Updated October 14, 2026. Product prices and listed contents checked on this date; prices exclude engraving, tax and shipping.
Choose a gift card puzzle box by the opening experience and what you want to put inside. Cash Out shows the gift through a window. Secret Stash conceals the opening. Secret Lock Box offers sliding keys, and 3 Wheel Combo uses a supplied combination. Read the instructions and load the real gift before wrapping.
Giving cash or a gift card for Christmas
Cash Out, Secret Stash and Secret Lock Box take a standard gift card flat. In 3 Wheel Combo a card fits at an angle, and folded bills are the easier fit. If you want the box itself to say Christmas, the Snowflake Box ($59.95) is blue-stained maple with snowflakes engraved on the lid and sides, and its felt-lined inside holds a standard gift card, folded bills or a small keepsake. Every option is in our Gift Card & Money Puzzle Boxes collection.
When to order: to have the box in hand by Christmas Eve, order by Wednesday, December 16. Engraved or personalized boxes are made after you order, so get those in by Tuesday, December 15. Those dates are for delivery inside the United States; our holiday shipping cutoff dates page shows how we count them and what to do if you are already past one.
Which reveal would they enjoy?
They can see the prize
Cash Out shows the money or card through an acrylic window.
They inspect a closed box
Secret Stash asks them to find a concealed opening.
They move visible parts
Secret Lock Box has sliding keys; 3 Wheel Combo has wheels and a supplied code.
Compare the shortlist
Swipe the table to see all columns.
| Gift | Choose for | How hard | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Out | A visible money or card reveal | Approachable, usually a few moves | The displayed bill is play money |
| Secret Stash | A cherry box with a concealed opening | Easy, a couple of minutes once they spot the cue | The way in is hidden; keep the solution sheet |
| Secret Lock Box | Sliding keys to investigate | A real solve that takes patience | A card fits flat with little room to spare |
| 3 Wheel Combo | A wheel-and-code challenge | Usually five to ten minutes without the code | A gift card fits at an angle, not flat |
Visible gift reveal
Cash Out
Cash Out combines rubberwood and acrylic, with a clear window that shows the cash or gift card behind the opening mechanism. Watching someone investigate while the gift stays in view is part of the appeal.
For Christmas, a birthday or a graduation, a visible bill gives the recipient a reason to start investigating straight away. Read the instructions privately so you can help if they would rather get on with the celebration.
Before giving: Cash Out includes a play $20 bill, instructions and a solution sheet. Replace the play bill with your real gift before wrapping. The box is 4.6 x 3.6 x 1 inches and a US bill is 6.14 inches long, so fold bills before loading them.
Cash Out starts at $20.95.
Hidden gift reveal
Secret Stash
Creative Crafthouse makes Secret Stash in Hudson, Florida, with a cherry base and lid surrounding a concealed compartment. Secret Stash is rated Easy and gives the recipient the pleasure of discovering the way into an apparently closed box.
A folded note can make the reveal personal even when the main gift is a card. Write why you chose it, then test the note and card together before closing the box. The photograph shows one decorated lid; confirm the option if you want your own text.
Before giving: Secret Stash includes instructions and a solution sheet. Add your own cash, gift card or folded note. The felt-lined inside of the 4 x 4 x 4 inch box fits a standard plastic gift card, folded bills, a folded check or a small keepsake.
Secret Stash starts at $57.95.
Moving-part puzzle box
Secret Lock Box
Secret Lock Box has five sliding keys at each end, and all ten must be positioned correctly before the cover slides open. Choose Secret Lock Box for someone who enjoys investigating visible moving parts.
This one is a genuine solve. The recipient can see there is a mechanism, but finding the right position for all ten keys takes patience.
Before giving: Secret Lock Box includes instructions and a solution sheet. Keep the answer available for a hint. The inside is 3 3/8 x 2 1/8 x 2 1/8 inches, the same length and width as a standard gift card, so the card lies flat with almost no spare room. Take it out of any cardboard hanger and test the fit before wrapping.
Secret Lock Box starts at $28.75.
Combination reveal
3 Wheel Combo
Three wheels control the 3 Wheel Combo lid, using a combination supplied with the box.
Before wrapping 3 Wheel Combo, use the supplied code to load the gift. Keep that code with the instructions so you can offer help later.
Before giving: 3 Wheel Combo includes the unlock code, instructions and a solution sheet. The inside is 4.6 x 1.9 x 1.6 inches, narrower than a standard gift card is wide (2 1/8 inches), so a standard gift card goes in at an angle rather than flat. Folded bills are the easier fit.
3 Wheel Combo starts at $19.99.
Check the actual object you want to hide
A standard plastic gift card, its cardboard retail hanger and a card inside a presentation envelope are three different sizes. Removing retail packaging may change whether the gift fits. If you want to include jewelry, a key or another keepsake, compare the object itself rather than assuming every small item will fit.
External box measurements describe the object on the shelf. They do not establish interior clearance or the size of an opening. For an unusual item, ask us about the exact box before ordering. Avoid forcing a lid closed over a thick envelope.
A puzzle box is a gift container, not a safe. Use one for the reveal or everyday storage of an ordinary keepsake; do not treat an opening trick as theft protection.
Load it before wrapping
- Read the supplied opening and closing instructions privately.
- Remove the play bill from Cash Out if you are replacing it with real money. Test the card or folded note you plan to give.
- Close the box as its instructions direct. Check that you can reopen it before you finish wrapping.
- Keep the solution sheet and any supplied combination somewhere you can find them. Offer help when the recipient asks.
Engraving and direct delivery
Open the chosen box's product page to review its personalization location and option before writing a message. A photograph with decorative engraving shows that example, not the text that will automatically arrive.
If the parcel is going straight to the recipient, arrange the contents rather than assuming we will add a card, cash or personal note from the image. For a special packing request, contact us before placing the order. The engraving page explains the standard text service.
Questions before you choose
Which box is best for someone who wants an easy surprise?
Secret Stash is rated Easy. Choose it for finding the opening rather than a guaranteed finishing time.
Can I set the 3 Wheel Combo to a birthday or anniversary?
The 3 Wheel Combo code is preset and supplied. Do not buy it on the assumption that you can choose a different combination.
Do the boxes come with money?
Cash Out includes play money. Supply the actual cash, gift card or note yourself.
Can I reuse the box?
Follow the closing instructions to prepare another reveal. Once a recipient knows a fixed opening trick, the same mechanism is no longer a new puzzle for them.
More help choosing the gift
For other recipients, use our Puzzle and Game Gift Center. 5th Anniversary Wood Gifts: Shared Games and a Hidden Note. Christmas Puzzle Gifts for 2026: Seven Picks by Play Style.
