If you’re looking for funny white elephant gifts that people will actually want, these are the best ones we’ve seen. This collection of white elephant gift exchange gifts includes things that are practical and fun while still being unique and hilarious. It’s a hard balance, but all of the items in this gift exchange gift guide achieve it perfectly!
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I’ve yet to meet a single person who has never participated in some sort of holiday gift exchange and most of us have participated in quite a few. What nobody talks about is how difficult it is to pick out the perfect gift exchange gift, especially if it’s a white elephant exchange!
I’ve hosted and been to my fair share of Christmas parties and gift exchanges in the past and these ideas are inspired by some of the best gift ideas I’ve ever seen and heard about.
These are perfect if you’re looking for the best white elephant gift ideas or funny white elephant gifts – if you want actual gifts or a thoughtful gift idea for say a secret Santa, check out some of my gift guides instead! There’s everything from experience gifts to 12 days of Christmas gift ideas!
So grab a gift, wrap it up nice, and pretty – maybe even add one of these Christmas gift tags – and get ready to play!
The Best Elephant Gifts
I purposely included white elephant gifts that would be funny but also things that people might actually keep, not just throw in the trash five minutes later. Pick whichever ones matches your gift exchange theme and go for it!
Since the majority of gift exchange budgets (according to my extensive research) are between $15-$25, all of these gifts are around there as well. Or if they’re not, I’ve included a way to get them there with the description!
Plunger Toothpicks
These witty toothpicks are so funny and will have people fighting to keep them. It’s the potty humor that everyone gets a kick out of. You could add a can of olives and a little serving bowl to round out the gift!
A bunch of random facts that would be pretty cool to know but also no one is buying themselves – it would be funny to see how many people steal this one!
Who doesn’t need a personalized cutout of their face, or of Uncle Joe? Great for families who love a good laugh and a chance to use that ridiculous picture you have saved on your phone. Add a “date with you” coupon to make this one even better!
Adulting is hard, we can do whatever we want as long as we take care of everything first. These stickers are a classic way to reward yourself for doing daily adult things. Perfect gag gift for those newly adulting college students. Add something that will help them complete one of the stickers to get to a $25 budget!
This is actually a super practical gift but hilarious to open. One of those things everyone owns but is such a taboo topic that it makes a great option for a gag gift. And the recipients won’t be complaining when they get this wrapped gift!
It’s a cheese knife with a clever pun, perfect for getting some laughs and steals! If you know someone who really likes cheese or charcuterie boards, you could even do this with your Secret Santa gifts if you want! Add it to some cheese for the complete package!
I’ve heard this one is actually really good, but it would be pretty funny to see someone open it! You could add some of the ingredients to make one of the recipes too!
Another white elephant stable, socks, but with a comical twist. Grab a pair of these humorous socks and enjoy the laughs when it gets opened. Maybe stuff the socks with something to make them even more desirable. There are tons of other options as well like pizza socks or taco socks too! Add something else to go with it – like an ice cream gift card to round it out!
Get a good laugh out of the group when they open this toilet tag game. Great for couples or could be funny to put in a guest bathroom to see who plays along. Either way, it will be something new that people would love to steal.
Forget the Yeti rambler and get something more creative for drinking instead! A moose mug is one of those things that no one would ever think to buy themselves but works perfectly as a white elephant gift. A completely random gift that is sure to make people smile. This would also be a great addition to a holiday mug exchange!
This is one of the best white elephant gift ideas around. People will want to steal this just to be sure they know what is inside. Don’t let anyone open the lid until the end of the game!
This thing is actually awesome, I love it in my house. But it’s one of those things that no one knows they need until they own it. Also, it’s just awkwardly funny to open up in front of a large group of people. They even have a foldable version you can buy on Amazon!
If your group isn’t fighting over who gets to brush their teeth to Bieber’s Boyfriend, then I’d be shocked. It would easily make a normally boring daily task into a great one. This Justin Bieber singing toothbrush was a hit at last year’s heads or tails gift exchange!
