How to add exclusions
- Add all participants first. The exclusion menus list everyone you’ve entered.
- Open “Exclusions” (already open on this page). Choose a person, then the person they can’t draw.
- Keep “both ways” ticked for couples, so neither partner draws the other. Untick it for one-way rules.
- Tap “Add rule” and repeat for every pair. Rules appear in a list, and you can remove any of them with ×.
- Draw names. If your rules leave no possible draw, you’ll see a message explaining what to change.
Common exclusion rules
Couples and partners
The classic case. Partners usually buy for each other anyway, so Secret Santa is more fun when they draw someone else. Add one “both ways” rule per couple.
Parents and young kids
In family exchanges, a parent who draws their own child may end up buying the gift they were already going to buy. Excluding parent and child pairs spreads the gifts around the wider family.
Last year’s matches
Avoid repeats by adding a one-way rule for each giver and the person they had last year. It keeps the exchange fresh, especially in small groups.
Manager and team member
Some offices prefer that managers don’t buy for their direct reports, or the other way round, to avoid awkward gift expectations.
People who live together
Roommates or relatives in the same house can’t keep a secret for long. Excluding them from drawing each other keeps the surprise alive.
How many exclusions are too many?
Every rule removes options. In a group of 10, you can usually add several couple rules without any problem. Trouble starts when one person is excluded from almost everyone, or when the group is very small. A group of 4 made up of two couples still works, because each person can draw either member of the other couple. If the generator says no draw is possible, remove the rule that blocks the most people, or add one more participant.
The generator never “bends” a rule to make the draw work. Either every rule is respected, or it tells you. That’s different from pulling names out of a hat, where someone might draw their partner and the whole group has to start over.
Other ways to share the draw
Once names are drawn, send each person a private link by text message, WhatsApp or email, or print slips to hand out in person. Hosting a party game too? Try the White Elephant game.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Secret Santa exclusion?
An exclusion is a rule that stops one person from drawing another, for example a married couple, roommates, or two people who had each other last year.
What does “both ways” mean?
With “both ways” ticked, neither person can draw the other. Untick it for a one-way rule, for example if Anna shouldn’t buy for her boss but the boss may still draw Anna.
How many exclusions can I add?
As many as you like. The more rules you add, the fewer valid draws exist. If no valid draw is possible, the generator tells you instead of giving a broken result.
Why does it say my rules make a draw impossible?
Usually one person is excluded from almost everyone. For example, in a group of 4, if one person can’t draw 3 of the others, there is nobody left for them. Remove a rule or add more people.
Is the draw still random with exclusions?
Yes. Among all results that follow your rules, each one is equally likely. Nobody can predict or influence who they get.
Can I prevent last year’s matches?
Yes. Add a one-way rule for each pair from last year, such as “Ben can’t draw Carlos”, so nobody gets the same person twice in a row.