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Dirty Santa Gift Ideas Best For Christmas Party Games With Adults (Secret Santa Game, Pollyanna Gift Swap, White Elephant Gift Exchange, Yankee Swap)

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By Lynnette Walczak

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Dirty Santa Gifts That Everyone Likes

I’ve been invited to a Dirty Santa party again this year.

Not a Secret Santa party… but a Christmas party where they exchange Dirty Santa gifts!

A Dirty Santa game is different from a Secret Santa game in this way:

  • In a Secret Santa game, everyone draws names and then you buy a thoughtful gift specifically for one person while keeping your identity a secret.
  • In a Dirty Santa game, you bring a funny, memorable, or cheap gift to the Christmas party and everyone at the party has a chance to “steal” it from whoever selected that gift and unwrapped it.
A list of gift exchange games by name.

In fact, the Dirty Santa game actually goes by a bunch of different names.

Here are the “official” rules for various Christmas party games that each have a unique twist on the Dirty Santa game:

No matter what you call it… if you’ve been invited to one, then you’re probably looking for some fun,  cheap gift ideas.

Right?

I’ve attended a number of gift exchange Christmas parties, and I’ve been keeping a list of the best Dirty Santa gifts — for years now.

Today’s the day that I put them all into one big list here online — for myself and for others who are looking for Dirty Santa gift ideas.

How The Dirty Santa Gift Game Is Played

Here are the rules for how the Dirty Santa Game is played (it's a holiday gift exchange game typically played at work or with family members)

Everyone brings a wrapped gift (usually in a predetermined price range), places it in a pile, and draws a number. Whoever draws No. 1 selects a present to unwrap. No. 2 can then either choose another gift to unwrap or “steal” the first person’s present. The subsequent participants can either pick an unwrapped gift or steal any previous player’s gift. Anyone whose gift is stolen can do the same.

— Source

At a Dirty Santa Christmas party, the goal is to give & receive funny, strange, and unique gifts. Practical gifts that anyone could use are a good choice too. But the more that a gift is “stolen” and passed around, the better!

It’s completely up to you whether you decide to bring a gift that is “useful”… or one that is “completely tacky.” Either way, the aim is to have one of the most memorable gifts at the party.

The Best Dirty Santa Gifts For Friends & Co-workers

With that in mind, here are some clever Dirty Santa gift ideas that I’ve personally saved through the years after going to a number of HOG holiday parties (Harley Owners Group) and office Christmas parties at my various jobs.

A list of adult Dirty Santa gift ideas if you'll be doing a holiday gift exchange at work or a party.

Table of Contents / Quick Links:

Dirty Santa Gifts That Are Useful & Practical

  1. Amazon gift card – Almost everyone shops on Amazon these days, making this a very popular gift idea in the amount of your choosing.
  1. A $20 bill – Because every single person at the party can use cash! You don’t even have to package it creatively like this — just a $20 bill in an envelope will suffice.
  1. As Seen On TV products – You’ll find funny gift ideas as well as practical ones here. Remember Ronco‘s Mister Microphone and the Pocket Fisherman?
  1. Atomic fireballs candy – They’re too hot for many to handle. My motorcycle friends and I usually travel with handfuls of these in our pockets. (And Ferrara is my favorite brand to buy online.)
  1. Dream Journal – A guided place to record your dreams and reflect on them …because it’s cheaper, and less nosy, than a shrink! (Here’s another version that pushes the envelope a bit — only for people you know really well!)
  1. Eyeglass lens cleaning kit – You can never have too many of these! Even if the person who receives this gift doesn’t wear eyeglasses, chances are they probably wear sunglasses.
  1. iRing phone grip – I’ve used this exact cell phone holder (on my Android phone) for years & love it! So do the friends that I’ve gifted it to. And even more of my friends who’ve gotten one after seeing how well mine works while riding a motorcycle. Here’s my detailed review.
  1. Kitchen safe – For foods that are temporarily off-limits when you’re on a diet… I found this one when it was featured on Shark Tank. TIP: If you really want to create excitement for this gift at the party, put fresh baked cookies inside… or some other tasty treat! (Here’s a more affordable version.)
  1. Lens cleaning wipes – For cleaning eyeglasses, sunglasses, phones, tablets, TVs, and more.
  1. To Do Lists & Sticky Pads – Snarky notepads with an attitude! Many of these to-do lists are actually sticky note pads, so you can take your list with you wherever you go.
  1. Walmart and/or Target gift cards – These are the 2 most popular stores that everyone shops at.
  1. Wooden trinket box – “Live to ride, Ride to live” is perfect for motorcyclists. Or choose a theme that is better for your particular group.
  1. Funny Wine Glass – For the wine drinker… this wine glass has 3 pour lines: ‘Just a sip’… ‘Keep pouring’… and ‘Don’t judge me!’ There are lots of others you can choose from — and you can even personalize this one!
  1. WTF Is My Password? – An Internet password log book for those of us who are losing our minds, forgetful, or always misplacing passwords.

