Secret Santa gifts under £10

A tenner is the standard UK Secret Santa budget and it's plenty — as long as you spend it on one good thing rather than three novelty things that go in the bin by January.

The rule that never fails: something small, well made and specific to them, plus a card. A £6 pin badge with the right joke beats a £10 gadget nobody asked for every time.

Below are forty ideas under £10, grouped by who you've drawn, with lines you can copy into the card.

Under £10 for a colleague you barely know

• A pin badge with a joke about the job rather than the person. Shop this card
• A coaster for the desk mug ring everyone pretends not to see. Shop this card
• A small hand-poured candle — safe, useful, never left behind. Shop this card
• A bookmark for the commute. Shop this card
• A funny A5 print for the home-office wall. Shop this card
• Good coffee or a single decent hot chocolate sachet set. Shop this card
• A Christmas card with an actual sentence in it, not just a name. Shop this card
• Anything that fits in a bag without being carried home like a trophy. Shop this card

Under £10 for the office joker

• A rude-ish badge they'll wear on the lanyard until HR notices. Shop this card
• A print with the line they say in every single meeting. Shop this card
• A coaster set that turns their desk into a running gag. Shop this card
• A candle with a label doing the punchline for you. Shop this card
• A card written as if it's from the whole team. Shop this card
• Something they'll display rather than store. Shop this card
• Keep the joke about work, never about them personally. Shop this card
• If in doubt, funny and useful beats funny and disposable. Shop this card

Under £10 for a friend or family Secret Santa

• A candle in a scent tied to somewhere you've both been. Shop this card
• A badge for the thing they'd never admit to loving. Shop this card
• A print for the flat they've just moved into. Shop this card
• A keepsake coaster with a date only the two of you know. Shop this card
• A card with a proper letter in it — free, and the best bit. Shop this card
• Something for the hobby they've just picked up. Shop this card
• A small treat plus a handwritten note beats one bigger thing. Shop this card
• Avoid clothing sizes and anything they'd have to store. Shop this card

What to write in a Secret Santa card

• From your Secret Santa. I put more thought into this than the budget suggests. Shop this card
• Drew your name, saw this, no further questions. Shop this card
• Merry Christmas from someone who sits closer than you think. Shop this card
• £10 of pure judgement, wrapped with love. Shop this card
• You'll never guess. Genuinely, you'll never guess. Shop this card
• Happy Christmas — enjoy the time off, you've earned it. Shop this card
• Sorry it's not a voucher. This is more fun. Shop this card
• From your Secret Santa, who is definitely not the person you suspect. Shop this card

Christmas cards to go with it

A card turns a small gift into a proper present. Printed and posted in the UK.

How to write it so it lands

• Spend the tenner on one thing, not three.
• Always add a card — it's usually outside the budget and always the bit they keep.
• Pick something for the desk if you barely know them.
• Order early. Late beats nothing, but on time beats clever.

Where to shop next

• Secret Santa gift ideas
• Christmas stocking fillers
• Christmas cards and gifts
• Pin badges
• Scented soy candles
• Buy Christmas cards
• Secret Santa rules
• How Secret Santa works
• Funny office Secret Santa gifts
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas

Frequently asked questions

What can you get for a £10 Secret Santa?

A pin badge, a small hand-poured candle, a coaster set, an A5 print or a bookmark — all sit under £10 and all get used. Add a card, which most groups don't count towards the budget.

Is £10 enough for Secret Santa?

Yes — £10 to £15 is the standard UK workplace budget. Spend it on one well-made thing rather than several novelty items.

What is a good cheap Secret Santa gift for work?

Something for the desk: a badge, a coaster or a small print. It's used daily, it's not personal, and it doesn't need carrying home.

What should you avoid buying under £10?

Novelty gadgets, anything perishable, anything sized, and anything with a joke about the person rather than the job.

When should I order for a Friday Secret Santa?

Order at the start of that week at the latest. In December, ordering ten days ahead is the difference between a gift and an apology.