Gift guide · 12 ideas
Secret Santa gifts under $10
For the office draw with a ten-dollar cap: small presents that feel like more than they cost, whether you know them well or only from meetings.
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A ten-dollar Secret Santa is harder than a big one. There’s no room for anything impressive, the joke gift is in the trash by New Year’s, and the name you drew belongs to someone you mostly know from the Monday meeting. What works is one notch better than they’d buy for themselves: good pens instead of the supply-closet ones, a hot water bottle for the winter evenings or, if you know one thing about them, something for that.
Each idea comes with our pick from one of our top lists, and every pick was under $10 when we checked. Prices move around in December, so it’s worth a quick look before you buy.
A hot water bottle
For the one who keeps a sweater on the back of the office chair from November to March. Filled with hot water and tucked in its chunky knitted cover, it warms cold feet on the couch all winter.
samply 2L Hot Water Bottle with Knitted Cover
Under $10
A clear 2L bottle, so you can see the water level while filling, with a wide mouth that makes filling less splashy and a chunky knitted cover in purple, navy, pink or black.
What owners say: Owners love the look of the knitted cover, say the bottle holds its heat well and find it a help with cramps. One says it made camping in 20-degree weather bearable, though a few report leaks of hot water.
A closer look: Watch the water line through the clear bottle and stop at about two-thirds, then squeeze out the air before closing it. Empty, it packs flat into a duffel bag, so it can come camping and go into the sleeping bag half an hour before bed.
- Holds 68 fl oz (2L)
- Knitted cover included
- Wide mouth, less splashing
A wire head massager
The odd-looking wire whisk that does the rounds of the whole office once it’s unwrapped. One slow pass over the head and even the most stressed person on the team goes quiet.
USAGA 20-Finger Head Massager
Under $10
The classic wire head massager: 20 spring-steel fingers that slide slowly down over a dry head for the tingling, scalp-prickling massage people either love or have never tried. It weighs an ounce, and the fingers can be bent to suit the shape of a head.
What owners say: Owners say it feels wonderful and melts tension so well that some drift off to sleep under it; a few report the fingers bending out of shape with use.
A closer look: Hold it above the crown and let the fingers slide slowly down over the head, then lift it off and start again; slow strokes feel nicer than quick ones, and it works down the neck and across the shoulders too. Keep it out of the shower, and store it hanging or upright so the fingers keep their shape.
- 20 spring-steel fingers
- Weighs just 1.1 oz
- Works on neck and shoulders
Fineliner pens
For the note-taker, the doodler in meetings or anyone still writing with the pens from the supply closet. A set of good fineliners is a small luxury people rarely buy for themselves.
STAEDTLER Pigment Liner 308 Fineliners (set of 6, 0.05–0.8mm)
Under $10
Six widths, from a hair-fine 0.05mm to a bold 0.8mm, with long metal tips that run neatly along a ruler or stencil. The pigment ink is waterproof and lightfast, so drawings can be inked over pencil and painted on top.
What owners say: Sketchers and watercolor painters lean on them for outlining, and they stand up to heavy use without bleeding or smearing. Against that, a few pens didn’t work from the start, some find the black a little gray, and drying can be slow.
A closer look: Staedtler makes them airplane-safe, with built-in pressure equalization so they don’t leak on a flight, handy for a sketching trip. For neat lines, keep the pen upright so the metal tip runs along the ruler’s edge.
- Six line widths, 0.05–0.8mm
- Waterproof, lightfast pigment ink
- Airplane-safe, won’t leak in flight
A calligraphy pen set
It turns up just as the Christmas cards need writing. For the coworker with the nice handwriting, or the one who’d like to have it.
PANDAFLY Calligraphy and Hand Lettering Pens (10 pens)
Under $10
Ten black pens in different sizes: five fine tips from 0.5mm to 3mm for even lines and small lettering, and four brush tips from extra small to large plus a soft brush for thick-and-thin strokes. The pigment ink is waterproof and fade-proof, so finished cards and place cards last.
What owners say: Owners like the smooth ink flow and the wide spread of tip sizes, find them good for newcomers and practiced letterers alike, and one uses them for wedding place cards. Some find the black more charcoal than true black, and a few pens arrived dry.
