Secret Santa Questionnaire: 30+ Essential Questions to Ask Participants
One of the biggest challenges in Secret Santa is choosing a gift for someone you might not know well. A well-crafted Secret Santa questionnaire solves this problem by giving gift-givers crucial insights into their recipient's preferences, interests, and dislikesâtransforming the exchange from guesswork into thoughtful gift-giving.
The best Secret Santa questions strike a balance between being specific enough to be helpful and general enough to leave room for surprise. They should reveal personality, preferences, and practical needs without dictating exactly what gift to buy. Whether you're organizing for your office, friend group, or family, the right questionnaire dramatically improves gift quality and recipient satisfaction.
This comprehensive guide provides 30+ carefully selected Secret Santa questions organized by category, plus tips on how to collect and share this information effectively. We'll also cover what questions to avoid and how to use questionnaire responses to choose the perfect gift.
Quick Navigation
Why Use a Secret Santa Questionnaire?
Better Gift Matching
Even a few basic questions can transform a generic gift into something personalized and thoughtful. Knowing someone likes coffee over tea makes all the difference.
Reduces Gift Anxiety
Gift-givers feel less stressed when they have guidance. Nobody wants to accidentally give someone something they're allergic to or already own.
Prevents Duplicate Gifts
Questions about what they already have (coffee maker, water bottle, etc.) help avoid giving duplicates or unnecessary items.
Saves Time Shopping
Instead of wandering stores hoping for inspiration, gift-givers can shop with confidence knowing their recipient's preferences.
Pro Tip
Keep questionnaires to 8-15 questions maximum. Too many questions feel like homework and reduce completion rates. Focus on the most useful information for your specific group.
10 Essential Secret Santa Questions (Must-Ask)
These core questions should be included in every Secret Santa questionnaire. They provide the foundation for thoughtful gift selection:
What are your hobbies or interests?
Why ask this: Helps identify gift categories (books for readers, cooking tools for chefs, etc.)
What's your favorite color?
Why ask this: Guides choices for anything from clothing to home decor items
Coffee, tea, neither, or both?
Why ask this: Extremely useful for beverage-related gifts, one of the most popular categories
Do you have any allergies or dietary restrictions?
Why ask this: Critical for food gifts and scented items. Prevents potentially harmful gifts
What's something under [budget] you've wanted but haven't bought yourself?
Why ask this: Often reveals the perfect giftâsomething they want but consider a small luxury
What size clothing do you typically wear? (shirt, pants, shoes)
Why ask this: Enables clothing and accessory gifts, but only ask if your budget supports these items
What's something you absolutely do NOT want?
Why ask this: Prevents gift disasters. Some people hate candles, stuffed animals, or certain scents
Do you prefer practical gifts or fun/novelty items?
Why ask this: Reveals their gift philosophyâsome want everyday utility, others want entertainment
What's your favorite type of snack or treat?
Why ask this: Food gifts are safe bets when you know preferences (sweet vs savory, chocolate vs fruit, etc.)
Are there any items you already have plenty of?
Why ask this: Prevents giving duplicates. Many people already own 5 water bottles or 10 coffee mugs
Additional Questions by Category
Lifestyle & Personal Preferences
- ⢠Are you a morning person or night owl?
- ⢠Do you prefer staying in or going out?
- ⢠What's your typical weekend like?
- ⢠Do you have any pets? What kind?
- ⢠What's your favorite season?
- ⢠Do you prefer minimalist or decorative items?
Use these for: Choosing between cozy home items vs outdoor gear, pet-related gifts, seasonal items
Entertainment & Media
- ⢠What's your favorite genre of books/movies/music?
- ⢠Do you prefer physical books or e-books?
- ⢠What streaming services do you use?
- ⢠Do you play video games? What platforms?
- ⢠What's the last thing you binge-watched?
- ⢠Do you enjoy puzzles, board games, or card games?
Use these for: Books, games, subscriptions, entertainment-related accessories
Self-Care & Wellness
- ⢠What's your favorite scent (vanilla, lavender, citrus, etc.)?
- ⢠Do you prefer baths or showers?
