Secret Santa Generator

Secret Santa Generator is a free tool for drawing names for a gift exchange. Enter everyone's names, add exclusions so couples don't draw each other, and set an optional budget and date. Each person gets a private link that shows only their own match. It runs in your browser with no sign-up, no email addresses and nothing uploaded.

Last updated

Draw names for your office, family, or friends gift exchange in seconds. Add exclusions so couples don't draw each other, set a budget and exchange date, then send each person a private link that shows only their own match. No sign-up and no email addresses needed.

Exclusions (optional)

Pairs who shouldn't draw each other, like couples or people who live together. Exclusions work both ways.

    No exclusions yet.

    Just for fun: this tool is meant for friendly gift exchanges. The draw happens in your browser and nothing is stored on our servers, so if you lose the links, simply draw again. The match is only lightly scrambled in each link, not encrypted, so it's not suitable for anything where real secrecy or fairness matters, such as prize drawings.

    How to Draw Names for Secret Santa

    Step by step

    1. Type everyone's name, one per line. Use a last initial if two people share a first name.
    2. Add exclusions for couples or anyone who shouldn't draw each other.
    3. Set a budget and exchange date if you like. They're shown to everyone with their match.
    4. Click Draw names. Each person gets a private link.
    5. Send each link by text, email or chat. When someone opens their link, they see only who they're buying for.

    Can I play Secret Santa without anyone knowing the results, including me?

    Yes. That's what the private links are for. As the organizer, you send the links without opening them, so you can join the gift exchange too and still be surprised. Just be careful to send each person the link with their own name.

    How do exclusions work?

    An exclusion means two people won't draw each other, in either direction. The generator always finds a valid draw if one exists. If your exclusions make a draw impossible (for example, one person is excluded from everyone else), it tells you which person is the problem so you can remove an exclusion.

    What does "avoid two people drawing each other" mean?

    Without it, Alex might buy for Jordan while Jordan buys for Alex. That's allowed in Secret Santa, but many groups find it more fun when gifts go around in a bigger circle. This option is on by default. It turns off automatically if your exclusions leave no other choice, and the page tells you when that happens.

    Are the links safe?

    The match is stored in the part of the link after the "#", which your browser never sends to any server, and it's scrambled so a quick look at the link doesn't spoil the surprise. It isn't encrypted, though, so someone who really wants to could decode it. For a friendly gift exchange that's plenty, but don't use it where real secrecy matters.

    What's a good Secret Santa budget?

    Most office gift exchanges in the U.S. set a limit of $20 to $30, and family and friend groups often choose $25 to $50. Pick an amount everyone is comfortable with and put it in the Budget field so it appears on every reveal page.

    Do I need to sign up or enter email addresses?

    No. There's no account, no email addresses, and nothing saved on a server. See our Privacy Policy.