Even if you’ve finally mastered the art of finding the perfect gifts for everyone on our list, for the masses, sourcing the best white elephant gifts is a whole other story. You know, the holiday party game sometimes referred to as a Yankee Swap or a Dirty Santa that goes something like this: One person in your crew opens up the first untagged wrapped gift, and whoever’s turn it is next can decide whether they want to open a new gift or steal another person’s prize.
Funny gifts are abound in this game, but every once in a while you’ll come across something practical or useful (like a $10 Starbucks gift card you can snag last-minute on Amazon or a back massager)—the items everyone fights over, natch. Either way, most hosts keep the spending limit to under $25, but you can also opt for even cheaper gifts.
When it comes to scouting out your own addition to the pile of presents, it’s these very parameters that really put the pressure on. But we’re here to help. If the white elephant exchange is going down at your office this holiday season and you’re focusing on gifts for your bosses i.e., the most notoriously hard-to-shop-for folks), you can’t go wrong with stress balls, a cute craft gift like an adult coloring book, or a beauty Advent calendar. Playing with your friends? Don’t sleep on funny gifts that’ll bring on the nostalgia, like a tiny Bop It (remember those?). In short, you got this… as long as you shop our edit. And remember: The real goal of a White Elephant exchange is simply to have a blast and to walk away with something unexpected (even if you end up regifting it to your Secret Santa).
Our Top White Elephant Gift Picks:
- Best Under-$5 Gift: Soo’AE Unicorn Glow Hologram Mask, $4
- Best Under-$10 Gift: Nuanchu Stainless Steel Gua Sha, $8
- Best Under-$15 Gift: Avocado Huggers, $14
- Best Under $25: Ugg Ribbed Crew Socks, $18
- Most Unique Gift: iLikePar Cereal Bowl Candle, $23
- Most Thoughtful Gift: Benevolence LA Velvet Jewelry Organizer, $20
- Most Practical Gift: Geekey Multi-Tool, $23
- Best Gag Gift: From Crook to Cook by Snoop Dogg, $14
- Funniest: Raining Men Umbrella, $25
- Best Adults-Only: Talking Tables Prosecco Pong Set, $18
Psst: Looking for more ideas? Check out our roundups of the best gifts for men—including the best gifts for husbands and boyfriends, as well as the most superb gifts for women, one-year-olds, gifts for new moms, and presents for people who have everything.
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
