Secret Santa gifts under £20
A £20 Secret Santa gift should be easy to receive, not an awkward statement about the person. Use a wishlist when the group has one. Without it, learn one or two preferences: do they enjoy games, reading or a particular drink? A neutral-looking product is not automatically universal. Keep humour kind, avoid intimate products and remember that people may not drink alcohol, eat the same foods or have space to carry a large gift home.
Ideas prepared by WantThis
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on eligible purchases, at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work.
How we chose these gifts
These are editorial gift ideas, not hands-on product tests. Planning amounts are spending limits, not retailer offers. Any named product reference price is dated 2 October 2026; check the linked source, delivery, variant and current total before buying.
What makes a good pick
- Agree whether £20 includes delivery and wrapping. A hard cap keeps the exchange comfortable for everyone.
- Use the recipient’s shortlist rather than making workplace stereotypes about their age or role.
- Check the group’s rules before choosing jokes, alcohol, food or gift cards. The person should not have to explain a private restriction.
The ideas
- 1
A wanted paperback
Leave delivery inside £20A good fit for: A colleague whose reading preferences are known
Ask for a title or shortlist and check the preferred format. Add a small note about why you selected it. A book can be a complete present without a mug or bookmark, provided you know the recipient wants it and has not read it already.
Before you buy: Check duplicates and avoid books that comment on their work performance, diet or personality.
- 2
A £15 bookshop eGift
Choose £15 face valueA good fit for: Someone who likes choosing their own books
Use a bookshop the recipient can access and select the digital or physical format that fits the exchange. A short personal note makes the gift less anonymous. Leave the remaining budget unspent or use it for a card rather than adding an unwanted object.
Before you buy: Check electronic delivery and redemption terms.
Check product details at Waterstones gift-card terms (opens in a new tab)
- 3
A compact game for their usual group
Keep the delivered total below £20A good fit for: Someone who enjoys games outside work
Choose a game based on how many people usually play and the time they like to spend. Check age and language guidance when children will join in. A smaller game can be more useful than a large party box for someone who rarely hosts.
Before you buy: Ask about duplicates and avoid an adult-themed game unless the group has explicitly agreed it.
- 4
A familiar tea or coffee refill
Set a £10–£18 limitA good fit for: Someone whose exact drink preference is known
Buy a useful size of a drink they already enjoy. Check ground or whole-bean coffee, loose or bagged tea and caffeine preference. A refill avoids requiring a new brewing system and can be easier to take home than a hamper or a large insulated cup.
Before you buy: Check ingredients and preparation requirements; do not assume a desk drink reveals all their preferences.
Save your favourites
Save your favourite ideas to a free WantThis list. Product picks include their retailer link; for general ideas, add the exact product link later. Price tracking is available for supported products.
Create your free listFAQs
What if I barely know the person?
Ask the organiser to collect a few wishlist ideas from everyone. That is less awkward than probing one person about private restrictions, and it makes the same rules available to the whole group.
Can WantThis organise the exchange?
Create a Secret Santa group and agree the budget. Participants can link wishlists with several specific ideas, letting their assigned giver choose a surprise within useful boundaries.
Spotted a changed price or specification? Tell us which product needs a correction.