Secret Santa Calculator
Enter how many people are in the draw and the budget cap. The calculator shows the gifts in play, the whole-group spend, and what each person saves against buying something for everyone.
The draw has three rules that matter - nobody draws themselves, couples can be excluded as pairs, and the cap is a contract. This page prices the savings for the family skeptic, and makes the case that paper names in a hat beat every app for the aunts.
How to use
- Count the participants, including the ones who claim they want nothing.
- Set a cap everyone can afford - the cap is the whole game.
- Wishlists are the luxury move: one link per person beats guessing.
Frequently asked questions
How does a Secret Santa draw work?
Everyone draws one name and buys only for that person, within the agreed cap - so everyone gives once and receives once. The calculator shows the group math: eight people at a 25 dollar cap exchange eight gifts instead of fifty-six.
What is a good Secret Santa budget?
Whatever the poorest member can do without thinking - typically 15-30 dollars. The cap is a contract, not a suggestion: the person who overspends breaks the game for whoever cannot match it.
How do I make sure nobody draws themselves?
Paper names in a hat, redraw on self-draw, works fine to about twenty people - and beats every app for family groups. For bigger crowds or remote relatives, free online draw tools handle exclusions automatically.
Can couples be excluded from drawing each other?
Yes - exclude pairs as a block and redraw; the math barely changes and the household harmony doubles. Most families run exactly this rule and consider it obvious.