Quality presents are key at a white elephant gift exchange. Sure, you could always wrap up a random junk drawer find and call it a gift, but I know you can do better than that. As for the white elephant gift ideas below? They’re under $35 and actually worth stealing.
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From funny gags to more useful buys, these white elephant gifts cover all the bases. Trying to get the teens involved? Snacking chopsticks are the ticket. What about a practical pick for people that you don't know as well? Stick with tried-and-true favorites, from a bestselling battery organizer that's a recent Yahoo Best Gift Ever Awards winner to a dimmable duck lamp (the top-seller from last year's white elephant gift guide !). These are just some of the highlights — I've also included a bunch of white elephant-worthy gift ideas for kids, tweens and teens since they deserve to get in on the fun too.
Have more parties on the books this holiday season? Then head on over to our Secret Santa gift guide while you're in the shopping spirit.
Best white elephant gifts overall
I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't give this little guy a mention. Last year, thousands of Yahoo readers picked up light-up duck and, well, I'm sure it got everyone at the party in the stealing spirit.
Simply give the duck a gentle pat on the back to make it glow, then adjust the brightness level to one of three settings and set up the optional 30-minute timer. "I love that it’s USB-charged, so no fumbling with batteries and a full charge lasts all night — enough for midnight journeys to the bathroom (or snack raids)," one happy Amazon shopper quacked.
Amazon
Lighting candles isn't for the faint of heart. There's the soot, smoke, overwhelming fear that you forget to blow it out and the ever-present risk of fire. Candle warmer lamps are a smarter bet: They slowly melt the wax from the top down and release an aroma without a single flame. The brighter the light, the stronger the fragrance — switch between four brightness levels and set a timer to turn it off automatically.
"I love that this lamp has an adjustable height to work with any size candle and that it helps my candles last longer than traditional burning," one fired-up Amazon shopper raved about this bestseller with almost 5,000 reviews and an average 4.6-star rating.
Amazon
Because food is the way to the heart, isn't it? Replenish their snack stash with a mix of sweet and salty favorites — I'm talking Rice Krispies Treats, Chex Mix, Skittles and more. All bets are off on whether they'll share with the other party-goers, but for your sake, I hope they do!
Ask any kid (or kid at heart) and they'll tell you that Lego sets are truly the gift that keeps on giving. The brick building is a treat in itself, but the end result is something that'll spark joy for years to come.
These pint-size plants bring double the happiness. That's right, smiles will bloom as they assemble this 217-piece set — especially since reviewers rave that it's a pretty quick and painless job. "They were probably the easiest Lego set I’ve ever done. Took me maybe 20 minutes in total to put together," one green-thumbed Amazon builder raved.
Funniest white elephant gifts
Amazon
A little bit of flavor dust doesn't hurt, but it can certainly get in the way if you're trying to do literally anything else while you get your snack on. Enter my most random (but useful) Shark Tank discovery yet: finger chopsticks, which let you grip chips, cheese puffs or your munchies of choice without dirtying up your hands.
Can you snack without it? Obviously. But should you settle for greasy controllers or a crumb-filled keyboard? Nope, and that's why it's a great white elephant gift in my eyes!
A gag gift that's still incredibly useful? Now, we're talkin'. This isn't your average TP; nope, this supersized roll has over 5,000 sheets and can last up to a month (not exactly forever like the name implies, but still). Spring for the starter set, so they'll get double the paper and a holder that's actually designed to handle rolls of this size.
SeaRoomy
If you’re aiming for the gift everyone will fight over, this burrito blanket is it. With over 6,000 five-star Amazon reviews, this ultra-soft throw wraps you up like a giant tortilla — equal parts cozy and hilarious. It’s big, warm, machine-washable and guaranteed to spark at least one “I’m a snack” photo op.
Uncommon Goods
No one would willingly give up a good bottle of wine, but wouldn't you like to see how badly they want it? Stick your go-to red, white or rosé in the cage, then they'll have to solve escape room-style puzzles and riddles to crack the code.