Funny Dirty Santa Gifts

  1. Chia Pet – In the shape of whatever is trendy this year!
  1. Dirty Word Search Book for adults – A fun gag gift.
  1. Emergency clown nose – Because you never know when you’ll need to be the life of the party!
  1. Hand sanitizer gag gift – Great for travelers… who have a sense of humor.
  1. Poo Pourri toilet spray – This is the bathroom air freshener that uses all-natural essential oils instead of chemicals. It always gets a good laugh at the parties I’ve been to.
  1. Talking toilet paper spindle – The best part is you can record your own message. And if you don’t believe me that this would be a great Dirty Santa gift, just check out the comments!
  1. The Clapper on/off switch — “Clap on. Clap off.” We actually have one of these and we use it all the time… because sometimes old school, low-tech gadgets do the job just fine!
  1. Harley-Davidson blanket – It’s queen size and comes in a few different patterns. Fun to take to outdoor events or display on a sofa.
  1. Toilet bowl night light – With motion sensor, so it’s not “on” all the time. This is perfect for someone who entertains a lot… or who gets up in the middle of the night to pee a lot!
  1. Unicorn farts – These tiny bites of cotton candy always get a good laugh at a party.
  1. Wooden sayings – I have so many of these in my home (and so do many of my friends). You can never have too many fun rustic signs with thought-provoking — or sarcastic — sayings!
  1. You’re Only Old Once – A book for “old” people by Dr. Seuss.
  1. Bathroom Guest Book – 112 pages with hilarious questions for your bathroom guests. Makes it possible for even verbally constipated friends to be effortlessly witty!

Good Dirty Santa Gifts For Men

  1. Bacon & Bourbon candle – Perfect for the “man cave.”
  1. Bacon Gift Set – Bacon air freshener, bacon-flavored toothpicks, bacon-shaped bandages, and bacon mints.
  1. Cheese puffs – A large container of cheese balls is always a hit at parties! I can’t tell you how many times a big jar of these has shown up at parties (and even at small venue music events here in Nashville — as a door prize).
  1. Dude Wipes – Flushable unscented disposable wet wipes for men… “for the face, hands, pits, and dude regions.” I originally saw these when they appeared on Shark Tank. Now they’re hugely popular and would make great Dirty Santa gifts!
  1. Get Sh*t Done mug – Who needs a checklist when you’ve got this mug? A fun gift for the diehard list-maker… or for someone who should be making lists.
  1. Jack Daniels alcohol spill mat – For the kitchen or the man cave. We have one of these on the counter in our kitchen at all times. I like it because it really does catch all the spills when pouring drinks.
  1. Lottery tickets – It’s fun to see if there’s a winner in the bunch right away! This one provides an immediate feel-good. I’ve given this gift several times at parties. If you don’t want to get real lottery tickets, then these gag lottery tickets are what you’re after. 
  1. Master Crapsman toilet spray for men – From the popular Poo Pourri company, this one is designed and packaged just for the guys!

  1. Moonshine – Local liquor stores will sell local flavors of moonshine in your area.
  1. Wooden carved eyeglass holder – I have 2 of these (one in the bedroom, one in the living room), and I’ve gifted another one. They’re a classy way to keep your glasses safe when you’re not wearing them! 

Dirty Santa Gift Ideas For Women

  1. Candleberry candle – Candleberry is the only brand of candles I buy anymore. The Hot Maple Toddy scent is my personal favorite.
  1. Cards Against Humanity game – For adults who like to party (and who have no boundaries), this game is a riot!
  1. Beach sand & shells holder – Fun for anyone who likes to travel! In addition to seashells, I always take a little bit of beach sand home with me too… and keep it on display like this. 
  1. Go Girl female urination device – Sounded crazy to me… until I did a little research and found that some of my outdoorsy & adventurous gal pals (and celebrity movie actresses) are actually using products like this. When you spend a lot of time outdoors, sometimes it’s just quicker & easier to pee standing up!
  1. Facial masks set – A set of 16 different types of face masks to give your skin a nice glow all year long. I’ve used these and they last forever. Multiple items in a set make great Dirty Santa gifts!
  1. Route 66 motorcycle puzzle – On every motorcyclist’s bucket list is to ride the historic Route 66! If they can’t get there in person yet, make it easy for them to get there in a puzzle… that’s suitable for framing.
  1. Light-up LED pasties – Hmmm… which ladies are going to be fighting over this one at the party?!
  1. Face Plant eyeglasses holder – This lovely little planter holds a houseplant, pair of glasses… and you can draw (or leave notes) on it! The perfect vase for succulents, cacti or your basic fern or small houseplant!
  1. Rosie the Riveter bandages – Girls ROCK. And tough girls RULE. The bandages say, “We can do it!”
  1. The Ultimate Snuggie for adults – Yes, I own this — for all of those cold nights sitting on the porch or around the fire pit. It’s a Sherpa blanket that you can wear 2 ways — with your front fully covered and open in the back (as pictured) or wrapped around your body like a regular wrap blanket!
  1. Zen as F*ck book – A journal for practicing the mindful art of not giving a sh*t… because snarky Dirty Santa gifts are the best!

The Bottom Line…

Only you know the type of people who will be at your party.

Fortunately, even if some of the above items might not seem appropriate for your group, many of the items listed here are universal gift ideas that just about everyone would be happy to receive!

If you’re not sure the type of people that will be at the Christmas party, then go the conservative route and choose something from the “useful and practical” list above.

Or just let the items I’ve listed here get your own creative juices flowing. Then, browse through Amazon and other unique gift sites yourself looking for clever Dirty Santa gift ideas. These are my personal favorites:

Dirty Santa gift ideas.

READ NEXT: 30 fun gift exchange ideas for your next holiday party + 10 rules of Secret Santa gift exchanges

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