50 Secret Santa Questions to Ask (Free Printable Questionnaire)

Secret Santa is only fun when the gift actually fits. The easiest way to make sure it does? Ask the right questions before anyone shops. Below are 50 Secret Santa questions for coworkers, friends and family, sorted into five groups, plus tips for running the exchange and a free printable Secret Santa questionnaire with wish cards.

How to use Secret Santa questions

1. Pick 10 to 15 questions. You don’t need all 50. Choose the ones that fit your group.
2. Send them out with the name draw. Ask everyone to fill in the questionnaire when they sign up, then hand each Santa the answers of the person they drew.
3. Set a budget. Put it right on the questionnaire so everyone shops in the same range. $20 to $30 is the most common.
4. Keep it anonymous. Collect the answers in a box, a shared folder or with the host, never in a group chat.

Basic Secret Santa questions

1. What’s your favorite color?
2. What’s your go-to snack or candy?
3. What’s your coffee or tea order?
4. What’s your favorite drink?
5. What’s your favorite scent (candles, lotion, soap)?
6. Do you have any allergies or foods you avoid?
7. What are your shirt, sock and glove sizes?
8. Are you more of a cozy-at-home person or an out-and-about person?
9. Warm or cool colors?
10. Sweet or salty?

Questions about favorites

11. What’s a store you could spend hours in?
12. What’s your favorite movie or TV show right now?
13. Which book, author or podcast do you love?
14. What’s your favorite sports team?
15. What music do you listen to the most?
16. What’s your favorite season and why?
17. What’s your favorite way to relax after a long day?
18. What’s your favorite restaurant or type of food?
19. What’s your favorite holiday treat?
20. What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to?

Gift-focused questions

21. What’s something you need but keep forgetting to buy?
22. What’s a small treat that always makes your day?
23. Do you collect anything?
24. Is there a hobby you’d love to try?
25. What’s on your desk or nightstand that you use every day?
26. Would you rather have something useful or something fun?
27. Experience gift or something to unwrap?
28. Is there anything you definitely don’t want? (No judgment!)
29. Do you have a pet that would love a treat?
30. What’s one thing on your wish list under our budget?

Fun get-to-know-you questions

31. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
32. What’s your favorite holiday tradition?
33. What’s your ugly sweater style: funny, sparkly or classic?
34. If you won a free weekend trip, where would you go?
35. What’s a guilty pleasure you’ll admit to?
36. What would your perfect Saturday look like?
37. What’s one thing that always makes you laugh?
38. Which fictional character would you love to have dinner with?
39. What’s your hidden talent?
40. What are you most looking forward to next year?

Secret Santa questions for coworkers

For office exchanges, keep it practical and a little less personal:

41. What do you always wish you had at your desk?
42. Mug, water bottle or tumbler: what’s your favorite?
43. Do you prefer notebooks, sticky notes or digital everything?
44. Desk plant: yes or no?
45. What snack gets you through the afternoon?
46. Headphones, candles or a cozy blanket for your workspace?
47. Do you like personalized items (with your name or initials)?
48. What’s your favorite pen or office supply?
49. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
50. What’s one thing that would make your workday better?

How to run a Secret Santa

• Draw names two to three weeks ahead so everyone has time to shop and ship.
• Set one budget and one exchange date and put both in writing.
• Use a “no-peeking” rule: Santas stay secret until the gifts are opened, or forever if you prefer.
• Have a backup gift in case someone’s Santa forgets.
• Pair it with a game: if you’d rather open and steal, try a white elephant gift exchange instead.

Organizing family gifts? The Christmas Wish List Set has wish lists for kids and adults plus a family gift tracker.

FAQ

How many Secret Santa questions should I ask?

Ten to fifteen is plenty. Mix a few basics (favorite color, snack, sizes) with a couple of fun ones.

What’s a good Secret Santa budget?

For coworkers, $15 to $25 is common. For friends and family, $25 to $50.

Should Secret Santa questions be anonymous?

The answers aren’t secret, but who reads them is. Only the person’s Santa should see their answers.