Secret Santa Questionnaire
Quick questions about favorite colors, snacks, hobbies and cozy things, so every Secret Santa knows what to look for.
- Time
- 5–10 min
- Players
- Three or more people
- Best for
- Office gift exchanges, friend groups and family name draws
- Deck
- 100 questions in 5 categories
How to use these Secret Santa questions
- Swipe through the cards and tap the heart on the questions that suit your group, or pick a category from the menu under the card.
- Tap “Make a 15-question list” for a ready questionnaire, or copy your saved questions, and paste the list into an email, a group chat or a shared doc.
- Everyone answers each question in a word or a line and sends the answers back to the organizer.
- After the draw, the organizer passes each set of answers to whoever drew that name, so every Secret Santa shops with real hints.
When to send a Secret Santa questionnaire
The best moment is right after everyone signs up and before names are drawn, so the answers are ready the day each person learns who they are shopping for. A short list turns a name on a slip of paper into someone with a favorite snack and a scarf color they would actually wear.
The office gift exchange
Favorites and Treats and drinks give coworkers safe, easy hints, like dark chocolate over milk or tea over coffee, even for someone they only know from meetings.
Friends drawing names online
When the draw happens in a group chat, paste a 15-question list into the same thread. Hobbies and interests turns up the board game fan and the friend who just took up knitting.
A family draw for the holidays
Relatives who see each other once a year can still shop well. Answers from Gift preferences, like an experience over a thing or no more mugs, take the guessing out of it.
Ways to run a Secret Santa questionnaire
The organizer’s list
Before the draw, the organizer taps “Make a 15-question list”, swaps out any question that doesn’t fit the group, and sends the list with the sign-up message. Answers come back to the organizer, who forwards each set to the person who drew that name, so nobody learns who has whom.
A shared sheet with a column each
For a group that doesn’t mind seeing everyone’s answers, paste the questions into the first column of a shared spreadsheet and give each person a column. Every Secret Santa reads their person’s column, and the draw stays secret because everyone’s answers are on the same page.
Answer out loud at the kickoff
If the group meets in person to draw names, read five cards aloud right after the draw. Everyone answers in a word or two, and each Secret Santa listens closely when their person speaks, without giving anything away.
Tips for a questionnaire people actually fill in
- Keep it to about fifteen questions. A short list gets answered the same day; a long one waits in inboxes until the week of the party.
- Always include “What do you already have too much of?” from Gift preferences, so nobody ends up with yet another mug.
- Put the budget and the exchange date at the top of the list before you send it, so answers like “anything within the budget” mean the same thing to everyone.
All 100 Secret Santa questionnaire questions by category
The complete list, grouped by category. The cards above draw from the same list, so you can read ahead here and play there.
Favorites
Colors, scents, patterns, places and the little things that make a gift feel like it was picked for you.
- What’s your favorite color, and is there one you’d rather avoid?
- Which scent do you like in a candle or hand soap: citrus, vanilla, pine, lavender or something else?
- Is there a scent you can’t stand, even a popular one?
- Is there an animal you’d love to see on a mug, a pair of socks or a card?
- Stripes, polka dots, plaid, florals or plain: which pattern feels most like you?
- Gold, silver or bright colors: which do you like on small things like keychains?
- What short saying would you be happy to see on a card or a tote bag?
- Which city, beach or park would you love to have as a print or a postcard?
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- Spring pastels, summer brights, fall golds or winter whites: which season’s colors suit you?
- Photos, paintings, maps or word prints: what do you like hanging on a wall?
- Morning, lunch break or evening: when do you most enjoy a little treat?
- Retro, vintage, modern or rustic: which style do you lean toward?
- Stars, moons, leaves or waves: is there a shape or symbol you keep choosing?
- Rain, waves, birdsong or total quiet: which sound helps you relax?
- Which made-up world from a book or a movie would you love a souvenir from?
- Is there a sports team you cheer for? Which one?
- Which country’s food, art or style do you love, even from far away?
- Which singer, band or author are you a fan of right now?
- Mountains, ocean, forest or city lights: which do you love most?
- Puns, silly drawings, dry wit or something sweet: what kind of card makes you smile?
Treats and drinks
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, salty snacks, candy and the one food to leave out.
- How do you take your coffee or tea: black, with milk, sweet, or not at all?
- If you drink tea, which kind do you like best: black, green, herbal, fruity or chai?
- If you drink coffee, do you like a light, medium or dark roast?
- Hot chocolate: rich and dark, extra sweet, or topped with marshmallows?
- Which chips, crackers or salty snack could you eat any day of the week?
- Which candy or chocolate bar would brighten a slow afternoon?
- Dark, milk or white chocolate, or none at all?
- Mint, caramel, peanut butter or fruit: which sweet flavor do you like best?
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- Is there a bakery treat you’d never turn down, like a croissant or a cinnamon roll?
- Which seasoning or spice blend would you happily get a fancy jar of?
- How spicy do you like your food: mild, medium or as hot as it comes?
- Which old-fashioned candy still makes you happy?
- Popcorn: plain, buttery, cheesy or sweet?
- Is there anything you don’t eat that your Secret Santa should know about?
- Sweet or savory: which way do you lean when you snack?
- Is there a fancy version of an everyday food you love, like real maple syrup?
- Sour candy: love it or leave it?
