27 of the Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $25 for Co-Workers, Friends and Family

27 of the Best Secret Santa Gifts Under $25 for Co-Workers, Friends and Family

Looking for a standout Secret Santa gift? From funny to practical, our CNET experts found the best Secret Santa gifts for co-workers, friends and family -- and all budget-friendly.

Headshot of Marlen Cimaglia
Headshot of Marlen Cimaglia

Marlen has been a writer and editor for the past 10 years, covering beauty, fashion and commerce. When she's not writing, she's traveling abroad and exploring new cities.

Headshot of Natalia Lusinski
Headshot of Natalia Lusinski

Natalia Lusinski Contributor

Natalia is a contributing writer for CNET. Her work can also be seen in places like Business Insider, Yahoo and Forbes. She spent several years living abroad, from goat-sitting in the Swiss Alps to staying with nuns at a monastery in Venice. Back in Los Angeles, she runs a popular pizza Meetup and is still on a quest to find her favorite slice.

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Best Secret Santa gifts for co-workers

Apple Watch Portable Charger

We all know that co-worker who often forgets to charge their smartwatch, which is where this gift comes in handy. In addition to being a portable charger, it's a keychain so your co-worker’s Apple Watch never has to run out of juice. CNET's Russell Holly is a fan and says it’s “small enough to be tucked away in a backpack or purse.”

Shutterfly Photo Coasters (set of four)

Some gifts only last a short while, but this one will last a lifetime. If you and your family are doing a Secret Santa gift exchange, these coasters are perfect, especially if the photos you choose are meaningful, like from a memorable trip or of funny moments.

Humans of New York Coffee Table Book

You’ve probably heard of Humans of New York. It’s the New York Times bestseller that was based on photographer Brandon Stanton’s blog of the same name, where he talked to various New Yorkers and profiled them and their stories. The book has more than 400 full-color photos and is great to read in short stints, like when a dinner party guest comes over and sees it on the coffee table. Your co-worker is bound to love and appreciate it too. 

Baseus Picogo Power Bank 5K

Everyone can always use an extra power bank -- especially that co-worker whose phone is always dying -- and this one made our list of the best power banks for iPhones. It's got a slim, lightweight design and a strong magnet that adheres easily to MagSafe-enabled iPhone cases.

Fly by Jing Spicy Duo: Sichuan Chili Crisp & Zhong Sauce

These two renowned hot sauces by Fly by Jing, Sichuan Chili Crisp and Zhong Sauce, will definitely heat things up. Whether your co-worker’s a fan of all things spicy or likes to dabble in heat, they’re sure to add a kick to dishes. The first in the duo is a chili sauce, while the second is sweet and tangy, yet spicy and umami-rich. Both can be added to literally anything, from eggs to dumplings to ice cream.

The Cheese Board Deck - 50 Cards

This is perfect for when your co-worker has parties, with or without the office. This deck will help them think of creative cheese boards and food platters. And since there are 50 cards, there are endless possibilities for what they can create. (You can always offer to be their official taste-tester.)

‘I Had To Deal With People Today’ Wine Glass

We all know those co-workers who get sick of dealing with others. Or they may be an introvert and it’s an inside joke between the two of you that they prefer working on their own. In any case, this wine glass is perfect for them. Add a bottle of wine to go the extra mile.

Best Secret Santa gifts for friends

Light Up Wavy Photo Frame

This 4x6-inch wavy frame is fun -- but even more so when it’s illuminated. Whether your Secret Santa giftee puts it on their desk, nightstand or in their living room, it will add nice ambient light. Some people also use it as a nightlight. And if you want to personalize it and know who your gift recipient is, adding a photo of the two of you is a nice touch.

Foldable Bamboo Bath Tray

A friend of mine can’t live without this bamboo bath caddy -- and if your Secret Santa gift recipient is a bath person, they’ll love it, too. It has room for a book or tablet, phone, candle, snacks and drinks. And the best part? It folds up when not in use. If you have a few extra dollars to spend, you can also include some Lush bath bombs and Sol de Janeiro body wash.

‘Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come’ T-shirt

This shirt speaks for itself. It's the perfect gift (and inside joke) for that friend who always tries to avoid social outings -- and shows up super late when they do -- and is sure to be a hit.

We’re Not Really Strangers: Friendship Edition Card Game

Help your Secret Santa gift recipient get even closer to their best friends -- or to you -- this holiday season with this card game. Packed with 150 thoughtful questions, it will jumpstart deep conversations and make them remember forgotten memories.

Best Secret Santa gifts for family

That’s So Dad - Dad Joke Talking Button

We all know those dads who tell Dad jokes, and with this button they don't need to think up their own. Or they can press the button to see if it's a joke that's in their regular joke rotation. With more than 100 jokes, Dad (or another Dad joke fan) can hear one anytime he needs some comic relief.

