Secret Santa (or Kris Kringle as some call it) shows up everywhere this time of year, not just around the family Christmas table. Work teams do it, friend groups do it, book clubs do it. It’s the easiest way for a group to still exchange gifts without everyone having to buy for everyone else. You draw one name, buy one gift, and the whole group gets the fun of unwrapping something on the day.
Here’s how to set one up properly for whichever group you’re organising it for, plus enough gift ideas across every budget to keep everyone out of the “I have no idea what to get them” panic.
What’s the Difference Between Secret Santa and Kris Kringle?
Honestly, not much. Most Australians use the two names interchangeably for the same tradition: everyone in the group is randomly assigned one other person to buy a gift for, and it stays a secret until it’s opened. Some groups use “Kris Kringle” specifically when there’s a theme or a set of rules involved, and “Secret Santa” for the simpler version, but there’s no hard and fast rule. Call it whichever one your group has always called it and nobody will bat an eyelid.
How to Run a Secret Santa
Draw the Names
The classic method is names in a hat, which is still hard to beat for the sense of occasion at a family gathering. For an office or a friend group spread across different suburbs, a free online name draw tool will sort it out and email everyone their match privately.
Set a Budget
This is the part that saves the most stress, so don’t skip it. A clear budget means nobody feels pressure to outspend anyone else, and nobody’s left wondering if their gift looks cheap next to someone else’s. The right number depends a lot on who’s in the group.
Agree on the Exchange Rules
Decide when gifts will be opened, whether that’s all together on the day or at an earlier gathering, and whether there’s a theme this year. Common themes include “something homemade,” “something from a local business,” or “something under $10 as a joke gift plus the real one.” A theme is optional but it does make the whole thing feel a bit more fun and a bit less like an obligation.
Keep a Reserve List
Not everyone finds gift shopping easy. If someone’s stuck, a shared list of five or six ideas per person (hobbies, favourite brands, sizes if it’s clothing) takes the guesswork out without spoiling the surprise of what’s actually chosen.
Apps and Websites That Make It Easier
If typing names into a hat and texting everyone their match sounds like more admin than you want, a few free tools handle the whole thing for you.
DrawNames is a popular option for Australian groups. You enter everyone’s name, it draws the matches, and you can set exclusions so partners don’t end up drawing each other. It also lets each participant build a wish list once they’re in the group, and their Secret Santa can see it automatically, which solves the “I have no idea what to get them” problem before it starts. It’s not just for Christmas either, the same setup works for birthdays and other gift exchanges throughout the year.
Elfster works in a very similar way and is another widely used option, with the same name draw plus wish list combination.
Sneaky Santa and My Wishlist are lighter alternatives if you want something simple. My Wishlist has a nice extra touch where a Secret Santa can send an anonymous question to their match if they need a hint about something on the wish list.
Whichever tool you use, the wish list feature is the real time-saver. It takes the guesswork out for whoever draws your name, and it means you’re far less likely to end up with a gift that gets a polite “thanks” and then goes straight to the back of a cupboard.
Choosing a Budget That Suits Your Group
Family exchanges tend to run a bit higher, often $30 to $50, since it’s usually the one gift each person is buying that family member for the whole year. Friend groups and book clubs often sit in a similar range, sometimes with a fun twist like a book-themed gift for a book club exchange. Workplaces are usually more modest, commonly $20 to $30, partly because teams can be large and partly because it’s meant to be a light-hearted gesture rather than a big spend. Whatever the group, agree on the number before anyone starts shopping.
Secret Santa Gift Ideas Under $20
A smaller budget doesn’t mean a boring gift. Some easy wins in this range include a nice candle, a good quality mug paired with a bag of coffee or tea, a puzzle or card game, a paperback from a favourite author, a small plant, or a nice hand cream and lip balm set. For an office exchange, this is usually the safest range to sit in.
Secret Santa Gift Ideas Between $20 and $50
This is where you can start matching gifts to actual interests. Think a nice bottle of wine or a non-alcoholic alternative, a set of good quality candles, a subscription box for a first month, a board game the whole family can play, or a gift card to a favourite café or bookstore. If you know the person well, a small item tied to a hobby, like gardening gloves and seed packets, or a nice notebook and pen set, always feels more considered than it costs.