A closer look: Practice the basic strokes before whole letters: a thin upstroke with a light touch and a thick downstroke pressing harder, over and over down a page. The fine pens handle the small print on a card, while the brush pens make the big flourishing headings.
- 10 black lettering pens
- Includes 5 brush tips
- Waterproof, fade-proof ink
A USB-C hub for the laptop
For the coworker whose new laptop has two ports and a drawer full of adapters. It plugs in once and gives back the HDMI and USB ports the laptop left out.
BENFEI 5-in-1 USB-C Hub with 4K HDMI and Silicone Cable
Under $10
Its USB-A 3.2 port runs at up to 10Gbps, beside two USB 2.0 ports and HDMI at 4K, on a soft 7.9 in silicone-woven cable that BENFEI makes in-house and says lasts over 25,000 bends. It passes up to 90W of a 100W charger to the laptop.
What owners say: Simple to use, with a spread of ports owners find handy for all sorts of USB plugs. Some say it’s built to last while others had it break after a few months, and a few had devices not charge through it.
A closer look: Only the laptop’s charger goes in the USB-C port, which carries no data or video, so an external drive belongs on the single fast USB-A port. The short, soft cable doesn’t knot in a bag, and it reaches a laptop raised on a stand as easily as one flat on the desk.
- 4K HDMI output
- Charges laptop up to 90W
- Cable rated for 25,000 bends
A precision screwdriver set
Every office has one person who fixes the wobbly glasses, the game controller and the laptop with the loose hinge. This set is for them, in a case small enough for a desk drawer.
JOREST 40-Piece Precision Screwdriver Set
Under $10
For the tiny screws a normal set can’t touch: 30 precision bits, including the pentalobe, tri-wing and small Torx sizes used in phones, laptops and game consoles, plus spudgers for opening cases.
What owners say: Everything for a small repair in one compact case, owners say, and one found it made fitting a motherboard and PC fans easy; the magnetic tip holds bits and screws firmly. A few had bits break on first use.
A closer look: Rest a fingertip on the swivel cap and turn the grip with the others: that keeps the bit steady on screws only a millimeter or two across. Go gently with the spudgers at the edge of a phone or console case, easing clips apart rather than levering hard.
- 30 precision bits, pry tools
- Swivel-top magnetic handle
- Tweezers and a cleaning brush
A car phone mount
For the commuter who drives in with the phone sliding around the passenger seat. It clips to an air vent in seconds and holds the map where they can see it.
Lamicall Vent Phone Holder (wider clamp, metal hook)
Under $10
A small vent clip that locks onto the slat with a metal hook in four places, so it stays put over bumps and through sharp turns. The arms open wide enough for thick, wallet and battery cases, a soft silicone back saves the phone from scratches, and it turns a full circle for maps or music.
What owners say: Owners say it grips hard enough that the phone doesn’t budge on the road, fits their vents well and takes different phone sizes, and that the phone pops in and out easily.
A closer look: It needs flat vent slats no thicker than about 4 mm, so round vents won’t take it. Hook it on, tighten the lock, then set the foot to the phone’s height; it’s light enough to move between cars, which suits anyone who swaps vehicles or rents one on vacation.
- Clips to an air vent
- Clamp arms grip the phone
- Takes thick and wallet cases
A shaker bottle for the gym
Whoever disappears to the gym at lunch always needs another shaker, because the last one is still in the gym bag from Tuesday.
BlenderBottle Classic V2, 20 fl oz
Under $10
A wide mouth for scooping powder in, a loop top to carry it by and the original BlenderBall whisk. Steve Sorensen made the first BlenderBall from hardware-store wire in 2000, and it’s still only found in BlenderBottle’s own shakers.
What owners say: It mixes protein powder perfectly, and owners like its size and look. The lid is the weak point for some: a few broke within weeks, and owners disagree on whether it leaks.
A closer look: The markings stop at 14 fl oz, leaving room at the top for the ball to work, so a scoop of powder and a glass of milk or water mixes without spilling. The loop on the lid takes a set of keys on the way to the gym, and SpoutGuard keeps fingers off the spout.
