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

An illustration of a vintage-style Santa carrying a bag of presents over his shoulder.

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

 

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

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

 

$20 White Elephant Gift Ideas

 

$25 White Elephant Gift Ideas

 

$30 White Elephant Gift Ideas

 

$50 White Elephant Gift Ideas

 

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!: