The Secret Santa desk
Secret Santa Gift Ideas: Picks Under $25 That Actually Land
Find the best Secret Santa gift ideas for coworkers, friends, classmates, and family—whether you're shopping for women, men, or someone you barely know. Discover thoughtful, funny, and budget-friendly presents, including Secret Santa gift ideas under $25 and under $20, office Secret Santa ideas, and clever exchange gifts for any holiday event. Explore curated picks or use our Gift Finder to get personalized Secret Santa gift ideas instantly.
From the editors
Secret Santa has a design problem: you're shopping for someone you may not know well, with a price cap usually between $15 and $30, and everyone at the exchange will judge your pick. It's a pressure gift.
Our approach: find universally good things in that price range. A deck of nice playing cards. A small Bluetooth speaker. A good candle. Hand cream. These aren't flashy, but they're never wrong — the recipient won't love it with all their heart but won't hate it either. For Secret Santa, "no one hates this" is usually the goal.
If you know the person better, get specific. An AeroPress Go for the coworker who brings coffee every day. A weighted journal for the friend who takes notes constantly. A foldable portable charger for the guy who's always on his phone. Specificity wins if you have it; defaults work if you don't.
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$CeraVe Retinol Serum
My friend once asked me what the easiest skincare upgrade she could make was, and I didn't even hesitate.
$$$$Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
I wore my first-gen AirPods Pro on a flight from LA to Tokyo, and they were fine. Good, even.
$$JBL Clip 4
I keep a JBL Clip clipped to the outside of my shower caddy, and it's been there for over a year.
$$AeroPress Go
Hotel room coffee is a crime. Those little single-serve packets with the beige plastic machine sitting on the bathroom counter produce…
$$$$GoPro HERO11 Black
Last summer I strapped a GoPro to my handlebars for a mountain bike ride and ended up with footage that looked like it came from a Red Bull…
$$$$Gravity Blanket
I bought my first weighted blanket on impulse during a stressful week, expecting nothing.
$YETI Rambler 16 oz
I've lost count of how many travel mugs I've owned. Most of them leaked in my bag, lost their lids, or started smelling weird after a few…
$$CASETiFY Ultra Impact Case
Phone cases are one of those things everyone needs but rarely gets excited about. Most people grab a cheap clear case and call it a day.
$Bicycle Playing Cards
There's a beat-up deck of Bicycle cards in nearly every junk drawer in America.
$Kitchtek Coffee Mug Warmer
I am guilty of making a fresh cup of coffee, setting it on my desk, getting absorbed in work, and then taking a sip 45 minutes later to…
$$Spirit Island
I remember the first time someone brought Spirit Island to game night. I took one look at the board, the piles of tokens, and the thick…
$$Funnytree Inflatable Dinosaur Costume
I'll never forget the white elephant exchange where someone unwrapped a box, pulled out a folded-up blob of fabric, and five minutes later…
$Death Wish Coffee
My brother-in-law is the kind of person who says things like "I just need something to wake me up" while pouring his fourth cup before…
$$Chemex Pour-Over Coffeemaker
The Chemex is one of those rare kitchen items that belongs in a museum and on your counter at the same time.
$Lawei Metal Succulent Pot Set
Every time someone I know moves into a new place, there's that awkward window where their shelves are empty and everything feels a little…
$$Wingspan
A board game about birds sounds like the most boring gift pitch imaginable. I thought the same thing until someone brought Wingspan to a…
$$$$Masterclass Annual Membership
I bought my dad a MasterClass Annual Membership last Christmas because he's impossible to shop for.
$Atlas Coffee Club Variety Pack
Buying coffee for a coffee person is intimidating. They have opinions about roast levels, origin regions, and processing methods.
$Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair
Someone at work once told me they wished they could combine their moisturizer and retinol into one step because they were too tired for a…
$Burt's Bees Hand Repair Set
Last winter my hands were cracking so badly that I winced every time I washed them.
$$The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
If you are gift shopping for someone who loves comics, nostalgia, or just a good laugh, or just don’t know what to get for that special…
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