These Secret Santa gift ideas work for all sorts of people, including your friends, coworkers and family members.
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16 Secret Santa Gift Ideas That They Won’t Regift Later
Updated on Oct. 15, 2024
Trying to find unique Secret Santa gift ideas for the holiday season? It can be difficult, especially if you’re not super familiar with the recipient’s hobbies and interests. Fortunately, we’ve found gift options that will please just about everyone, from family members to friends to coworkers.
We found cheap Christmas gifts that deliver big smiles on a small budget. There are practical gifts that even the “Grinchiest” people will enjoy. Make the holidays merry and bright with these Secret Santa gift ideas.
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For the Gadget Lover
Stainless Steel Multi-Tool
They’ll never be without a screwdriver—or a ruler or a wire stripper—again with this key-shaped multi-tool. It functions like 16 tools in one, including a bottle opener to celebrate a job well done. Plus, it has a pretty good grip to it, so it’s easy on the hands. They’ll find no shortage of places where it can come in handy, and can stash it in their car, junk drawer, tackle box, camping kit or wallet.
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For the Artistic Type
Solar Photography Kit
Sure, they know how to take a pic with their phone, but they’ve probably never tried their hand at solar photography! Based on a nearly 200-year-old method for capturing images, this solar photography kit includes photosensitive Sunography paper, which creates rich, blue prints when exposed to bright light, and detailed instructions that will spark their imagination.
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For the Black Thumb
Plant Life Support Self-Waterer
We all have that friend who struggles to keep their plants alive. If they’ve got a sense of humor about it, this funny plant life support self-waterer will put a smile on their face while keeping their greenery from crossing into the great beyond. Modeled after hospital IV bags, it’ll steadily provide water to potting soil, ensuring their thirsty plants stay hydrated.
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For the Coffee or Tea Drinker
Yeti Rambler
Yeti’s 20-ounce double-wall, vacuum-insulated tumbler is one of the most popular gifts season after season. And why wouldn’t it be? It keeps hot drinks hot and cool drinks ice cold for hours, so you’re never coming back to a lukewarm beverage. If you need Secret Santa gift ideas for coffee drinkers, you can’t do much better than this.
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For the Perpetually Cranky
Grievance Journal
Everyone has pet peeves that irritate them every day. Help them stop stewing in annoyance with this grievance journal, which lets them get their most toxic thoughts out of their head and onto the page. Regularly venting will ultimately make them happier people, and perhaps help them learn to let go of the silly little things that are always ruining their day.
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For the Mixologist
Cocktail Napkins
Know someone who loves unwinding with a cocktail at the end of a hard day? Atelier Saucier, a women-owned business, makes these beautiful fabric cocktail napkins for drink enthusiasts. This Sante Fe set includes four napkins made of reclaimed burlap with stunning rainbow stitching around the edges that are sure to take their table setting to the next level. Cheers!
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For the One with Wanderlust
Takeout Gift Boxes
These adorable gift boxes come straight from the legendary Pearl River Mart in New York City’s Chinatown, and make fun Secret Santa gift ideas for just about anyone. Packaged in clear Chinese takeout boxes, each one comes stuffed with an assortment of goodies. Choose between an Asian sweets box filled with imported candy, chocolate and traditional dried fruits, Cute Kawaii featuring adorable novelties or the Best of Pearl River Friendship Box, full of best-selling items, like soaps, candy, oils and lucky cats.
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For the Tech Enthusiast
Tile Mate
We all know that person who always needs a little extra time to find their keys. That’s a thing of the past with the Tile Mate. Just attach it to your keys, phone, shopping bags, water bottle or anything else that’s easy to lose. To find it, just check the Tile app or ask whatever smart assistant it’s connected to, and you’ll know instantly where it is. We won’t blame you if this is one of those Secret Santa gift ideas you buy for yourself, too!
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For the Fixer Upper Fan
Paint Pens
Slobproof paint pens are just the right Secret Santa gift for the DIY painter on your list. Give them an easy way to touch up nicks and dings on their walls (or anything else they’ve painted) with a few strokes. No need to hassle with opening an old paint can that might be dried out—just load the pen with matching paint and snap on the cap. They can also use them to paint murals or add artistic flourishes around their home.
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For Winter Warriors
Carhartt Knit Beanie
Give the gift of warmth with the ever-popular Carhartt beanie, which never, ever goes out of style. The knit fabric keeps the chill off the ol’ noggin for anyone outside shoveling the driveway, hitting the slopes or just looking cool on the city streets. It’s available in 14 colors to suit their personal aesthetic.
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For the Grill Master
Cuisinart 13-Piece Tool Set
Everyone who cooks outside needs a quality set of grill tools, whether they’re replacing an existing set or looking for a backup to take on a camping trip. This durable grill set is ideal for pros or aspiring pitmasters. It features almost everything they need for their next cookout: stainless steel spatula, tongs, brush, fork, four kabob skewers, four corn cob holders and a sturdy storage case to keep their new grill tools in tip-top shape.
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For the Seriously Silly
Toilet Light with Motion Sensor
It’s not often that toilet humor can also be practical, but this toilet light fits the bill! Motion-activated, it’ll light up their toilet bowl as they stumble into the bathroom in the dark, so they won’t have to turn up the overhead lights in the middle of the night. It fits any toilet, and can be set to glow in multiple vivid colors, or turned to rainbow mode for a latrine light show!
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For Those with a Sweet Tooth
Yuletide Bakery Box
Who doesn’t love dessert? The Yuletide bakery box comes with a sweet assortment of brownies and cookies, including fan-favorite flavors like snickerdoodle, chocolate truffle and oatmeal vanilla. It also features a pair of artfully decorated holiday treats that are almost too pretty to eat. Maybe if you’re lucky, you can convince them to share!
For the New Homeowner
Blackout Buddy Night Light
Don’t let them get caught in the dark again! The Blackout Buddy gives them an emergency LED flashlight, blackout alert and night light all in one convenient package. The gift for new homeowners will appreciate it the next time bad weather blows through and the power goes out. It provides four hours of battery life, and lights up automatically during a power outage.
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For the Sustainable Shopper
Reusable Grocery Bags
Plastic bags are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Besides, they’re a hassle to deal with once you get them home and unpack the groceries. Help them kick the habit with these sturdy BeGreen reusable grocery bags. They come in a set of six and are available in several fun colors and prints. Plus, they’re roughly the same size and height as a tall paper grocery bag, so they hold plenty!
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For the Music Fan
Campfire Harmonica
Keep them from getting bored during long camping trips with this classic campfire harmonica. Included instructions teach them how to master their new musical instrument, and includes sheet music for two classic campground songs. They’ll be hosting singalongs around the bonfire before they know it!
