How to Play Secret Santa

What is Secret Santa?

Secret Santa is a holiday gift exchange where a group of people each draw one name at random and secretly buy a gift for the person they drew. Everyone gives one gift and receives one gift, and the twist is that you don't know who your gift-giver, your "Secret Santa", is until the reveal. It's a favorite with families, friends, and coworkers because it keeps the holidays affordable, includes everyone equally, and replaces buying for the whole group with one thoughtful present. In Australia, the UK, and Ireland the same game is known as Kris Kringle.

How does Secret Santa work?

Here's how Secret Santa is played in short: gather at least three people, draw names so each person is secretly assigned someone to buy for, agree on a budget, then everyone brings their wrapped gift to the exchange. Recipients open their gifts and try to guess who their Secret Santa was. If you're wondering how to do Secret Santa with your own group, the seven steps below walk through the whole thing.

How many people do you need for Secret Santa?

You can play Secret Santa with as few as three people, and there's no maximum. The draw works with any number of participants, odd or even. Here's how it plays at the group sizes people ask about most.

Can you do Secret Santa with 3, 4, or 5 people?

Yes, small groups work great. With three people, each person buys for one of the other two; with four or five, everyone is assigned one name in a single chain. The only thing to watch in a very small group is that the draw can feel less secret because there are fewer possibilities, so use a tool that guarantees no one draws their own name and, if you want, that no two people simply draw each other.

Does Secret Santa have to be an even number?

No, Secret Santa does not have to be an even number of people. Because each person gives to one other person in a chain rather than in mutual pairs, it works perfectly with an odd number, five, seven, nine, or any count. The only version that needs an even number is a two-person mutual swap, which is a different game. So if you're playing Secret Santa with an odd number or worried about odd-versus-even, don't be: the standard draw handles it automatically.

Playing with a big group or office

For large groups and offices of 20, 50, or 100+ people, an online generator saves the day: it draws everyone instantly, hides the results so the organizer can play too, and lets people add wish lists so gifts land well. Set up your group free and everyone gets a private match.

Traditional hat vs. drawing names online

The classic method works, but it has real drawbacks: someone has to run the draw (so they see who has whom), you can accidentally draw yourself, and it's nearly impossible if the group isn't all in one room. Couples often end up matched, and there's no easy way to share gift ideas.

Drawing names online fixes all of that. Everyone gets their match privately, exclusion rules stop couples from matching, wish lists mean no bad gifts, and remote groups can play from anywhere. Try it free, no app to download.