Secret Santa Gift Ideas Under £12 That Anyone Would Love
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Time to read 6 min
You've drawn a name out of the hat. It's someone from accounts you've spoken to twice, or your partner's cousin, or the friend of a friend who's joined the group this year. The budget is £12, and every shop seems to be full of novelty mugs and joke gifts nobody actually wants.
The good news is that a great Secret Santa gift doesn't need to be personal. It just needs to be something almost anyone would be happy to use.
Here are our favourite Secret Santa gift ideas under £12: useful, a little bit fun and easy to love, whoever ends up unwrapping them.
🖤 Black Friday bonus: Many of these gifts are up to 50% off in our Black Friday sale, so your Secret Santa budget goes even further. Prices are correct while stocks last.
What Makes a Good Secret Santa Gift?
When you don't know someone well, the safest gifts tick four boxes:
- It's useful. Something they'll reach for, not something they'll politely put in a cupboard.
- It suits almost anyone. Think everyday comforts rather than very personal tastes.
- It feels like a treat. A small luxury they probably wouldn't buy for themselves.
- It stays within budget. Going over the limit can make everyone else feel awkward.
Joke gifts can be fun with close friends, but with people you don't know well, they often miss the mark. Got a little more to spend? Take a look at our top 10 self-care gifts under £20.
Secret Santa Gift Ideas Under £12
For the One Who Loves a Festive Touch: Frosted Cherry Satin Sleep Mask (£7.50 in our sale, usually £15)
Snowy, wintry and just the right amount of festive, the Frosted Cherry mask is one of our favourite Secret Santa picks this year. The silky satin is gentle on skin and hair, and it’s currently half price, so it’s a properly luxurious gift for well under budget.
Gift idea: Frosted Cherry Satin Sleep Mask
For the One Who's Always Cold in the Office: Cosy Cuddle Socks (£6)
Every office has someone wrapped in a cardigan by 10am. Our ultra-soft Cosy Cuddle Socks are made for cold desks, chilly commutes and cosy evenings on the sofa. There are designs for every personality, from sweet hearts and bows to Highland cows.
Gift idea: Cosy Cuddle Socks
For the Colleague Who’s Always Tired: Gingham Bows & Birds Satin Sleep Mask (£9 in our sale, usually £15)
If they've ever said "I just need a proper night's sleep", this is the one. Like all our satin sleep masks, it's gentle on skin and hair, and the red gingham print feels festive without being too Christmassy to wear all year.
Gift idea: Gingham Bows & Birds Satin Sleep Mask
For the Skincare Fan: Reindeer Novelty Spa Headband (£12 in our sale, usually £15)
Practical and properly festive. The Reindeer Spa Headband keeps hair off the face while cleansing or applying a face mask, and it's guaranteed to get a laugh when it's unwrapped. Not feeling festive? There are plenty of other novelty spa headbands to choose from, including cherries and croissants.
Gift idea: Reindeer Novelty Spa Headband
For the Morning Person Who Isn't Really a Morning Person: Bright Eyes Revive Patches (£10)
For the colleague who arrives clutching a giant coffee. These under-eye patches are made for tired-looking mornings and can be popped on while the kettle boils.
Gift idea: Bright Eyes Revive Patches
For the Gym-Goer or Frequent Traveller: Collapsible Water Bottle (£10)
A water bottle that folds down small enough to fit in a pocket or handbag when it's empty. It's ideal for the gym, festivals, long walks and travel, and it suits absolutely anyone. If they're always off somewhere, our guide on what to pack in a travel toiletry bag is full of handy ideas too.
Gift idea: Collapsible Water Bottle
For the Pet Owner (or Anyone in Dark Work Clothes): Lint Roller (£3.30 in our sale, usually £6)
It might not sound glamorous, but a good lint roller is something people use constantly. Ours come in fun designs with cheeky slogans, which makes them perfect for Secret Santa, especially for dog and cat owners.
Gift idea: Lint Rollers
For the One Who Always Needs a Touch-Up: Compact Hair Brush & Mirror (£5)
A pocket-sized brush and mirror in one, perfect for handbags, desk drawers and quick fixes before the office party. It’s small, useful and a great add-on if you want to pair two gifts.
Gift idea: Compact Hair Brush & Mirror
For the Shower Lover: Shower Steamers (£9.60 in our sale, usually £12)
Pop one in the corner of the shower and let the aromatherapy fragrance fill the room. Shower steamers turn an everyday shower into a spa moment (they've even featured on ITV's This Morning as part of the viral Everything Shower trend), and they're a lovely gender-neutral pick.
Gift idea: Shower Steamers
For the Beauty Lover: Cloud Satin Hair Scrunchies (£10)
A set of three soft, cloud-padded satin scrunchies that are gentle on hair and look lovely worn on the wrist. They're the kind of thing that gets used every single day.
Gift idea: Cloud Satin Hair Scrunchies
Secret Santa Gifts for Someone You Don't Know Well
If you really have no idea what they like, stick to everyday essentials. Everyone showers, gets cold, needs to stay hydrated and ends up with fluff on their coat at some point.
That makes Cosy Cuddle Socks, shower steamers, a lint roller and the collapsible water bottle the safest picks on this list. They suit almost anyone, and none of them relies on knowing someone's taste in fashion or beauty.
How to Make a £12 Gift Feel More Special
A small budget doesn't have to look small. A few easy ways to make your gift feel more thoughtful:
Pair two small gifts. Cosy Cuddle Socks with a lint roller, or a lint roller with a compact hair brush and mirror, both come in at £12 or under.
Add a handwritten note. One line about why you chose it makes all the difference.
Wrap it well. Tissue paper, ribbon and a gift tag make even a small present feel special.
Choose something they wouldn't buy themselves. Small luxuries always feel more exciting than practical essentials.
Final Thoughts
Secret Santa doesn't have to mean panic-buying something forgettable the night before the office party. Choose something useful, comforting and a little bit fun, and whoever you've drawn will be happy to unwrap it.
If you have a bigger budget for the people closest to you, take a look at our gift sets, our guide to gift ideas for her and our Christmas self-care gifts.
FAQs
How much should you spend on Secret Santa?
Common budgets are between £10 and £20, but the most important thing is to stick to whatever limit your group agrees. Going over can make others feel awkward about their gifts.
What is a good Secret Santa gift for a colleague?
Choose something useful and universal that doesn't rely on knowing them well. Cosy socks, revive patches, shower steamers and a sleep mask all make thoughtful gifts for colleagues.
What is a good unisex Secret Santa gift?
A contoured sleep mask, shower steamers, a lint roller and a collapsible water bottle all suit almost anyone, which makes them ideal when you don’t know who you’ll be buying for.
What can I get for Secret Santa under £10?
Cosy Cuddle Socks (£6), a lint roller (£6) and a compact hair brush and mirror (£5) are all under £10. You could also pair two of them for a slightly bigger gift.
What is a good last-minute Secret Santa gift?
If time is running out, a SMUG gift card lets them choose something they love. Otherwise, check the delivery times before ordering so your gift arrives before the big day.
Secret Santa, Sorted
Small, useful and easy to love, whoever you’ve drawn. Shop our favourite Secret Santa gifts, all £12 and under.
