White Elephant gift exchanges are severely underrated if you ask me. Not only is it a total blast to watch your tipsy friends and family members fight over the best White Elephant gifts, but it saves you from having to buy a gift for every person on your list. The holiday season is expensive enough, so gift exchanges like these are where it’s at IMO. Although it might sound similar, don’t get White Elephant confused with Secret Santa, where you choose gifts specifically for one particular recipient. This isn’t your average gift exchange, but if you’re looking to add some zest to your holiday get-together, it’s the perfect solution.
How a White Elephant Gift Exchange Works
In a White Elephant gift exchange, each person places one wrapped gift in the center of the room. To keep things fair, the organizer will often set a price limit, or you could choose a theme for the gifts to make it extra fun. Then, have everyone draw a number to determine the order they will go in. The game starts when the first person chooses a gift from the pile and opens it. As the game progresses, players can either choose a gift from the center of the room or steal a gift from someone who has already opened one. Anyone who gets their gift stolen has the opportunity to steal from someone else or pick a brand-new gift. Sounds fun, right?
With any White Elephant gift exchange, the trickiest part is choosing a gift that could work for anyone in the room. If you’re struggling to find that crowd-pleasing gift everyone will want to steal, keep reading for the best assortment of White Elephant gifts—all of which won’t cost you more than $25.
The Best White Elephant Gifts Under $25
CVS | Kitsch
Who knew achieving gorgeous locks could be so easy? This heatless curling set helps to create effortless yet polished curls or waves. The best part? The satin construction keeps hair frizz-free and prevents breakage. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t snatch this gift up!
e.l.f. Cosmetics
An entire skincare routine for under $25? It’s not too good to be true. Whether they’re a jet setter or just are trying to beat the all-dreaded winter dryness like the rest of us, this kit will catch everyone’s eye. Use code EVERYGIRL20 to get 20% off $45+ from now until 12/31!
Amazon
This is one game you’ll want to break out as soon as your gift exchange is over. Great for a group of family or friends that know each other well, it entails voting on superlatives like “who’s most likely to get a ticket for driving too slow” or “who would win a hot dog eating contest.” It’s a staple for any board game collection.
Amazon | Sok It
Hate when your $7 latte starts to condensate absolutely everywhere? This neoprene insulated sock solves that problem instantly. It’s available in multiple colors and sizes, and with over 26k reviews, it’s clear everyone loves it.
Amazon
This cute, compact waffle maker makes a fun gift that’ll fit in anyone’s kitchen. With a 4-inch-wide nonstick cooking surface, it’s perfect for single-serving portions.
Amazon
For the board aficionado or the charcuterie newbie, this deck of cards offers 50 creative ideas for styling and presenting food platters for any occasion. What’s more, the boards range from budget-friendly to fancy.
Amazon
This sticky ball is designed to roll around inside your bags, picking up dust, dirt, and crumbs. It’s small, practical, and reusable, making it a great gift for even the pickiest White Elephant participants.
Amazon
Quite possibly the it-item of the year, everyone will want this suction phone mount that makes taking videos and photos seamless. Choose from over 10 colors and then sit back and relax while you watch everyone fight over this gift.
Amazon
Cozy socks are something everyone can appreciate, and these are some of the softest socks out there. The one-size-fits-all design works for shoe sizes 5-9, so you’re covered no matter who opens them.
Amazon
Single-use microwave popcorn bags are a thing of the past thanks to this silicone popper bowl. It pops up to 4 cups of fluffy popcorn with no oil needed, then collapses flat for easy storage.
Amazon
Say goodbye to that clunky corkscrew. This electric wine opener uncorks bottles in seconds with the simple push of a button. It can open up to 30 bottles in a single charge and comes with a foil cutter for easily removing seals.
Amazon
Once you try a candle warmer lamp, you’ll never go back to lighting candles the old-fashioned way. The warmth from the lightbulb gently melts the wax, safely releasing the fragrance without an open flame and making candles last way longer. This one has dimming capabilities and timer settings for extra convenience.