‘Do You Really Know Your Family?’ Game

This is the perfect Secret Santa gift for that family member who loves conversation-card-type games. Sure, you may think you know your family, but once you play this game, you’ll learn a lot of things you never knew. With questions like, “If I could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?” it’ll be eye-opening to hear each others’ guesses and answers.

The Ultimate Bathroom Reader

We all know that family member who spends too much time in the bathroom (even if it's just to escape from some of the holiday season fanfare, especially when guests are over). That’s where this book comes in. Whether your Secret Santa giftee places it in the bathroom or uses it as a coffee table book, it’s full of fun facts and trivia, like “How likely are you to be hit by the ball while in the stands of a baseball match?”

Awkward Family Photos Greatest Hits

In this super funny game, players use movie lines to caption the 100 awkward family photos and the best one wins. And, nope, no one needs to be a movie buff and know the movie lines in advance -- they’re provided on the game cards. Your Secret Santa gift recipient is sure to love this game and hopefully you’ll get to play too!

Running Press’ The Screaming Goat

Given that getting a real goat is out of the question for most folks, this toy one is the next best thing. It makes real goat sounds and the book will test your Secret Santa giftee’s goat knowledge with trivia.

Sprinkles of Joy: A Self-Care Card Set

As the year comes to a close, most of us are reflecting on what we'd like to do better next year. With this card deck, you can help a family member stay on track with self-care and become more mindful. It has all kinds of prompts -- from making gratitude lists to printing out a photo of their happiest memory from the last year -- that will definitely sprinkle more joy into their life.

Best Secret Santa gifts under $10

Lamicall Foldable Phone Stand

At just $10, this is a steal and makes for a great Secret Santa gift (and a great gift for yourself). Not only does it fold up -- which makes it convenient for someone to bring along anywhere -- but it also comes in all sorts of colors, from black to light blue to yellow, among others. 

Nax Caki Large Ice Cube Tray with Lid

I love getting this ice cube tray for people, especially for family members who enjoy making cocktails as a Secret Santa gift. The big square ice cubes make the drinks seem as though they stepped out of a trendy speakeasy -- and the cubes make for great conversation-starters too.

Puppy Poop Toothpaste Dispenser

This will make the right Secret Santa recipient laugh. It screws onto the end of a tube of toothpaste and dispenses it in a very unique way. I already gifted one to a friend and saw the dog in action, so to speak, and it definitely works -- and gets lots of laughs.

Bon Maman Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

This chocolate hazelnut spread is so good, your Secret Santa recipient will want to eat it straight out of the jar -- and why not? Unlike Nutella, there's no palm oil in it. They can also drizzle it over ice cream or spread it on toast, waffles, matzo crackers and much more.

Best Secret Santa gifts under $15

Emporia smart plug

A smart plug is a small gift that can go a long way towards smartening up someone's home. The Emporia 15W smart plug is a CNET Editors' Choice winner and our top pick for the best smart plug of 2025.

Dash Mini 4-inch Waffle Maker

This is not only super cute, but it’s also functional, and any Secret Santa recipient will love it. A friend of mine always has a DIY mini waffle station at her parties, complete with toppings, from chocolate chips to whipped cream to berries. And if you order directly from Dash, there are several waffle maker variations available, including a star, heart and snowman.

The Atlas of Christmas: Holiday Traditions from Around the World book

Whether your Secret Santa giftee loves history, travel or just really enjoys spreading Christmas cheer, The Atlas of Christmas is the perfect coffee table book. It details different holiday traditions around the world, like how, in Japan, people have a big bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas Day. And in Sweden, the Yule Goat is a popular symbol of Christmas. The best part is, your Secret Santa recipient can even try out some of the traditions for themselves.

Best Secret Santa gifts under $25

Cleverfy Shower Steamers

Ever since I received these as a gift, I’ve been hooked and your Secret Santa giftee will enjoy the calming scents too, from lavender to eucalyptus and more. Using them could not be simpler -- just place one in the corner of their shower and as it evaporates, it’ll be like aromatherapy for their soul.

Platypus Platy 2-liter Collapsible Water Bottle

Anyone will appreciate getting a water bottle, especially one that doesn’t take up much space and folds up when empty. Whether they use this for hiking or in their day-to-day life, your Secret Santa recipient is bound to like it.

Wool dryer balls

Not only are these wool dryer balls ridiculously cute, but they also soften laundry naturally and will help cut back on drying time. And because there are no chemicals or synthetics in them, they’re great for people with sensitive skin. They're made of 100% premium organic New Zealand wool and come with a cloth bag and foldable felt box for storage, too. Plus they'll make doing laundry more fun -- every time your Secret Santa giftee uses them, we guarantee the sheep will bring a smile to their face.

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