Gift Generously

Secret Santa gifts for colleagues

Looking for Secret Santa gifts for colleagues that will raise a smile without causing any awkwardness? The office Secret Santa is a lovely tradition, but buying for someone you mostly know from meetings and the queue for the kettle can be tricky. This guide brings together small, affordable ideas that suit almost any workplace, from lanyards and card holders to desk-friendly pieces, funny novelty gifts and festive brooches. Every gift shown is a real product from our shop, and the prices are the current ones.

The best office gifts are light-hearted, useful or ideally both. You are not trying to find the perfect present for a close friend, so aim for something cheerful that anyone would be happy to unwrap in front of the whole team, and save anything very personal for another occasion.

If you have drawn someone you barely know, there is no need to worry. A little gentle detective work goes a long way, and the sections below are arranged so that you can match the gift to whatever you have noticed about them, whether that is the way they decorate their desk, the mug they always use or the jokes they make on a Friday afternoon.

Lanyards and card holders for the office

A lanyard or card holder is one of the most practical Secret Santa gifts for colleagues, because so many people carry a pass at work every day. Swapping a plain lanyard for one with a bit of personality is a small change that they will notice each morning, and it quietly brings back a happy memory of the office party every time they tap in.

Our range includes designs with butterflies, peacock feathers, sunflowers, piano keys, the periodic table and a famous wave print, so it is easy to find one that matches a hobby or a sense of humour. A science lanyard suits the colleague who always has a fact ready, a piano design is a nice nod to someone who plays, and a floral pattern works for the person whose desk is full of plants.

Before you choose, it is worth checking whether your workplace has any rules about what people wear with their pass. If it does, a card holder that can live in a bag or a coat pocket is a sensible alternative that still feels personal.

Browse lanyards and card holders

Desk-friendly gifts they will actually use

Gifts that live on a desk tend to be the ones people remember, because they see them every working day. Drinks coasters, a pencil case, a novelty pen or a slim card wallet are all small enough to fit into a crowded workspace and useful enough to earn their place there long after the decorations have come down.

Our wooden animal pens are a cheerful choice for anyone who still writes notes by hand, and world map or wave print coasters suit a colleague who always has a cup of tea beside the keyboard. A canvas card wallet or a polka dot mini purse is handy for someone who pops out for lunch and only wants to carry the essentials.

Desk gifts are also a good answer when you know very little about the person you have drawn. Everyone needs somewhere to put a mug and something to write with, so a practical gift is unlikely to miss, and it still feels more thoughtful than a last-minute box of chocolates.

Browse novelty and fun gifts · Browse accessories

Funny Secret Santa gifts for colleagues

A funny Secret Santa gift for a colleague should make the whole room laugh, including the person who opens it. The safest humour is gentle and a little absurd, so think of fruit and vegetable brooches, a retro genie lamp pin, or a set of see no evil, hear no evil monkey pins for the colleague who hears all the office news but never passes it on.

A pair of avocado studs suits the colleague who brings an elaborate lunch every day, while pineapple earrings are a cheerful wink for anyone who brightens up a grey Monday morning. A police handcuff pin can work for the person who is always chasing deadlines, as long as you are confident they will take the joke in good spirit.

Keep it kind. The aim is a shared laugh, not a gift that singles anyone out, so steer clear of anything about age, appearance or a mistake they would rather forget. If you are unsure, choose something silly rather than something pointed, and you will not go far wrong.

Read our quirky earrings ideas

Festive brooches and Christmas extras

Sometimes the easiest route is to lean into the season. A Christmas brooch makes a lovely Secret Santa gift because it can be worn straight away, at the office party, on a winter coat or pinned to a festive jumper on the last day before the break.

Our festive range includes snowmen, a polar bear, a Christmas dog, a Christmas cow and a cheerful Santa design, along with merry Christmas coins that make a fun little token for a desk drawer. These suit colleagues of all ages and are an easy choice when you would like something cheerful rather than personal.

If your office sets a theme for the exchange, such as keeping every gift festive, this section is a good place to start. Pair a brooch with a short note and you have a complete gift that looks as though you put real thought into it.

See our Christmas brooches guide

How to run a fair office Secret Santa

If you are the one organising the exchange, a little planning keeps things fair and fun for everyone. Agree a spending limit early and make sure the whole team knows it, because a clear budget stops anyone feeling awkward when their gift is smaller than the others. A modest amount usually works best, so that nobody feels stretched in an expensive month.

Draw names in a way that keeps them secret, whether that is slips of paper in a hat or a simple online name picker, and set a date for the exchange well before the last working day. Give people a quiet way to opt out, since not everyone celebrates Christmas and not everyone can spare the money in December.

It also helps to collect a few likes and dislikes from each person, such as a favourite colour, a hobby or whether they wear jewellery. A short wish list takes the guesswork out of buying for someone you barely know and makes it far less likely that anyone receives something they cannot use.

Finally, agree a few ground rules about taste. Gifts should be suitable for opening in front of the whole team, so anything rude or too personal is best left at home. We offer free UK delivery on orders of £30 or more, so if several of you are buying from us, one person could gather everything into a single basket.

Secret Santa gifts under £10 · Secret Santa gifts under £5

FAQs

What are good Secret Santa gifts for colleagues?

Small, cheerful gifts that anyone would be happy to open in front of the team work best. Lanyards, desk-friendly items such as coasters and pens, and gentle novelty brooches are all safe choices.

What is a funny Secret Santa gift for a colleague?

Choose humour that is gentle and a little silly, such as a fruit or vegetable brooch, a retro pin or a set of monkey pins. Avoid jokes about age, appearance or anything that might embarrass them.

How much should you spend on Secret Santa at work?

Whatever your team agrees in advance. A clear, modest limit keeps the exchange fair, and our guide to Secret Santa gifts under £5 has ideas for the smallest budgets.

What do you buy a colleague you do not know well?

Go for something practical and neutral, such as a lanyard, a set of coasters or a card wallet. Look at their desk for clues, such as plants, a favourite mug or a hobby they mention.

Can I order gifts for the whole team at once?

Yes, you can put several gifts into one order. Our shipping and returns page explains how delivery works.