50+ white elephant ideas: Party themes, gift ideas and more

If you’re looking for new white elephant ideas, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re hosting a party or looking for gift ideas, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here. We’ve gathered our best tips and tricks for white elephant hosts and guests to maximize your joy and minimize your stress this holiday season.
This isn’t your average white elephant party, either. Make your celebration more original, more memorable and more personal with unique party themes and gifts to fit any mood and budget. With some inspiration and a little planning, your white elephant party or gift will be the talk of the town.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.
White Elephant Party Ideas
Put your own spin on the classic holiday get-together with unique rules, fun themes, helpful hints and easy-to-send invitations.
Up first: Setting your guests up for success with clear instructions and thoughtful party prep.
White Elephant Gift Exchange Rules
Here’s the classic setup: Everyone brings a mystery gift. Gifts can be assigned a number or left unnumbered. Either way, guests definitely draw numbers.
Now, if you number the gifts, whichever number the guests choose will determine the gift they get. (E.g., if you draw an eight, you get gift #8.) If you don’t number the gifts, the numbers your guests draw will dictate what order they get to choose their mystery gift from the pile.
Guests can “steal” or “swap” gifts when it’s their turn to open or choose a gift—which means the guest who drew #1 gets to choose from ALL the gifts at the very end.
Pro tip: Plan ahead of time how many steals or swaps are allowed.
Fun White Elephant Rule Variations
It’s your party, and you don’t have to stick with the classic setup if you don’t want to! Here are some fun alternatives to make your white elephant gift exchange a little different:
- Secret Santa-style: For a bit of mystery, have everyone keep what they brought secret until the very end.
- Musical chairs: Place gifts at each seat. Have guests walk in a circle to beloved Christmas music and stop when the music does.
- Blind box: Up the ante by having each person wear a blindfold when choosing a gift.
- Truth or dare: Before choosing a gift, each person must answer a question or complete a dare. Keep it silly and lighthearted. (Christmas isn’t exactly the time for deep, dark confessions.)
White Elephant Party Themes
Leave the gift possibilities wide open or inspire your guests by giving them a little direction. A theme is a fun way to make your party stand out from the rest.
- Giver’s Faves: Guests bring one of their favorite things that almost anyone would love.
- Hallmark Movie Fan Club: Get in the movie-watching spirit with exclusive Hallmark Channel merch.
- Rockin’ Around: Exchange vinyl records; your choice whether they are holiday albums or not. Bonus: Play them at the party!
- Season’s Readings: Exchange books; you could pick a genre based on your guests’ interests or go rogue.
- O Christmas Tree: Exchange ornaments. Bonus: Get ornaments that indicate the year to commemorate your annual white elephant party.
- Pop Culture Christmas: Exchange gifts based on a character or licensed property that the group loves, like Peanuts®, Gilmore Girls, or Harry Potter.
- Self-Care Co-op: Exchange favorite wellness products and spa day essentials.
- Cozy Crew: Give each other socks, hats, scarves, gloves and other accessories to stay warm and stylish all winter long. Bonus: Have everyone bring extras to donate to a local charity.
- Furry Merry Christmas: Gather and give gifts for pets and their people!
- Deck the Halls: Bring a holiday decor gift that will help make their home a little more magical. You could do themes (Santa, snowmen, Disney, nativity, etc.), specify a certain room or area (kitchen, mantel, etc.) or have a free-for-all.
White Elephant Party Invitations
Whether your gifty group is more into paper invitations or digital, use the format to play up the theme and the excitement for your party.
- Customize a holiday card with photos of the invitees or action shots from past white elephant parties.
- Use gift wrap to make envelopes or invitations that fit the theme.
- Use holiday-scented stickers, pens or markers to put your guests in the holiday mood as they open your invitation.
- Include the theme and gift budget.
- Make RSVPing easy with your phone number and email address.
White Elephant Gift Ideas
We’re of the opinion that nobody needs more junk. That’s why our white elephant gift ideas stray from the usual “regifting” type and more toward things people would actually want. That said, there’s room for creativity and playfulness. Take your pick from our many white elephant gift categories.
Funny White Elephant Gift Ideas
- Silly or comfy socks
- Jokey mugs (this one is a personal fave)
- Ugly Christmas sweater (your gift could help them win the office party next year!)
