Just like decorating the tree or sipping hot chocolate, participating in a Secret Santa is something we do every December. And whether it’s with your co-workers, friends or family, there’s always that Secret Santa gift that’s the envy of everyone. On the flip side, there’s the White Elephant gift that no one tries to steal. When you’re shopping for your own Secret Santa or White Elephant swap, you know which extreme you want to be on! That’s why we’ve rounded up the best Secret Santa gifts that all come in under $20.
Even though $20 gifts are the standard for Secret Santa or white elephant parties, they can be very tricky to get right. For those just entering the workforce, Secret Santa or White Elephant parties are classic corporate techniques to help stir up some fun and bonding among teams around the holidays. In the case of a Secret Santa party, you’ll be assigned a teammate (usually at random) for whom you’ll have to buy a present. Generally speaking, your company will set a limit for how much the presents can be (so that way nobody goes crazy or feels they have to). Similarly, White Elephant parties call for buying a gift that’s under a certain price point, and then an exchange happens the night of the office holiday party.
Quite often, buying these gifts comes with a heavy amount of anxiety. Lucky for you (after countless blunders at parties) we’ve scoured the deep depths of the internet to find fantastic gifts that will do well at any Secret Santa or White Elephant party. What’s more, we made sure all of our options are under $20, as that’s generally the monetary limit for such parties.
Take a look at our list below and remember, though it’s the thought that counts, it never hurts to give the best Secret Santa gift!
1. The Bloom Times 2 Pcs Fake Plants
FOR THE BROWN THUMB
We all have that co-worker or friend who brings a new plant to the office only to watch it wilt away after a few months. Take them — and their plants — out of their misery with this duo of two cute faux potted plants. At 4.75″ x 5″, they’re just the right size for their desk, or even a kitchen, living room, dining table, bedroom, bathroom or anywhere, really. The clean, classic design means they’ll complement any decor, making them impressively versatile. The plants are made of plastic and come in gray paper pulp pots. Best of all, they’ll always look healthy and green!
Buy: The Bloom Times 2 Pcs Fake Plants $15.99
2. FLY BY JING Zhong Sauce
FOR THE SPICE FANATIC
Hot sauce seems to become more popular every day. Nearly all restaurants have it handy, and spice lovers will find a way to use it on everything. This Fly By Jing variety is slightly more complex than other hot sauce options with sweet and spicy umami flavor. The ingredients are 100 percent natural and create a unique, authentic and mouth-watering condiment. If your Secret Santa likes it spicy, this is the perfect gift.
Buy: FLY BY JING Zhong Sauce $17.98
3. Woodford Reserve Spiced Cherry Bourbon Barrel Aged Cocktail Bitters
FOR THE MIXOLOGIST
Any home bar setup will be instantly elevated with Woodford Reserve Spiced Cherry Bourbon Barrel Aged Cocktail Bitters. The bourbon barrel-aged bitters have a fine taste that was aged to perfection. Add them to a classic cocktail, like a Manhattan, or let the aspiring mixologist in your life create their own cocktails around them.
Buy: Woodford Reserve Spiced Cherry Bourbon Barrel Aged Cocktail Bitters $12.49
4. Accoutrements Bacon Strips Bandages
FOR THE COLLEAGUE WHO IS ALWAYS GETTING PAPER CUTS
Getting a boo-boo is never fun — but these quirky band-aids will ease the pain! The best Secret Santa gift for the office klutz is sure to crack everyone up during the holiday party. Each tin contains 25 bandages, as well as a bonus trinket. Once the bandages are all used up, they can keep the tin on their desk to make them smile.
Buy: Accoutrements Bacon Strips Bandages $9.65
5. Amazon.com Gift Card
FOR THE PICKY PERSON
Shopping for the impossible giftee? We’ve all been there. Luckily, in 2020 you can give a gift card to Amazon, which is basically cash without being, well, cash. Your picky giftee can go wild and buy whatever it is they want. Is it a cop-out? Maybe. But at least you’ll know they’ll find something they like.
Buy: Amazon.com Gift Card $10.00
6. TV Store Wonder Woman Knee High Cape Sock
FOR THE SUPERWOMAN
Not all heroes wear capes, but the very lucky winner of these Wonder Woman socks will! Socks with capes clearly qualify as one of the best White Elephant gifts, as these will probably get stolen again and again during a White Elephant swap. The officially licensed socks are made from a comfy polyester-spandex blend and fit most women’s shoe sizes.
