The white elephant gift exchange is one of the more unpredictable gift-giving traditions—a game that thrives on spontaneity, strategy and a healthy dose of festive chaos. Unlike Secret Santa, you have no idea where your gift will end up, which means you have to hunt for a single product that appeals to people of different ages and circumstances. If you’re the kind of person who knows exactly what to get everyone on your list, the relative lawlessness of white elephant can feel a bit intimidating.
We’ve put together a helpful guide to the basic rules of the game, as well as a list of white elephant gifts to inspire you, whether you’re aiming for something practical, quirky or simply within budget.
How to play the white elephant game
What is white elephant? What is an elephant gift? Though its rules can vary, depending on where you live and how you choose to play, the white elephant game usually requires participants to bring a single, wrapped gift to a gathering, their white elephant gift. Then, everyone draws a number, and the person with number one gets to choose the first gift from the pile and unwrap it for everyone to see. The person with number two chooses to steal the first gift or pick their own wrapped gift. If they steal, person number one chooses another wrapped gift to open. Number three can choose to steal any unwrapped gift or pick a new gift from the pile. The game continues until everyone gets a present.
The rules of white elephant are usually determined by the organizer, which means you could have to stay within a certain budget or focus on a particular type of gift. You might be asked to choose gifts that are practical, silly, outrageous or on theme. Whatever the rules, the best white elephant gift is one that appeals to everyone, no matter who unwraps it.
White elephant vs. dirty santa vs. secret santa
There’s no official body presiding over naming conventions and rules for gift exchanges (though that would be a pretty fun gig!), which means people have different variations on a single style of game.
Whether you call it “white elephant” ‘or “dirty santa” or “yankee swap” usually depends on where you live. While they’re often used interchangeably, others make slight distinctions between the terms.
For example, some people refer to “dirty santa” as a version of white elephant that encourages multiple rounds of stealing, while “yankee swap” is often used in New England in the US (you might have seen it in The Office, which takes place in Scranton, Pennsylvania).
“Secret Santa” is a different game altogether, one in which participants in a group are randomly assigned another person to buy a gift for. You don’t know who your gift is from until you open it.
Origins of white elephant gifts
Outside the festive party context, the term “white elephant” is used more broadly to refer to a gift that you don’t want because it’s annoying, large or expensive to maintain. Legend has it that the expression comes from Thailand where kings would gift white elephants to people they wanted to bankrupt. But historians have disputed this as myth, saying white elephants were sacred and unlikely to be considered a burden.
31 white elephant gift ideas
Looking for white elephant gift ideas that could appeal to everyone from your mother-in-law to your nephew? Not sure where to start? We’ve scoured the internet for useful, funny, creative, memorable and budget-friendly products that’ll help you share the holiday spirit—no matter who ends up with your present.
White elephant gift ideas $10 and under
Finger phone strap
Source: Finger phone strap via VistaPrint.
This colorful strap is a handy gift for anyone who needs extra help holding onto their smartphone (that includes a lot of people, we’d wager). You can personalize it with your city or company name, and it folds flat when you’re not using it.
Power Mist hydrating hand sanitizer
Who knew sanitizers could look so stylish? The Power Mist hydrating hand sanitizer releases its germ-fighting power as a fine mist, and it comes in a range of lovely colors and scents. Everyone uses hand sanitizer, so this makes a great gift for your white elephant game.
LUSH shower jelly
A wiggly, wobbly gift that works for everyone who uses soap (and hopefully, that’s everyone!), but especially for someone who loves a spa moment with an unexpected twist. This shower jelly in “Twilight” smells like calming lavender and lathers just like soap.
Ramen noodles
A box of ramen noodles isn’t the most luxurious gift on this list, but you’ll get points with anyone who appreciates a nostalgic, comforting classic. As any college kid or kitchen novice knows, there’s nothing like a meal you can make in a few minutes.
