Secret Santa Gift Ideas: Funny and Thoughtful Picks That Work for Anyone
Quick answer
The best gifts as Secret Santa are small, personal and easy to get right, and a personalised word art print from £9.99 ticks all three. Fill it with the recipient’s habits, favourite drink or in-jokes for a laugh, or with kind words for something more thoughtful. It sits under most Secret Santa budgets without looking cheap.
Updated October 2026
Need it today?
Left it late? Every print can be a digital download that arrives instantly (from £9.99). Print it at home or at a local print shop the same day, and you can preview your words free first. Framed and unframed prints are posted (3-5 working days in the UK), so they suit buyers with more time.
In this guide
- What makes a good Secret Santa gift
- Funny Secret Santa gifts for a drinking-night favourite
- Thoughtful picks for someone you barely know
- Gifts for the person who has everything
- A quick comparison table
- What words to put on a Secret Santa print
- How it works
- FAQ
What makes a good Secret Santa gift?
Secret Santa works because everyone has a budget and nobody is expected to know the recipient perfectly. The gifts that land well tend to do one of two things: they make the person laugh, or they make them feel noticed. A generic mug does neither. Something with their own words, nicknames or habits on it does both.
That is where personalised word art helps. You choose a shape (a wine glass, a house, a star) and fill it with words about the person. Because it is made to order, even a £9.99 gift feels as though you put thought into it. If you’re still gathering ideas, our broader Secret Santa gift ideas guide covers more angles.
What is a funny Secret Santa gift that still feels personal?
Funny works best when it is specific. Think of the office wine o’clock regular, the colleague with a famous gin collection, or the friend who brings champagne to everything.
For the wine lover
The Personalised Wine Lover Word Art Print (£9.99) is a reliable choice. There are a few similar designs if you want a different look: the Personalised Wine glass word art print and the Word art print of a glass wine gift, both £9.99. Fill the glass with their favourite phrases, grape varieties they swear by, or the things they say after a second glass.
For the gin fan
The Personalised Gin Lover Word Art Print (£9.99) suits anyone whose desk drawer hides tonic water. Think garnishes, brands they rave about, and phrases like “just one more”.
For the one who brings the party
The Personalised Champagne Word Art Print (£9.99) is ideal for the colleague who organises every celebration. Fill it with the things they toast to and their catchphrases at the Christmas do.
A gentle note: keep jokes kind. The aim is a laugh the recipient will share, not one that stings in front of the team.
What is a thoughtful Secret Santa gift for someone you barely know?
If you have drawn someone from another department, play it warm rather than clever. Qualities work well here: words colleagues would genuinely use about them.
The Personalised House Word Art Print (£9.99) is a lovely option for a new homeowner or anyone who has just moved. The Personalised Star Word Art Print (£9.99) suits a colleague you want to call out as a star, with words like “reliable”, “kind” and “always helps”. If you know they love flowers, the Word art print of a Rose (£9.99) is a gentle, friendly choice.
For someone with a Scottish connection, the Personalised Thistle Word Art Print (£9.99) is a nice nod to home. And if you know a recipient’s faith matters to them, the Religious Cross word art print (£9.99) can carry favourite verses or blessings, though only choose it if you are confident it will be welcome.
What do you give the person who has everything?
People who have everything rarely have a print made of their own words. Pick a quirky design that matches something unusual about them. A pet owner might love the Personalised Chinese Shar-Pei word art gift (£9.99), filled with the dog’s name, habits and favourite walks. For someone with a sense of humour about Mondays or “hump day”, the Personalised Camel Word Art Print (£9.99) is a fun, slightly cheeky choice.
If your recipient’s hobby is sport, our related guides on Secret Santa gifts for golfers under £20 and Secret Santa darts gifts are worth a look.
