It’s officially that time of year. The Christmas dinner is being planned, the decorations are being bought and the Secret Santa names are being drawn!
It’s time to start planning your Christmas presents and we’re here to help you make this process as stress-free as possible.
We’ve rounded up some lovely Secret Santa gifts for you to buy and some for you to make. From beer puzzles to Christmas day survival kits, there’s something for every kind of person no matter their age or gender.
We’ve also included a huge range of cheap Secret Santa gift ideas so you can save your pennies this December.
Pop on Mariah Carey and browse our Secret Santa gift ideas.
Jump straight to our cheap Secret Santa gift ideas collection
11 Secret Santa gift ideas
1. A miniature trivia game
Christmas is all about spending time with loved ones and what better way to bond than with a game? These mini trivia games make perfect Secret Santa gifts, no matter your recipient's age.
Each box packs 60 trivia question cards, providing a few hours of fun for everyone playing. They’re great for taking on the road, entertaining bored kids or playing with co-workers
2. Emergency chocolate cake kit
Edible Secret Santa gifts are always a winner in our eyes. We especially love this emergency chocolate cake present from My Bakes.
It’s ideal for friends with a sweet tooth and those who need a sugary kick in their busy days! This would make a brilliant DIY Christmas gift for coworkers too.
3. Mini photo book keyring
Buy now from Etsy (£25.39)
Personalised Secret Santa gifts always make people feel loved, especially when they feature special memories between the two of you.
This adorable mini keyring is a wonderful way of showing your Secret Santa how much you care. Send Unique Gift Love 14 of your favourite photos, both your initials and they’ll do the rest!
There’s also the option for a personalised wooden box for your keychain book, although this comes at an added cost.
4. Beer puzzle
There’s nothing cosier than doing a puzzle while sipping your favourite tipple at Christmas. This Secret Santa gift idea combines the two, creating the ultimate tasty present.
Choose between a stout, beer and ale design, then wrap your gift in some handmade wrapping paper. Your Secret Santa will think they’ve got this present all figured out until they open the can!
5. Customised wax melts
Buy now from Etsy (£5.00)
Make your Secret Santa’s home smell delicious with these beautiful bee wax melts. The set comes with 16 mini bee melts and 8 mini heart scents – plenty to last throughout the festive period.
There’s 18 scents to choose from and you can choose different scents for the hearts and bees. For a Christmassy touch, pick scents like gingerbread house, frosted cranberry or frankincense and myrrh.
6. Christmas Day survival kit
This Secret Santa gift idea is suited toward tired parents, grumpy dads or the bah humbug in your life.
Pick up this Christmas Day survival kit which is full of funny essentials like earplugs, matchsticks for your eyes and a Christmas Day checklist. It’s a cheap Secret Santa gift idea that would also make a great stocking stuffer.
Looking for present ideas for partners?
Head over to our collection of DIY Christmas gifts for boyfriends and DIY Christmas gifts for girlfriends.
7. Festive china gift set
This classy china gift set would make a stunning Secret Santa gift idea and is ideal for the holidays. Friends, family and coworkers alike would love to receive this!
This set of three comes with a mug, spoon and small dish, all in a pretty present design. It’s perfect for mince pie eating and hot chocolate drinking.
8. Personalised song keychain
Do you have a song that reminds you of your Secret Santa? A band you both saw perform together? A silly song that makes you both laugh? We have a Secret Santa gift idea for you!
Send Of Life & Lemons your song choice and artist name and they’ll turn your song into this cute record player keyring.
9. Fun craft kit
Buy now from Etsy (£19.95)
Creative Secret Santa gift ideas are our speciality and we think they make fantastic presents. Gift this lovely felt bauble kit which features everything they need to make three hanging ornaments.
This kit requires minimal sewing so is brilliant for beginners, craft novices or teens. It’s a fab project for them to work on throughout December and then display on their tree with pride.
If this kit isn’t quite right for your Secret Santa then check out our collection of the best craft kits.
10. Hot chocolate kit
Festive, warming and delicious – hot chocolate kits make mouth-watering Secret Santa gifts.
This hot chocolate kit is filled with hand-crafted treats, including a bespoke hot chocolate blend, chocolates, marshmallows, sprinkles and a candy cane.
For a handmade touch, make your own version with our DIY Christmas jars tutorial.