- ⢠What's your skincare routine like? (minimal, extensive, somewhere between)
- ⢠Do you enjoy candles or prefer other home scents?
- ⢠Are you sensitive to strong fragrances?
- ⢠Do you practice any wellness activities? (yoga, meditation, fitness)
Use these for: Bath products, candles, skincare, wellness accessories
Food & Beverage
- ⢠Sweet or savory snacks?
- ⢠Do you enjoy spicy food?
- ⢠What's your favorite type of chocolate?
- ⢠Do you cook or bake at home?
- ⢠What's your go-to comfort food?
- ⢠Any favorite local restaurants or food brands?
Use these for: Gourmet snacks, cooking tools, specialty ingredients, gift cards
Work & Productivity (Great for Office Exchanges)
- ⢠Do you work from home, office, or hybrid?
- ⢠What does your workspace look like?
- ⢠Do you prefer digital or paper planners?
- ⢠What's your favorite type of pen or stationery?
- ⢠Do you drink water from a reusable bottle or disposable cups?
- ⢠Is your desk usually organized or chaotic?
Use these for: Desk accessories, organization tools, tech gadgets, drinkware
How to Collect Questionnaire Responses
Google Forms (Best for Most Groups)
Pros:
- Free and easy to use
- Automatically collects responses in spreadsheet
- Can include multiple question types
- Easy to share via email or link
How to use:
Create form â Share link â Export responses to spreadsheet â Share relevant info with each gift-giver
Slack/Teams Channel (Office Groups)
Pros:
- Everyone already has access
- Casual and low-pressure
- Allows for fun interactions
- Easy to reference year-round
How to use:
Create dedicated channel â Post questions periodically â Compile responses manually or use pinned message
Email Survey (Simple Groups)
Pros:
- Direct and personal
- No additional platforms needed
- Good for small groups (<15 people)
How to use:
Email questions â Participants reply with answers â Organizer compiles into document
Built-in Generator Features
Pros:
- All-in-one solution
- Preferences shared only with matched giver
- Privacy protected
How to use:
Some Secret Santa generators include wishlist or preference fields when participants receive their assignment
Important Privacy Note
Only share each participant's questionnaire answers with their assigned Secret Santaânot the entire group. This maintains privacy and prevents people from figuring out who has whom based on who's asking specific questions.
How to Use Questionnaire Responses to Choose Gifts
Step-by-Step Gift Selection Process
Read the full questionnaire first
Don't jump to conclusions from one answer. Look for patterns and connections across all responses.
Identify 2-3 key themes
Maybe they love coffee, enjoy reading, and prefer cozy nights in. These themes guide your search.
Cross-reference with dislikes and allergies
Eliminate ideas that conflict with what they specifically said NO to. This is crucial.
Combine preferences creatively
A coffee lover who enjoys reading might love a "cozy reading kit" with specialty coffee, a bookmark, and a candle.
Check the practical vs fun preference
If they said practical, choose the high-quality everyday item. If fun, go for the novelty or entertainment option.
Example: Good Gift Selection
Questionnaire says:
- Loves coffee (not tea)
- Favorite scent: vanilla
- Works from home
- Doesn't want mugs (has too many)
Perfect gift: Vanilla-flavored coffee sampler + coffee scoop + small bag of gourmet beans
Why it works: Combines coffee preference with vanilla scent, useful for WFH, avoids the mug they don't want
Example: Poor Gift Selection
Same questionnaire responses
Poor gift choice: Generic coffee mug with generic chocolate
Why it fails: Ignored their "no mugs" request, didn't use the vanilla preference, chocolate not mentioned in their responses, feels generic despite having their questionnaire
Questions to Avoid in Your Secret Santa Questionnaire
â Too specific product requests
"What exact item do you want?" removes all surprise and fun from the exchange. Keep some mystery!
â Overly personal questions
Relationship status, income level, or deeply personal topics make people uncomfortable, especially in workplace settings.
â Questions about budget
Don't ask what they're spending on their gift. This creates pressure and comparison. Budget should be set by organizer.
