Luxury Hot Chocolate Selection, £20 from Whittard & Chelsea – buy here
9. Original Gourmet Coffee Gift Set
Christmas is a busy time, so any coffee drinker will be grateful for their stocks to be replenished this Yuletide.
This affordable bundle comes complete with five speciality coffees from around the world so they can channel their inner barista.
- Original Gourmet Coffee Gift Set, £12.49 from Amazon – buy here
10. William Morris at Home Golden Lily Gardening Glove Set![]()
For the green-fingered out there a pair of stylish gardening gloves will be a thoughtful gift, and a practical one too – double tick.
These stylish gloves are made from cotton, while the palms have the addition of PVC dots for protection and grip.
The accompanying hand cream contains soothing shea butter, which is just what you need after a hard day’s work outdoors.
- William Morris at Home Golden Lily Gardening Glove Set, £25 from John Lewis & Partners – buy here
11. Mandarin, Clove & Cinnamon Town House Light Up Candle
Candles and home scents are another hugely popular gift idea for Christmas.
Warming scents with notes of cinnamon, cloves and other spices are the ones to go for during the festive season.
For those on a budget of £10 but still want to impress, look no further than this gorgeous light-up M&S candle.
Not only does this candle smell divine, but the exterior is ornately decorated so when the candle is lit it brings the pretty design on the outside to life – perfect for those cosy winter nights.
- Neroli, Lime & Bergamot Light Up Candle, £10 from Marks and Spencer – buy here
12. Fur Slippers Memory Foam
A new pair of slippers is a firm favourite gift idea come December 25.
Whether you are buying for a man or woman, no matter what age these are a no-brainer, and look very similar to the highly coveted Ugg design – but for a fraction of the price.
They have a high-density plush fleece interior that is soft on your feet, while the memory foam moulds to your feet for a snug fit.
The sole is made from rubber and has grips on the base to make it non-slip.
- Fur Slippers Memory Foam, from £19.99 from Amazon – buy here
13. Clinique For Men Starter Kit
Not sure what to buy for your male colleague at work? A skincare bundle is a safe bet.
This set comes with a face wash, shaving cream and hydrating gel so they can pamper themselves through the party season.
It’s ideal for beauty beginners, as well as those who are more seasoned in the skincare department.
- Clinique For Men Starter Kit, £16 from Boots – buy here
14. Resourceful Living Coffee Table Book
Coffee table books are all the rage these days – and even better when you can pick it up at any page to get stuck in.
New homeowners or renters will fall head over heels in love with this book on how to be resourceful in the home.
It provides tips and tricks on how to spruce up your home with the guidance of interior blogger Lisa Dawson.
- Resourceful Living by Lisa Dawson, £13.10 from Amazon – buy here
15. Candy Kittens sweets 12-pack bundle![]()
Christmas is all about eating, right? (Well, part of it!)
If you’re buying for a friend, relative, or colleague and are truly stumped for gifting options, a bundle of sweets is a great solution.
This multi-pack comes with 12 bags of Candy Kittens Sour Watermelon chewy sweets, which are vegan and taste divine.
A simple gift, but one which will be appreciated by anyone with a sweet tooth.
- Candy Kittens Sour Watermelon Vegan Sweets, £12.96 (Was £18) from Amazon – buy here
16. Mob 6: Tasty 6-Ingredient Meals
Post-Christmas usually means the start of a health kick, so it’s no surprise when the buzz around the latest influx of healthy cookbooks kicks off.
New cookbook from Mob Kitchen has recently been released, and for those who are a fan of the delicious treats on their Instagram account, and website, you will want to check out the cookbook.
This cookbook makes cooking tasty treats a breeze, as only six ingredients are required.
- Mob 6: Tasty 6-Ingredient Meals, £12 (Was £22) from Amazon – buy here
17. Livia Peach Pink Glass Storage Pot Small
Keeping precious jewellery safe and organised not only makes it easy when it comes to getting dressed but also ensures your dressing table stays neat and tidy.
This organiser helps to access your rings, necklaces or bracelets with ease, while also keeping the space tidy.
- Livia Chevron Pink Glass Storage Pot, £16 from Oliver Bonas – buy here
18. Personalised Case for Airpods
This personalised vegan leather Airpods case is a great gift for Secret Santa.
Never again will the music lover you are buying for get their headphones mixed up or misplaced with this stylish case in tow, which can have initials added onto it.
- Personalised Case for Airpods, £19.99 from Not On The High Street – buy here
19. Personalised Small Cosmetics Bag![]()
There’s nothing we love more than receiving a new make-up bag at Christmas.
