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The short answer: a secret santa questionnaire is a short list of questions everyone fills out before names are drawn, so whoever draws your name knows your favorites, your hard noes and the price limit.
- Sweet spot: 10 to 15 questions
- A 12-question version to copy and paste
- 40 more questions by category
- Office-safe and family versions
- Next step: Plan it with the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99).
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A Secret Santa questionnaire is a short list of questions everyone fills out before names are drawn, so whoever draws your name knows your favorites, your hard noes and the price limit. The sweet spot is 10 to 15 questions: favorite colors, snacks and drinks, hobbies, things they collect, things they don't want, and two or three wish-list ideas under the budget. Below you'll find a 12-question version to copy and paste, 40 more questions by category, an office-safe version, a family version and tips for collecting the answers.
I'm the oldest of three and was always the one coordinating family plans, so I love anything that takes the guessing out of gift giving. If you're running the exchange, keep everyone's Secret Santa questionnaire answers next to their budget in the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99), which has a Gift List page and a spreadsheet gift tracker.
The quick 12-question Secret Santa questionnaire (copy and paste)
Paste this into your group text, email or shared doc. It takes about three minutes to fill out.
- Name (and nickname, if you go by one):
- Favorite color or colors:
- Favorite snack, candy or treat:
- Favorite hot drink (coffee, tea, hot chocolate) and how you take it:
- Favorite store, restaurant or coffee shop:
- Hobbies or things you do for fun:
- Do you collect anything?
- Scent you love, or "no scents, please":
- Any allergies or foods you avoid?
- Something you'd never buy for yourself but would love:
- Things you do NOT want (clutter, mugs, candles, novelty items):
- Three wish-list ideas under our price limit of $____:
Set the price limit before you send it. If your group hasn't agreed on rules yet, our guide to Secret Santa rules and budget walks through limits, dates and drawing names.
40 Secret Santa questions by category
Pick the questions that fit your group, or send the whole list to people who like to over-share (every family has one).
Favorites: food, drinks and treats
- Sweet or salty?
- Favorite chocolate or candy bar?
- Favorite cookie or baked good?
- Coffee order, tea order or hot chocolate order?
- Favorite fast-food or takeout spot?
- Favorite restaurant for a treat night?
- Any flavors you can't stand (mint, coconut, licorice)?
- Food allergies or diet preferences (dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan)?
Hobbies and free time
- What do you do on a free Saturday?
- Favorite type of movie or show?
- Favorite book genre or author?
- Do you play any games (board games, card games, puzzles, video games)?
- Sports teams you cheer for?
- Crafts or creative hobbies?
- Do you cook or bake for fun?
- Something you've been meaning to try?
Home and everyday life
- Morning person or night owl?
- Cozy items you love (socks, blankets, slippers)?
- Do you have plants? Real or artificial?
- Desk, office or work-bag needs?
- Do you have pets? Names?
- Favorite way to relax after a long day?
- Favorite season or holiday?
- Anything you use every day that's wearing out?
Style and sizes (optional)
- Favorite colors to wear?
- Jewelry: gold, silver or none?
- T-shirt size (only if you're comfortable sharing):
- Sock size:
- Hat, scarf and glove person, or not?
- Mug person, tumbler person or neither?
Hard noes
- What should your Secret Santa avoid?
- Scents you're sensitive to?
- Gag gifts: love them or hate them?
- Is a gift card okay? If yes, where?
- Do you prefer one nice thing or a few small things?
Wish list
- Three things under our price limit you'd be happy to get:
- A favorite small brand or local shop:
- One "little luxury" you'd love:
- A consumable you always run out of (lip balm, coffee, snacks):
- Anything else your Secret Santa should know?