The best part of a white elephant exchange game is getting to see what random things people can find to bring. These animal butt magnets are the perfect example of why this hilarious game is played so often. A random item that no one needs but is too funny not to bring.
This is actually a great white elephant gift, no one would ever buy it for themselves but would be super handy. I hate grabbing something from my bag only to remember that I ambitiously packed a banana two days ago and now it’s only good for banana muffins. Add a bunch of bananas to round it out!
If you’ve seen Schitt’s Creek, you’re probably already laughing just reading this towel. And I guarantee others will too because it’s one of the most hilarious scenes in the entire show. Not a Schitt’s Creek fan? Get something else with an iconic movie quote or scene on it.
One of the most popular books at one of our gift exchanges was the book All My Friends Are Dead. A little morbid but pretty hilarious. You can either get that book or something a little less morbid but still ridiculous like this one – plus party games! Don’t forget the sticks to finish off this gift!
If you follow the latest trends, you know how funny these giant food blankets are. It makes the perfect gag gift so I had to add it to the list. Who wouldn’t want to be tucked into a giant burrito blanket? This would be great for anyone playing with teenagers as well.
This is a great white elephant gift, it’s semi-practical yet absolutely ridiculous looking. Hope one of your family members ends up with it so you get to see it every time you visit and get a good chuckle. This is one of those uncommon goods that you’re actually going to want!
If you’ve got a dad in your group, you need to bring this game. Chock-full of puns, this game will be a hit with any group of jokesters. If you don’t want puns, you could try any of our favorite board games for adults too!
This nostalgic dino chicken nugget pillow is one of my favorite white elephant gift ideas. No better way to bring back a childhood memory than with a pillow that no one needs but secretly wants.
I promise this is going to be one of the top steal gifts. You’ll get a good laugh from whoever opens it, but there will be plenty of partners who will want this for their significant others this holiday season. This is one of those gifts you’ll see someone bring again next year.
One year, I had a friend who brought a fish to a Yankee swap and everyone thought it was hilarious. These Sea Monkeys take less work than a fish, yet are the same idea. Who knows, these little sea monkeys may become your new best friends. And the kit comes with everything you need!
One of the more unique gifts on this list, this Weird Al chia pet is sure to get quite a few laughs. This a fun way to gift a plant at your holiday party this year, plus with the new Weird Al moving coming out this year, this one is a great fit!
This great gift brings back childhood memories and nostalgia, or nightmares if you killed yours. Perfect for college students who are looking for a bit more responsibilities or adults who are looking to add more to their plates.
With so many diehard Star Wars lovers out there, this is bound to be a big hit. Eating with chopsticks is fun, but lightsaber chopsticks is even better! Such a fun way to get a silly gift that people will love. These would also make one of the best Star Wars gifts!
This oddly practical car sauce holder is sure to get some laughs out of everyone. This is one of those things that you never knew you needed but won’t regret having. I just bought myself one to eat with my chick fil a minis! Maybe grab a gift card to get some chicken for dipping to add to this one!
Enjoy watching people subtly envy whoever ends up with this desktop bowling set. Despite it’s many tiny pieces, this game is oddly relaxing to play when you need a mind break. You could add another table game to go with this one!
Another comically practical gift that people will be genuinely happy to get after the initial comedy of opening it. This silly crab is the perfect cooking companion, holding spoons and pot lids while you do the cooking.
You can’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of these dust-collecting shoe covers. These fun shoe slippers make the perfect white elephant gift. Get two pairs so parents and kids can join in on the fun!
We all need a little more positivity in our day and this button is an easy, in-your-face solution. Just picture your grumpy old grandpa ending up with this inspirational button.
This magically delicious gift is the perfect thing to bring. Not only is it comical to get a pound of dehydrated marshmallows but everyone genuinely enjoys them. If they don’t get eaten by the end of the night use them to make these tasty lucky charm cookies.
The initial reaction to opening this as an adult is priceless. But you’ll be shocked by how many grown men will be going after this for their daughters. It’s the perfect silly but desirable gift.