- Holds 20 fl oz
- Dishwasher safe
- Wide mouth for scooping powder
A running belt
If they run before work, a phone bouncing in a pocket is the part they’d happily lose. This belt holds it flat and still against the waist.
U·LANARO Slim Running Belt (black)
Under $10
A low-profile pouch: one expandable pocket that takes any phone in its case, plus keys and a card, worn low enough to hide under a shirt. A TPU lining and a water-resistant zip keep sweat and rain out, and two reflective strips catch headlights.
What owners say: Phone, wallet, keys and earbuds all fit, and it hugs the waist without bouncing or shifting on runs. The one doubt is durability, with a few finding it coming apart within weeks.
A closer look: U·LANARO suggests wearing it just below the waistband, where a shirt or jacket covers it, which also suits walking the dog or a day of sightseeing. At 2.4 oz it barely registers, and it’s hand wash only.
- Fits waists 27–46 in
- Takes any phone in case
- Holds keys and a card
Swim goggles
For the friend who swims laps before the office opens: goggles are one of those things that wear out long before anyone gets around to replacing them.
ALLPAIPAI Swim Goggles (2-pack)
Under $10
Two pairs in one box, so there’s a spare in the swim bag or a pair each for two swimmers. The moderate seals sit comfortably around the eyes without the tight feel of racing goggles, and the strap releases quickly for adjusting.
What owners say: Owners like the secure fit and a strap that snaps into place at the back. Clarity underwater and the anti-fog coating divide them, some say a pair cracked across the middle, and reports on leaks are mixed.
A closer look: Set the strap before the first swim, tightening it only until the seals hold. Pulling it tighter doesn’t stop a leak; it just presses the eyecups harder and leaves red rings around the eyes, so reseat the goggles instead.
- Two pairs in the box
- Mirrored anti-fog lenses
- Fits adults, youth and kids
A garden tool set
A windowsill of plants at work, or a backyard they talk about every Monday? Three small hand tools cover repotting now and planting in the spring.
Mecheer 3-Piece Aluminum Garden Tool Set
Under $10
A trowel, a transplanter marked with a depth scale and a hand rake, with thick aluminum heads and contoured rubber grips that have a palm rest. The bright orange handles show up against the soil, so they don’t get left behind in the beds.
What owners say: Light, comfortable to hold and a handy size, with a rubber coating that one owner says keeps their hands from aching. Durability is where they split: some expect them to last, others had one break early on.
A closer look: Check the planting depth on the bulb packet, dig down to that mark on the transplanter’s scale, then pull the soil back over with the rake. The three weigh about a pound together, so they ride from bed to bed in a bucket with the seed packets.
- Trowel, transplanter and rake
- Rubber-grip handles
- Bright orange, easy to spot
A bell for their bike
They bike in whatever the weather, and the bike path is busy at rush hour. A clear, old-fashioned ring is friendlier than shouting.
Schwinn Classic Bike Bell (Black)
Under $10
A black, vintage-style bell with a clear ring, and a universal mount that goes on with no tools, so it moves from a cruiser to a kid’s bike in a minute. Schwinn started out building bicycles in Chicago in 1895.
What owners say: Owners like the old-school look, especially on cruisers and vintage-style bikes, and its loud, classic ring, though opinions on durability are split and a few couldn’t fit it to very thin bars.
A closer look: With no tools needed, it’s an easy one to swap between a family’s bikes; pull the mount tight so the bell can’t turn on the bar. The black finish suits cruisers and older frames, and on a child’s bike it’s best set close to the grip, where a small thumb can reach the lever.
- Fits most standard handlebars
- Fits without tools
- One-minute swap between bikes
Heads up: It can ring by itself over bumps, so it suits smooth paths and town streets better than rough trails.
View on Amazon See our top 5 bike bells →Tips for a $10 Secret Santa
- If you know one thing about them (they bike in, they run at lunch, they’re the one who fixes the printer), buy for that. If you know nothing, the pens or the head massager suit almost anyone.
- Skip anything that comments on looks, age or weight, even as a joke: it lands differently in front of the whole team.
- Order by early December. The exchange date doesn’t move, and shipping slows down as Christmas gets closer.
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
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