Step-by-step instructions
Enter unique participant names
Use one distinct label per person. Similar names need initials or another unique identifier.
Agree on the exchange rules
Set the budget, deadline, and sharing method before drawing. Any exclusion requirements need a separate process.
Draw and share assignments privately
Select Draw gift pairings. Save the full result as organizer, then tell each giver only their own recipient.
Worked example
Six participants need a complete assignment in which each gives and receives one gift.
One valid result is shown below. Your generated outcome will vary.
Example input
Alex Jamie Morgan Taylor Sam Jordan
Example result
1. Alex → Taylor 2. Jamie → Alex 3. Morgan → Jamie 4. Taylor → Jordan 5. Sam → Morgan 6. Jordan → Sam
Every giver has a different recipient. Simply shuffling a recipient list without checking self-matches would not guarantee that rule.
The complete assignment matters more than individual picks
Drawing each recipient independently can give someone multiple gifts while leaving another person unassigned. This generator checks the entire mapping for self-assignments. Use unique labels, because two indistinguishable entries make it impossible to interpret who gives to whom. Budget, exclusions, and private distribution remain separate organizer tasks.
Settings and limits to check
The example has 6 retained entries. Each participant gives once and receives once, with no self-assignments. All assignments are visible on the organizer’s screen. The tool has no private reveal links, automatic emails, couple exclusions, or previous-year history. Reciprocal assignments are possible. It does not require an even number of people or force everyone into one single cycle.
Settings used in this example
Remove duplicate entries: Off
Keep a usable copy of the result
Use Copy to place the current result in your own notes, or Download to keep a text file. Keep the eligible input list with the result when you need to explain which entries took part. A new generation replaces the displayed result rather than adding to a saved history.
The tool runs in your browser and does not upload your input. Save the result before refreshing or leaving the page. If other people need to use the same outcome, share your saved copy rather than asking them to generate another independent result.
Frequently asked questions
Can two people be assigned to each other?
Yes. Reciprocal assignments are allowed. The tool only guarantees one giver and recipient per participant and no self-assignment.
Are recipients hidden from the organizer?
No. The full list appears on screen. The organizer must share each assignment privately.
Can I exclude couples or last year’s recipient?
There are no exclusion settings. Use a different process if those constraints are required.
What should I check in the worked example?
Every giver has a different recipient. Simply shuffling a recipient list without checking self-matches would not guarantee that rule.