"It is not easy to solve, but the challenge is worth it," one Uncommon Goods reviewer wrote. See? Where there's a wine, there's a way.
Most useful white elephant gifts
Amazon
Because nobody should let precious peanut butter go to waste. This jar scraper is basically a silicone spatula disguised as a platypus (naturally), but it has a longer handle and sturdier (yet flexible) base designed to easily scrape the sides of any jar or container. Use it to clear out the nooks and crannies in all kinds of things — jarred sauces, jams, yogurt containers, the possibilities are infinite.
Yes, late-night reading types can wrap this hands-free gadget around their neck to light up the pages, but that's really just scratching the surface here. Thousands of Amazon shoppers (including yours truly!) reach for it when they're crafting, tinkering or even tending to some household chores after the sun goes down. Tailor it to the task at hand — choose between six brightness levels and three colors until the light's just right.
More than 10,000 Amazon shoppers picked it up last month, with one writing that they originally bought it "so I could crochet at night when my husband wanted the room dark for TV" but found it especially useful to "have on hand in case there's a storm when you lose electricity."
This may not seem like the most exciting white elephant gift out there, but here's where I beg to differ: This beloved bestseller is one of those things that most people don't have, but would actually benefit from.
Sure, the lucky recipient may have a system (or say they say) to find the battery they're looking for, but this organizer will divide them up by size and type to make the search a whole lot easier. It even has a built-in tester to ensure that they're only keeping the ones that still have some life left in 'em.
There comes a time in everyone's life when they get excited about opening up a new pack of sponges. Give that experience to a special someone — times eight! Only you know your budget, so I'll let you decide if you wrap up both boxes or give them one set and save the other for someone else.
A good night's sleep is hands-down the best gift you can give, and this weighted eye mask may be just the thing they need to snooze soundly. It blocks out light while applying gentle pressure across the head, hence why the brand describes it as a "weighted blanket for your eyes."
Thousands of well-rested Amazon reviewers gush that it's changed their sleep game, including a night-shift nurse who called it a "marvelous little invention" and said it "stays put even if you're a side sleeper."
orastone
This rechargeable hand warmer has racked up more than 6,000 Amazon reviews and a 4.6-star rating — and shoppers rave about how quickly it heats up, how toasty it gets and, yes, how cute it is. It reaches over 100 degrees in under two minutes, fits comfortably in your palm and comes in fun patterns with a handy wrist strap.
Best white elephant gifts for kids and teens
Amazon
There's more than meets the eye here. The black tiles will change color with the heat of touch, presenting the puzzler with quite the challenge: solving the cube before the whole thing fades back to black.
Part gag gift, part brain-bender, this cube is a true challenge for serious cubers — but a fun one at that!
Amazon
Card games are always a white elephant winner, but I'd steer clear of the classics since there's a good chance the recipient already has them. My suggestion: Go with the deck that's currently dominating the Amazon charts. Meet Flip 7, a fast-paced game where you try to reach 200 points without getting any duplicate cards. Sure, there's plenty of strategy involved, but it's really a test of how much you're willing to push your luck.
Let them squish, twist and toss these sensory strings, er, noodles to their heart's content. Throw them into a sensory bin to really get their juices flowing, or play with them as-is. Both are equally as fun.
"This was a fun toy for my kids to fling around and pretend to be hair or whatever else their little hearts desire," one happy parent wrote on Amazon , adding that it's a plus that noodles are attached so they're "not all loose inside the package."
Grandma's hobbies are cooler than ever. Case in point: Google searches for these beginner-friendly crochet kits shot up 95% this year. Pierre the Penguin is the brand's hottest seller — this kit comes with everything you need to stitch the waddliest Wooble in the bunch, including step-by-step video tutorials, an ergonomic crochet hook, pre-started yarn and stuffing
There's a good chance they'll get hooked (get it?), so tell the recipient they can always give Pierre a few friends (ahem, Walter the Bear and Felix the Fox ).