Secret Santa Gift Ideas Between $50 and $75
At this level you can go a bit further with quality over quantity. A nice set of skincare or grooming products, a good throw blanket, a well-reviewed kitchen gadget, a bottle of something a step up from the usual, or a gift card with a bit more value all sit comfortably here. It’s also a good range for a book club exchange, where a beautiful hardback edition of a favourite title or a cosy reading kit (blanket, candle, bookmark) fits the theme nicely.
Secret Santa Gift Ideas Between $75 and $100
This range works well for smaller, closer groups such as close friends or immediate family. Consider a quality piece of homewares, a nice leather wallet or purse, a good bottle of wine or spirits, or a voucher for a day out like a spa treatment or a nice dinner. A gourmet hamper, a stylish tote bag, a set of nice ceramic dinnerware, or a cosy robe and slipper set are all good options too, and a portable Bluetooth speaker or a three-month subscription box tends to suit someone a bit harder to buy for. It’s enough to feel like a genuine gift without tipping into “too much for a Secret Santa” territory.
Secret Santa Gift Ideas Over $100
For families or close friend groups who like to go bigger, this budget opens up things like a quality kitchen appliance, a nice piece of tech, a proper gift experience such as tickets to a show, or a really well-chosen homewares piece. It’s also a comfortable range for a group gift if a few people want to pool together for one person’s present rather than setting an individual budget this high.
Kris Kringle Ideas for Kids
If the kids are included in your family exchange, keep the budget low and the fun high, and think about their age.
For toddlers and preschoolers, simple sensory toys, board books, chunky puzzles or dress-up items tend to go down well and hold their attention. For primary school aged kids, LEGO sets, a favourite character’s latest book, craft kits, or a game the whole family can play together are safe bets. For tweens and teens, gift cards for a favourite store, a nice pair of headphones, a skincare set, or something tied to a specific hobby or fandom usually lands better than a generic toy.
Steer clear of anything with too many small parts if there are younger cousins in the mix, and check with parents first if you’re not sure what a child already has.
Secret Santa Considerations for the Office
Work gift exchanges come with a few extra things to think about that a family one doesn’t.
Keep it appropriate. Stick to gifts that would be comfortable to open in front of the whole team. Skip anything overly personal, anything alcohol-related unless you know it’s welcome, and anything that could be read the wrong way.
Set a modest, clear budget. Somewhere around $20 to $30 is the norm for most Australian workplaces. It keeps things fair across a team that might include very different income levels, and it takes the pressure off.
Safe go-to gifts include good quality stationery, a nice mug, a small box of chocolates or local treats, a desk plant, a candle, or a gift card to a café near the office. These all work well without needing to know someone especially well.
Consider anonymity carefully. Some offices prefer a fully anonymous exchange, others enjoy a “guess who” reveal. Either is fine, but agree on it as a group beforehand so nobody’s caught off guard.
Check for dietary or scent sensitivities if you’re leaning toward food, drink or anything strongly scented like candles or diffusers, particularly in a shared office environment.
Making It Fun: Twists on the Classic Swap
If your group has done the same Secret Santa format for years and wants to shake it up, a few easy twists work well. A “steal” round, similar to a White Elephant exchange, lets people swap or steal gifts once everyone has opened theirs, which usually ends up being the most entertaining part of the day. Alternatively, try a wrapped gift guessing game where everyone gets clues about their gift before opening it, or set a “no store bought gifts” rule and make everything homemade or an experience.
FAQs About Secret Santa & Kris Kringle
It depends on the group. Family and close friends often sit around $30 to $50, while workplace exchanges are typically more modest at $20 to $30. Agree on the number as a group before anyone starts shopping.
Keep it fairly neutral and safe for opening in front of the team. Good quality stationery, a nice mug, chocolates, a desk plant or a small gift card all work well without needing to know the person especially well.
Names in a hat still works well for a group that’s all together in person. For a group spread across different locations, like a remote team or extended family in different states, a free online name draw tool will assign names randomly and notify everyone privately.
In most Australian groups, yes. Both describe the same tradition of drawing one name and buying a gift for that person, and the terms are used interchangeably.
A simple shared wish list with a handful of ideas per person takes the pressure off without ruining the surprise of what’s actually picked.
Once your gift exchange is sorted, get the rest of the season under control with our Christmas Countdown Checklist, or head to our Ultimate Guide to Christmas for everything else happening this year, from Santa photos to light displays.