Secret Santa gifts with good reviews
Cheap office Secret Santa ideas that score well in public reviews, and what to watch out for with each one.
4 gifts scored from public reviews · $13 to $25 · Updated
The shortlist
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These are Secret Santa gifts under about £25 that score well with the people who bought them. We’ll add more as we review them, and anything new that fits will show up here automatically.
With a gift exchange, the main thing is not to embarrass anyone. Every pick below is something most people would be happy to unwrap in front of colleagues.
Best for a fun office
Exploding Kittens
$25
Quick to learn and quick to play, so it might come out at the office party. It's mostly luck, which is fine for a gift exchange.
- Family Game Shelf No star rating. Cited for what it says.
Not for: People who like proper board games. Family Game Shelf found it too dependent on luck.
Best for a team that likes games
Codenames
$25
Works with a big group, so whoever gets it can bring it into work. It's the better game of the two if your colleagues take games seriously.
- Wikipedia No star rating. Cited for what it says.
Not for: Couples, or anyone who mostly plays with one other person. It's built around two teams.
Safest choice
Burt's Bees Essential Kit
$15
Hand cream and lip balm are hard to get wrong. Skip it if the person might be vegan, because it's made with beeswax.
Not for: Someone who's vegan, or who already has a bathroom full of miniatures they never open.
Rubik's Cube (original 3x3)
$13
The original puzzle cube. Cheap, hard to put down, and a good stocking filler from about age 8.
- Speedsolving forum No star rating. Cited for what it says.
Not for: Someone who already solves cubes. They'll want a magnetic speed cube, not the original.
Questions people ask
How much should I spend on Secret Santa?
Whatever limit the organiser sets. If there isn't one, ask. Going well over the limit makes the people who stuck to it look stingy, so it's kinder to stay close to it.
What's a safe Secret Santa gift for someone I don't know well?
Something they can use up, or play once and pass on, like a card game or hand cream. Avoid anything that depends on their size, taste in clothes or sense of humour.
Are joke gifts a good idea?
Only if you know the office well. A joke that lands with your team can look odd to someone from another department, and the gift usually ends up in a drawer.