The short list most groups play by, plus the rules the draw here enforces for you.
Start your drawFree. No sign-up. About 2 minutes.
At least three people. Two is just a trade.
One budget. Agreed before the draw, the same for everyone.
One name each. Each person draws one name, never their own.
One gift. Bought for your person only, inside the budget.
Their name on the gift.
Secret until the swap. Guessing is half the party.
No one draws their own name. The draw cannot deal it, ever.
Marked pairs stay apart. Pairs you mark never draw each other.
Impossible draws stop early. If the pairs leave no fair draw, the site says so. Nobody gets a link until the draw works.
One link per person. Each private link shows one match only.
Four budgets. Under $25, $25 to $50, $50 to $100, and over $100.
A buy-by date. The draw cannot set one for you.
What counts as the gift. Bought, made, or regifted? Say it first.
Late joiners. Decide now: draw again, or swap in a volunteer. Both ways, in full.
The reveal. Guess first, or open in turns? Pick one before the day.
With three people, one match gives away the rest.
With four people and pairs marked, one match can give away another.
A link is hidden from plain sight, not locked.
Anyone with a link can open it. Send each link to its person only.
A new draw makes new links. Links from the old draw still work.
How Secret Santa works: the game in four steps.
How to run a Secret Santa: the organiser's short list.
Secret Santa rules: the classic rules, plus the enforced ones.
Gift ideas under $50: real picks, by interest.
Secret Santa for large groups: one draw for up to 30 people.
What are the basic Secret Santa rules?
At least three people. One budget everyone can afford. Each person draws one name, never their own. Buy one gift inside the budget. Label it with their name only, and stay secret until the swap.
Can someone draw their own name here?
No. The draw here cannot give anyone their own name. If marked pairs make a draw impossible, the site says so before any link is made.
What happens when we draw again?
A new draw makes new links. Links from the old draw still work, and they show the old matches. Send only the new set.