It can hold your make-up, brushes, jewellery, or hair essentials – and you can never have too many.
- Personalised Small Cosmetics Bag, £16 from Marks and Spencer – buy here
20. Gentlemen’s Hardware Bicycle Repair Kit
There’s often a cyclist in the work group, and if that person happens to be your Secret Santa name, this would be the perfect little treat for them.
This repair kit comes complete with a wrench, metal rasp, self-adhesive patches, plastic tyre levers and more.
- Gentlemen’s Hardware Bicycle Repair Kit, £15 from John Lewis & Partners – buy here
21. Mini Jada Jewellery Box![]()
Accessorize never fails to impress with its vast array of gift ideas, from accessories and jewellery to socks and much more.
Whether you’re looking for a jewellery box for the home or to take on the go, this is the perfect gift.
- Mini Jada Jewellery Box, £6.40 (Was £16) from Accessorize – buy here
22. Thumbs Up Lazy Arm Gooseneck Smartphone Holder ![]()
For those who love watching a movie, or are often on the road, this clip-on phone holder is a genius gadget for them.
You can move the holder to suit your needs so you never miss a thing on your screen.
- Thumbs Up Lazy Arm Gooseneck Smartphone Holder, £9.99 from Amazon – buy here
23. Magnetic Wristband
For someone who is a dab hand at DIY – or maybe not so great and needed a little helping hand.
Alternatively, if you know someone who is in the midst of renovations, this nifty magnetic wristband is a must, for holding any screws which could roll away.
- Magnetic Wristband, £8 from MenKind – buy here
24. Lakeland Winter Berry Cotton Apron![]()
Know someone who loves cooking or baking, or has perhaps been inspired by The Great British Bake Off? Then an apron is a failsafe option.
- Lakeland Winter Berry Cotton Apron, £9.99 (Was £19.99) from Lakeland – buy here
25. The Hudson Personalised Christmas Sack
Secret Santa is always fun, and for those who want to go all out, this sack to house your gifts is a sweet idea.
You can personalise it too, avoiding any handwriting so you won’t be revealed.
- Christmas Sack Of Kindness, £17.50 from Not On The High Street – buy here
26. Mylee MyGel Gel Polish in shade I’m in The Spotlight![]()
Mylee is the go-to brand for home manicures, as well as other beauty kits.
And those on a budget and shopping for Secret Santa gifts or stocking fillers can snap up a variety of gel nail colours for their recipient to experiment with.
- Mylee MyGel Gel Polish in I’m in The Spotlight, £6.30 from LookFantastic – buy here
27. Space Oodie Hair Turban![]()
If your Secret Santa budget is £20, you may not be able to buy the Oodie blanket or jumper blanket, but you can snap up the hair turban.
This genius invention will be a game-changer for those with long hair, as it helps to dry locks without weighing down the hair and leaving the towel sodden afterwards.
- Space Oodie Hair Turban, £9 (Was £19) from Oodie – buy here
28. Isle of Paradise Drop of Glow Gift Set
If you have a jet setter, beauty buff or fake tan fanatic to gift in the Secret Santa, this bundle is the answer.
If your budget is £10 this is a great option, as the kit comes with Isle of Paradise’s iconic Self Tanning Drops in a miniature travel size version to take on the go.
- Isle of Paradise Drop of Glow Gift Set, £10 from Amazon – buy here
29. Lilly Lashes Luxury Synthetic in Regal
Lilly Lashes is a personal favourite fake eyelash brand of ours, and perfect for accentuating the eyes.
The lashes are handmade and easy to apply; they add volume and length to your lashes.
Plus with a price tag of under £10, this is the perfect Secret Santa gift for beauty lovers this Christmas.
- Lilly Lashes Luxury Synthetic in Regal, £14 from LookFantastic – buy here
30. Check Cotton Short Pyjamas in a Bag
Pyjamas for Christmas are always a great idea – after all, it’s great to be comfy and cosy to watch Christmas films all over the holidays.
Boux Avenue has brought back the popular PJs in a bag, making this the perfect Christmas gift.
- Check Cotton Short Pyjamas in a Bag, £21 (Was £30) from Boux Avenue – buy here
31. Project Lip Project Lip Scrub
Project Lip has a whole host of beauty products available to shop, and while we want it all, when shopping on a budget we think the Project Lip Scrub is a great gift idea.
