$10 Dirty Santa Gift Exchange Ideas

You’ve been invited to a Christmas party where there will be a $10 Dirty Santa Gift Exchange, and you’re looking for the perfect gift. The most wanted gift. The gift that is stolen so many times that it is frozen. After all, that’s what makes the Dirty Santa gift exchange so fun!

Although its name might suggest otherwise, the Dirty Santa Gift Exchange is a family-friendly game! It is called dirty because game participants steal gifts from each other in an attempt to end up with the best possible gift. Gifts for Dirty Santa are typically something fun, new, unique, and in good taste. Unlike the White Elephant gift exchange, Dirty Santa gifts are usually items the recipients will want and use.

If your party has a $10 spending limit, don’t worry. There are plenty of inexpensive gifts that will have everyone hoping to steal yours.

What Makes A Great Dirty Santa Gift?

The best Dirty Santa gifts usually have a few things in common. They are useful, funny without being offensive, great for men or women, and within the party’s set limit.

When you’re shopping, ask yourself one simple question. Would I steal this gift? If the answer is yes, you’ve probably found a winner.

In A Hurry? Here Are My Top Picks

• Adjustable Cell Phone Stand
• Reusable Shopping Bags
• Throw Blanket
• Flashlight Beanie
• Fabric Shaver
• Long Handle Shoe Horn

Practical Dirty Santa Gift Ideas

These practical $10 Dirty Santa gift ideas are the ones people actually end up fighting over because they’re surprisingly useful.

Adjustable Cell Phone Stand

How many of you reach for the salt shaker to try to prop your phone up while you eat lunch? This adjustable cell phone stand makes watching the latest TikTok videos less cumbersome while you eat! It’s one of those little gadgets people don’t realize they need until they have one.

Portable Phone Charger

We’ve all watched our battery percentage drop into the red when we’re nowhere near a charger. A portable phone charger is one of those things we never get around to buying. Put it in a Dirty Santa mix, and it’s sure to be a hit!

PopSocket Phone Grip

This neat little gadget attaches to the back of your phone to create a grip. The best part is you can use it to tilt your phone while you’re sitting at the table to eat your lunch (only if no one is eating with you, that’d be rude). No more using your mom’s glass pumpkin she made with her own two hands to prop up your phone … ahem … This is such a simple little thing but so useful!

Magnetic Wristband

Anyone who enjoys working in the garage or doing DIY projects will appreciate this magnetic wristband. Instead of climbing up and down the ladder looking for screws, they’re right on your wrist.

Portable Keychain Screwdrivers

Speaking of tools…

I can’t count how many times I’ve found our garage screwdrivers hiding in random kitchen drawers. My husband likes to keep one handy. I like them in the garage. These little Portable Keychain Screwdrivers might be the compromise we need.

Multi-Tool Keychain

This multi-tool keychain is small enough to carry with your keys and complex enough to use in many different instances, like when you need a bottle opener, a screwdriver, or a scraper. It’s one of those things you never thought you needed, until you did.

Reusable Shopping Bags

Shopping bags are practical and something almost everyone uses… if they remember to put them in the car before heading to the store. Choose a set that is sturdy and easy to carry.

Blue Q Coin Purse

You might think a coin purse wouldn’t be good for guys, but what if you paired a fun coin purse that says coffee money with a small coffee shop gift card? That’s a gift just about anyone would love! Even me, who could get an iced tea since I don’t drink coffee.

Wool Dryer Balls

For the health-conscious partygoers, these wool dryer balls will be a hit. Not only do they help to reduce static electricity, but they are good at fluffing, too. Plus, they kind of resemble snowballs, so a spontaneous indoor snowball fight might take place.

Fabric Shaver

When your couch fabric pills or your favorite sweater needs a little defuzzing, this fabric shaver is good for anyone to have on hand. It’s one of those things you can use but rarely go on a mission to purchase one. That’s what makes a gift worth stealing.

Mini Waffle Maker

If you catch one on sale, these are always a huge hit.

Milk Frother

It’s a whisk that allows you to froth milk for your coffee or hot chocolate. My daughter has one of these Milk Frothers, and she uses it quite often!

Bag Clips

Every kitchen needs bag clips to keep food from getting stale. Why not make them cute with these adorable little monsters?

Manicure Set

A manicure set is one of those things that you never take the time to buy yourself, but would love to have!

Long Handle Shoe Horn

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. Or maybe it’s because something like this came in a kit after my husband’s hip surgery. This long handle shoe horn is both funny and useful!

Cozy Gifts Everyone Loves

Throw Blanket

Throw blankets seem to be stolen every single year. Who doesn’t love curling up under a soft blanket on a cold winter evening? But it has to be big and fluffy, not the flimsy little blankets you see for a few dollars at the big box stores.

Burt’s Bees Gift Set

This super cute Burt’s Bees Gift Set has anything and everything Burt’s Bees! Anyone would love to have this set.

