Free Secret Santa generator
Secret Santa generator: draw names online
Type in everyone’s names, set a budget and press Draw. You get one private link per person to send yourself, and each link reveals who they’re buying for with gift ideas under the budget. No sign-up, no emails: the draw happens in your browser.
Your private links
Send each person their own link only. Opening someone else’s link shows their match, so resist the urge.
How this Secret Santa generator works
- Add everyone’s names, a budget and any pairs who shouldn’t draw each other.
- Press Draw. Your browser shuffles the names using its secure random number generator, so nobody draws themselves and no excluded pair is matched.
- Copy each person’s private link and send it however you like. When they open it, they press a button to see who they’re buying for, plus ideas under the budget.
Nothing leaves your device. We don’t store the names, we don’t send emails and there’s no account to make.
Setting a budget
There’s no standard amount. A low, round number keeps it fair for everyone, especially at work where people earn very different amounts. Higher budgets suit families and close friends. Whatever you pick, say whether it’s a hard cap or a rough guide, and stick to it yourself.
House rules worth agreeing
- A firm budget, and whether postage or wrapping counts.
- A swap date and a back-up plan for anyone off sick or on holiday.
- Whether jokes are welcome or it should be something useful.
- No alcohol in the office swap unless you know everyone drinks.
- Gift receipts in, just in case.
Questions people ask
How does Secret Santa work?
Everyone’s name goes into a draw and each person secretly picks someone else to buy a present for, usually with a fixed budget. Presents are swapped on the day, and only the giver knows who bought what unless they choose to own up.
How much should a Secret Santa budget be?
There’s no official figure, so pick what works for the group. A low, round number like £5 or £10 keeps things fair in a mixed office; £15 to £25 suits closer groups and families. Say whether it’s a firm limit or a rough guide.
Do you send emails or store the names?
No. The draw happens in your browser and the names never reach us. You send each private link yourself, by text, chat or email.
Are the links really secret?
They’re hidden from a casual glance, not locked. Each link carries the names in a scrambled form inside the address, so someone determined, including the organiser, could decode it. It keeps an honest group honest; it isn’t encryption.
Can I stop couples drawing each other?
Yes. Add them as a pair under “Who shouldn’t draw whom” and the draw keeps them apart in both directions. If you add so many pairs that no fair draw exists, the tool tells you instead of breaking a rule.
What if someone loses their link?
Copy it again from this page if you still have it open, or use “Copy all links” to keep a private list for yourself. If both are gone, draw again and send everyone new links.