Secret Santa Gift Ideas 2026 for $50, $100 and Group Gifts
By Rokas Ramanauskas, Co-founder · · 9 min read
The easiest Secret Santa gift ideas to get right let the person you drew choose for themselves. Give them an experience gift, and they pick one experience from its list, like a paint and sip night or an airboat ride. Then they book a date that suits them.
Below are ten experience gifts from $99 to $179, plus the Everwow Gift Card from $50 for a $50 limit. They are sorted by spending limit: $50, around $100, and $150 and up for a family draw or a group pool. For more gifts made for the season, browse Christmas Experience Gifts.
Buying for more people this year? Start with our complete guide to Christmas experience gifts.
What are the best Secret Santa gift ideas for 2026?
The best Secret Santa gift ideas fit your group's spending limit and still feel personal. A gift that lets them choose the experience does both. Quick answers by limit:
- $50 limit: the Everwow Gift Card, from $50.
- $100 limit, for a coworker: Paint & Sip Class Collection, from $99.
- $100 limit, for a thrill seeker: Skydiving Experience Collection, from $99.
- A little over $100, for Christmas spirit: Merry Christmas, from $119.
- $150 and up, or a group pool: Bucket list, from $179.
Why does an experience make a good Secret Santa gift?
In Secret Santa, you often draw someone you don't know well. An experience gift lets them make the final choice. You pick the kind of day, and they pick the exact experience and the date.
Research supports giving people what they want. In a 2011 study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Francesca Gino and Francis Flynn found that people appreciated gifts they had asked for more than gifts the giver picked on their own. So if your group uses wish lists, use them. If the person you drew left theirs blank, a gift they choose from is the next closest thing. That last step is our reading, not the study's finding.
How close you are matters too. Joseph Goodman and Sarah Lim reported in the Journal of Consumer Research in 2018 that givers lean toward material gifts for people they are less close to. The reason: picking an experience seems to need more knowledge of what that person likes. A gift where they choose the experience takes that guess off your hands.
What can you give at a $50 Secret Santa limit?
At a $50 limit, give the Everwow Gift Card. It is the pick in this guide that fits that budget.
Everwow Gift Card
It loads $50 to spend on the Everwow experience gift they want. To be clear, the experience gifts in this guide start at $99. So a $50 Everwow Gift Card covers part of one, and they pay the rest when they choose. It suits a coworker you barely know, because they pick both the gift and the kind of day. See the Everwow Gift Card, from $50.
Want to give a full experience on a $50 limit? If your group agrees, pair up: two people put in $50 each, and that covers a $99 experience gift. See the group pool steps below.
What are good Secret Santa gifts around $100?
At a $100 limit, choose one of the five experience gifts that start at $99. If your group allows a little more, Merry Christmas and Family Time start at $119.
Paint & Sip Class Collection
Guided canvas painting with wine and cocktail pairings. It suits the coworker who laughs at their own art. From $99, or $149 for two, so they can bring a friend. See the Paint & Sip Class Collection.
Axe Throwing Experience Collection
Coached target sessions and group tournaments. It turns a small gift into a story for the next team lunch. From $99, or $149 for two. Explore the Axe Throwing Experience Collection.
Airboat Tours Experience Collection
Sunrise marsh runs and wildlife spotting glides. A fit for the friend who wants a wild afternoon, not another scarf. From $99, or $159 for two. See the Airboat Tours Experience Collection.
Animal Encounters Experience Collection
Sanctuary meet and greets and hands-on feeding moments. Made for the animal lover whose desk is covered in pet photos. From $99, or $169 for two. Explore the Animal Encounters Experience Collection.
Skydiving Experience Collection
A tandem free fall for the friend who keeps saying "one day." They pick the date, so they can work up the nerve first. From $99, or $189 for two. See the Skydiving Experience Collection.
Merry Christmas
A gift that feels like the season: Christmas light trails, cozy tastings and winter outings. Seasonal experiences and booking dates depend on availability. It suits a close friend or a coworker you want to celebrate. From $119. See the Merry Christmas gift.
Family Time
Shared family outings and all-ages activity days. Good for a family draw. Each experience lists how many people it covers, so they can check before they choose. From $119. See the Family Time gift.
What Secret Santa gifts work for $150 and up, or a group pool?
With $150 or more, from a family draw or a few people chipping in, you can give a bigger day. Or you can choose the For 2 version of a $99 pick, so they can bring someone.
Paint & Sip and Axe Throwing are each $149 for two. Airboat Tours is $159 for two, and Animal Encounters is $169 for two. The three gifts below go further.
Wine Tasting Experience Collection
Cellar flights and vineyard strolls. Made for the sister or cousin who brings the good bottle to every family dinner. From $139, or $259 for two. See the Wine Tasting Experience Collection.
Cook Together
Hands-on cooking lessons and world cuisine classes, for the person who is happiest in the kitchen. It works well when a family pools for the relative who cooks every holiday meal. From $179. See Cook Together.
Bucket list
Its list runs from mountain zip lines to indoor skydiving. Pool for this one when the person you drew talks about a "someday" list. From $179. See the Bucket list gift.
How can a group pool money for one Secret Santa gift?
Agree on a total, let one person buy, and give the gift from everyone. Here is a simple way to do it.
- Set the total together. For example, four people at $50 each gives you $200.
- Pick one buyer. The others pay that person back.
- Choose the gift. Pick an experience gift within the total. Or give the Everwow Gift Card, which also comes in $100, $150 and $200 amounts.
- Send it from the group. Send the Digital eVoucher to the person you are giving to. Or send it to the buyer, to print for a card that everyone signs.
- Add a message. Add an optional personal text message after checkout, and sign it from the whole group.
