White Elephant Gift Exchange

A White Elephant Gift Exchange is a fun Christmas party game where guests bring wrapped gifts, draw numbers, and take turns choosing gifts or stealing them from each other. The gifts are what make White Elephant especially fun! Unlike a Dirty Santa Gift Exchange where gifts are typically useful and wanted, White Elephant gifts are usually more humorous than useful. Think funny, quirky, ridiculous, or impractical gifts that get everyone laughing, especially gifts the recipients will not have much use for.

Whether you’re planning your first White Elephant party or you’ve been stealing gifts for years, you’ll find everything you need here, including White Elephant rules, printables, gift ideas, and tips to keep the game organized and fun.

Why is it called White Elephant?

The term White Elephant is used to describe a possession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of. Supposedly, the King of Siam gifted rare albino elephants to courtiers who had displeased him, so that they might be ruined by the animals’ upkeep costs.

At a White Elephant Gift Exchange, the goal is often to bring the funniest gift, especially one that everyone wants to steal just for the laughs! After all, that’s what makes the White Elephant gift exchange so fun!

How Does A White Elephant Gift Exchange Work?

Each guest brings one wrapped White Elephant gift to the party. The gifts are placed together, and everyone draws a number to determine the order of play.

The first person chooses a gift and unwraps it. From there, each player can either choose an unopened gift or steal an eligible gift that has already been opened.

If your gift gets stolen, don’t worry! You get another turn to choose an unopened gift or steal another eligible gift. That’s when things can get a little loud and boisterous.

Gifts can change hands multiple times throughout the game, which is why it’s important to decide on your stealing rules before you start.

For the complete step-by-step instructions, head over to my White Elephant Gift Exchange Rules And Printables page.

You can also Host A Virtual White Elephant Gift Exchange when you aren’t able to get together in person!

White Elephant Printable Rules and Numbers

If you’re ready to organize your own game, these White Elephant Rules And Numbers include printable rules and game cards to help keep everyone on track.

When you have a room full of people stealing gifts, it’s easy to lose track of whose turn it is and how many times a gift has been stolen. This printable game pack helps you keep the gift exchange organized from the first number drawn to the final steal. Use the Number Cards to determine the order of play and the Steal and Frozen Cards to keep track of gifts as they are stolen.

What Kind Of Gifts Do You Bring To A White Elephant Gift Exchange?

The type of gift can completely change the game. For a traditional White Elephant Gift Exchange, look for something funny, quirky, ridiculous, or impractical rather than a gift everyone would love to take home. The goal isn’t necessarily to find the best gift. Sometimes the gift that gets the biggest laugh is the real winner!

Before your party, choose a price limit and make sure everyone knows what kind of gifts to bring. That way, you don’t have one person showing up with a fabulous gift while everyone else brought something completely silly.

Need a little inspiration? These White Elephant Gift Ideas are full of funny and quirky possibilities that work well for this kind of gift exchange.

Hosting a budget-friendly gift exchange? Check out these $10 White Elephant Gift Exchange Ideas for gifts that won’t break the bank.

White Elephant Or Dirty Santa?

Wondering What Is The Difference Between White Elephant And Dirty Santa? The two gift exchanges are often used interchangeably and played the same way. The only difference is the kind of gifts that guests bring. Dirty Santa gifts are generally useful and things that people would actually want to take home, while White Elephant gifts are generally humorous, quirky, or impractical!

If useful gifts sound more like your crowd, check out Dirty Santa ideas instead.

More Christmas Gift Exchange Game Ideas

White Elephant isn’t the only way to exchange Christmas gifts!

If you’re looking for something different for your family Christmas, office party, or get-together with friends, check out these Christmas Gift Exchange Games. From popular gift exchanges to games I made up myself, you’re sure to find a game that fits your party!

Whether your White Elephant party ends with someone fighting over a ridiculous gift or desperately trying to give one away, I hope your gift exchange is loud, boisterous, and full of laughter!

And remember: stealing gifts is what makes White Elephant fun!