Buy: TV Store Wonder Woman Knee High Cape Sock $8.99
7. Skull Ice Mold Tray
FOR THE ICE COLD BADASS
We all appreciate an ice-cold beverage, but why not make that ice a little more exciting? This durable silicone ice mold gives you four badass skull ice cubes to pop into your cocktails, iced coffee, lemonade or even water. It makes a great addition to any bar cart to impress and delight guests. Any badass who loves to entertain or just wants to spice up their drinks will appreciate this Secret Santa gift.
Read More: Best Gifts Under $5
Buy: Skull Ice Mold Tray $9.99
8. Be Good Company Executive Mini-Sandbox Beach Break
FOR THE PERSON WHO NEEDS A VACATION
Yet another drawback of 2020 is it wasn’t exactly travel-friendly, so there are plenty of people wishing for a real vacation. Consider this cute little sandbox the tiniest getaway, which makes it one of the best Secret Santa gifts. It’ll instantly earn a spot on their desk and as they play in the sand, they’ll almost be able to hear the ocean. The sandbox comes with a plastic tray, white sand, a sand pail, a grooming rake, a digging shovel, mini seashells, a sun umbrella with a stand and one beach chair. Tan not included.
Buy: Be Good Company Executive Mini-Sandbox Beach Break $14.99
9. Swag Brewery Store Beer Soap (Hoppy IPA)
FOR THE BEER LOVER
Who knew that beer was so good for your skin? This fragrant soap is made with ingredients like orange peel, crushed oats and real hops that truly nourish skin, as beer is chock full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. The artisanal soap is made in small batches in the US, just like your favorite beer. It lathers up like a dream and won’t dry out skin. Even non-beer lovers will drink it up!
Read More: Best Gifts For Beer Lovers
Buy: Swag Brewery Store Beer Soap (Hoppy IPA) $9.99
10. Bob Ross by the Numbers
FOR THE AMATEUR ARTIST
The adult coloring book trend seems to have come and gone, but the benefits of using them still remain. This is a cute, more unique version that has the same relaxing effect. Bob Ross is always on-trend, and this mini numbered art set comes with three pre-printed canvases to paint just like the legend himself. It also comes with a mini paintbrush, of course, and all for around $5.
Buy: Bob Ross by the Numbers $5.29
11. Anker Wireless Charger
FOR THE GADGET LOVER
You may not know the interests and tastes of all of your co-workers, but there’s one thing they have in common: the desire for a charged phone. Anker’s Wireless Charger is the necessity they didn’t know they needed, making it one of the best and most practical Secret Santa gifts. All they need to do to charge their phone or earbuds is to place them in the middle of the PowerWave Pad. No cables or plugs are necessary! And yes, it even charges through phone cases. It’s compatible with most devices, including iPhones and Androids.
Buy: Anker Wireless Charger $12.99
12. Mission Farms Rest CBD Bath Soak
BEST FOR CHILLING OUT
We’ve all had a hell of a year, that’s for damn sure. Some have had it worse than others, so if you have a friend in which that’s the case, you need to gift them this CBD bath soak from Mission Farms. This calming soak will gift any bath bomb a run for their money. It smells amazing, feels sensational and is made with CBD to help you keep calm. Do they really need anything else?
Buy: Mission Farms Rest CBD Bath Soak $20.00
13. Zombies Hate Stuff by Greg Stones
FOR THE ZOMBIE LOVER
Everyone has that colleague who still hasn’t gotten over their zombie obsession and this book is for them. But it’s so charming and funny that even non-zombie lovers will adore it, too. The clever book is filled with illustrations by artist Greg Stones of things zombies hate, including clowns, hippies, unicorns, zip-lines, penguins, nudists, weddings, sharing and kittens. Every turn of the page will entertain the winner of this witty book.
Buy: ‘Zombies Hate Stuff’ by Greg Stones $7.99
14. Dizaul Mobile Phone 3D Magnifier Projector Screen
FOR THE MOVIE BUFF
Expect to see some serious haggling at your White Elephant swap when you bring this ingenious device. The screen magnifier is basically a movie projector for your phone screen, creating a 12-inch screen so you can watch movies and videos in full HD on a bigger, better screen. Lightweight and portable, it’s great on the go and will make your next work break, trip, commute or whenever you like a little screen time much more enjoyable. You can add a Bluetooth keyboard to use it for HD gaming, too. Even better, it doesn’t require any batteries and is designed to fit most smartphones.
