Secret Santa Rules
A clear, ready-to-send set of Secret Santa rules. Fill in your group's details, edit anything you like and copy the text into an email or group chat.
The basic Secret Santa rules
- Everyone draws one name. Each person gives one gift and gets one gift. Nobody draws themselves.
- Agree on a budget before the draw, so gifts are similar in value.
- Keep your match secret until the exchange. With the Secret Santa generator each person gets their own link showing only who they give to.
- Set exclusions if needed. Couples or people who live together can be kept from drawing each other.
- Share wish lists with a questionnaire so gifts are useful.
- Pick a date and place for the exchange, or a shipping deadline for remote groups.
Secret Santa rules for work
At work, keep participation optional and the budget modest, so nobody feels pressured. Agree on gifts that are appropriate for the workplace: no gag gifts that could embarrass someone and nothing too personal. Make the exchange easy to join for people who work remotely, for example by shipping gifts and opening them together on a call. Exchange during working hours if possible, so everyone can be there.
Secret Santa vs White Elephant
In Secret Santa each person draws a specific recipient in advance and chooses a gift for that person. In a White Elephant exchange (also called Yankee Swap) everyone brings one wrapped gift for the group, players take turns picking or “stealing” gifts, and nobody knows who will end up with theirs. Secret Santa suits groups that want personal gifts; White Elephant suits parties that want a game. This site's tools are made for Secret Santa.
Questions
What are the rules of Secret Santa?
Each person draws one name in secret, buys a gift for that person within the agreed budget, and keeps it secret until the exchange. Nobody draws themselves, and couples can be excluded from drawing each other.
Can couples draw each other?
It is usually avoided. In the Secret Santa generator, add the couple as an excluded pair and the draw will not match them in either direction.
What if someone drops out after the draw?
Run the draw again with the updated list and send everyone their new link, because a changed group means new matches.
Do you reveal who your Secret Santa was?
That is up to the group. Some reveal at the exchange, others keep it secret forever. Add your choice as a rule in the template above.
Is Secret Santa the same as White Elephant?
No. In Secret Santa you buy for one specific person you drew; in White Elephant everyone brings a gift for the group and players swap or steal gifts during a game.