Meta Description: Find the best Secret Santa ideas UK on a budget with 60+ gifts under £5, £10, £15 and £20. Perfect for work, family, and friends – thoughtful presents that won’t break the bank.
Secret Santa is brilliant in theory: Everyone buys one present instead of loads. Set a budget. Nobody overspends.
But in reality? You’re standing in the middle of a shop three days before the deadline, panicking because you’ve got Dave from IT and you know absolutely nothing about him except he wears the same jumper every day.
I’ve been there. Multiple times.
Over the years, I’ve perfected the art of finding Secret Santa gifts that look way more expensive than they are, suit pretty much anyone, and can be bought last-minute without looking like you grabbed the first thing you saw.
This guide has over 60 Secret Santa ideas split by price (£5, £10, £15, £20) so you can find something perfect no matter who you’ve pulled out of the hat.
Let’s get into it.
How to Choose a Good Secret Santa Gift
Before we get to the actual gifts, here’s how to choose something that won’t end up in the bin by January:
Universal appeal: Unless you know the person well, stick to gifts that suit most people. Everyone likes chocolate, nice socks, or candles.
Funny but not offensive: Novelty gifts are great, but avoid anything that could be seen as rude or insensitive. No penis-shaped straws or “world’s worst” mugs.
Useful, not wasteful: Choose things people will actually use. A nice pen beats a plastic trophy every time.
Looks like you tried: Even if it’s cheap, wrap it nicely and add a ribbon. Presentation matters.
Check the budget: If it’s £10, spend £10. Don’t be that person who spends £25 making everyone else look tight.
Secret Santa Gifts Under £5
Perfect for when the budget is very tight or you’re in multiple Secret Santas.
Chocolate and Sweets
1. Posh Chocolate Bar (£2-4) Not a Dairy Milk. A Hotel Chocolat bar, Tony’s Chocolonely, or Lindt. Looks fancy, tastes better.
Where: Waitrose, M&S, or TK Maxx
2. Selection Box of Mini Chocolate Bars (£3-5) Those mixed boxes of Ferrero Rocher, Lindor, or Guylian. Everyone loves them.
Where: Any supermarket
3. Sweets in a Nice Jar (£4-5) Buy pick’n’mix or nice sweets and put them in a small jar from Wilko or Poundland. Add a ribbon.
Where: Wilko jars, any shop for sweets
Novelty Items
4. Funny Socks (£3-5) Novelty patterns – avocados, pizzas, cats, whatever. Everyone needs socks.
Where: Primark, Menkind, TK Maxx
5. Mini Desk Game (£3-5): Tiny basketball hoop, mini bowling, or desktop golf.
Where: The Works, Poundland, B&M
6. Christmas Crackers (Pack of 6 for £5) Nice ones from M&S or Waitrose. They can use them on Christmas Day.
Where: M&S, Waitrose
Practical Items
7. Nice Pen (£3-5) A proper pen from WHSmith or Paperchase. Not a Biro.
Where: WHSmith, Paperchase
8. Mini Hand Cream (£4-5) Travel-sized nice hand cream. The Body Shop, L’Occitane, or Neutrogena.
Where: Boots, Superdrug
9. Reusable Coffee Cup (£5) Small travel cup from Poundland or Wilko.
Where: Poundland, Wilko, Primark
10. Nail Polish or Lip Balm (£3-5) Nice brand like OPI, Essie, or Burt’s Bees.
Where: Boots, Superdrug
Secret Santa Gifts Under £10
This is the most common Secret Santa budget and gives you loads of options.
For Anyone
11. Novelty Mug (£6-10) Funny slogan, nice pattern, or their favourite show/team.
Where: Primark, Menkind, TK Maxx
12. Small Scented Candle (£7-10) Nice candles from Wilko (£6), Yankee Candle votives (3 for £10), or TK Maxx designer ones.
