A pile of wrapped gifts, a random order, and the right to take any gift that is already open. Here is how a Yankee Swap works and how to run one.
That is the same game as white elephant: our white elephant rules page has the full version and a printable sheet.
Three swaps and the gift locks is the classic. Two keeps a big office swap short.
Some hosts hand out numbers as guests arrive, so latecomers go last. A random draw once everyone is there is fairer; our number generator does it on one phone.
For a change, roll a die each turn instead of choosing: see the white elephant dice game.
Play White Elephant online, free
Run your Yankee Swap on phones: the order, every swap and every locked gift, on every screen. Free for up to 20.
Start a gift exchangeThree names for one game: Yankee Swap in New England, Dirty Santa in the South, white elephant across the rest of the US. Secret Santa is the different one, where you buy for one person: compare them on white elephant vs Secret Santa.
Something most people would be glad to take home: cozy, tasty, or useful with a bit of fun. Our white elephant gift ideas are sorted by price and by group, including gifts for work.
Everyone brings a wrapped gift and draws a number. Player 1 opens a gift. Each player after that opens a wrapped gift or takes an opened one, and anyone who loses a gift picks again. A gift locks after three swaps, and at the end player 1 may swap with anyone.
Nothing but the name. Yankee Swap is what New England calls the white elephant gift exchange. House rules differ from group to group, not by name.
Player 1 opens the first gift with nothing to choose from, so the final swap evens it out. It also gives the game a last twist.
Three is the usual limit. After the third swap the gift is locked with whoever has it.
Yes. Our free online version runs on everyone's phone with a TV view, for an office party, a family on a video call, or a remote team.
Questions or stuck? support@herdgamesonline.com