Secret Santa: how it works and where to start
Secret Santa is a gift exchange where each person is secretly given one other person to buy a gift for, usually with a spending limit. This page is the map: pick your situation below and open the guide that fits.
What is Secret Santa?
Everyone in a group is assigned one other member, called their giftee. Each person buys one gift for their giftee within an agreed budget, and the gifts are opened at a set date. Who bought what stays secret until a reveal, or forever. If you want the short version, read what is Secret Santa, and the same game goes by Kris Kringle in many places.
The 5-step path
- Decide who is in and what the rules are. Start with the Secret Santa rules and agree on a budget with the budget calculator.
- Collect names. Use a sign-up sheet or one invite link, as in how to organize a Secret Santa.
- Draw the names. Use the free generator or do it online. Add couples or exclusions if needed.
- Shop and wrap. Use the gift ideas page and ask questions with the questionnaire.
- Swap and reveal. See reveal ideas for a fun ending.
Ready to go? Create your group, share one link, and everyone gets a name. Create your group, free
Pick your situation
- Tools: draw, pick, and calculate on the Secret Santa tools page.
- Groups: families, offices, classrooms and clubs are in Secret Santa for groups.
- White elephant and Yankee swap: see the white elephant guide.
- Printables and messages: cards, invites and poems are in printables.
- Other exchanges and parties: see gift exchange ideas and holiday party ideas.
- Comparing apps: read best Secret Santa apps.
When things go wrong
Someone drops out, a couple draws each other, or the budget is ignored. These happen in most groups, and problems and fixes has a plan for each. Manners that avoid trouble in the first place are on the etiquette page.
All guides in this section
Frequently asked questions
What is Secret Santa?
A gift exchange where each person secretly gets one other person to buy for, within a set budget. Gifts are swapped on a set date.
How do you play Secret Santa?
Collect names, draw so each person gets one giftee, set a budget, buy and wrap a gift, and swap on the agreed date.
How many people do you need for Secret Santa?
At least three, and it works best with six or more. Hollyhush supports up to 50 people per group.
What is a good Secret Santa budget?
Typical limits are $15 to $25 at work, $20 to $40 for family and $5 to $15 for kids. Pick one everyone can afford.
Try it now
A draw takes about a minute. No signup, no email, a private link for everyone.
Create your group, free- Couples & exclusions
- Wishlists & anonymous questions
- Deletes itself in 60 days
Ready when you are
Make a draw in a minute. No signup, no email, private links for everyone.