How Much to Spend on a Secret Santa Gift
Set the limit at $20 to $30. Elfster, which runs online gift exchanges, puts typical Secret Santa limits at $10 to $30, and for families suggests $25 among extended family and $50 to $75 among close family. For an office exchange, etiquette coach Maggie Oldham recommends $25.
| The group | Limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Office exchange | $25 | Maggie Oldham, etiquette coach |
| Friends or a mixed group | $10–$30 | Elfster |
| Extended family | $25 | Elfster |
| Close family | $50–$75 | Elfster |
Good to know
- Name the limit before anyone draws, in the invitation: once people have bought, a new number helps nobody.
- Drew someone you barely know? The Emily Post Institute suggests baked goods, a voucher for coffee, tea, a movie or books, or a donation to their favorite charity.
- Our Secret Santa draw keeps the budget in each person's link, so everyone sees the same number.
Secret Santa Gifts under $25
Questions
Is $20 enough for Secret Santa? Yes. Elfster puts typical Secret Santa limits at $10 to $30, so $20 sits in the middle of the usual range.
What is a normal Secret Santa limit for an office? $25 is the figure etiquette coach Maggie Oldham recommends for an office exchange; Elfster's typical range is $10 to $30.
How much for a family Secret Santa? Elfster suggests $25 among extended family and $50 to $75 among close family members.
Sources
Checked October 2026. A survey is named with its year.
- Elfster, A Guide to Secret Santa Rules (Dec 2023)
- Elfster, family Secret Santa guide (2026)
- Entrepreneur, The Do's and Don'ts of the Office Secret Santa (Dec 2015)
- Emily Post Institute, holiday gift-giving tips for the office
Other budgets
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