Secret Santa gift ideas under $20

The best Secret Santa gift under $20 is one thing from the person's wish list. Without a list, pick something useful or tasty that anyone can enjoy, like good chocolate, warm socks, or a small plant.

Below are 40 ideas in 6 groups. In most shops, each one costs under $20. Prices change, so check before you buy.

First, check the wish list

Look at the wish list of your person before you shop. Also read the "do not want" part: it saves you from the third mug of the year. If your group has no wish lists, ask the organizer to add them. How to run a Secret Santa with wish lists.

For the desk

1. A small plant in a nice pot, or a succulent
2. A good notebook with a pen
3. A desk organizer or a pen cup
4. A phone stand
5. A cable organizer set
6. A small desk lamp or a clip-on light
7. A mouse pad with a wrist rest
8. A set of nice sticky notes and markers

Food and drink

1. A bar of very good dark chocolate, or a chocolate tasting set
2. Specialty coffee beans or a set of tea
3. A jar of local honey
4. Hot chocolate mix with marshmallows
5. A small box of cookies from a local bakery
6. A spice set or a hot sauce trio
7. Gourmet popcorn
8. A reusable coffee cup (if the wish list does not say "no mugs")

Check for allergies and diets first. When in doubt, pick something that is not food.

Cozy

1. Warm socks with a fun pattern
2. A soft scarf or a knit hat
3. Fleece gloves for touch screens
4. A hot water bottle with a knitted cover
5. A small soft blanket
6. A hand cream gift set
7. Lip balm with a winter scent

Games and fun

1. A deck of card games for 2 to 6 players
2. A puzzle (500 or 1,000 pieces)
3. A small brain teaser or a metal puzzle
4. A pocket game for travel
5. A mini basketball hoop for the office door
6. A drawing book with good pencils
7. A book of crosswords or sudoku

Small and thoughtful

1. A paperback of a book that you loved, with a note inside
2. A plant kit to grow herbs at home
3. A photo frame for the desk
4. A keyring with their initial
5. A candle (only when the wish list asks for one)

Gifts that ship well to remote colleagues

1. A digital gift card for a coffee shop or a bookshop
2. A tea or coffee subscription for one month
3. An e-book or an audiobook
4. Socks, a scarf, or gloves (light and soft, so they ship cheaply)
5. A small box of chocolate sent from an online shop near the person

Order 10 days before the exchange, so the gift arrives on time. Only the Santa should see the address.

What to avoid at work

• Joke gifts that could hurt someone. A joke about age, weight, or looks is never funny to the person who opens it.
• Alcohol, unless the person asks for it. Some people do not drink.
• Strong perfume and scented items. They are personal, and some people are sensitive to them.
• Things that need a size, without the size. Ask in the wish list, or pick something else.
• Going over the budget. A much bigger gift makes the others feel bad.

Let the wish list do the work

In AllBack's free Secret Santa, each person adds 3 things they would love and things they do not want. Their Santa sees the list on a private gift tag, and nobody else does. The group is free for up to 100 people.

Organizing the group? Copy a Secret Santa invitation message.

Questions

What is a good Secret Santa gift for a coworker you do not know?

Pick something useful or tasty that anyone can enjoy: good chocolate, a plant, warm socks, or a notebook. Better still, ask for wish lists, so you know what they like.

Is $20 enough for a Secret Santa gift?

Yes. $20 buys a good small gift, like specialty coffee, a plant, or a card game. A small budget keeps the game fair for everyone.

What should I not buy for Secret Santa at work?

Avoid joke gifts that could hurt, alcohol unless the person asks for it, strong scents, and gifts that need a size you do not know.