Writing to Santa is one of the oldest Christmas traditions, and kids take it very seriously. A nice sheet of paper with holly on it makes the job feel official.
This free pack has printable letters to Santa and Father Christmas for every age: a fill-in letter for early writers, lined paper for older kids and a draw-your-wish page for toddlers. There is also a reply letter from Santa for parents, an envelope to cut and fold, and a Nice List certificate. All of it comes in one PDF.
What’s in the PDF
- Fill-in letter to Santa (ages 5–8)
- Lined “Dear Santa” letter (ages 7+)
- Draw-your-wish letter (ages 3–5)
- “Dear Father Christmas” letter
- Reply letter from Santa, for parents to fill in
- Envelope template to cut and fold
- Official Nice List certificate
The templates
Fill-in letter to Santa
The easiest one for kids who are just learning to write. They fill in their name, age and town, tick how good they have been, list three wishes and choose what to leave out on Christmas Eve: cookies, milk or carrots for the reindeer.
Lined “Dear Santa” letter
For confident writers, ages 7 and up. Thirteen lines leave room for a real letter: news from the year, questions for Santa or a promise for next year.
Draw-your-wish letter
Preschoolers can draw what they wish for inside the big frame. A grown-up can write their name and age underneath, or help them trace it.
Letter to Father Christmas
The same idea for children who write to Father Christmas. It has lined paper for the letter and a separate gold box at the bottom for the three things they would most like.
Reply letter from Santa
This one is for parents. Fill in the child’s name and a couple of details from their own letter, then leave it under the tree or by the empty cookie plate. Handwriting it in a different pen (or asking another adult to write it) keeps the magic going.
Envelope template
Cut it out, fold the flaps back and glue. The front measures 6 × 4.4 inches, which counts as a regular letter for the post, and a letter folded in four slides right in.
Nice List certificate
Write in the child’s name and the year, sign it as Santa and the Head Elf, and leave it out on Christmas morning. It also makes a nice reward at the end of a classroom kindness project.
Where to mail a letter to Santa
Kids can leave their letter by the fireplace, but the post offices in the US, UK and Canada also run real Santa letter programs. Rules and dates change each year, so check the official page before you mail.
- United States (USPS Operation Santa): mail it to Santa Claus, 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888 with a First-Class stamp. Include the child’s first and last name and your full return address. For 2026, letters need to be postmarked by December 5. Volunteers may “adopt” letters and send gifts, but not every letter is chosen.
- United Kingdom (Royal Mail): address it to Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ. Add a stamp and your full name and address so a reply can come back. Royal Mail sets a last posting date in early December.
- Canada (Canada Post): send it to Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0, Canada. No stamp is needed for letters mailed within Canada, but do include a return address. The deadline is usually in early December.
Tips for writing the letter
- Start with the year, not the list. Ask your child to share one thing they did well or learned this year before the wishes. The letter turns into a small keepsake.
- Keep the wish list short. Three wishes fit the fill-in page, and a short list is easier for Santa (and parents) to read.
- Write a draft first on scrap paper for kids who worry about mistakes, then copy it onto the nice page.
- Save a copy. Snap a photo before the letter goes in the envelope. Comparing letters from different years is a lot of fun later on.
Printing tips
Print at 100% (“Actual size”) on US Letter paper. On A4, choose “Fit to page”. Plain paper works for the letters; card stock is better for the envelope and the certificate. If you want to save ink, print the lined letter only; the decorations are small.
Need more room for wishes? The printable Christmas wish lists include a picture list for toddlers and a gift planner for parents. Looking for more Christmas printables? The Christmas gift tags go nicely with presents from “Santa”, the Christmas games fill a December afternoon, and the vintage Christmas printables have postcards and labels for crafts.
Questions
What should a child write in a letter to Santa?
A greeting, a few lines about their year, something kind they did, a short wish list and a thank-you. The fill-in template walks through these steps, which helps kids who don’t know where to start.
Is there a version for Father Christmas?
Yes. Page 5 says “Dear Father Christmas” and has a box for three wishes, so it fits UK and Irish families who write to Father Christmas rather than Santa.
Before you write the letter, make a list: this free printable Christmas wish list has 6 templates for kids and adults.
