Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Coworkers Under $35
A decision guide for office Secret Santa: which gift fits which coworker, how to find out a shirt size without asking, and when to skip the shirt.
You drew a name in the office Secret Santa. Maybe it is the coworker you talk to every day, maybe it is a colleague from accounting you have met twice. Either way you have a budget, a deadline and a strong wish not to be the person who gave a sad mug or a random candle. This guide works like a flowchart: figure out which kind of coworker you have, then pick the gift that fits.
We sell graphic tees, so a lot of the Secret Santa gift ideas below are shirts. But a shirt is only a good Secret Santa gift when you know the size, so we will start there and be honest about when to buy something else.
First question: do you know their size?
If you do not, and you cannot find out, skip the shirt. A gift card to their usual lunch spot or coffee shop is a better gift than a tee that does not fit.
If you are organizing the exchange, you can fix this for everyone with a short sign-up form. Ask each person for:
- T-shirt size (adult S to 3XL)
- Favorite color, or colors they never wear
- Coffee, tea, cocoa or none of the above
- Pets, and their names
- A hobby or a show they are into
- A "please, no" list: candles, lotion, desk clutter, anything with alcohol
Every Secret Santa gets a cheat sheet, nobody has to ask awkward questions, and the gifts get better across the whole office.
Secret Santa gift ideas for coworkers, by type
Every good gift idea for coworkers starts with one detail you already know about the person. Pick the line below that fits your coworker, then pick the gift.
If they live on coffee
The easiest coworker to shop for. Look at their desk: if there is a travel mug on it every morning, you have your answer. If the sign-up form says coffee or tea, believe it.
- Fueled by Coffee and Christmas Cheer: a plaid holiday latte with whipped cream and a gingerbread cookie. Comes in nine colors from Ivory to Yam.
- St. Nick's Coffee Club: a striped mug piled with whipped cream and a gingerbread cookie. Available in darker shades like Berry, Moss, Pepper and Black too.
- Gingerbread Latte Coffee Club: a gingerbread cookie dipping into a red latte cup between two little trees.
The full set is in Christmas Coffee and Cocoa Shirts.
If they are the office comedian
The coworker who sends the meme in the group chat before the meeting ends. Keep it office-safe: you will be standing next to their manager when they open it.
- Surviving the Holidays One Meltdown at a Time: a snowman melting into a red cocoa mug. Funny without being edgy.
- Probably Just Gonna Jingle Some of the Way: candy-stripe letters and gold bells, with a tired little punchline at the end.
More jokes in Funny Christmas Shirts. Skip anything about drinking for an office exchange.
If they talk about their dog or cat every Monday
- Merry Woofmas Paw Tree: a green tree with a red paw print ornament over Merry Woofmas in green script.
- How Many Socks Does One Need: a tabby kitten in a Santa hat hugging a Christmas stocking. Good for the cat person who also likes a little sarcasm.
If they always have a book in their bag
Books Before Carols shows an open book with headphones, a cocoa mug, music notes and a tree. It is a quiet pick for the coworker who reads at lunch. There are 16 bookish designs in Book Lover Christmas Shirts.
If you work at a school
Teachers and school staff do Secret Santa too, usually with a smaller budget and a bigger coffee habit. Half Teacher Half Coffee and Coffee Gives Me Teacher Powers are everyday shirts that go past December, from our teacher coffee shirts. For spirit week ideas, see teacher Christmas shirts.
If you barely know them
Do not guess a joke and do not guess a size. A $25 gift card to a nearby coffee shop, a nice snack box, a cozy pair of socks, or a good pen and notebook for their desk will be appreciated. That is not a cop-out; it is reading the room. A thoughtful gift does not have to be personal. It has to be useful.
One more rule for a colleague you do not know well: skip scented things. A candle or lotion with a strong scent is a gamble in a shared workplace, where people have allergies and opinions.
If you are the boss
Some offices keep managers out of the draw for a reason: a gift from the boss feels different. If you are in it, pick something useful and impersonal, and never go over the limit. A shirt with a joke about work pressure can land wrong coming from the person who sets the deadlines.
Wrapping and the small extra touch
A tee folded in a gift bag looks like a tee folded in a gift bag. A few easy upgrades:
- Roll the shirt and tie it with ribbon, then drop it in a big mug if the budget allows. It looks like a gift set.
- Add a handwritten card that mentions why you picked it ("for your 7 a.m. coffee"). That is what makes it feel personal.
- Tuck in a small treat, like a candy cane or a packet of cocoa, as a bonus. Keep the total within your budget.
How to make office Secret Santa more fun
- Use the sign-up form. It takes the stress out of the pick for everyone.
- Do clues before the reveal. Leave three small anonymous notes on their desk during the week, then reveal at the holiday party.
- Keep the gift exchange short. Open gifts one at a time, but cap it at 30 minutes so the party does not stall.
- Make it optional. Not everyone can spend in December. A good office Secret Santa never pressures anyone into joining.
What $35 buys, including shipping
Every tee here is $29.99 in S to XL, $32.99 in 2XL and $34.99 in 3XL, so any size fits under $35 before shipping. Shipping on a single shirt is $9 (Standard, orders under $49). If two people in the office order together, two S to XL shirts come to $59.98, which qualifies for free Economy shipping on orders of $49 or more. The checkout total is final. See our shipping information page for the current options.
The Christmas designs above are printed on Comfort Colors 1717, a 6.1 oz, 100% ring-spun cotton tee, garment-dyed, with a relaxed unisex fit. If you have their size from the form, compare it against our size and measurement guide before you order.
When to order for the gift exchange
Christmas falls on a Friday this year, so the last full work week before it runs Dec 14 to 18. If your exchange lands that week, plan early. Every shirt is printed after you order. Orders ship in 1 to 3 business days. Most orders arrive 3 to 5 business days after shipping. Count back about eight business days from the exchange date and order before then.
If you are mailing a gift to a remote coworker for Christmas Day, Order by Dec 9 for Christmas delivery. Our Christmas Shirt Ordering Guide 2026 has the details. If the whole team wants matching shirts for the party, a group of 12 or more can request a quote through bulk orders.
Quick answers
What do you get a female colleague for Secret Santa?
The same thing you would get anyone: something tied to what she likes. A coffee, book or pet design works if you know her size. Avoid the default candle and lotion set.
What is a good Secret Santa gift for a coworker you don't know well?
Something useful and impersonal: a gift card, a snack box, a nice pen. Save personal gifts like shirts for people whose taste and size you know.
Is a t-shirt a good Secret Santa gift?
Yes, when it matches something they love and you know their size. A sign-up form with a size line makes it easy.
Do you have kids' sizes?
No. Our graphic tees are adult unisex S to 3XL only.