Secret Santa gift comparison
| Product | Best for | Example words to include | From price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personalised Wine Lover Word Art Print | Wine fans and after-work regulars | “Cheers”, favourite grape, their catchphrases | £9.99 |
| Personalised Gin Lover Word Art Print | Gin and tonic devotees | “Just one more”, garnish, favourite brand | £9.99 |
| Personalised Champagne Word Art Print | The office party organiser | “Celebrate”, “pop the cork”, team names | £9.99 |
| Personalised House Word Art Print | New homeowners and movers | Street name, “home”, family names | £9.99 |
| Personalised Star Word Art Print | A colleague who deserves a thank you | “Reliable”, “kind”, “legend” | £9.99 |
| Personalised Chinese Shar-Pei word art gift | Shar-Pei owners | Dog’s name, wrinkles, favourite walks | £9.99 |
| Personalised Camel Word Art Print | Anyone who loves a laugh about Mondays | “Hump day”, their jokes, office phrases | £9.99 |
What words to put on a Secret Santa print
The words do the heavy lifting, so spend a few minutes on them. Aim for 15-30 words or phrases and mix specific with general. Here are three example lists you can adapt.
Funny: the wine lover colleague
- Wine o’clock
- “Just a small one”
- Friday forever
- Red or white? Both
- Team cheerleader
- Always has a corkscrew
- The person who says “one more round”
Thoughtful: the colleague you barely know
- Reliable
- Kind
- Always helpful
- Great listener
- Makes meetings better
- Team player
- Their first name and job title
Cosy: the new homeowner
- Home sweet home
- The street name
- Housewarming
- Their surname
- The year they moved in
- Kettle always on
- Welcome
A few tips: keep the tone consistent, double-check spellings of names, and avoid anything personal or sensitive in a workplace group. When unsure, lean warm.
How it works
- Choose a print. Pick the design that suits your recipient from over 470 designs.
- Design it with your own words. Add names, phrases, dates and in-jokes.
- Preview free. See exactly how your words look before you commit.
- Download or have it delivered. Choose an instant digital download from £9.99, or an unframed print from £9.99 posted to you. Framed A4 starts from £22.99 and framed A3 from £30.99. Framed prints ship within 3-5 working days in the UK and 7-15 days internationally.
For a Secret Santa budget, the digital download or unframed print is usually the best fit. Pop it in a card or a cheap frame and it looks great.
FAQ
How much should you spend on a Secret Santa gift?
Most workplaces and friend groups set a limit, often somewhere between £5 and £20, so always check yours first. A personalised print from £9.99 fits comfortably under most limits. Spend what the group agreed rather than trying to impress; a well-chosen gift beats an expensive one.
What is a good funny Secret Santa gift?
The funniest gifts are specific. A print filled with in-jokes, the phrases someone says daily and their well-known habits lands better than a generic novelty. A wine, gin or champagne word art print built around their drinking-night reputation is an easy way to raise a laugh.
What can you give someone you barely know?
Choose a theme rather than a personality: a drink they enjoy, a hobby you’ve seen mentioned, or a lighthearted print about their role at work. Keep the words warm and inoffensive, such as qualities people would say about them, and avoid anything that needs inside knowledge.
Can I get a personalised Secret Santa gift at the last minute?
Yes. Every print can be a digital download that arrives instantly from £9.99, so you can print it at home or at a local print shop the same day. You can preview your words free first. Framed and unframed prints are posted, taking 3-5 working days in the UK, so they suit buyers with a little more time.
Should a Secret Santa gift be funny or thoughtful?
It depends on the group. In a close team with a shared sense of humour, funny usually wins. In a mixed group or with someone you don’t know well, a warm, lightly personal gift is safer. A word art print can be either, depending on the words you choose.
Is it okay to give a digital gift for Secret Santa?
Yes, as long as it’s presented well. A digital download can be printed and put in a card or frame so there’s still something to unwrap. If you want something ready to hang, a framed A4 print starts from £22.99, though that may sit above some Secret Santa limits.
About Word Art Prints
Word Art Prints is a UK shop making personalised word art prints since 2017. With over 470 designs, every print is made to order with the customer’s own words, whether that’s names, dates, memories, qualities or places.