Secret Santa generator
Type the names, add any pairs who should not draw each other, and press Draw. Then print the slips, cut them out and fold each one so the name inside is hidden. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Using this page
Type the names of everyone in your Secret Santa, add pairs who should not draw each other, and print a slip for each person with the name they are buying for. The draw happens in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.
Tips
- Agree on a spending limit and an exchange date before the draw, and add them to the slips.
- Add couples and housemates as pairs who should not draw each other.
- Fold each slip so the name inside cannot be seen, and write the giver's name on the outside.
How the draw works
Every person draws one other person, and no one draws themselves. The generator also avoids any pairs you list, such as partners or housemates, who usually buy for each other anyway. It shuffles the names and checks the rules, and if a shuffle breaks a rule it tries again until it finds a draw that works. If the rules make a draw impossible, for example three people who all exclude each other, it says so.
Each person gets a slip with their own name on the outside and the person they are buying for on the inside, plus the budget, the exchange date and any note you add. Fold the slips along the dashed line before handing them out.
Running a Secret Santa
Agree on a budget everyone is comfortable with, often $20 to $30 for a workplace. Set the exchange date and a place. Some groups add a wish list, or a theme such as something homemade or something under $10 from an op shop. If someone drops out after the draw, the easiest fix is a fresh draw for everyone, so keep the slips sealed until the list is final.
Common questions
Can someone draw themselves?
No. The generator never gives anyone their own name, and it also respects the pairs you list.
Is the list saved or emailed anywhere?
No. Names stay on your device. If you need to redo the draw, press Draw again before printing.