Secret Santa gifts under £10 that people actually keep
Office-safe, crowd-pleasing ideas that work even if you barely know the person, and none of them are destined for the bin.
Secret Santa is hard because you’re often buying for someone you only know from meetings. The joke gift feels safe, but most of them end up in a drawer by January. The better approach is something small and consumable, or a useful little upgrade that almost anyone would appreciate.
Every idea here usually comes in around the £10 mark, though prices move about, especially in December. Check the price before you buy, including postage.
Links go to Amazon UK search results so you can compare options and current prices. We may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. How this works.
A mini hot sauce set
£ Budget
Small bottles, lots of variety, and it gets eaten rather than stored. A good pick for anyone who brings interesting lunches.
Worth knowing: Choose a set with a range of heat levels unless you know they love spicy food.
See options on AmazonA hardback A5 notebook
£ Budget
Everyone at work uses a notebook, and a nice one feels like a treat compared with the stationery cupboard.
Worth knowing: Dotted pages suit lists and sketches; lined suits note-takers.
See options on AmazonA quick card game
£ Budget
Small, cheap and perfect for the Christmas break with family. Quick games that play in 15 minutes get used the most.
See options on AmazonA hand cream set
£ Budget
Winter wrecks everyone’s hands. A set of travel-size tubes goes in desk drawers, coat pockets and handbags.
Worth knowing: Go for unscented or gentle scents if you don’t know their taste.
See options on AmazonFun patterned socks
£ Budget
Socks with a bit of personality are the rare “fun” gift that also gets worn. Food, animal or Christmas designs all go down well.
See options on AmazonA small scented candle tin
£ Budget
Travel tins are cheap but feel like a proper present. Winter scents like cinnamon, fig or pine suit the season.
See options on AmazonHot chocolate stirrers
£ Budget
Stir into hot milk for a proper hot chocolate. They look lovely wrapped and get used up by New Year.
Worth knowing: Check allergen information if you know of any allergies in the office.
See options on AmazonAn adjustable phone stand
£ Budget
Handy for video calls, recipes and watching things at the desk over lunch. A metal one feels much sturdier than the price suggests.
See options on AmazonA grow-your-own herb kit
£ Budget
Something to look after on a kitchen windowsill through January. Nice for people who like cooking or a bit of green on their desk.
See options on AmazonA keyring torch
£ Budget
Dark mornings and evenings make this genuinely useful for finding keyholes and car doors. Tiny but surprisingly bright.
See options on AmazonPopcorn seasoning set
£ Budget
A fun way to upgrade film nights. Pair with a bag of kernels and it’s a complete gift.
See options on AmazonA reusable coffee cup
£ Budget
Many coffee shops give a small discount for bringing your own cup, so it pays for itself. A leak-proof lid is the key feature.
See options on AmazonSecret Santa tips
- Stick to the price limit. Going way over can make others feel awkward.
- If you don’t know them well, choose something consumable or universally useful.
- Avoid anything that comments on appearance, age or weight, even as a joke.
- Order early: December delivery gets slow and prices can creep up.
Budget guide: £ roughly under £15 · ££ roughly £15–£40 · £££ over £40. Prices vary between retailers and over time.
