Secret Santa ideas for work
How to run a workplace Kris Kringle people actually enjoy, and what to buy when you draw someone from another floor.
See gift ideas ↓- Tracked delivery
- Faulty or not as described? Covered under the ACL
- Run from Melbourne, VIC
- Secure Shopify checkout
A good office Kris Kringle is a small, cheerful end-of-year ritual. A bad one is an awkward 20 minutes and a pile of novelty mugs. The difference is almost always in the organising: a clear budget, a fair draw, simple safe-for-work rules and enough lead time for delivery. This guide covers all of it, plus gift ideas for colleagues you don't know well.
Just need gift ideas within a $50 cap? See Kris Kringle gift ideas under $50.
How to organise a workplace Kris Kringle
- Make it opt-in. Not everyone celebrates Christmas or has room in their budget. Ask who wants in and make it easy to say no without explaining.
- Set one budget and say it twice. Common caps are $20, $30 or $50. Pick one number, say whether postage counts, and put it in writing.
- Draw names fairly. Use a free online name-draw tool that emails each person privately, or the classic hat. Online works best for hybrid and remote teams.
- Collect a few likes and no-gos. A one-line form helps: "I like…, please avoid…". Cover dietary needs, alcohol-free preferences and allergies.
- Set the date early. Give at least three to four weeks between the draw and the exchange so online orders have time to arrive.
- Plan for remote colleagues. Agree whether gifts are posted directly or opened together on a video call.
Safe-for-work gift rules
Put these in the invite. They save a lot of awkwardness.
- Nothing adult, suggestive or "spicy". If you wouldn't open it in front of your manager, don't give it.
- No alcohol unless you know they drink and your workplace is fine with it.
- No jokes about age, appearance, weight or habits.
- No personal care or clothing that needs a size.
- Respect dietary needs. If you're giving food, check allergies first or skip it.
Office Kris Kringle etiquette
- Stick to the budget. Spending well over makes others feel they under-did it.
- Include a gift receipt so swaps are easy.
- Wrap and label clearly, with the recipient's name, and leave yours off if the "secret" is part of the fun.
- Say thanks on the day even if it's not your thing. A quick message afterwards is a nice touch.
- Managers: consider opting out of the draw and covering morning tea instead, so nobody feels they're buying for the boss.
Copy-paste invite
What to get someone you don't know for Secret Santa
Drawn a name you can barely put a face to? Keep it neutral, useful and easy to swap: something for their daily drink, desk or lunch, or a consumable like good coffee or tea. Ask a teammate who sits near them for one clue.
General ideas first. Our two picks are below.
The desk regular
A good notebook, a desk plant or something for their daily drink.
The commuter
A drink they can take in the car, a podcast-friendly accessory or a café voucher near the office.
The lunch packer
Reusable food storage, a good spice blend or a lunch-friendly cookbook.
The new starter
Keep it neutral and useful. Consumables (coffee, tea, a local treat) are safe when you know very little.
Drew a colleague who's always showing you photos of their dog? Our gifts for dog lovers guide has ideas.
Two office-friendly picks from our range
-
1.2LTravel tumbler
Our pick 1
For the desk or the commute: a 1.2L stainless steel travel tumbler
Neutral, practical and used daily, which makes it a good default when you know someone's name and not much else.
- 1.2 litre (1200 ml) capacity, so fewer refills
- Stainless steel cup
- Comes with a lid, a straw and a carry handle
- Available in a range of plain colours
- Made as a car tumbler: check the cup holder size first
1.2L Stainless Steel Travel Tumbler with Straw & Handle -
Our pick 2
For the leftovers crew: reusable silicone bags
A practical pick for the colleague who always brings lunch from home. Timely, too, with a fridge full of Christmas leftovers coming.
- Set of 4 reusable silicone bags, 1000 ml each
- Sealable tops for storing food
- Made for the fridge: fruit, leftovers and snacks
Reusable Silicone Food Storage Bags (Set of 4)
Christmas delivery and order-by date
Dispatched in 3-5 business days, then usually 7-20 business days to arrive (estimate). Order by Mon 16 Nov 2026 for the best chance of Christmas delivery. Our products ship from our supplier's warehouse overseas. That's a suggestion, not a guarantee: some parcels take longer, regional and remote addresses can take longer, and courier networks get busy in December. Delivery charges may apply.
Shipping & delivery detailsGood to know before you order
Tracked delivery
Every order is sent with tracking, and your tracking number is emailed when it ships. Delivery times are estimates, not guarantees. Delivery charges may apply.
Shipping policyReturns and refunds
We don't offer refunds if you simply no longer want an item. If an item is faulty, not as described or doesn't arrive, we'll repair, replace or refund it at our cost under the Australian Consumer Law. Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law.
Refund policySecure Shopify checkout
Payments are processed through Shopify's secure checkout. Our goods come with guarantees that can't be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law.
Terms of serviceRun from Melbourne, VIC
AutoPilot Commerce is a small Australian online store run from Melbourne. Got a question before you buy? A real person replies within 1–2 business days.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
How much should you spend on a work Secret Santa?
Most workplaces pick a cap of $20, $30 or $50. The right number is one everyone can comfortably afford. Say it in writing, along with whether postage counts.
How do you draw names for an office Kris Kringle?
A free online name-draw tool that emails each person privately works well for hybrid and remote teams. For a single office, names in a hat is fine. Make the draw opt-in.
What gifts are appropriate for a workplace Secret Santa?
Neutral, useful gifts: something for their daily drink, desk or lunch, or a consumable like coffee or tea. Avoid anything adult or suggestive, alcohol unless you know they drink, and jokes about appearance or age.
What do you get someone you don't know for Secret Santa?
Something neutral and useful that suits almost anyone, like a drink tumbler, desk item or reusable lunch storage, or a consumable such as coffee or tea. Include a gift receipt so they can swap it.
Is Kris Kringle the same as Secret Santa?
Yes. Kris Kringle is the name most Australians use for Secret Santa: each person draws one name and buys one gift within an agreed budget.
When should we draw names for an office Kris Kringle?
Ideally three to four weeks before the exchange. For orders from us: Dispatched in 3-5 business days, then usually 7-20 business days to arrive (estimate). Order by Mon 16 Nov 2026 for the best chance of Christmas delivery. That's a suggestion, not a guarantee.