White elephant gift ideas $20 and under
Multi-ccino mug
Source: Glass mug via MoMA Design Store
A glass mug for people who love their coffee but aren’t quite sure how to make it. It comes with text on the outside that shows you how much espresso, milk or water you need for your favorite brew. And if the person who unwraps this happens to not like coffee, someone who does will certainly want to steal this!
Wireless karaoke microphone
Source: Karaoke microphone via Amazon
This wireless karaoke microphone can be used as a microphone, speaker, loudspeaker and recorder, which means you can host karaoke parties at home or belt out your favorite ballad whenever the mood strikes you.
Microwavable popcorn popper
Source: Popcorn popper via Amazon
Take movie nights to another level with a microwavable popcorn popper made of dishwasher-safe borosilicate glass. It takes three minutes to pop kernels—no butter or oil needed (though welcome, if you fancy!).
Crab spoon holder and steam releaser
Need an extra claw in the kitchen? A novelty non-slip, heat-resistant silicone spoon rest can hold spoons, tongs and other kitchen utensils while you cook. It doubles as a steam releaser, too, with legs that will grip the edge of your pot or bowl.
Cowboy boot photo holder
Source: Cowboy boot photo holder via Urban Outfitters
Add a little yeehaw to someone’s decor with this fun, kitschy cowboy boot-shaped photo stand, designed to display your favorite photos and personalize your space.
White elephant gift ideas $25 and under
Custom insulated drink bottle
Source: Drink bottle via VistaPrint
An insulated, stainless steel water bottle that keeps your coffee hot and your water cold. It’s a practical gift you can personalize to the particular interests of the people involved in the white elephant game. Adorn it with a cycling slogan for your mountain biking group or an inside joke for your best friends.
Custom travel mug
Source: Travel mug via VistaPrint
Need a white elephant gift for a group of coffee-lovers who are always on the go? These portable stainless steel mugs come in five color options, and they can be personalized with a slogan or image of your choosing.
Collectable sticker book
Source: “Sticker Bomb” book via Urban Outfitters
White elephant game-players will get sticker-shock—in a good way— when they unwrap this collectable coffee table book celebrating all things sticker design. It comes with 300 peelable stickers specially commissioned by artists and illustrators around the world.
13. Daisy toilet brush
Source: Daisy toilet brush via Urban Outfitters
This daisy-shaped toilet brush and holder set won’t make anything smell as fresh as a daisy, but it will keep your toilet clean and your bathroom looking cute.
White elephant gift ideas $50 and under
Massage gun
Source: Massage gun via Amazon
Playing the white elephant game with a lot of desk-workers, stressed-out parents or athletes? Give one of them the gift of relaxation with a portable massage gun, which comes with 30-speed levels and nine massage heads. This’ll be a popular one.
Gift wrap book
Source: Gift wrap book via Papier
Gift wrap books are a much more compact way of storing wrapping paper (as opposed to keeping those long tubes around your home), and this one comes with 10 fun, year-round prints to choose from, as well as 18 gift tags.
Custom 500-piece puzzle
Caption: Custom puzzle via Vistaprint
Turn any design or image into a one-of-a-kind gift with a custom puzzle. To make it relevant to everyone at the white elephant gift exchange, create a puzzle that showcases something the group loves, like your favorite meme, movie still or a map of the city.
S’mores maker
Source: S’mores maker via Williams Sonoma
S’mores are one of life’s greatest pleasures, so why should we have to wait to eat them when we’re camping? Fire up this portable roaster instead. It comes with four roasting sticks and a ceramic tray.
Double-layer bento box
Source: Bento boxes via Amazon
Lunch from home doesn’t have to be boring! Help people ditch single-use containers with a double-layer bento box. This one makes it easy for you to package your food into neat, accessible compartments.
Easy white elephant gifts
Disposable camera
Source: Kodak camera via Amazon
Disposable film cameras have gone from an outdated technology to a delightfully nostalgic one, the kind of product everyone loves to mess around with at weddings and other events. Your gift recipient will love the old-timey feel of pressing that shutter button and waiting to see how their photos come out.
