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White elephant gift ideas
worth stealing.

A good white elephant gift is something almost anyone in the room would be happy to take home, with a bit of fun to it: a party game, a clever gadget, a good tumbler or a gourmet treat. Spend close to your group's limit. Below are ideas under $25 and under $50, plus funny gifts that still get stolen.

White elephant gifts under $25

Ideas like party games, desk gadgets and small building sets.

All ideas under $25

White elephant gifts under $50

Room for speakers, bigger sets and mini arcade games.

All ideas under $50

Funny gifts worth stealing

Funny when it's unwrapped, and still worth stealing.

All funny gift ideas

Funny white elephant gifts people actually keep

A pure gag gets one laugh and then gets left on the table. The funny gifts that get stolen are useful or fun to keep, too. A few kinds that work:

  • A party game with a ridiculous premise. It gets a laugh when it's unwrapped, and the group can play it before the party ends.
  • A mug or tumbler with a dry joke on it. Funny on the desk, and it still gets used every morning.
  • An oversized version of a normal treat. A giant candy bar or a huge bag of a favorite snack is silly to unwrap and easy to share on the spot.
  • A desk toy that does one silly thing. A tiny basketball hoop, a stress toy or a mini punching bag gives a whole office something to fidget with.
  • A wearable blanket or novelty slippers. Everyone laughs, someone tries it on, and then three people want to steal it.
  • A real gift in a joke box. Pack something good inside a box for something absurd. The gag is the packaging, and the gift still gets fought over.

Skip anything crude at an office party, gags that only work once, and jokes aimed at one person in the room.

List updated . We start with what people are adding to their GiftList lists, plus our team's picks, then narrow it down to your budget. Stores set the prices, and they change often. We may earn a commission if you buy through these links.

How to bring a gift people steal

  • Buy for the whole room. Anyone could end up with it, so pick something most people would be happy to take home.
  • Funny is good. Useless isn't. A game or gadget people laugh at and then actually use tends to get stolen more than a pure gag.
  • Wrap it well. Until it's opened, the wrapping is all anyone has to go on.
  • Stay near the limit. Gifts get compared side by side, so sticking close to the agreed amount keeps the game fair.

White elephant,
answered.

More questions? See all FAQs

What should you not bring to a white elephant?
Skip anything crude or risqué at an office party, food that needs a fridge, gags that only work once and jokes aimed at one person in the room. Regifted clutter rarely gets stolen either.
What are good funny white elephant gifts?
Funny gifts that are also useful: a ridiculous party game, a mug with a dry joke, an oversized snack, a silly desk toy or a wearable blanket. Or wrap a real gift in a joke box.
How does a white elephant gift exchange work?
Everyone brings one wrapped gift and draws a number. On your turn, you either open a new gift or steal one that's already been opened. Most groups cap how many times a gift can be stolen, and don't let you steal a gift straight back.
Is white elephant the same as a Yankee swap or Dirty Santa?
They're different names for the same steal-and-swap game. Some groups, often under the Yankee swap name, play it so a person whose gift is stolen opens a new one instead of stealing back. Agree on the rules before you start. The gift advice here works for all three.
Does GiftList run white elephant exchanges?
No. GiftList does not host white elephant swaps. You play in person or on a video call, and our free gift exchange rules generator helps you agree the rules before you start.

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