Secret Santa Gift Ideas 2026: 8 Glowing Gifts Under $20

October 29, 2026

Marquee letters A and D with a red heart between them on a wicker basket

Secret Santa is harder than it looks: a small budget, a name you drew from a hat and, often, someone you only know from meetings. A gift that lights up is a safe bet. It suits almost any desk, shelf or windowsill, it feels festive the moment it's switched on, and nobody ends up with another mug. Every gift here costs less than $20.

1. Their initial in lights

A marquee letter is personal without being too personal: the initial of their first name glows on a desk or a shelf all winter, and still looks good after Christmas. For a couple, choose the red heart or an ampersand, so they can put it between their own initials.

Marquee letters A and D with a red heart between them on a wicker basket

Shown: light-up marquee letters, A to Z plus “&” and a red heart, 22 cm tall, warm white, 2 × AA batteries per letter (not included).

2. Firecracker lights in a jar

Little bursts of warm light on a fine silver wire: drop them into a glass jar or a vase, tie a ribbon around the neck, and it's a lamp and a gift in one. The wire bends into any shape, so they can also go around a mirror or a shelf later.

Warm white firecracker fairy lights on silver wire, with the USB plug and the remote

Shown: firecracker fairy lights, 1.5 m with 50 LEDs or 6 m with 200 LEDs, warm white, USB with remote.

3. Photo clip lights for a bare wall

For the new colleague, the student far from home or anyone with an empty wall: string lights with clips for photos, cards and notes. Clip on two or three printed photos from the office party or a card with your Secret Santa clue, and it's ready to hang.

Christmas cards and notes clipped to warm white LED string lights on a wall

Shown: photo clip string lights, 2 m with 20 LEDs, 5 m with 50 or 10 m with 100, warm white, clips included, battery box for 3 × AA (not included).

4. A roll of ribbon lights

For someone with a small tree, a wreath or a staircase: a ribbon with LEDs sewn in, which they can wrap around whatever they like. It runs on a battery box, so it works where there's no socket. Gold or silver, and three colours of light.

Gold ribbon light on a roll with its battery box

Shown: Christmas ribbon lights, 5 m or 10 m, gold or silver ribbon with warm-white, cool-white or multicolor LEDs.

5. A tiny village house

For the person who loves small, cosy things: a painted house with snow on the roof and a warm light in the windows. It comes with its batteries, so it glows straight out of the box, and there are four to collect: Snowy Chapel, Timber Cottage, Brick Townhouse and Stone Cottage.

Two light-up Christmas village houses with snow on the roofs and wreaths on the doors

Shown: light-up Christmas village house, about 6 to 9 cm tall depending on the house, batteries included.

6. A Christmas projector

For a colleague with children: a little projector that turns their bedroom wall or ceiling into moving snowflakes, Santas, snowmen and reindeer. No ladder, no hooks: point it and plug it in.

Christmas projector lighting up a living room with a Christmas tree and a fireplace

Shown: Christmas light projector, 16 Christmas patterns that rotate, throws from about 1.5 m to 5 m, USB.

7. Mini disco balls for the party lover

For the one who's already planning New Year's Eve: a pack of real mirror disco balls, 5 cm each. They go on the tree first, then onto the party table, and every one throws little sparkles around the room as the lights flicker.

Mini mirror disco balls as party table decor next to small cakes

Shown: mini disco ball ornaments, pack of 10 balls, 5 cm each, with hanging strings.

8. A glowing 7 for the New Year's host

A small joke that really lights up: give whoever hosts New Year's Eve a marquee number 7, with a note saying “the 2, 0 and 2 are up to you”. It stands on a table or hangs from its hole on the back, and after the party it works for a birthday or a lucky number.

Light-up marquee number 7 glowing in warm white

Shown: light-up marquee numbers, 22 cm tall, warm white, 2 × AA batteries (not included).

Before you wrap it

Batteries: the letters and numbers take 2 × AA each, the photo clip lights 3 × AA, the ribbon lights AA batteries in their battery box and the firecracker remote a CR2025 coin cell. None are included, so add a pack of batteries to the gift. The village houses come with their button batteries. Keep coin and button cells out of reach of small children.
Sockets: the firecracker lights plug into a USB adapter, a power bank or a laptop, and the projector into a 5V/2A USB adapter, not a fast charger (adapters not included).
Glass: the mini disco balls have real glass mirror tiles, so they're not the right gift for a home with toddlers.
Indoors: the letters, numbers, photo clip lights, ribbon lights and firecracker lights are for indoor use.
Timing: orders leave our warehouse in 1 to 3 business days and arrive 7 to 12 business days later, with free tracked shipping. For a gift exchange in the week before Christmas, order by 25 November.
Returns: if the gift isn't right, unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery.