72 ideas, by price

White Elephant Gift Ideas

The gifts that get stolen, the ones that make the room laugh, and the ones to leave at the shop. By price, for work, and for laughs.

A good white elephant gift does two jobs: it gets a laugh when it is opened, and someone still wants to steal it. Here are ideas by price and by group, all things you can find in a normal store. Agree your price limit first; most groups pick $20 to $25.

Gifts people fight over

Useful, a bit fun, and wanted by almost anyone. These get stolen.

  • A heated blanket or a big fleece throw
  • A cozy pair of slipper socks
  • A mini waffle maker
  • A set of good hot chocolate and a mug
  • A portable phone charger
  • A gift card to a coffee shop
  • A bluetooth speaker the size of a fist
  • A fancy olive oil and a loaf-shaped bread board
  • A desk plant that is very hard to kill
  • A board or card game for a group
  • A big bag of good snacks
  • Lottery scratch cards in a gift card holder

Gift ideas under $10

For a small price limit, a classroom, or a big group.

  • A novelty mug with a terrible pun
  • A pair of funny socks
  • A tiny succulent in a pot
  • A sampler of hot sauces or spices
  • A pocket card game
  • A scented candle
  • A fun-shaped ice cube tray
  • A lip balm and hand cream set
  • A sheet of temporary tattoos for adults
  • A puzzle book
  • A box of fancy tea
  • Fuzzy pens or a giant pencil

Play White Elephant online, free

Playing with a remote team? Everyone types the gift they will send, and the steals happen on everyone's phone.

Start a gift exchange

Gift ideas under $25

The most common price limit for offices and friend groups.

  • A soft throw blanket
  • A mini waffle or pancake maker
  • A set of insulated tumblers
  • A party card game for adults
  • A plug-in LED light strip
  • A personal blender bottle
  • A snack box from another country
  • A cast iron mini skillet
  • A desk organiser with a phone stand
  • A coffee shop gift card in a silly box
  • A cocktail or mocktail kit
  • A cozy beanie and gloves

Gift ideas under $50

For family exchanges and groups that go big.

  • A weighted blanket for one
  • A smart speaker or plug
  • A popcorn maker and fancy seasonings
  • A good chef's knife
  • Wireless earbuds from a budget brand
  • A fondue set
  • A heated mug that keeps coffee warm
  • A big jigsaw puzzle and a puzzle mat
  • A pizza stone and cutter
  • A massage gun from a budget brand
  • A set of cookbooks for one dish
  • A restaurant gift card

White elephant gifts for work

Safe to open in front of a manager, and useful at a desk.

  • A desk plant
  • A really good notebook and pen
  • A mug warmer
  • A small desk game, like a mini basketball hoop
  • A noise-cancelling sleep mask for the commute
  • A snack drawer restock box
  • A wireless charging pad
  • A funny, kind motivational desk sign
  • A tea or coffee sampler
  • A stress ball shaped like something silly
  • A cable organiser set
  • A water bottle that tracks how much you drink

Funny white elephant gifts

Laughs first, but still something someone wants to take home.

  • A toilet golf set
  • A grow-your-own-boyfriend (or girlfriend) toy
  • A giant gummy bear
  • A mug that says World's Okayest Coworker
  • A bacon-scented anything
  • Toast-shaped sticky notes
  • A desk-size punching bag
  • A chicken-shaped egg cup
  • A cookbook of absurd recipes
  • A pet rock with a name and a birth certificate
  • A bubble wrap calendar
  • Socks with your boss's face on them (only if your boss will laugh)

White elephant themes

A theme makes shopping easier and the pile funnier. Ten that work:

  • Something cozy
  • Something red or green
  • Best worst gift
  • Something you would use at your desk
  • Something under $10
  • Your favourite snack
  • A book you loved
  • Something homemade
  • Something from a dollar store
  • Something you already own (a regift)

Gifts to avoid

  • Anything you would not open in front of a grandparent or a boss.
  • Gift cards in a plain envelope: they get stolen but nobody laughs. Wrap them in a silly box.
  • Very personal things: perfume, clothes in a size, diet or skin products.
  • Real joke-only gifts with no use at all, in a group that set a real price limit.

Now play it

Gifts bought? Here are the white elephant rules, a number generator for the order, and a dice version for something different. Or play white elephant online on everyone's phone, free for up to 20 people.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good white elephant gift?

Something almost anyone would be happy to take home: cozy (a throw, slipper socks), tasty (good snacks, hot chocolate), or useful with a bit of fun (a mini waffle maker, a portable charger). Those get stolen most.

How much should you spend on a white elephant gift?

Stick to the price limit everyone agreed. $20 to $25 is the most common; offices and big mixed groups often use $10 to $15.

What are good white elephant gifts for work?

Things that are useful at a desk and safe to open in front of anyone: a desk plant, a mug warmer, a good notebook, a coffee sampler, a wireless charger. Skip anything rude or personal.

Is a gift card a good white elephant gift?

Yes, cards for coffee or food are stolen a lot. Wrap them in a big or silly box so opening it is still fun.

What if someone forgets to bring a gift?

Keep a spare or two. In our online white elephant game, anyone without a gift is given a funny surprise gift, so nobody sits out.

Questions or stuck? support@herdgamesonline.com