Secret Santa gift ideas in the US

Buy for the situation

You are usually buying for someone you know a little. Buy for the situation, not the person: things that get used up or used daily, and that nobody would mind opening in front of the office. Three categories cover almost everyone. Food and drink: coffee, honey, seasoning. Desk things: a notebook, a pocket planner, a cable pouch. Small fixes: a screwdriver kit or a tracker for the person who loses their keys.

Hitting the limit

Spend close to the limit, not well under or over. Going over makes the person who stuck to it look stingy. If one item falls short, pair two: the Burlap & Barrel seasoning with a jar of whipped honey, or Blackwing memo books with a Rubik's Cube. Two small useful things read as more generous than one slightly bigger one.

If the limit is higher than usual, the AeroPress Clear suits a coffee drinker. Presentation counts, because the gift is opened in front of a group. Put the coffee in a mug. Spell their name right on the tag.

If you know one thing

Use it. Drinks coffee at their desk: Kicking Horse or the AeroPress. Drinks tea: the T2 mug with infuser. Cooks: the bagel seasoning or Mike's hot honey. Plans on paper: the Rifle Paper planner or Blackwing memo books. Fixes things: the iFixit kit. If you know nothing, coffee or a notebook is the safe default.

What to avoid

Joke gifts, which go in the bin by January. Scented products, which are hard to judge for someone you barely know. Alcohol, unless you know they drink. And allergens without a label: honey is not for a household with a baby under one.

Check before you buy anything tied to a phone. The AirTag and the Apple gift card are both useless to an Android user.

Timing

Office draws often happen two or three weeks before the party. Order in early December so you are not paying for express shipping. If you forget entirely, an Apple gift card arrives by email, as long as they use an iPhone or Mac.

Questions people ask

What is a good Secret Santa gift for a coworker?

Something useful and neutral: a bag of good coffee, a box of tea, a travel mug, a notebook or a short card game. These work whether or not you know the person well, and nobody is embarrassed to open them in front of the team. Avoid scented products, alcohol and joke gifts unless you know the person well.

How much should you spend on Secret Santa?

Stick to the group's limit and spend close to it. Most office exchanges land around $20 to $30, or £15 to £25 in the UK. Going well over makes others look cheap, and going well under can look careless. If one item falls short, pair two small things, such as a mug and a bag of coffee.

What is a good Secret Santa gift for someone you do not know?

Pick something nearly everyone uses. Chocolate, coffee, tea, a quick card game or a good notebook all work. Games like Exploding Kittens or Herd Mentality suit people with families or friends who play together. If you can ask a mutual friend one question, ask whether they drink coffee or tea, and buy from there.

Is a gift card OK for Secret Santa?

It is acceptable but a little flat, since the point of Secret Santa is a small surprise. A gift card works best as a last-minute fix or when the person is hard to buy for. Make sure it fits them: an Apple Gift Card is useless to an Android user. Put it inside a card with a small treat if you can.