Buy: Dizaul Mobile Phone 3D Magnifier Projector Screen for Movies, Videos and Gaming $21.95
15. Mini Desktop Basketball
FOR THE ASPIRING ATHLETE
If you’re doing a Secret Santa at work and happen to get that coworker who loves to procrastinate with desk games, get them this mini desktop basketball set. It’s very fun and may take a while to master, so it’s sure to entertain them day after day. It can also help relieve stress and improve hand-eye coordination and folds up for easy storage in case the boss comes around.
Buy: Mini Desktop Basketball $13.46
16. Sower’s Source Indoor Herb Garden Starter Kit
FOR THE GARDENER
Gardening has many benefits including stress reduction and the obvious supply of fresh food. This indoor herb garden kit includes everything you need to start your own little garden and also makes a great addition to an expert gardener’s collection. The kit contains five kinds of seeds — basil, cilantro, parsley, sage and thyme — as well as pots, soil and markers.
Buy: Sower’s Source Indoor Herb Garden Starter Kit $18.89
17. Ugly Holiday Sweater Puzzle
FOR THE PUZZLE ADDICT
This Ugly Holiday Sweater Puzzle will definitely get laughs at the holiday party, making it a great Secret Santa gift. Sure to get the lucky recipient in a festive spirit, it’s ideal for cozy winter nights at home. The 1,000-piece puzzle depicting classic ugly holiday sweaters in the form of gingerbread cookies will keep them busy for a while. Even better, it’s made in the US from 100% recycled chipboard.
Buy: Ugly Holiday Sweater Puzzle $18.00
18. Urban Map Glass
FOR THE IMBIBER
Whether you opt for a glass of your own city or one where we’d all like to visit (who doesn’t want to be among the palm trees in sunny Los Angeles this time of year?), these transport you to the city streets while sipping your poison of choice. Each glass is etched with a city’s individual map, with details like street names and the location’s coordinates. You can take an imaginary walk every time you kick back with a drink. Bonus: these are completely crafted in the USA, with the glasses made in Ohio and etched in New Hampshire.
Buy: Urban Map Glass $16.00
19. Personalized Map Print
FOR THE HOMESICK
You know what they say — home is where the heart is. If you have yourself a pal missing home more than ever this year, gift them this inexpensive gold foil custom map so they can hang it up in their new home. From spots in Madrid making their mark in newfound homes in Ohio and vise versa, you can place any spot on this map to help show off in a friend’s home.
Buy: Personalized Map Print $15.46
20. Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask
BEST FOR THE TROUBLED SLEEPER
We all know someone who is constantly complaining about their lack of sleep. Of course, lack of sleep is not pleasant, but we still don’t want to hear about it all the time or deal with cranky, sleepless loved ones. Help relieve their frustration and your own by getting them this deep rest eye mask as a gift under $20. It’s super lightweight and blocks out all visual stimuli to create complete darkness anywhere.
21. Bear Hands Oven Mitts
FOR THE HOME CHEF
There aren’t a ton of good cooking tools under $20 to buy for the home chef in your life, but these oven mitts do make taking things out of the oven a bit more fun. They’re insulated with paw pads made from heat-resistant silicone to protect your hands from even the hottest dishes. And they’re cute and quirky, which is just an added perk.
Buy: Bear Hands Oven Mitts $18.00
22. Beeswax Candle
FOR THOSE WITH SENSITIVE NOSES
Scented candles are great to have around the house, but some people are actually allergic or just extra sensitive to strong scents. This hand-rolled pillar candle is made from 100 percent beeswax, meaning it’s all-natural and perfectly safe for any nose. It’s also stylish, eco-friendly and has a very light fresh scent.
Buy: Beeswax Candle $19.99
23. Shower Beer Holder
FOR THE BEER DRINKER
Warm showers and a cold brew go together better than you might think. That’s why this shower beer holder makes a great drink. It’s sure to get a laugh at any white elephant party or secret Santa, and chances are your giftee will actually use the device too. Plus, reviewers say it’s also perfect for having a glass of wine in the bath.
Buy: Shower Beer Holder $15.75
24. Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
FOR THE MUSIC LOVER
Bluetooth speakers make a great gift for music lovers, but it can be hard to find a good one under $20. Luckily, we found one that fits the bill. It has superior sound quality that’s powerful enough for indoor or outdoor use, advanced Bluetooth technology, a built-in mic and lasts for up to 12 hours fully charged. If your Secret Santa recipient loves to listen to tunes wherever they go, it’s likely that they’ll appreciate another high-performance portable speaker.