Book of the Month gift subscription
Source: Via Book of the Month
Subscriptions—to magazines, streaming platforms or gift boxes—make super-easy white elephant gifts for those who’ve waited until the absolute last minute. Share your love of reading with a Book of the Month subscription, which mails out a curated selection of new-release hardcovers and audiobooks every month.
Custom mug
Source: Mugs via VistaPrint
Print funny images, heartwarming memories or silly jokes on a custom mug. It’s a fast, easy gift, and there’s always someone at your white elephant game who could use an extra one!
An old DVD, VHS or cassette tape
Source: DVD via Madman
Got a stack of DVDs or VHS tapes sitting around your home or on sale for cheap at your local secondhand store? Pick up a classic, funny, weird or unusual title to bring to a white elephant gift exchange. Physical media is making a comeback, and you never know who will be interested in your VHS copy of Muppet Treasure Island.
Useful white elephant gifts
Packing cubes
Source: Packing cubes via Baggu
Though it’s not often something you’d think to buy for yourself, you’d be grateful to have these on-hand when packing for your next trip. Baggu’s packing cube sets, which come in several sizes and colorways, keep your travel essentials tidy and easily accessible.
Custom wireless charging pad
Source: Wireless charging pad via VistaPrint
It feels like we’re never near a phone charger when we want to be, and this customizable wireless charging pad can help! It can be left on the sofa, on a work desk or anywhere a smartphone needs a boost.
Rechargeable book light
Source: Glocusent rechargeable book light via Amazon
Three cheers for reading in bed without bothering the person next to you with an overly bright bedside table lamp! Encourage bedside reading etiquette with this rechargeable booklight, which comes with different strengths to reduce eye strain and a rotating clamp for easy positioning.
Spectator Cooler Chair
Source: Cooler chair via VistaPrint
Know a bunch of outdoorsy types or sports fans who would appreciate a seat and a cold beverage—or two or three? This customizable spectator cooler chair comes with an attached bottle opener and space for 32 cans.
Funny or quirky white elephant gift ideas
Sound machine
Source: Sound machine via Barnes and Noble
This pocket-sized sound machine may be giving someone you know too much power to create unexpected and confusing noises, like applause or whistling or impolite bodily functions. But it’s goofy, and they’ll love it. Heading to white elephant party at your office? Consider the corporate jargon version, which spouts phrases like “Let’s take this offline” and “I’m at capacity!”
Sassy storage canister
Source: Sassy storage canister via Uncommon Goods
There’s nothing like disapproval from inanimate objects. These hand-poured, kiln-fired ceramic storage canisters will hold snacks or other kitchen food items, but they’ll have a lot of attitude about it.
Nacho-saurus snack and dip set
Source: Nacho-saurus snack and dip set via Uncommon Goods
You know when you’re so hungry for a snack it feels like you’re on the brink of extinction? This dinosaur snack-and-dip set perfectly encapsulates that sensation, which makes it a fitting vessel for your chips and guac.
Godzilla coin bank
Source: Godzilla coin bank via MoMA Design Store
Plenty of people have spare coins hanging around in a random bowl or jar, so this monster flick-themed coin bank is a universally appealing upgrade. Place a coin on the top of the box, then watch Godzilla’s hand pop out to snatch your change away.
Cardboard cut-out of your favorite celebrity
Source: Keanu Reeves cardboard cut-out via Celebrity Cutouts
If you’re of the school of thought that a white elephant gift should be silly, cumbersome and useless, a life-size cardboard cut-out will fit the bill. Celebrity Cutouts specializes in life-size depictions of everyone from actor Danny DeVito to Andy Warhol.
Conclusion
We hope we’ve helped you find or brainstorm ideas for the perfect white elephant gift, whether you’re aiming for a quirky novelty item, useful gadget or something as random as that VHS tape gathering dust on your shelf. Remember, white elephant gifts are all about striking a tone that suits your gathering, so try to work out where yours will sit on the spectrum between practical and goofy, and have a great time celebrating!
