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The 20 best White Elephant gifts under $50 that will arrive by Christmas
From an adorable duck lamp to a desktop vacuum cleaner, these crowdpleasers strike a balance between funny gags and functional finds.
There's no better feeling than walking away from a white elephant gift exchange knowing that you brought the best present in the pile. Sure, you could always shop up with something random from your junk drawer and call it a gift, but these fun (and functional) white elephant gifts are sure to get everyone in the stealing spirit.
From gag gifts to more thoughtful buys, I've rounded up a list of the best white elephant gift ideas for different groups, party settings and budgets (most gifts fall under $25). Hoping to bring the laughs at a holiday party with friends? A silly duck lamp will get the job done. Eyeing something more practical and office-friendly? Wrap up a coffee mug warmer and prepare to see your coworkers duke it out. These are just some of the highlights — keep scrolling for even more gift ideas that'll steal the show.
Have a Secret Santa gift exchange on the books, too? These Secret Santa gifts are perfect for whoever you pick. And since you're checking things off your holiday shopping list, I'll give a not-so-shameless plug to our last-minute Christmas gift guide, including special finds for the men, women and parents you love most.
HappyBag LED Lying Flat Duck Lamp
HomDsg Silicone Cowboy Hat Straw Covers, 4 Pack
Mermaker Tortilla Blanket
Original Earthlings Legs Out Pot
Almond Croissant Candle
Monopoly: Guy Fieri's Flavortown Board Game
Glocusent Book Light
TheraIce Migraine Relief Cap
CosRx Snail Mucin Sheet Mask, Set of 10
Funistree Birdcage Candle Warmer Lamp
The Woobles Beginner Crochet Kit
Lego Icons Chrysanthemum Building Set
Owala FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle, 24 ounces
Apple AirTag
BagSmart Puffy Tote Bag
Sakura Box Japanese Snack Gift Box
Odistar Desktop Vacuum Cleaner
House Gem Mug Warmer
Crock-Pot Portable Electric Lunch Box
Dash Multimaker Mini System
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Funny white elephant gifts
Now, here's something that'll really quack them up. Give this light-up duck a pat on the back to adjust between three brightness levels or set a 30-minute timer. "Battery life is still running high after a week of buying without charging," one five-star reviewer raved. "You also get to sit your phone in its legs and it turns into a phone holder!"
Chances are, whoever ends up with this gift already has a "big dumb cup." But on the off chance that they don't, it's probably a good idea to pair these silly (yet stylish) straw covers with a tumbler in a complementary color. Stanley is the brand, but you can always go with this similar style from Simple Modern if you're working with a tighter budget.
Because you are what you eat. This plush blanket looks like just a tortilla, so they can wrap themselves up like a burrito — literally. Opt for one of the longer lengths to cover them from head to toe.
Bring some life to the party — quite literally! Leave this friendly-faced planter in the box or put a real (or faux!) plant inside, so the recipient can stick it on their shelf, stat. If you go with a real plant, make sure it's a hard-to-kill, low-maintenance type like succulents or cacti.
Don't get any ideas — this candle looks good enough to eat, but it's not edible. Nope, it's all for show. It's also unscented, which, ya know, wards off any temptations.
What a hot frisbee of fun! The culinary twist on a classic will take them straight to Flavortown with properties and game pieces inspired by the spiky-haired Food Network star, including a '68 Chevy Camaro and his signature sunglasses.
Thoughtful white elephant gifts
Readers, crafters and tinkerers can't get enough of this wrap-around light. They can switch between three different color temperatures and brightness modes until it casts the perfect glow. 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 is one of those nifty inventions you didn't know you needed ... until you need it. Relieve headache pain with this compression cap, which can be heated or cooled to your liking. This five-star review says it best: "I have struggled with chronic migraines for 25 years, and it feels as if I have tried every ice pack. This hat is amazing! It stays soft and comfortable, making it easy to sleep with. And it gets so cold very easily — I leave mine in the refrigerator, no freezer needed."
Everyone's been singing snail mucin's praises recently — including Senior Beauty Editor Jennifer Romolini. She put the brand's bestselling serum to the test and wrote that "my skin was more supple, my fine lines appeared less deep and my face appeared generally more even and had a sort of glow." These sheet masks are infused with the same slimy goodness to help achieve the "glass skin" that we're all after.
Burning candles is risky business. There's the smoke, soot, fear that you forget to blow it out and, ya know, the ever-present risk of fire. Candle warmer lamps melt the wax to release an aroma without a single flame. This one even lets you switch between four brightness levels (because vibes) and set a two, four or eight-hour timer.
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Everyone could use a break from the screens — and this kit will help them do just that. It comes with everything they need to create a mini nutcracker, including a crochet hook, pre-started yarn and step-by-step video tutorials.
Lego's botanicals, like this 258-piece chrysanthemum kit, are the gift that keeps on giving. Sure, there's the building part that's fun for anyone who likes stepping away from screens and tinkering away at something for an hour or so. Then there's the fact that they can bask in the beauty of their handiwork for all the years to come.
This isn't your typical reusable water bottle. Nope, this all-time fave is virtually spill-proof, with our Deputy Editor Izabella Zaydenburg gushing that "it can be flipped upside down without leaking." It also has a built-in straw, easily fits in most cupholders and keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours. Your trendy tumbler (ahem, not naming names) could never!
Now, here's something that everyone knows and loves. Take the practical route by wrapping up an AirTag or two. The recipient will thank you the next time they track down their missing wallet, keys, backpack or [insert lost item here].
The right tote bag can do wonders. Lean into the season's hottest trend (all puff everything!) with this quilted beauty, complete with all the pockets one could ever need and a separate compartment big enough to hold a 15-inch laptop. "I'm a nurse and use this bag to hold my laptop, lunchbox, drinking cup, and everything else I carry to and from work," a happy shopper wrote, adding that it's also incredibly lightweight (less than a pound!) and easy to clean.
Best white elephant gifts for an office party
Replenish their snack drawer with a 30-piece assortment of Japanese dagashi, everything from cookies and gummy candy to salty, savory favorites. If you're lucky, they'll share with you and the rest of your coworkers!
Desk lunches are pretty sad, but you know what's sadder? A desk covered in the remnants of whatever you just ate. This palm-sized vacuum sucks up crumbs, dust and other debris — just power it up with two AA batteries and put it to work!
It doesn't matter what they drink to fuel up for their workday: The point is that they need something to sip — coffee, matcha, you name it. This little doodad will keep their drink of choice at one of three temperatures (between 131°F and 176°F) for a set amount of time (from two to 12 hours).
Is microwaving lunch at your office a bit of a gamble? Enter this electric lunch box, which will warm up a single serving of soup, chili or last night's leftovers right at their desk. "I recently used it during a 10-hour class and my chili was piping hot within an hour," one five-star fan gushed. "I've experienced zero leaks with it and it doesn't require much space."
Even your office Scrooge will crack a smile when they catch a glimpse of this cheery griddle. It comes with five interchangeable plates, including a basic griddle, waffle iron and heart-shaped waffle. That way, they can use the same machine to make waffles, eggs, burgers and more.
White elephant gift exchange rules
Now that you've got your gift sorted out, here's a refresher on the rules of the game.
It's simple: Each player brings a wrapped gift, then everyone picks a number. One by one, players select a gift from the pile and decide if they want to unwrap a new gift or steal someone else's. Typically, a present can only be stolen once, and a player's turn comes to an end after three swaps (otherwise it'll go on forever). After everyone's picked a gift, the first player can swap their gift for someone else's. Swapping continues until someone decides that they're happy with what they've got.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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