The annual office Secret Santa, also called Kris Kringle, may be a staple of the festive season, but it can be a source of anxiety, especially when the joy of Christmas giving can get lost in the anxiety of selecting a meaningful gift at a certain price point for a colleague you don’t know well – or worse, the boss! Take the stress out of the occasion with this guide to the perfect Secret Santa gifts – all for around $25 or less.

A GIF series of images showing secret santa product ideas including a notebook, a terrazzo lamp, a pot plant and ‘no’ push button. 

‍Christmas Gift Ideas for The Boss

Giving a gift to the top brass doesn’t have to be stressful. Stick with something generic, or, if you want to give a more personal gift, “take notice of the colours they wear and buy something like a small little trinket bowl for their keys or a scarf in that colour,” says stylist Tilly Roberts. And be aware of the company’s gift-giving guidelines.

What To Try 

SEE ALSO: A Guide to Corporate Gifts: Ideas for Your Clients and Co-workers

The Perfect Present for the Quiet Achiever

This office ‘type’ keeps their work and personal lives quite separate, which can make buying them a Secret Santa gift challenging. If you know what they’re passionate about, outside the office, make them feel seen with a gift relating to that passion, like a movie voucher for a known cinephile, for example. Otherwise, give them something to make their work life lovelier, such as a beautiful light for their desk or a diary to jot down notes in.

‍What To Try 

Kris Kringle Ideas for the Office Joker

Buying for a big personality gives you freedom to have a lot of fun with your gift. Go for a present that’s quirky and cool, or something that plays to their position as the life of the (office) party.

‍What To Try  

 Secret Santa for The New Starter  

This is probably someone you don’t know very well yet, so don’t pick a present that’s too personal. Go for a gift that makes them feel welcome, like a cute pot plant or pen cup for their desk.

What To Try

SEE ALSO: How to Have a Green Christmas

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Image of two female office workers wearing Santa hats and carrying wrapped gifts, to illustrate an article on choosing office Secret Santa gifts. 

DIY Gift Ideas

Creating a personalised gift is a great way to make your recipient feel special – without breaking the budget! And you don’t have to be a craft master to do it. “Make your own pot plant by buying a cute pot and indoor plant and planting it yourself, or choose a collection of seeds they could plant at home,” says Tilly. “Or get a photo frame and a few photos printed for them to put in the frame. You could also make your own little basket of local items like some nuts, honey and nice chocolate – if wrapped up well, it would look beautiful.”

The secret to success with a DIY gift is in the presentation. “Keep and reuse wrapping and ribbons from previous gifts given to you,” says Tilly. “You can also make something plain feel more special by taking a snip of rosemary or flowers from the garden and weaving it through the ribbon, or simple twine string looks lovely on plain white paper.” 

‍SEE ALSO: Inspiring DIY Christmas Cards and Wrapping Paper Ideas

Secret Santa Co-worker Gifts to Avoid

Context is everything and a gag that everyone finds hilarious at the pub after work may come across a little differently when gifted in front of the boss. “If it’s appropriate or fun in a home setting, it doesn't mean that it’s appropriate at work. It’s not about the intention of a gift, it’s how it will be received,” says HR consultant Hayley McLennan, who recommends sticking to more generic gifts to be on the safe side.

Whether it’s the high spirits of the season or the pressure of giving to people you only see in the office, Secret Santas can inspire some hilarious and downright weird gift ideas. Reddit threads are packed full of ‘what not to do’ stories, ranging from an old toy doll the gifter found around the house after forgetting Secret Santa – to a signed photo of the gift giver. 

“The weirdest [gift] I have seen would be a random assortment of junk including lots of blow-up pool toys for someone who didn't have a pool!” says Tilly. Hayley recalls a gift of a team photo in a frame, which could be classed as very sweet or seriously weird, depending on how close you are to your workmates!

Asked to recount Secret Santa wins, the best gifts were often the simplest. Gift cards and movie vouchers are always welcome, while socks are an unexpected hit!

Side view image of three co-workers exchanging gifts and smiling as one female co-worker gives a small gift in a red box to another female co-worker sitting behind the desk next to male co-worker. The image illustrates an article on office Secret Santa gifts.

‍How to Set Up a Secret Santa

Gathering round to exchange and exclaim over gifts is a lovely way to wrap up the year, and a thoughtful gift can be a beautiful gesture to make team members feel seen and appreciated. If it’s fallen on your shoulders to arrange the event, follow these guidelines to make sure it’s a success.

  • Make it voluntary: Rather than forcing the activity on everyone, allow them to choose if they want to participate. Send out a mass email or pop a sign-up sheet at the front desk.
  • What’s the budget? Set a budget that’s realistic for everyone in the office, not just the high rollers. Finding a gift within budget is part of the fun! A maximum of $10 or $20 is common. If you want to set the budget higher, make sure everyone is aware of this before they opt in.
  • Lend a helping hand: Online name draw tools (search online for ‘Secret Santa generator’) often have capacity to add gift ideas. Or if you’re doing it the old-fashioned way, with names in a hat, invite each participant to write a couple of budget-friendly gift ideas under their name, some useful information about their interests, or even whether they’d prefer a charitable donation instead.
  • Set up ground rules: “If you have a gift giving policy or guideline in place, ensure that is shared, communicated and understood,” says Hayley, adding that there should be awareness of harassment, discrimination and bullying policies, too, to avoid any breaches.
  • Consider if Secret Santa is appropriate for your team: “If everyone in the office celebrates Christmas and it forms part of the company culture and values of that organisation, Secret Santa can be a great way to create a team atmosphere and camaraderie,” Hayley says. “It’s important to be mindful that not everyone celebrates this occasion.”

‍Lastly, Some Final Secret Santa Gift Tips

The first rule of gift giving is to pay attention and rely on your own observations – the guy who always cycles to work might appreciate a water bottle with a holder for the bike, and the dedicated tea drinker will love a selection of fancy brews. The shared office space might offer some gift hints, too – think a cool mug if the kitchen shelves are always bare. 

Not every gift can be super personal, especially if you’ve drawn someone you don’t know from Adam. Generic gifts can be perfectly lovely and it’s good to have a mental list of  items – for example, a scented candle, a funny (but not offensive) calendar, a photo frame or special stationery – that are sure to be appreciated. Tilly suggests the best gifts are often “everyday items but done well. Think a nice key ring, cool drink bottle, or headphone case. These are things we all need and will have a use for, but we wouldn't always buy the most beautiful ones for ourselves!”

‍SEE ALSO: 5 Easy Cricut DIY Gift Ideas to Try  

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