11. Flower growing gift
If you’re looking for wholesome Secret Santa gift ideas look no further! These grow-your-own birth flower boxes are a unique twist on the traditional grow-your-own kits.
Do some sleuthing to find out your recipient's birth month and give them this mini box this December. They can think of you as they watch their flowers grow and bloom.
For sustainable present ideas, take a look through our collection of eco-friendly gifts.
Looking for present ideas for the parents?
Head over to our collection of DIY Christmas gifts for mom and homemade Christmas gifts for dad.
11 cheap Secret Santa gift ideas
1. Handmade bath bombs
Channel a relaxing holiday with this cheap Secret Santa gift idea! Learn how to make handmade bath bombs with our easy tutorial and wrap them in some beautiful Furoshiki wrapping.
2. Stitch a beautiful bookmark
This cheap Secret Santa gift idea is perfect for book lovers. Transform some scrap fabrics and spare threads into this beautiful bookmark.
It’s a great gender-neutral gift and can be paired with a book if you want to make an extra special present! Follow our fishbone stitch tutorial to find out how.
3. Mould a mini ring holder
If your Secret Santa is a jewellery wearer you can’t go wrong with this mini ring holder.
Made from just a small bit of clay and some spare paints, it’s an affordable gift that even novice potters can try.
4. Craft them a Christmas garland
We just know your Secret Santa will love receiving this festive garland! This flying Santa will bring joy to everyone who sees it and is super easy to make.
We show you how to make a Christmas garland from paper and even provide some printable templates for you to download.
5. Crochet your Secret Santa a hat
A cosy bobble hat may be a classic Secret Santa gift idea but it's still one appreciated by people of all ages!
Find some cheap yarn from our roundup and follow our crochet bobble hat pattern to hook up this colourful creation.
6. Make them a mini Santa!
They’re Christmassy, they’re cute and they’re easy to make – what more could you ask for?
Use our mini Santa embroidery designs and create your Secret Santa their very own festive fellas.
7. DIY some Christmas candles
Make your Secret Santa’s Christmas glow with these seasonal DIY mason jar candle holders. The festive red and cut-out star design is perfect for Christmas and will look brilliant in their home all winter long.
Add an extra DIY touch to this cheap Secret Santa gift idea by learning how to make candles at home. Handmade candles and mason jar holders make a wonderful gift package.
8. Personalise a plant pot!
This cheap Secret Santa gift idea is ideal for green-fingered friends or those who appreciate handmade art.
Learn how to create these upcycled plant pots which look rather festive thanks to the gold. If you fancy a more artistic, colourful look, head over to our DIY painted plant pot tutorial.
Plants don’t need to be expensive either, simply take a cutting from a house plant you already own and repot it in its new, upcycled pot.
9. Crochet them a cuddly cutie
Your Secret Santa can’t help but smile when they see this little face poking out of their DIY gift bag!
Use our free Christmas pudding crochet pattern and hook up this festive friend this December.
For those who aren’t fans of Christmas puddings, explore our crochet Christmas gifts collection for more cute crochet ideas.
10. Light up their life!
Papercrafts are a simple way of creating cheap Secret Santa gift ideas that everyone will love. These origami lanterns are elegant and will look fantastic glowing in your recipient's window.
We even have free patterned papers here on Gathered for you to download, print and make your lanterns from. To make festive lanterns, head over our Christmas papers.
11. Sew a mini banner for their home
Secret Santa gift ideas are always sweeter when they’re miniature. Embroider this mini banner for your loved one’s home using any backing fabric and thread colour you like.
Our tutorial shows you how to create embroidery letters, meaning you can stitch anything you like onto your banner! Stitch the person's name, house, a seasonal greeting or an inside joke for a personalised effect.
Want more cheap Secret Santa gift ideas? Head over to our collection of quick gifts to sew which features 40 fun presents.
Give meaningful Secret Santa gifts this year
Every year Secret Santa rolls around and every year you have to think of new, unique presents to give out but no longer!
Keep our Secret Santa ideas round-up bookmarked on your computer and refer back each Christmas for gift inspiration.
You’ll never run out of handmade present ideas with Gathered – we promise!
Discover more Secret Santa gift ideas with Gathered
Head over to our DIY Christmas gifts collection and you’ll find even more Secret Santa gift ideas.