Buy: Wireless Bluetooth Speaker $16.99
25. The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains
FOR COMIC BOOK FANS
The obvious choice for superhero comic lovers is a comic book, but we found a more unique gift instead. This book, The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains: Oddball Criminals from Comic Book History, profiles over one hundred of the strangest, most cringe-worthy villains in comic book history. Hilarious supervillains such as Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man make the book great for non-comic-readers as well as veteran enthusiasts.
Buy: The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains $18.28
26. PANGTON VILLA Led Strip Lights
BEST FOR TIKTOK TEENS
Watch just about any TikTok on a teen’s phone right now. Do it. Okay, maybe watch, like, 15. You’ll peep these strip lights on at least one video a few times, and that, we’re certain of. These remote-controlled LED strip lights change the color of any user’s room with just a click of the button, bringing the exact vibe they want. They also look great underneath an at-home bartop or behind a media console.
Buy: PANGTON VILLA Led Strip Lights $13.99
27. Kikkerland Design Mini Karaoke Microphone
BEST FOR STORYTELLING ONLINE
Alright, alright. We’re going to talk about TikTok again. We promise this will be the last time. Have you seen any of those “storytime” TikToks lately? You know, the ones where someone tells a wild rollercoaster of a personal story to overshare with thousands if not millions of strangers online? Well, a lot of the people telling those stories are using this comically tiny microphone for that extra pop. It connects to your laptop or phone with ease and surprisingly works really well. So, if you’re trying to get that TikTok fame like the rest of us are, spill that tea using this bad boy.
Buy: Kikkerland Design Mini Karaoke Microphone $10.00
28. Motivational Large Water Bottle
BEST FOR MOTIVATING
Some of us drink a lot more water than others. If you’ve got yourself a friend that needs a little more motivating when it comes to sending some much-needed H2O down the hatch, snag them this one-gallon water bottle to make sure they’re getting more than enough water in their day-to-day. There are a number of markings on the bottle to instill positive messages to keep one sipping with time stamps to help them along. Their bodies will be thankful!
Buy: Motivational Large Water Bottle $17.99
29. LOVEHANDLE Phone Grip
FOR THE SCREEN-CRACKER
Everyone could use an extra hand preventing accidental phone drops. This highly-rated Lovehandle phone grip does just that, offering a small finger strap to keep your phone securely in-hand. It works for nearly any smartphone and comes in a variety of fun colors to match any personal style.
Buy: LOVEHANDLE Phone Grip $9.95
30. Toysmith Zen Garden
FOR THE ZEN MASTER
Whether you know someone with monk-level zen or someone in desperate need of some peace, this mini zen garden makes a great gift. Your giftee can put it by their bed for some nighttime relaxation, or even better, on their desk at work for a stress-relief break from screens. Zen gardens can get big and pricey, so we suggest this one from Toysmith Zen Garden because it’s compact and affordable at $18, but includes stones and rakes to keep your garden looking good.
Buy: Toysmith Zen Garden $17.89
31. Avocado Huggers
FOR THE AVO ADDICT
Everyone has that one friend, significant other or family member who always has half an avocado in their fridge. For that avocado lover, get this set of avocado huggers. They wrap around a half avocado to keep it fresh for avo toast the next morning of guacamole days later.
32. Custom Dog Face Socks
FOR COLD PAWS
You can never gift dog lovers too much dog stuff. These socks are great because you can get specific with your giftee’s own pup’s face — and no one can have too many socks. You can select a size, primary color, personalized message and image of their actual dog. The socks are a gift that will hit home for any dog lover, and at just $10, they’ll keep your pockets full too.
Buy: Custom Dog Face Socks $9.99
33. Edibles Cookbook
FOR THE BAKED CHEF
Now that weed is legal in several states, weed-related gifts are acceptable — even in some offices. This edibles cookbook provides some dessert recipes that would be great on their own, but get even tastier thanks to a low dose of pot. The cookbook provides much-needed details about dosage, so you can get zonked without going crazy (which sometimes happens with homemade edibles).
34. The New York Times Crossword Puzzles
FOR THE PUZZLE LOVER
This book features 50 New York Times crossword puzzles for cozy winter mornings. It has Monday through Friday puzzles (the difficulty increases each day) for all levels of crossword-enthusiasts. This makes it doable for beginners and masters alike, so you can gift it to virtually anyone.