Amazon
This game takes truth or dare to the next level, making it perfect for a wild Friday night. The truth cards are so juicy, you’ll be reaching for the fiery hot sauce just to avoid spilling your secrets.
Amazon
A label maker is the ultimate “I never knew I needed this, but now I can’t live without it” gift. It’s the perfect tool to help them get effortlessly organized for the new year.
Amazon
Everyone—yes, everyone—needs an Apple AirTag in their life. It’s the ultimate white elephant gift that’s guaranteed to spark a frenzy of stealing and swapping.
Target
Snapping photos on your phone just isn’t the same as having them printed out in front of you. This one-time-use camera comes pre-loaded with color film so you can easily capture memories in the moment and keep them forever.
Amazon
It’s cozy season, which means a fuzzy blanket is always a must. This gorgeous throw comes in tons of colors, is two-sided, and looks way more expensive than it is. That’s a winning gift in my book!
Amazon
If you’re in a room full of beauty-lovers, this is definitely the gift to bring. This set comes with a dry brush for your body and one for your face too, so it really can provide the ultimate pampering experience from head to toe.
Amazon
Anyone who commutes or travels often will be fighting over this organizing case. With multiple zippered compartments and tons of interior mesh pockets, it can fit all the cords, cables, and other tech accessories you could possibly need on the go.
Amazon
File this under problem-solving products you didn’t know existed. The next time you need to use half a fruit or vegetable and stash the rest in the fridge, grab one of these reusable silicone sleeves. They stretch over the cut side to create an airtight seal that helps prevent browning and keeps food fresher longer.
Amazon
Whether you know a few hobby mixologists or craft cocktail connoisseurs, this gift will be a crowd-pleaser. This set comes with a cocktail shaker with a built-in strainer, a bar spoon, and a jigger, so making cocktails at home (or after your White Elephant round!) is easy and fun.
Amazon
There’s nothing worse than ending up with a gift you’ll never use. Whoever ends up with this sticker book will be forever thankful you brought something both practical and beautiful. It includes 24 sheets of stickers that will help them plan everything from appointments and deadlines to birthdays and more.
Amazon
Anyone who likes to read at night will appreciate this wearable reading light. It slips around your neck to provide hands-free lighting at the perfect angle for reading in bed, on planes, and beyond.
Amazon
There is something about pebble ice that just hits different. This under-$15 tray makes over 100 mini ice cubes so that every drink from diet coke to tequila soda tastes extra crispy. If I’m at your gift exchange, this is the gift I’m eying!
Amazon
This tiny vacuum cleaner is the desk essential they didn’t know they needed. It’s compact, easy-to-use, and perfect for those hard-to-reach messes around your workspace.
Amazon
This tumbler comes in a variety of gorgeous colors and is designed to fit seamlessly into any cupholder.
Amazon
Say goodbye to being stuck next to an outlet with this extra-long iPhone cord—it’s a total game-changer. Perfect for charging from the comfort of your couch, bed, or anywhere else you want to roam.
Amazon
This all-in-one sushi-making kit basically counts as an experience gift. It comes with everything you need to roll your own sushi at home, including a sushi knife, bamboo rolling mats, a rice paddle and spreader, an avocado slicer, and even a sushi bazooka that helps you push out the perfect roll.
Amazon | Alyssa Brantley
Solve the great “what should I make for dinner?” debate with this cookbook. It features 100 easy and delicious recipes, all of which require no more than 15 minutes of meal prep—perfect for nights when you just can’t be bothered to cook.
Amazon
This sleek, compact jewelry organizer looks so luxurious, no one will believe it’s under $25. It keeps necklaces tangle-free and ensures your earrings and rings stay perfectly organized and secure.
Amazon
A rechargeable lighter is one of those handy gadgets you won’t want to live without once you’ve tried one. It’s fueled by electricity instead of chemicals, so it never runs out, there’s no smell, and it even works in windy conditions.