Come the winter we are all complaining about chapped lips, so exfoliate your pout with this super affordable, yet nourishing scrub, which is vegan, cruelty free and 100% natural.
If you are splashing the budget on your secret santa, we also recommend the Lip Oil.
- Project Lip Project Lip Scrub, £8.95 from Lookfantastic – buy here
32. Glow For It Lash Growth Serum
If your secret Santa is a beauty buff we know they will be over the moon with a lash lengthening treatment.
Typically Lash Growth Serums retail for a pretty hefty price tag, but Glow For It has heard our cries for affordable lash growth serum so we have a natural long flutter, which is affordable too.
Simple sweep along your top lashes and leave it to work its magic.
- Glow For It Lash Growth Serum, £30 from Beauty Bay – buy here
33. Fiorelli Eros CC Holder Gold
If you are stumped for what to buy your secret Santa on a budget, Fiorelli has you covered.
While it is tempting to stock up on stunning bags to accessorize your look, they may be out of the Secret Santa budget, in which case a card holder is a welcome alternative.
A card holder is super useful and practical for everyone, and a useful gift we know will go down a storm.
- Fiorelli Eros CC Holder Gold, £10 from Fiorelli – buy here
34. Organic Wave Huggie Hoop Earrings
Some may think jewellery is out of the budget when it comes to secret Santa, but you’d be wrong.
Orelia has stunning accessories to shop to suit every shopper’s style – whether they like silver, gold or rose gold – as well as budgets.
We personally love the Wave Huggie Hoop Earrings, which are a twist on the classic hoop style thanks to the curves and weave of the hoop.
Plus, they are dainty and fairly slimline in comparison to chunky designs.
- Organic Wave Huggie Hoop Earrings, £18 from Orelia – buy here
35. Secret Santa Gift Box
If you know a pizza lover you have found the perfect secret Santa gift from Pizza Pilgrims.
In fact, Pizza Pilgrims has created the Secret Santa Gift Box, which is perfect for secret Santa gifting.
This limited edition pizza box holds one voucher inside for a free pizza, so the recipient can select the pizza they love, the toppings, and size, this Christmas, and without any disappointment over your gift.
But you have until 31st January to redeem your pizza.
- Secret Santa Gift Box, £10 from Pizza Pilgrims – buy here
What is Secret Santa?
Secret Santa (also sometimes called Kris Kringle) is a fun gift-giving tradition in which everybody involved randomly selects one recipient to ‘secretly’ buy a gift for.
It’s a common practice amongst work, friendship and family groups, and can help to avoid spending lots of money at Christmastime.
How does Secret Santa Work?
In your group, everybody’s names go into a hat and then each person randomly selects one name from the pool – this is the only person they buy a gift for.
Gifts are usually then all exchanged at the same time, with the idea being that whoever has got who’s name should remain a secret until everything has been given out and unwrapped.
How much money should I spend on my Secret Santa gift?
It’s best for the Secret Santa group to decide in advance how much everyone should spend on their one gift.
Workplace Secret Santas usually set a low budget of £5 or £10, whereas if you’re doing it within your family, you might want to spend a little more – although the idea is still to spend less than if you were buying lots of presents.
We’ve got loads of great ideas whatever your budget.
Where to buy Secret Santa gifts
If you’re organised, there are plenty of places to buy your Secret Santa gift, from bricks-and-mortar high street stores to websites.
Nationwide store chains, massive retailers like Amazon, and even supermarkets can be great places to look for Secret Santa gifts.
If you’ve left it late to do your shopping, check out our selection of quick and easy ideas above – we’ve also got more last-minute gifts here.
What are some good unisex Secret Santa gift ideas?
Sometimes groups do Secret Santas where no one buys a gift for anyone in particular – instead, everyone adds a gift to a bag and they are picked out in a lucky dip format.
And if your group consists of men and women, you’ll want to buy a unisex gift.
Food and drink, office essentials and games all make great unisex gift ideas and check out more of our suggestions above.
What are good Secret Santa gifts for coworkers?
Ideally, you want to buy a Secret Santa gift that matches that person’s interests and personality, so you may need to do a little subtle digging before buying anything.
If in doubt, gifts that they can use at work like a nice mug, water bottle or new notepad work well.
Looking for more Christmas gifting inspiration? Check out our best gifts for him and best gifts for her guides to help get your festive shopping underway
If you’re buying for younger loved ones and need some ideas, check out our best Christmas gifts for teens and best gifts for kids guides too.
Meanwhile, if it’s your girlfriend you’re shopping for, check out our gift guide for girlfriends here.
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