Secret Santa gifts under £25
Last updated: · Links and ratings checked 16 October 2026
Secret Santa is about finding something that works for someone you may not know well, within a tight budget. Everything on this page sits in our £10–£25 band, is suitable for a workplace and contains no alcohol. That last point matters, because you may not know who doesn’t drink.
What makes a good Secret Santa gift
Broad appeal, no awkwardness and something that gets used. Games (Exploding Kittens, Jenga, Codenames), well-known books, a moka pot for the office coffee lover, or a wildflower seed box all tick those boxes.
A note on price bands
We show bands rather than exact prices because retailer prices change often. Check the current price before buying if you have a strict limit.
See also: stocking fillers and gifts for friends.
Office-safe checklist
Avoid anything that could be read as personal or pointed (beauty products, diet-related items, jokes about age). Stick with things that are broadly enjoyable: games, books, coffee kit and plants. Include a gift receipt where the retailer offers one.
At a glance
- 26 picks: 26 in £10–£25.
- 26 show a public rating on the retailer’s page.
- 5 are personalised and need extra making time.
- Highest rated when checked: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – Samin Nosrat (★ 4.8), Dishoom: the cookbook (★ 4.8), Personalised birth flower scarf (★ 4.8).
Want it narrower? Take the 60-second quiz.
Our picks (26)
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – Samin Nosrat
Teaches how to cook rather than what to cook. It's for the person who has every recipe book already.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Dishoom: the cookbook
The restaurant's recipes, chai and bacon naan included. A feast-weekend project for curry fans.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Personalised birth flower scarf
650 reviews and under £25. It's personal without being a mug.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Grow your own birth flower gift box
Seeds of their birth-month flower: a thoughtful under-£25 gift that blooms in summer.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens
Over half a million ratings: a page-turner that's a near-guaranteed hit for a book-club reader.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)This Is Going to Hurt – Adam Kay
Hilarious then heartbreaking. Brilliant for anyone in the NHS or who loves a memoir.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Jenga
Cheap, universal and loud: the perfect under-£20 Secret Santa that actually gets played.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Exploding Kittens card game
Teaches in two minutes and works across generations, so it's a safe bet for the Boxing Day crowd.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Factfulness – Hans Rosling
An optimistic, data-led antidote to doom-scrolling. It goes down well with the family news-watcher.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Codenames: Pictures (2nd edition)
A party game that doesn't need drinking to be fun. Great for a household that has 'done' charades.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Educated – Tara Westover
The memoir everyone recommends. It's gripping enough to read in a day.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Atomic Habits – James Clear
The book people actually finish and act on. A New Year starter rather than a shelf-filler.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Sapiens – Yuval Noah Harari
The pub-conversation book: they'll be quoting it by Twelfth Night.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Born a Crime – Trevor Noah
A funny, moving memoir that even non-readers finish.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Good Omens – Pratchett & Gaiman
The end of the world, done very funnily. A safe bet for anyone with a dark sense of humour.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Born to Run – Christopher McDougall
The book that made a generation of runners. It's the perfect pair for a parkrun habit.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Bialetti Moka Express (3-cup)
A 1933 design classic that lasts decades. It's a great Secret Santa for anyone who mentions their 'one good coffee' a day.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Personalised special occasion photo bookmark
A sub-£15 gift for book lovers with nearly 350 reviews, and it posts flat.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Personalised letterbox sweets gift box
A cheerful Secret Santa or 'can't be there' gift that's eaten, not stored.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Personalised heart name bookmark
A small, personal gift for a reader that posts through the door.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Escape Room in an Envelope puzzle gift
An hour of puzzling that leaves nothing behind. Brilliant for a crossword or puzzle fan.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)Shuggie Bain – Douglas Stuart
A Booker winner for the serious reader who has already read this year's bestsellers.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
A Nobel-winner on why we make bad decisions. A great pick for the analytical type.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)Birds, bees and butterflies Seedbom gift box
Throw-and-grow wildflower bombs for pollinators. An eco Secret Santa with nearly 400 reviews.
View at notonthehighstreet (opens in new tab)The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
Short, uplifting and easy to read in one sitting over Christmas.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)5 Ingredients – Jamie Oliver
Perfect for the reluctant cook or student, with dinner from five things.
View at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)
Frequently asked questions
Is alcohol a good Secret Santa gift?
We’d avoid it. You may not know who doesn’t drink, and that’s why this page leaves it out.
What if the item goes over budget?
Prices change. Check the retailer and choose an alternative from this list if needed.
Will it arrive before Christmas?
Check each retailer’s cut-off and our UK Christmas delivery dates page. For Christmas 2026, Royal Mail’s last recommended 1st Class posting date is Monday 21 December. Personalised items need extra time.