Knit Beanie

A warm winter hat is useful for just about everyone. If your crowd all roots for the same team, an NFL knit hat would be a huge hit!

Baseball Cap

This Camouflage Hat With Light Under Bill was one of the gifts that was stolen so many times at our party last year that it was frozen.

Flashlight Beanie

If you’re not into the baseball hat style, this Flashlight Beanie Cap will do the trick! Apparently, everyone likes hands-free lighting. Perfect for walking the dog, camping, or working outside after dark. I could see myself using it while working under the sink.

Games And Entertainment Gifts

Adult Coloring Book

Coloring isn’t just for kids. Coloring Books are extremely fun and relaxing! A great stress reliever, too. This coloring book offers a bunch of fun animal designs!

Puzzle Book

Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and brain teasers are perfect for relaxing evenings. I know my husband would go for this one!

Fun Card Games

There are plenty of competitive, entertaining card games that are under $10. One of my personal favorites is Phase 10. Warning: dangerously fun but competitive. Play at your own risk.

Rock Painting Kit

Rock painting! Nothing is more fun than a craft night. Painting rocks and letting your creativity flow is a great way to spend any free time. You can even leave your painted rocks around town to bring joy to others.

Color Changing Light Bulb

This color-changing light bulb gives you a fun way to set mood lighting and can serve as entertainment at your next party.

Gifts To Think Twice About

Although these gifts may work perfectly for the Dirty Santa Party you attend, they won’t work well for every Dirty Santa Party, so take pause and consider the people attending the party before you make these purchases. After all, the popular gift isn’t always the right gift.

The popular gift isn’t always the right gift.

Lottery Tickets

While many people would love a lottery ticket and the chance to win big, others may be averse to a gift that they consider gambling.

Alcohol

Some gift exchange parties may seem like nothing more than an exchange of alcohol. Please consider whether there will be underage attendees and keep in mind that the gift of alcohol could be bad for the person who is fighting alcoholism. Although alcohol is a popular Dirty Santa gift, it isn’t always the best choice because you never know who may be celebrating sobriety, pregnant, taking medication, or simply choosing not to drink.

Scented Items

They smell so good, and some party goers will love them, but for others they might trigger migraines, asthma, allergies, or sensitivities. That’s me! I try my best to avoid scented items, so when I won a car air freshener, guess where it ended up?

Food Items

Many people have food allergies or sensitivities, so gift baskets with nuts, dairy, or gluten could be an instant no for some guests. If you do want to gift food items, be sure the food is individually wrapped, shelf-stable, and has clear ingredient labels.

Political or Controversial Gifts

Mugs, hats, or shirts with political slogans or divisive messages are a great way to divide guests and bring down the mood. Just don’t go there.

Used Gifts

Many people think Dirty Santa is like White Elephant, where you can gift great grandma’s old wall clock. Unless your host specifies otherwise, plan on purchasing a new gift that is useful.

Homemade Items

This one breaks my heart a little because I’m all about crafting. However, not everyone will appreciate your style, and all that work will end up in the trash.

Where To Find $10 Dirty Santa Gifts

Some of my favorite places to find inexpensive Dirty Santa gifts include:

• Walmart
• Target
• Costco
• Amazon

I like to purchase gifts at these stores because they are easy to get to and have good return policies (some better than others).

How To Choose The Best $10 Dirty Santa Gift

Stick To The Party’s Budget

Don’t be the person who wraps a gift worth $100 just because you’re desperate to have the most stolen gift. That’s cheating and not fun for anyone.

Choose Gifts That Work For Men Or Women

This can be a challenging task, but I have full faith you can do it. Pete doesn’t want to take home the latest and greatest lipstick, and Aunt Sally won’t care to have a men’s wallet. Choose something that would work for anyone attending the party.

Pick Something Useful

You may not like it when your husband gives you a vacuum for Christmas, but Dirty Santa gifts should be something the recipient will like and use. The intent isn’t to gift the most awesome gift anyone could ever get. It’s a $10 gift exchange. Don’t put that kind of pressure on yourself. Just find something that just about anyone could use.

Avoid Controversial Gifts

There’s nothing that brings down the mood of an otherwise joyful party than grandma raising her eyebrows at the political message on your gift. You know she will say something about it, so just don’t do it.

Ask Yourself, Would I Steal This Gift?

If the gift you choose isn’t awesome enough that you would steal it yourself, it may not be the right gift. Think about things you use at home every day and can’t believe you ever lived without. That’s the gift you should give (if it’s in budget).

More Dirty Santa Gift Ideas

• Hopefully, you’ll find Dirty Santa Gift Ideas that would work for any budget here.
• These $10 Dirty Santa Gift Ideas for Teens are perfect for teenage Christmas parties!
• When the budget is a little bigger, check out these $25 Dirty Santa Gift Ideas.
• When you want to find the perfect gift that would work for males or females, these Gender Neutral Dirty Santa Gifts have you covered!

Dirty Santa Gift Exchange Printables

Frequently Asked Questions