The 33 Best Secret Santa Gifts

A bread-baking bowl, watercolor palette, ceramic mug, bananagrams, and bird feeder placed next to each other on a green background.

A family Secret Santa is a fun way to make sure everyone gets a gift and no one has to take out a loan to cover the holiday. If you have a big extended family, though, that can mean you’re pulling someone’s name whose gift preferences might be a little opaque to you. (What would Great Aunt Peg like this holiday?) When a Secret Santa situation is set up among colleagues or classmates, the same issue arises. You may be assigned to shop for someone you’ve only ever nodded at in the hallway. You’d be hard-pressed to say whether they’re a dog person or a cat person, whether they like to read or to cycle, or whether they’re allergic to chocolate.

But have no fear. The picks in this guide are perfect for a person you know well or someone you simply share an office building with. And while they’re somewhat generic (let’s call them universal), they’re also delightful — and they’re useful enough not to end up in a landfill come 2026.

If you know your Secret Santa recipient pretty well and are looking for something interest-specific, check out our guides to gifts for book lovers, gifts for gardeners, and gifts for frequent travelers.



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