- Vintage holiday decor that walks the line between weird and cool
- Silly things for pets to wear
- Personalized gift featuring your face or the face of someone at the party
Creative White Elephant Gift Ideas
- Gingerbread house kit
- Needle punching kit
- Crochet kit
- New but nostalgic—something that’s new but that holds some nostalgia for them (pull from a decade that’s meaningful to the group)
- Artwork from a local artist
DIY White Elephant Gift Ideas
- Homemade treats
- Simple knitted winter gear, such as a scarf or hat
- Paint-your-own pottery creation
- A painting, drawing or poem to frame
- Homemade tote bag—super easy to sew with an online tutorial—and you could include an extra gift inside it
Unisex White Elephant Gift Ideas
- Insulated water bottle or travel mug
- Hot sauce
- Charcuterie board items
- Board game, card game or puzzle
- Compact toolkit
- Winter moisturizing basket—gender-neutral lip balm, hand cream, facial moisturizer with sunscreen
- Handheld games or building kits
- Heating pad
Nice/Thoughtful White Elephant Gift Ideas
- Warm and fuzzy throw blanket
- Festive beverage like cider, port or a mixer
- Tea towels
- A beautiful journal
- Winter-blooming houseplants like amaryllis or Christmas cactus
- E-reader remote—advance your page without having to take your cold hands out from under your blanket
- Favorite cookbook
- Winter fruit basket
Inexpensive White Elephant Gift Ideas
- Kitchen utensils or tea towels (so many fun ones out there)
- A favorite snack food
- Candy or sweets
- Mini Christmas tree with mini ornaments
- Ornament
Last-Minute and Easy White Elephant Gift Ideas
- Coffee gift card + mug
- Movie night kit: popcorn, candy, a soda or two, all inside a big bowl
- Bottle of wine + opener
- Cookie recipe + cookie cutter
- Poinsettia or rosemary plant
$10 White Elephant Gift Ideas
- Hallmark+ gift subscription for a month
- Coasters
- Notebook or journal
- Lotion + lip balm
- Small, useful kitchen items like chip clips or tea infusers
$20 White Elephant Gift Ideas
$25 White Elephant Gift Ideas
- Donate to the charity of the recipient’s choice
- Personalized ornament
$30 White Elephant Gift Ideas
$50 White Elephant Gift Ideas
- Restaurant gift card
- Fuzzy blanket
- Insulated tumbler
- Nativity set
We hope we’ve given you a jump-start to a wonderful white elephant experience. Before you know it, the party will be in full swing and everyone will be having an amazing time exchanging gifts and getting in the holiday spirit!
Looking for more holiday gifting inspiration? We’ve got a whole sleigh-full!:
Shop Christmas
See allYou may also like
See more-
Christmas So many layers to this new collection of Keepsake Ornaments!
Watch as Keepsake Artist Charles Young explains how Hallmark's decades-long artistry in the world of papercraft has i...
-
Christmas The magic of Disney Parks is destined for your tree ✨
That feeling of seeing Cinderella’s castle in person. The dazzling wonder of the Main Street Electrical Para...
-
Christmas Keepsake hot takes: 10 new Keepsake Ornaments that are an automatic add-to-cart
Holiday lovers, we see you! While other people are drenched in summer sweat, we know you’re dreaming of a white Chris...
-
Card Ideas 10 new, trendy cards we’re loving right now
Hot take incoming: Cards are basically mini time capsules. Not only do you get to hold on to a piece of someone’s han...
-
Christmas Visit your favorites at Keepsake Village
Some of your favorite Hallmark friends have gathered for fun and festivities this holiday season! Keepsake Ornament c...
-
Christmas Welcome to Elfville!
We LOVE a new Keepsake Ornament series, and this one promises to be totally adorable. The Welcome to Elfville series ...
-
Calendar Flip Let’s celebrate, y’all! July 2025 Holidays and Celebrations
Get ready for friends, family and fireworks—and break out the red, white and blue for Independence Day. It’s time ...
-
Calendar Flip Welcome Autumn! September 2025 Holidays and Observances
Fall brings cooler nights, cute sweaters, homecoming games and tailgate parties. It’s time to flip the calendar page,...
-
Calendar Flip A (Very) Warm Hello! August 2025 Holidays and Observances
Is it hot enough for you? Well, we’re here to add some extra sizzle. It’s time to flip the calendar page, check ou...
-
Father's Day Give love back: 25+ Father’s Day ideas to celebrate Dad
We love dads. They’re uniquely brilliant, wise beyond reason, silly in the best way and caring in the sweetest. The r...
-
Christmas 2025 Dream Book week four SNEAK PEAK
This week we are closing in on the 2025 Dream Book cover and so much more in our week four behind the scenes look....
-
Christmas Peanuts 75th Anniversary Party Ornament Reveal
Happy anniversary, Peanuts! We’re celebrating 75 years of Charlie Brown and the gang with an extra-special c...
-
Christmas Week three SNEAK PEAK of the 2025 Dream Book
Another week of Dream Book sneak peeks with all the snow and sparkle you'd imagine from Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments!
-
Father's Day 14 DIY Father’s Day gift basket ideas to make Dad’s day
Father’s Day only comes once a year—so it’s time to make the most of this chance to celebrate the dads and father fig...
-
Birthday Milestone birthday ideas for all your biggest celebrations
Milestone birthdays are an excuse to go BIG. And if you’ve got a big birthday coming up (yours or theirs!) and are in...
-
Birthday 100th birthday ideas
Milestones don’t come much bigger than a 100th birthday. Turning 100 is a major accomplishment for anyone—not just in...
-
Birthday 90th birthday ideas
A 90th birthday party is a truly special time. It’s a chance for family and friends to celebrate the guest of honor a...
-
Birthday 80th birthday ideas
An 80th birthday is a truly remarkable milestone! Just think of all the change an 80-year-old has seen in their lifet...
-
Birthday 70th birthday ideas
Seventy is not just another birthday. A 70th birthday is a (hopefully) retired hoot. A celebration and continuation o...
-
Birthday 60th birthday ideas
If you know someone turning 60, you know it’s a pretty incredible milestone to celebrate. When you turn 60, you’ve li...