Where: Wilko, TK Maxx, Homesense
13. Mini Potted Plant (£5-8) Small succulent or cactus. Stick it in a nice pot.
Where: B&M, The Range, IKEA
14. Monopoly Deal Card Game (£7-10) Quick version of Monopoly. Takes 15 minutes. Actually fun.
Where: Argos, Smyths, Amazon
15. Bath Bombs or Shower Gel Set (£8-10) Lush bath bombs (2 for £8-10) or a Radox gift set.
Where: Lush, Boots, Superdrug
For Him
16. Craft Beer Selection (£8-10) 3-4 different craft beers from Aldi, Morrisons, or Waitrose.
Where: Any supermarket
17. Desk Organiser or Phone Stand (£7-10). Actually useful. From IKEA, The Range, or B&M.
Where: IKEA, The Range, B&M
18. Car Air Freshener (£6-8) Nice one from Halfords. Not those tree things.
Where: Halfords, The Range
19. Mini Tool Kit (£8-10) Small set from B&Q, Wilko, or Screwfix.
Where: B&Q, Wilko
20. Beard Care Kit or Grooming Set (£8-10) Small beard oil or face wash set from Boots.
Where: Boots, Superdrug
For Her
21. Face Mask Set (£7-10) 3-4 different sheet masks or a mud mask.
Where: Boots, Superdrug
22. Hair Accessories Set (£6-10) Scrunchies, clips, headbands. Very on trend.
Where: Accessorize, Primark, Claire’s
23. Makeup Bag or Small Pouch (£7-10) Nice pattern or colour. Actually useful.
Where: Primark, Accessorize, TK Maxx
24. Tea or Coffee Selection Box (£7-10) Posh tea from Pukka or nice coffee selection.
Where: Waitrose, M&S, TK Maxx
25. Cosy Socks or Bed Socks (£6-10) Fluffy, warm, nice quality.
Where: Primark, M&S, TK Maxx
Funny/Novelty
26. Giant Chocolate Bar (£8-10) Massive Toblerone or 1kg Dairy Milk.
Where: Any supermarket
27. Funny Book (£7-10) “Crap Jobs”, funny quiz book, or joke book.
Where: The Works, Waterstones
28. Novelty Ice Cube Tray (£6-8) Fun shapes – skulls, dinosaurs, whatever.
Where: Menkind, IWOOT, Amazon
29. Christmas Jumper Socks (£7-10) Those massive comedy socks that look like Christmas jumpers.
Where: Primark, Sports Direct
30. Desk Toy (£7-10) Newton’s cradle, magnetic sculpture, stress ball.
Where: Menkind, The Works
Secret Santa Gifts Under £15
When you want to get something a bit nicer or more thoughtful.