Buy: The New York Times Crossword Puzzles $11.16
35. Potty Putter Toilet Golf
FOR THE BATHROOM HOG
Every minute of practice gets you closer to the perfect golf game. Even though it’s been around for a while, the Potty Putter always gets a laugh, and always gets put to good use. It’s a putting green and hole that you set-up right under your toilet and comes with a squatting-length putter club to match. Great if you’re giving a gift to an avid golfer or if you want to break the tension at the White Elephant party.
Buy: Potty Putter Toilet Golf $14.99
36. Poo-Pourri Before-You-go Toilet Spray
BEST FOR GETTING A POINT ACROSS
Speaking of toilet hogs, we all know somebody that can, well, really blow it up in there. Get your point across without words by choosing to gift your Secret Santa a bottle of Poo-Pourri that they can spray in the bowl before they drop the kids off, if you catch our drift. Everyone in the house will be more than thankful.
Buy: Poo-Pourri Before-You-go Toilet Spray $12.22
37. Apexel Phone Photography Kit
FOR THE AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER
Now that phone cameras are the norm, it’s hard to stand out as a real photographer. But all of that is about to change with this clip-on lens from Apexel Phone Photography Kit. This lens snaps directly onto your smartphone to enhance image quality and make your pictures look much more professional. It makes a great gift for any photographer, but the lens’ usability also makes it a fun White Elephant gift as well.
Buy: Apexel Phone Photography Kit $17.25
38. A Daily Dose of Dad Jokes
FOR THE OFFICE CLOWN
Looking to finally one-up the office clown’s game? Or, perhaps, is your Secret Santa the office clown? Win everyone over with this hilarious (and surprisingly extensive) book of so-bad-they’re-good dad jokes. It has 365 terrible wisecracks which are enough for any comedian (self-proclaimed or otherwise) to learn something new. Here’s one from the book: “bowling jokes are right up my alley.”
Buy: A Daily Dose of Dad Jokes $9.89
39. InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser
FOR THE STRESS CASE
If you got stuck gifting that one person that never stops talking about how stressed they are or how poorly they slept last night, do them a solid by gifting this essential-oil diffuser. It releases a nice-smelling, stress-reducing oil mist, and doubles as a color-changing night light as well. Although there are many of these machines on Amazon, this one is definitely the best with over 16,500 reviews and a low price of just $13.
Buy: InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser $14.99
40. Sriracha Keychain Combo Pack
FOR THE HOT SAUCE ADDICT
We all know that person that drenches their food in hot sauce. These Sriracha keychains let any hot-sauce fiend keep their prized ingredient close at hand, just in case the restaurant doesn’t have it. They’re also ideal for traveling, as good hot sauce can be hard to come by on the road. This two-pack includes a one-ounce bottle and 1.7-ounce bottle, so your giftee can store one in their desk and one with their house keys.
Buy: Sriracha Keychain Combo Pack $13.99
41. Don’t Speak! Coffee Mug
FOR THE MORNING GRUMP
For the partner, friend, or family member that “can’t even” before their coffee, it’s always hard to find out when they “can even.” This mug solves the problem by letting everyone know when to start chatting, when to hold on a sec, and when to think about leaving the room.
Buy: Humor Us Home Goods Don't Speak! Coffee Mug $14.99
42. Vintage Mason Jar Salt & Pepper Shakers
FOR THE DECORATOR
Joke gifts are fun, but sometimes you want something your giftee will use and appreciate for a long time. For an easy, chic gift, we recommend these mason jar salt & pepper shakers. They come in a stylish blue or white and liven up any kitchen or dining table with a rustic look.
Buy: Vintage Mason Jar Salt & Pepper Shakers $14.99
43. Drunk Stoned or Stupid
FOR THE PARTY LOVER
Drunk Stoned or Stupid is one of the hottest party games right now, and for good reason. Each card contains a prompt that starts with “most likely to…” and the group must pick the friend that matches the description. It’s ideal with big groups, and, as the name suggests, is especially fun when you’re not sober. This makes a great White Elephant gift as it usually ends up being played immediately.
Buy: Drunk Stoned or Stupid $18.00
44. Geek Battle Board Game
FOR THE GEEK
Geek Battle includes trivia from video games, sci-fi, comics, science and more for the ultimate geek showdown. And don’t worry if you’re not a geek — the game is made to include everyone. This is another great gift for White Elephant parties as after a few drinks, most will be down to give the game a shot!
Buy: Geek Battle Board Game $13.99