Office Secret Santa questionnaire (keep it work-safe)
At work, skip sizes and anything personal. Etiquette experts at the Emily Post Institute suggest choosing food rather than alcohol for office gifts and avoiding personal gifts like perfume, cologne or pajamas. Ten questions are plenty:
| Question | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Coffee, tea or hot chocolate? | Easy drink gifts and gift cards |
| Favorite snack or treat? | Food is the safest office gift |
| Any food allergies? | Avoids a gift they can't eat |
| Favorite lunch spot near the office? | Local gift card idea |
| Desk must-haves (pens, sticky notes, planner)? | Useful at work |
| Hobbies outside work? | Makes the gift personal |
| Favorite color? | Wrapping and accessories |
| Things you don't want? | Prevents clutter |
| Is a gift card okay? Where? | Simple backup |
| Wish-list idea under $____? | Removes all guessing |
Send it from a personal email or a simple online form, not the company chat, if your workplace prefers to keep holiday games off work systems. For more office ideas, see our Christmas gifts for coworkers.
Family Secret Santa questionnaire (kids to grandparents)
Family exchanges cover every age, so keep the form simple and let a parent fill it out for little ones.
- For kids: favorite character or show, favorite color, toys or crafts they love, books they're reading, clothing size (a parent adds this), and "things we already have too many of."
- For teens: favorite stores, music, games, snacks, and gift card preferences. Most teens would rather name the store than get a surprise.
- For grandparents: favorite treats, hobbies, puzzles or books, photos they'd love, and "nothing that needs batteries or setup."
- For couples drawn as one: a shared hobby, favorite restaurant, or a date-night idea.
A family form also helps the organizer spot budget problems early. If one person's wish list is all $100 items and your limit is $25, you can gently remind everyone before the shopping starts.
Example: turning answers into gift ideas
| Answer from your Secret Santa | Gift idea |
|---|---|
| "I drink tea every afternoon" | A box of tea and a mug |
| "I'm learning to bake" | A small baking tool or a recipe card set |
| "Hard no: scented candles" | Skip anything scented |
| "I walk my dog every day" | Treats or a leash clip |
Keep the answers beside your budget and a short list of three ideas, then pick the one that best fits what they actually said. See our Secret Santa gift ideas by budget if you need more options.
How to send and collect the questionnaire
| Method | Best for | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Group text | Small family or friend groups | Ask people to reply privately to the organizer |
| Shared document | Groups who don't mind seeing answers | One tab or section per person |
| Free online form | Offices and large groups | Answers land in one sheet you can share with each Santa |
| Printed cards | In-person draws at Thanksgiving or a party | Clip each card to the name slip |
Give a deadline about one week before the draw, then send each Santa only their person's answers. Keep a master copy in case someone loses theirs.
Questions to avoid
- Budget questions about what people earn or can afford. Set one price limit for everyone instead.
- Clothing sizes at work.
- Anything about weight, health conditions or religion beyond "anything you avoid?"
- Questions that pressure people to share their address if the exchange happens in person.
Turning answers into a gift
Here's how two typical answers turn into a gift under $25:
| Answers | Gift idea |
|---|---|
| Hot chocolate, loves cozy movie nights, no scented items | Gourmet cocoa, a fleece throw and a microwave popcorn pack |
| Tea drinker, reads mysteries, avoids clutter | A paperback mystery and a box of loose-leaf tea |
| Coffee, busy schedule, okay with gift cards | A local coffee shop gift card in a nice card |
| Loves planning, favorite color green | A green pen set and a printable planner |
If someone answers "gift card," the FDIC suggests you buy cards only from sources you trust, check that the PIN isn't scratched off and read the fine print before you buy. Need more ideas once you have the answers? Try our Secret Santa gift ideas and white elephant gifts under $25.
Keep the answers, budget and gift list in one place
The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99) gives you a Holiday Budget page, a Gift List, a Holiday Calendar for the draw and exchange dates, and an Excel/Google Sheets gift tracker, so every person's answers, budget and gift sit on one line. If you're also planning meals, savings and bills for the season, the Holiday Season Bundle ($15.99) includes the planner plus five more printables. Browse everything in our holiday shop.