Quality Gifts
31. Nice Water Bottle (£12-15) Insulated bottle from Sports Direct or TK Maxx.
Where: Sports Direct, TK Maxx
32. Bluetooth Speaker (£12-15) Small speaker from B&M or Home Bargains. Surprisingly decent sound.
Where: B&M, Home Bargains
33. Power Bank (£10-15) Portable phone charger. Everyone needs one.
Where: Argos, Currys, Amazon
34. Cookbook (£10-15) Pick something relevant to them – quick meals, baking, their cuisine.
Where: The Works, Waterstones, TK Maxx
35. Posh Gin Miniatures (£12-15) Selection of mini gins. Perfect for trying different types.
Where: Waitrose, M&S, Aldi
36. Photo Frame (£10-12) Nice frame from M&S, Next, or IKEA.
Where: M&S, Next, IKEA
37. Plant in Nice Pot (£12-15) Proper indoor plant, not just a succulent. Peace lily, snake plant.
Where: B&Q, IKEA, garden centres
38. Board Game (£12-15) Proper game like Exploding Kittens, Dobble, or Timeline.
Where: Argos, Smyths, Amazon
39. Jewellery (£12-15) Simple necklace, bracelet, or earrings from Accessorize or H&M.
Where: Accessorize, H&M, New Look
40. Wallet or Cardholder (£12-15) Decent quality from M&S, Next, or Debenhams.
Where: M&S, Next
Pampering
41. Luxury Hand Cream and Lip Balm Set (£12-15) The Body Shop, L’Occitane, or nice Boots set.
Where: The Body Shop, Boots
42. Aromatherapy Set (£12-15): Essential oils or reed diffuser.
Where: Holland & Barrett, TK Maxx
43. Nice Bath Set (£12-15) Bath salts, body butter, soap. Proper nice one.
Where: Lush, The Body Shop, M&S
44. Slippers (£12-15) Memory foam ones from Primark or Next.
Where: Primark, Next, M&S
45. Makeup Palette (£12-15) Revolution or Makeup Revolution. Good quality, affordable.
Where: Superdrug, Boots
Secret Santa Gifts Under £20
When your work has been decided to be generous with the budget.
Premium Options
46. Wireless Earbuds (£15-20) Basic ones from Argos or Currys. Not AirPods, but decent enough.
Where: Argos, Currys
47. Smart Plug (£15-18) Control things with your phone. Actually useful for lamps and stuff.
Where: Argos, Currys, Amazon
48. Travel Mug (£15-20) Proper insulated one that keeps drinks hot for hours.
Where: Sports Direct, TK Maxx
49. Nice Scarf (£15-20) Cashmere-blend from M&S or TK Maxx.
Where: M&S, TK Maxx, Next
50. Pyjamas (£15-20) Decent set from Primark, Matalan, or George at Asda.
Where: Primark, Matalan, Asda
51. Cocktail Making Kit (£15-20): Shaker, jigger, strainer. Perfect for someone into drinks.
Where: Argos, The Range, TK Maxx
52. Cheese Board Set (£15-20) Small board with knife set.
Where: TK Maxx, Homesense, Dunelm
53. Electric Wine Opener (£15-18) From Argos or Lakeland. Actually very useful.
Where: Argos, Lakeland
54. Insulated Lunch Bag (£15-20) Quality one that actually keeps food cold.
Where: Argos, Amazon
55. Weighted Eye Mask (£15-20) For sleep. Getting popular actually works.
Where: Boots, Amazon
Experience/Subscription
56. Meal Out Voucher (£15-20) Voucher for Pizza Express, Nando’s, or local restaurant.
Where: Supermarkets, online
57. Cinema Tickets (£15-20) Two tickets to the local cinema.
Where: Cinema websites
58. National Trust Day Pass (£18). If they like country walks.
Where: National Trust website
59. Streaming Subscription (First Month £15-20) Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime gift card.
Where: Supermarkets, online
60. Wine Subscription (First Delivery £18-20) First box from Naked Wines or similar.
Where: Online
Secret Santa Tips
For people you don’t know well: Stick to universally liked things: chocolate, candles, nice socks, mugs. Can’t go wrong.
For work colleagues: Avoid anything too personal. Desk items, snacks, or funny (but not offensive) novelty gifts.
For family: You can be more personal. Think about hobbies and interests.
For friends: In-jokes are fine here. Private jokes make the best gifts if you’re close.
If you’re stuck: Chocolate + nice mug/glass. Works for literally everyone.
Where to Buy Last-Minute
Next day delivery: Amazon Prime, Argos same-day collection, very.co.uk next day
Same day collection: Argos, Boots, WHSmith, most supermarkets
Open late: 24-hour Tesco/Asda, most shopping centres until 8 pm
Emergency options: Service stations have surprisingly decent gift sets. Overpriced but better than nothing.
What NOT to Buy
Avoid:
- Anything offensive or rude
- Cheap perfume/aftershave (always smells awful)
- Used or obviously re-gifted items
- Anything that looks like you grabbed it from a pound shop 5 minutes ago
- Diet products or anything implying they need to change
- Alcohol if you’re not sure they drink
Final Thoughts
The best Secret Santa gifts aren’t necessarily the most expensive. They’re the ones that show you put a tiny bit of thought in.
Even if you don’t know the person well, you can usually work out something they’d like based on:
- Age group
- Whether they have kids
- General interests
And if you’re completely stuck? Nice chocolate, a candle, and a funny card. Works every time.
Happy Secret Santa shopping!
Last updated: October 2025