â Political or religious topics
Even if well-intentioned, these can create division. Keep Secret Santa inclusive and light-hearted.
â Too many required questions
More than 15 questions feels like homework. Make some optional or use conditional logic ("If you drink coffee, what type?").
â Vague or unhelpful questions
"What do you like?" is too broad. "Do you prefer sweet or savory snacks?" is actionable and specific.
Complete Secret Santa Questionnaire Template
Ready-to-Use Questionnaire
Copy these questions into Google Forms, email, or your preferred survey tool:
Basic Information
- 1. What are your main hobbies or interests?
- 2. What's your favorite color?
- 3. Do you have any allergies or dietary restrictions?
Food & Beverage Preferences
- 4. Coffee, tea, both, or neither?
- 5. Sweet or savory snacks?
- 6. Any favorite treats or candies?
Personal Style
- 7. What's your favorite scent (if any)?
- 8. Do you prefer minimalist or decorative items?
- 9. What clothing sizes do you wear? (optional - only if budget allows clothing)
Interests & Entertainment
- 10. What type of books/movies/music do you enjoy?
- 11. Do you prefer staying in or going out?
- 12. Any favorite stores or brands?
Gift Guidance
- 13. Do you prefer practical gifts or fun/novelty items?
- 14. What's something under $[budget] you'd love but haven't bought yourself?
- 15. What's something you absolutely do NOT want or already have too many of?
đĄ Tip: Customize this template based on your group's preferences and budget
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions should be in a Secret Santa questionnaire?
Aim for 8-15 questions total. This is enough to gather useful information without overwhelming participants. Include a mix of required questions (allergies, major dislikes) and optional ones (specific preferences). Longer questionnaires have lower completion rates.
When should I send the Secret Santa questionnaire?
Send the questionnaire immediately after participants sign up, ideally 3-4 weeks before gift exchange day. This gives gift-givers plenty of time to shop once they receive their match assignment. Send a reminder if people haven't completed it within a week.
Should the Secret Santa questionnaire be anonymous?
No, questionnaires should NOT be anonymousâyou need to know who submitted what answers so you can share them with the correct gift-giver. However, only share each person's responses with their assigned Secret Santa, not the whole group, to maintain privacy.
What if someone doesn't fill out the questionnaire?
Send a gentle reminder emphasizing it helps their Secret Santa choose a better gift. If they still don't respond, their gift-giver will have to choose something more generic. Consider setting a deadline and making questionnaire completion mandatory for participation.
Can I use the same Secret Santa questionnaire every year?
Yes, but ask participants to update their responses annually as preferences change. People might develop new hobbies, have different dietary restrictions, or accumulate items they don't want more of. Add a question asking what's changed since last year.
Should I include a wishlist section in the questionnaire?
A general "what would you like under [budget]?" question is fine, but avoid asking for specific product links or detailed wishlistsâthis removes the fun of Secret Santa. The goal is to provide guidance, not dictate exact purchases.
How do I handle dietary restrictions in the questionnaire?
Ask specifically about food allergies, dietary preferences (vegetarian, vegan), and any foods to avoid. Make this a required question since it's a safety issue. Even if your budget doesn't emphasize food gifts, scented items (candles, soaps) can also trigger allergies.
What's the best way to share questionnaire responses with gift-givers?
Email each person's responses individually to their assigned Secret Santa, or create a secure shared document where people can only see their match's info. Never post everyone's responses in a group email or public channelâthis compromises privacy and can reveal who has whom.
Related Articles
How to Organize a Secret Santa Gift Exchange
Complete guide to planning and running Secret Santa
Read articleVirtual Secret Santa for Remote Teams
How to organize online gift exchanges with questionnaires
Read articleSecret Santa Gifts for Coworkers
Use questionnaire insights for office-appropriate gifts
Read articleHow Does Secret Santa Work?
Understanding the basics before creating questionnaires
Read articleReady to Organize Your Secret Santa?
Now that you have the perfect questionnaire template, use our free Secret Santa generator to organize your exchange! Collect preferences, draw names, and share assignmentsâall in one place.
Start Your Secret Santa Exchange