Want a free start? Our Holiday Budget Starter Kit is three US Letter pages we email you after you join our list.
See also
- Secret Santa rules and budget
- Gift exchange ideas
- Christmas party games
- Holiday party planning checklist
- Christmas gifts under $10
Filling in your own wish list? Get inspired by our 75 Christmas list ideas.
The Holiday Collection
Give every person a limit and watch what's left
The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner adds up every list for you: a budget for each person, a log of each purchase and the amount left to spend, plus printable gift, card, menu and to-do pages.
- Spreadsheet for Excel and Google Sheets
- 11 printable pages, US Letter + A4
- Instant download, 14-day fix-or-refund promise
Planning the whole season? See the holiday sets from $7, with early prices through Cyber Monday
Frequently asked questions
What is a Secret Santa questionnaire? A Secret Santa questionnaire is a short form each person fills out before names are drawn. It lists favorites, hobbies, allergies, things they don't want and a few wish-list ideas under the price limit, so whoever draws their name can buy a gift they'll actually use.
How many questions should a Secret Santa questionnaire have? Ten to fifteen questions is the sweet spot. That covers favorites, hobbies, hard noes and a short wish list without feeling like homework. Our copy-and-paste version has 12 questions and takes about three minutes to fill out.
What questions should I ask for an office Secret Santa? Ask work-safe questions only: coffee or tea order, favorite snack, food allergies, favorite lunch spot, desk must-haves, hobbies, favorite color, things they don't want and one wish-list idea under the limit. Skip sizes and personal items.
What should you not ask in a Secret Santa questionnaire? Don't ask about income, weight, health conditions or anything that pressures people to overshare. At work, also skip clothing sizes. Set one price limit for everyone instead of asking what each person can afford.
How do I send a Secret Santa questionnaire? Send it by group text, email, a shared document or a free online form. Ask people to reply privately to the organizer by a deadline about one week before the draw, then pass each Santa only their person's answers.
Where can I keep everyone's Secret Santa answers? The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99) keeps answers, budgets and gifts in one place. Its Gift List page and Excel/Google Sheets gift tracker give each person one line for their answers, price limit and the gift you bought.
Is it okay to ask for a gift card on a Secret Santa questionnaire? Yes, many people prefer one. Add a question like "Is a gift card okay? If yes, where?" If you buy one, the FDIC suggests buying from trusted sources, checking that the PIN isn't exposed and reading the fine print for fees and expiration.
What do you do with Secret Santa questionnaire answers for kids? Have a parent fill out the form for young kids, including clothing size, favorite characters, colors and "things we already have too many of." Teens usually like to fill out their own and name favorite stores.
Should the Secret Santa questionnaire include a price limit? Yes, the Secret Santa questionnaire should include a price limit. Put the agreed price limit right in the wish-list question, such as "Three ideas under $25." It keeps every wish list realistic and saves the organizer from awkward follow-ups.
How far ahead should I send a Secret Santa questionnaire? Send it one to two weeks before you draw names, and ask for answers within three or four days. That gives everyone time to answer without forgetting, and gives each Secret Santa at least a week or two to shop, order online or make something by hand before the exchange day.
Can I use a Secret Santa questionnaire for a virtual or long-distance exchange? Yes, and it matters even more when people can't drop off gifts in person. Add questions for a mailing address, the best delivery days and whether a digital gift is welcome. Ask givers to ship early, keep tracking numbers, and agree whether the price limit includes shipping so nobody spends more than planned.
Is there a printable Secret Santa questionnaire? You can make a printable Secret Santa questionnaire from this page: copy the 12-question version into a document, add a line for each answer and print one copy per person. For an office exchange, use the work-safe questions instead.
How many questions should a Secret Santa questionnaire have? A Secret Santa questionnaire works best with 10 to 12 quick questions, such as favorite snacks, hobbies, colors and hard noes. Use the 12-question version for a fast exchange, and offer the longer 40-question list by category if your group wants more detail.
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