60 Secret Santa questions that make any giftee easy to shop for

How to run the questionnaire

Keep it to under five minutes to fill. Pick 10-12 questions from below, drop them in a shared note or group chat, and set a 48-hour deadline. Anything longer than 15 questions and people ghost it. The sweet spot: 3 favorites questions, 3 sizes/allergies, 2 dealbreakers, and a free-text anything you've been meaning to buy.

Favorites and taste

1. Coffee, tea, both, or neither?
2. Sweet or savory snacks? Any snack you're loyal to?
3. Favorite candy from childhood?
4. One band, podcast, or show you never shut up about?
5. What do you do to unwind after work?
6. Current hobby you've spent too much money on?
7. Book you'd actually read again?
8. Sports team you'd accept merch from?
9. Preferred drink (for a bottle in the $25 range)?
10. Candle scent: yes, no, and which?

Practical intel (sizes, allergies, gear)

11. T-shirt size?
12. Hoodie size?
13. Gloves or hat size, if known?
14. Food allergies or things you can't have?
15. Anything you're allergic to otherwise (nickel, wool, latex)?
16. Phone model (for cases and accessories)?
17. Do you use: Kindle / iPad / Switch / none?
18. Coffee gear you already own?
19. Kitchen gadget you keep NOT buying yourself?
20. Desk setup: standing or sitting? Any pain points?

Boundaries and dealbreakers

21. Anything you specifically DON'T want?
22. Home decor: welcome, or shelf is full?
23. Alcohol: fine, or skip?
24. Gag gifts: love or hate?
25. Anything you'd rather receive used or vintage than new?
26. Gift cards: thoughtful or a cop-out?
27. Anything you already own too much of?

The money questions

28. Something under $25 you've been meaning to buy?
29. Something you'd never buy yourself but would love?
30. Last thing you returned, and why?
31. If your Secret Santa is stuck, what's the safe default?

The fun ones (pick two)

32. What's your comfort movie?
33. What did you collect as a kid?
34. Winter plan: skiing, beach, or couch?
35. If you got a $100 gift card tonight, where would it be spent by Friday?
36. One thing on your desk that makes you happy?
37. Your most-used app nobody would guess?

After the answers come in

Run your draw with exclusions intact, and when you text each person their match, forward that person's questionnaire answers with it. The giver gets a cheat sheet, and the giftee gets a gift that fits. That forwarding step is what separates a Secret Santa people tolerate from one they ask for again next year.