Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Stationery Lovers, Under £20
Secret Santa has a reputation problem. Too often it's a novelty mug, a joke gift, or something bought in a five-minute panic on the way into the office party. But it doesn't have to be - a small, genuinely well-made item can be the gift that actually gets used, long after the tinsel comes down.
Here's a list of ideas that stay well within a typical Secret Santa budget, without looking like it.
Under £10
A notecard set. A pack of beautifully illustrated notecards is one of the most versatile small gifts there is - useful, good-looking, and something almost nobody buys for themselves. Browse our notecard sets.
A washi tape roll. Colourful, useful, and genuinely well-liked by almost anyone who has a desk, a planner, or a gift to wrap. Low cost, high charm. Browse our washi tape.
A set of postcards. Small, characterful, and the kind of thing that ends up pinned to a noticeboard or propped on a shelf rather than binned. Browse our postcards.
A single well-made pencil or pen. Sometimes the smallest, simplest gift is the one that gets used every single day. Browse our pencils and everyday pens.
Under £20
Ribbon. A little unexpected as a standalone Secret Santa gift, but genuinely well-received by anyone who wraps presents, crafts, or simply likes nice things around the house. Browse our ribbons.
A pack of scissors or a small desk accessory. Something with a bit of character - a distinctive shape or finish - reads as a proper gift rather than a stocking-filler afterthought. Browse Katie's Essential Edit for a curated small-gift selection.
A boxed set of assorted notecards. More generous than a single design, and works well for anyone who sends a lot of correspondence. Browse our full range under £20.
How to Pick the Right One
If you don't know them well: a notecard set or washi tape is the safest choice - broadly likeable, useful to almost anyone, and low-risk if their taste isn't obvious.
If they're known for being particular about stationery: lean into something a little more considered - a good pencil, or a set of ribbon in a colour that suits their desk setup.
If in doubt, go smaller and better rather than bigger and generic. A single genuinely nice item beats a bundle of forgettable ones every time.
The Most Important Thing
A good Secret Santa gift doesn't need to be expensive to feel considered. It just needs to be something the person will actually want to keep - not something that gets left in the office kitchen by January.
Browse our full range of gifts under £10 and under £20 - designed in our North London studio, plastic-free throughout. Katie Leamon is stocked at Liberty, Harrods and Fortnum & Mason. Free UK delivery on orders over £50.