Secret Santa rules: simple template, office version, and examples

Copy-ready Secret Santa rules for friends or coworkers: budget, exclusions, timeline, anonymity, and fallback rules.

By Julien Dupont · 2/15/2026

Secret Santa rules you can copy and use today

The best Secret Santa rules are not long. They are clear, visible, and stable from day one. Your goals: fair budget expectations, private assignments, and an inclusive experience across friends, family, or coworkers.

Copy-ready Secret Santa rule template

Budget range is $15-$25. 2) Registration closes on December 5. 3) Draw runs on December 6. 4) Exchange day is December 20. 5) No offensive, political, or intimate gifts. 6) Everyone adds at least 3 wishlist hints. 7) Exclusions include couples and direct managers. 8) Assignments stay private. 9) If someone drops out, organizer handles reassignment. 10) Respect deadlines.

Rule depth by group type

Group type	Must-have rules	Recommended detail level
Friends	Budget + date + gift tone	Light and flexible
Family	Age-aware gifts + couple exclusions	Moderate
Coworkers	Inclusive budget + HR-safe boundaries	Explicit
Remote teams	Shipping cutoff + backup digital option	Explicit

Advanced rules that prevent most failures

Use a budget range, not a fixed amount.
Lock exclusions before assignments are generated.
List disallowed categories in plain language.
Define one fallback process for dropouts.
Keep communication in one official channel.

Dropout clause example

If a participant drops out after assignments are sent, the organizer performs a private reassignment and only notifies impacted participants.

Common drafting mistakes

“Any budget works” language.
Rules split across multiple threads with contradictions.
No exclusion policy in workplace contexts.
No fallback procedure documented.

FAQ

Should wishlists be mandatory?

For groups above 8 people, yes. Even three short hints significantly improve gift quality.