- Is there a snack from a trip that you wish you could find again?
- Do you like trying new flavors, or sticking with the ones you know?
- A box of fancy chocolates, or one big bar to break up and share?
Hobbies and interests
Books, games, crafts, cooking, the outdoors and whatever fills a free weekend.
- How do you like to spend a quiet weeknight at home?
- Which hobby could you use a few new supplies for right now?
- Do you read for fun? If so, what kind: novels, mysteries, comics or cookbooks?
- Cooking or baking: do you enjoy either, and is there a kitchen tool you wish you had?
- Houseplants, a garden or neither: how green is your thumb?
- Hiking, biking, running or a good long walk: which outdoor activity is yours?
- Knitting, painting, drawing or woodworking: do you make anything with your hands?
- Video games, board games or card games: which do you actually play, if any?
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- Is there a sport you play or a workout you never skip?
- Cooking shows, mysteries, documentaries or comedies: what do you watch most?
- Do you take photos for fun, and with a phone or a camera?
- Is there a skill you’re learning right now, like a language or an instrument?
- Which topic could you talk about for hours, like space, history or old cars?
- Movies, concerts, museums or live sports: which outing do you enjoy most?
- Staying in, going out or getting outdoors: what does your ideal weekend look like?
- City breaks, beaches, camping or road trips: which kind of trip do you love?
- Is there a hobby you’d start tomorrow if someone handed you a starter kit?
- Coffee shops, libraries or parks: where do you like to spend a free afternoon?
- How do you like to spend a lunch break when you have a full hour?
- Do you like tinkering with gadgets, or do you keep your tech simple?
Style and comfort
Cozy fabrics, socks, scarves, bags, candles and how warm the office feels.
- Fleece, wool, cotton or flannel: which fabric feels coziest to you?
- At work, are you usually a little cold, a little warm, or just right?
- Hats, scarves or gloves: which winter piece do you actually wear?
- Bright and bold or soft and neutral: which colors fill most of your closet?
- Fun patterned socks or plain ones: which do you reach for?
- Jewelry and accessories: do you love them, or keep things simple?
- Do you like wearing a watch, or never bother with one?
- Cozy and full, clean and simple, or colorful and quirky: how would you describe your home?
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- Tote bag, backpack or small pouch: what do you carry every day?
- Do you like your name or initials on things, or do you prefer them plain?
- Do you carry a water bottle or a travel mug everywhere, or would you like one?
- At home, are you a slippers person, a socks person or a barefoot person?
- Candles, a warm lamp or string lights: which makes a room feel cozy to you?
- Bath bombs, nice soap or a fluffy towel: which bit of pampering do you enjoy most?
- Which everyday item do you always run out of, like lip balm, pens or hand cream?
- Big comfy hoodie or a smart cardigan: which one feels more like you?
- Do you like scented things at home, or would you rather keep everything unscented?
- Socks, scarves and hats: welcome gifts for you, or something you’d rather pick yourself?
- Which room at home would you most like to make a little cozier?
- A fun phone case or a plain one: which suits you?
Gift preferences
Experiences or things, useful or fun, and what is already piling up at home.
- An experience or a thing to keep: which kind of gift do you enjoy more?
- What do you already have too much of, so nobody adds to the pile?
- Mugs: do you have plenty already, or is there room for one more?
- Useful or just for fun: which kind of small gift makes you happier?
- Handmade or store-bought: does it matter to you?
- Would a small plant on your desk make you happy, or be one more thing to water?
- If you have a pet, would a treat or toy for them make you as happy as a gift for you?
- Is there a small thing you keep meaning to buy for yourself but never do?
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- A gift card for a café, a bookshop or a restaurant: which would you use first?
- Would you enjoy a gift you can share with the team, like a box of treats?
- One nice thing, or a few small surprises: which would you rather open?
- Is there a local shop or market you love that someone could buy from?
- Do you prefer gifts that are reusable or low-waste?
- What’s one item you use so often it’s nearly worn out?
- Do you like gifts you can eat or drink up, or ones that stay around?
- Name one thing within the budget that would make your whole week.
- Is there a book, an album or a movie you’ve been meaning to get?
- Would you rather be surprised, or give your Secret Santa a clear hint?
- Where would you use a small gift most: at your desk, in the kitchen, in the car or on the couch?
- What else should your Secret Santa know before they go shopping?
Frequently asked questions
How many Secret Santa questions are there?
There are 100 Secret Santa questions, 20 in each of five categories: favorites, treats and drinks, hobbies and interests, style and comfort, and gift preferences. The cards, the 15-question list and the full list on this page use the same set.
What should a Secret Santa questionnaire include?
A good mix has a few favorites, one or two treats, a hobby, something about style or comfort, and at least two gift preferences, such as an experience or a thing and what someone already has plenty of. Add the question about foods to skip, and keep every answer short enough to fit on one line.
Can we use this questionnaire at work?
Yes. Every question is about colors, snacks, hobbies, cozy things or gift wishes, with nothing private in it and no clothing sizes. Coworkers can answer in a couple of minutes, and the organizer can drop any question that doesn’t suit the team before sending the list.
What can we play at the gift exchange itself?
Once the gifts are open, try Christmas questions for a round of festive questions everyone answers in turn, or icebreaker questions if the group includes people who have only just met.