Most Singapore offices set a Secret Santa budget of about $20, and practical gifts go down best. In a YouGov survey of Singaporeans, 55% said $20 or less is right for a Secret Santa gift, and 57% said a practical present is ideal.
Every December, the same small panic sets in. A name lands in your hand, and you realise you know the colleague's coffee order but little else. The good news is that a Secret Santa gift does not need to be clever. It needs to be useful, easy to share, or a small treat they would not buy for themselves.
Below, I walk through gift ideas at three budgets, from local Singapore brands and from our own kitchen. There are also ideas for clients, for managers buying for a whole team and for colleagues who have become your little work family, plus a few notes on getting everything delivered in time.
Agree on the rules first
Before anyone draws a name, agree on one spending limit. Under $20 for Secret Santa suits most offices, while smaller teams or close colleagues often go up to $50 for personal gifting. One limit for everyone means nobody feels they gave too much or too little.
For Secret Santa, draw names about two weeks before the exchange, so gifts that need delivery arrive in time. A short wish list helps too. One line on likes, dislikes and allergies saves a lot of guessing.
In a mixed office, choose halal-certified food gifts so every colleague can enjoy them. It is also worth noting vegetarians and anyone with a nut allergy. And leave out the gag gifts: in the same YouGov survey, only 7% of Singaporeans preferred a funny present.
Gifts under $20: small, useful and easy to love
At this budget, edible gifts and small tools go furthest. For the colleague who keeps snacks at their desk, a few Gingerbread Man Cookies or a pack of Almond and Fennel Biscotti does the job. Both are halal certified, and the biscotti keeps well next to the coffee mug.
For the colleague with a hectic schedule who needs a little self-care (don't we all?), Elements of Cho makes a Renewal Mini Eye Roller. It is small enough to keep in an office drawer or carry around. The Singapore skincare brand is built around sensitive skin and makes its products in Korea. It feels luxurious for a small price.
Gifts from $20 to $50: for that wonderful teammate
At this budget, a gift usually deserves a little more thought.
For a gift that still signals warmth and appreciation, our Christmas Wonderland Gift Box holds three organic teas, biscotti, a jar of chocolate chip cookies and a gingerbread man. Everything keeps well through the holidays, so it can wait in a drawer until the exchange. Our Yuletide Gift Box is built for a night in, with hot chocolate and marshmallows, two mini cookie jars, almond caramel popcorn and a gingerbread man.
For the colleague who is on their feet all day, travels a lot for work or sits at a desk from nine to six, look at The Needy Socks. A nurse designed them, and each pair gives 15 to 20 mmHg of graduated compression. They come in designs such as Matcha Strawberry and Moonstone, so they look nothing like hospital socks.
For a gift with a design story, YeniDraws sells bamboo plates and tote bags featuring Singapore shophouses.
If your Secret Santa has been meaning to try a new workout, a gift card from The Flow Studio goes towards a Reformer Pilates class. The studio has four locations in Singapore, including East Coast and Bukit Timah.
For colleagues with children, the Gingerbread House DIY Kit becomes a weekend activity. A jar of Chocolate Cornflakes suits a vegetarian with a sweet tooth, and Elements of Cho's Hydrogel Eye Recovery Patch suits anyone short on sleep from all the festivities.
Gifts above $50: for the team, or from the team
Bigger gifts usually come from a manager, or from colleagues pooling their money for one person. The Holly Gift Box holds six mini jars of cookies, enough to share with a whole team. For a full hamper, the Very Merry Christmas Hamper Basket brings hot chocolate with marshmallows, three jars of cookies, biscotti and a hand-piped gingerbread snowflake.
For a pooled gift for a design-forward fashionista, Tow-Tow is a Singapore leather label that combines 3D printing with leatherwork. Its bags make a talking point, and the studio also runs charm-making workshops.
Other ideas at this level include a Reformer class pack from The Flow Studio, a mixed bundle from The Needy Socks, or the Barrier Duo skincare set from Elements of Cho.
Bulk gifting for a whole team or for clients
For 10 or more people, giving everyone the same gift keeps things fair and simple. Gift boxes and cookie jars work well because they keep for weeks, so you can hand them out at any point in December. Our gift boxes come wrapped, with space for a gift tag message.
For special clients you want to thank for a great year together, the Christmas Cookie Land Hamper (Medium) or the Ho Ho Ho Christmas Hamper Basket (Large) are worthy options. Both are halal certified and beautifully presented, with your personal wishes printed on the greeting card included.
If you want your company name on every gift, we add custom stickers to gift packs and cookie jars, from a minimum of 100 pieces. Our custom-branded treats page shows the options. For hybrid teams or multiple clients, each gift can go to a different address, so colleagues working from home are not left out. Large orders can start on our bulk orders page.
Getting gifts there on time
Our gifts need at least 3 days to prepare, and the days just before Christmas fill first, so order a week or more ahead. If you left it late, ATD Express delivers selected items the same day for orders placed before 2pm. We deliver to your office reception or a drop-off point you choose, and you can add a message of up to 150 characters at checkout.
For the other brands, check delivery times on their own sites, and book Pilates classes or workshops directly with the studio. My tip: if the exchange happens at a Christmas lunch, choose a gift that keeps. Cookie jars can sit in a drawer until the day.
