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How to make a Secret Santa questionnaire
- Add the group name, budget and exchange date. They print at the top of every form so nobody forgets the limit or the day.
- Tick the questions you want. The default set covers favorite colors, snacks, drinks, hobbies, sizes and things to avoid.
- Add your own questions, one per line, such as "Desk or home gift?" for an office exchange.
- Choose one or two forms per page. One per page fits up to 14 questions; two per page fits 7 and saves paper.
- Print and hand them out, or save a PDF and email it so people can print and fill it in.
The most useful Secret Santa questions
The best questions are ones a gift giver can actually shop with. Answers like "anything" don't help, so ask for specifics:
- Favorite snack or treat and favorite drink are the easiest wins for a small budget.
- Please avoid catches allergies, dietary needs and things people really don't want, such as scented items.
- Sizes (shirt, socks or slippers) make cozy gifts possible.
- Hobbies and collections point to gifts that feel personal.
- A wish list idea under the budget gives the giver a safe fallback.
For kids or family, pair the form with a Christmas wish list, and finish the gift with a printable gift tag.
How to run a Secret Santa gift exchange
- Set the budget and date and share them with the group.
- Collect the questionnaires before you draw names, so every giver gets their person's answers with the name.
- Draw names from a hat, or have one person who is not taking part match people. Make sure nobody draws themselves.
- Hand each giver the completed form for their person, folded so it stays secret.
- Exchange gifts on the day and let people guess who their Secret Santa was.
At work, keep gifts neutral and inclusive, stick to the budget, and make taking part optional.
Gift ideas from common answers
| Answer | Gift idea |
|---|---|
| Favorite snack | A snack box or a big bag of that treat |
| Favorite drink: coffee or tea | A mug with a bag of beans or a tea sampler |
| Hobby: reading | A book light, bookmark or a paperback in their genre |
| Cozy gifts | Warm socks or slippers in their size |
| Something I need | Exactly that, within the budget |
Tips and notes
- Keep it short. Seven to ten questions get better answers than twenty.
- Collect forms in an envelope so answers stay private until names are drawn.
- Ask about allergies every time; food is a common gift.
- Print two per page on card stock for a sturdier form that's easy to hand out.
- Save the PDF to reuse next year with a new date.
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Secret Santa questionnaire FAQ
What should I ask on a Secret Santa questionnaire?
Ask things a giver can shop with: favorite color, snack, drink, hobbies, sizes, a gift idea under the budget and anything to avoid, such as allergies or scented items.
How many questions should it have?
Seven to ten is plenty. Choose two per page for up to 7 questions, or one per page for up to 14.
Can I add my own questions?
Yes. Type up to six extra questions, one per line, and they print after the ones you ticked.
Can I use it for a family or class gift exchange?
Yes. Untick the work-style questions, add kid-friendly ones such as favorite animal or favorite game, and print two per page so each family member or student gets a short form to fill in.
Is the questionnaire free to print?
Yes. It is free with no account or watermark. Print it or save it as a PDF to email to the group.
Should I collect questionnaires before drawing names?
Yes. Collect every form first, then draw names and give each giver the completed form for their person. That way nobody can tell who drew whom from who asked for a form.