While this is comical to open, I almost guarantee it is going to be a popular item. Who wouldn’t want to lay around the house completely engulfed in a cozy shark blanket?
This is a gift that keeps on giving. Get a good laugh when you open it then again each time you wash your face only to look in the mirror and see your snail friend looking back. Add some face wash to round this gift out!
You can’t help but laugh at this talking and dancing cactus. This funny cacti repeats back words and does a fun light up dance that everyone will enjoy.
There’s nothing cuter than a couple of sea otters snuggling. Except maybe when they are snuggling on a pair of adult feet in the middle of a cold winter. These goofy slippers make for the perfect gag gift this holiday season.
These are bound to get a few good laughs when opened, then again throughout the night as this eerie finger puppet sneaks up on people. Another great gift choice that is bound to keep people laughing. Maybe add a can of nuts that the squirrel can enjoy while he plays!
This is mainly funny due to how useful it actually is. Any couple knows that the hardest decision to make is where to eat. Eliminate the bickering with this clever die that people will be fighting over until the end of the game. Recommend adding a gift card for dinner to go with this one!
This really should be the only pizza cutter made from now on, especially since TMNT has made such a comeback in the last few years. Not only is this gift funny but its awesome too.
Nothing is more inspiring than a hand-knit pup giving positive affirmations. This surprisingly cute puppy is entirely unpractical but a great desk ornament that people will get a good laugh at.
These fuzzy hand towels are a great gag gift that people won’t know what to do with. These towels are so oddly shaped that people will be shocked when they become their favorite hand towels to use.
Adulting is hard work and throwing a fully-blown tantrum is not always an option when something doesn’t go your way. These paper tantrum cards are the perfect choice to scribble out those furious feelings in an age-appropriate manner. It’s also funny to open because of how useful it is. Add some nice pens to fill out in anger!
With various phrases to display moods on your desk, this desk sign makes a great white elephant gift. Perfect for anyone regardless of whether it going on a desk or kitchen counter.
Giving gloves during the cold holiday season is always a safe bet. Even better if those gloves are little hedgehogs that completely cover your hand. Perfect practical but funny gift.
If you need some ideas for how to do a white elephant gift exchange and not just funny gag gifts to take to one, these are some of our personal favorites that would work well with funny gifts!
A white elephant is typically a gift exchange that uses funny or gag gifts. Try to pick something that’ll make people laugh but also something that people can actually use like Poo-Pourri, a funny coloring book, or an unneeded but still useful kitchen appliance.
Also, make sure that the host is expecting you to bring an actual white elephant gift (aka gag gift) and not looking for real gifts. Some people don’t realize white elephant is traditionally funny gifts and you don’t want to show up with a game of toilet tag when others brought gift cards and iPods.
How much should you spend on a white elephant gift?
Spend close to whatever the budget is set for by the person hosting the white elephant gift exchange. If the budget is $20, stick to the $15-$25 range. You don’t want to be the person who spends way under or way over. There’s a budget for a reason.
What is the best white elephant gift you have ever received?
The best white elephant gift I’ve ever received was a toilet time gift basket with toilet books, a squatty potty, and a travel sized potpourri. It was funny and we still use it to this day!
What was the best white elephant gift you’ve ever seen?
The best white elephant gift I’ve seen was a singing fish that you hang on your wall. It was not only a hilarious gift, but it turned into a tradition for the person who ended up with the gift to hang it up for the year then bring it back the next year. Everyone was constantly trying to be the one who ended up with the singing fish!
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Kathy
Gifts that we’ve gotten and loved are electric wine opener and plastic rakes that fit on your hands to scoop up leaves/grass. I saw this year a cool gift which is small light on fingerless gloves that allow you to hold something and work on it without holding a flashlight.
What great gift ideas, Britni! I especially LOL’d at that Nicholas Cage pillow case. I actually saw that on Amazon while Christmas shopping last year. Whoever thought of that is a genius. It’s a classic. Hahaha!
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