Target
Sometimes you just need a glass of wine in the bath (or the shower), and I think everyone knows that feeling well. This gift screams relaxation so it is sure to be stolen from the original gift-opener.
Target
Although it looks exactly like the real thing, this almond croissant-shaped candle is for lighting, not eating. It’s the kind of thing that will make your friends do a double-take when they spot it on your shelf.
Amazon
For those around the White Elephant circle who prefer a cold seltzer to a hot coffee, this slim can insulator will be a highly sought-after gift. The insulation keeps your drink super-cold while keeping your hands dry, and it fits most 12-ounce slim cans.
Amazon
This handy screen cleaner is perfect for anyone who’s glued to their phone. About the size of a tube of lipstick, it features a microfiber exterior with spray cleaner housed inside, so you can easily spray and wipe any screen clean.
Amazon
This is one of those White Elephant gifts that might sound silly, but it actually has a practical real-life purpose. With holes to portion out from one to four servings of spaghetti, this kitchen tool ensures you’ll always make the perfect amount of pasta.
Amazon
The irresistible scent of this spray will turn cleaning into an unexpectedly enjoyable experience for any recipient.
Amazon
Featuring 50 holiday-inspired cocktail recipes, this card deck is all the inspiration they need for a festive at-home happy hour. The pretty packaging will have everyone fighting over it for their own bar cart.
Amazon
A foldable tripod that takes up less space than an umbrella and has a remote? Yes please! Whoever ends up with this gift is in charge of taking the group picture at the end of the night!
Amazon
With its miniature size and vintage radio-inspired design, this might just be the cutest Bluetooth speaker we’ve ever seen. It can fit in the palm of your hand, which makes it easily portable, and lasts for up to six hours of playtime on a single charge.
Amazon
Anyone who travels frequently or has trouble sleeping will want to snatch this gift up right away. Featuring built-in Bluetooth capabilities, this sleep mask makes it easy to block out both light and sound while listening to your favorite tunes or white noise. Plus, the comfortable design is way more conducive to sleeping than headphones.
Amazon
This sleek and compact pill organizer is a game-changer for anyone who loves to stay prepared. With the convenient folding compartments, it’s perfect for keeping a variety of medications, vitamins, or supplements organized and easy to access.
Amazon
This puzzle set includes seven different designs, all featuring colorful gradients that are oh-so-calming to look at. Made up of 70 pieces each, these mini puzzles are perfect for a quick brain break and easy enough for non-puzzle-enthusiasts to enjoy, too.
Amazon
This mug warmer from Amazon will keep your coffee at the perfect temperature all day long. The universal design works with most types of mugs, and the one-touch button makes it super easy to use.
Amazon
Once you have a pill organizer like this one, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it, which is why it makes the perfect gift. Each pill case is compact while still having enough capacity for 14 capsules. Since it’s ultra-portable and convenient, everyone will love this gift.
Amazon
A meat thermometer is the perfect mix of practical and fun for a white elephant gift exchange. Whether they’re a seasoned grill master or just trying to avoid overcooking chicken, this gadget will have everyone eyeing it for their next meal masterpiece.
Shop All of The Everygirl’s Holiday Gift Guides
Why You Can Count on Us
The Everygirl Media Group has published our beloved gift guides for 12+ years. Whether you’re shopping for a gift for your work wife, an insanely cool cousin, or your significant other’s dad (why are dads so hard?!), we have an idea they’ll love. The Everygirl editorial team is well-versed in sifting through thousands of products to curate a digestible and affordable list for you. We combine our own experience with in-depth research to bring you a selection that meets our high standards for both fashion and function.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hailey Bouche, Associate Editor
As an Associate Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Bouche oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. From the pitching stage through publishing, she works alongside the team to ensure that the content that our readers see every day is inspiring, relatable, and timely.
This post contains a sponsored inclusion of CVS, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.