A pooled gift also works when a family draws one name for a grandparent or an aunt. Instead of several small things, they get one bigger day to remember.
Secret Santa gift ideas compared by price
Five experience picks start at $99, two at $119, and three between $139 and $179.
| Pick | From | For two | Best for | How you send it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everwow Gift Card | $50 | – | A $50 limit | |
| Paint & Sip Class Collection | $99 | $149 | The coworker who loves a fun night out | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Axe Throwing Experience Collection | $99 | $149 | The friendly competitor | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Airboat Tours Experience Collection | $99 | $159 | A friend who wants a wild afternoon | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Animal Encounters Experience Collection | $99 | $169 | The animal lover | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Skydiving Experience Collection | $99 | $189 | The thrill seeker | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Merry Christmas ($119) | $119 | – | Christmas lights and cozy tastings | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Family Time ($119) | $119 | – | A family draw: a sibling with kids | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Wine Tasting Experience Collection | $139 | $259 | A family draw with a bigger limit | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Cook Together | $179 | – | The family's holiday cook | Email or Physical Gift Box |
| Bucket list ($179) | $179 | – | A group pool for a "someday" list | Email or Physical Gift Box |
How does an experience gift work for Secret Santa?
You buy now. They choose one experience and book it when ready.
- Choose the gift and its format. Pick a Digital eVoucher or a Physical Gift Box at checkout. You do not need to choose the exact experience or date.
- Choose whose inbox gets it. Send the Digital eVoucher to the person you drew, or to yourself so you can print it. It is emailed instantly or on your chosen date, such as the morning of the swap.
- Add your message. Add an optional personal text message after checkout.
- They choose one experience. Each one lists where it takes place, how many people it covers and what is included.
- They book when they are ready. No expiration date. Ever. Experiences and booking dates depend on availability.
The wait can be part of the fun. Amit Kumar, Matthew Killingsworth and Thomas Gilovich reported in Psychological Science in 2014 that people enjoy waiting for an experience more than waiting for a material purchase.
Full refund within 30 days of purchase, before the recipient activates the gift. To request one, see the Everwow refund policy. Real people help you and the recipient, from delivery to booking.
Can you give an experience gift at an in-person Secret Santa swap?
Yes. Send the Digital eVoucher to yourself, print it, and tuck it into a card or a small box. Or choose a gift-ready Physical Gift Box at checkout.
Either way, there is something to open at the swap, and the person you drew still picks the day.
What if the Secret Santa exchange is tomorrow?
Choose a Digital eVoucher and have it emailed to you instantly. You can print it tonight and bring it to the swap. For more quick ideas, see last-minute gifts.
Can the person you drew choose an experience near them?
That depends on where they live. Each experience lists where it takes place, so they can check before they choose. Experiences and booking dates depend on availability.
If your group lives in one city, you can browse experiences near them before you buy. For an office in Chicago, start with Chicago experience gifts. A family draw in Dallas can begin with Dallas experience gifts. Friends in San Diego can browse San Diego experience gifts.
How we chose these Secret Santa gift ideas
Every pick is a live Everwow gift, priced on the store in October 2026 and sorted by spending limit. We kept the experience picks at $179 and under so they fit a Secret Santa budget. Everwow is new in 2026, so this guide sticks to what can be checked: the price and how each gift works.
Choose your Secret Santa gift
Match the gift to your limit, then set the email for the day of the swap. The person you drew picks one experience and books it when they are ready.
Ready to choose? Browse Christmas Experience Gifts.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Secret Santa gift for $50?
At a $50 limit, the Everwow Gift Card is the pick in our Secret Santa guide that fits. It loads $50 for them to spend on the Everwow experience gift they want. The experience gifts in our Secret Santa guide start at $99, so $50 covers part of one and they pay the rest. If your group agrees, two people can put in $50 each, which covers a $99 experience gift. See the Everwow Gift Card.
What can you get for Secret Santa at $100?
At $100, you can give a full experience gift. Five picks in our Secret Santa guide start at $99: Paint & Sip, Axe Throwing, Airboat Tours, Animal Encounters and Skydiving. Each lets the person you drew choose one experience from its list and book a date that suits them. Prices were read on the live store on October 2, 2026.
What are some good small Christmas gifts?
Small gifts that get used, not stored. A class, a tasting or an evening out takes up no space, and it gives them something to look forward to. The experience gifts in our Secret Santa guide start at $99, and a Digital eVoucher can be printed and tucked into a card, so the gift itself is as small as an envelope.
What is a good Secret Santa gift for someone you don't know well?
A gift that lets them choose. A 2018 Journal of Consumer Research study by Joseph Goodman and Sarah Lim found that givers lean toward material gifts for people they are less close to, because picking an experience seems to need more knowledge of what they like. With an experience gift, you choose the kind of day and they choose the exact experience, so there is far less to guess.
How can a group pool money for one Secret Santa gift?
Agree on a total, let one person buy, and the others pay that person back. Choose an experience gift within the total, or the Everwow Gift Card, which also comes in $100, $150 and $200 amounts. Send the Digital eVoucher to the person you are giving to, or to the buyer to print for a card everyone signs. Add an optional personal text message after checkout from the whole group.
Can the person I drew pick their own experience?
Yes. You choose the gift, and they choose one experience from its list and book it when they are ready. Before they choose, they can check where each experience takes place, how many people it covers and what is included. Experiences and booking dates depend on availability. No expiration date. Ever.
Can I email a Secret Santa gift to a coworker I won't see?
Yes. Choose the Digital eVoucher at checkout and send it straight to their inbox, instantly or on your chosen date, such as the day of your team's gift swap. Add an optional personal text message after checkout. It works the same for remote coworkers and for friends in another state.