Guide

White elephant gift exchange rules

White elephant (also called Yankee swap or Dirty Santa) is a party game. Everyone brings one wrapped gift, and people take turns picking a new gift or stealing one that's already been opened. Nobody buys for a specific person, so you don't need to draw names.

The standard rules

Everyone brings one wrapped gift within the spending limit. No names on the gifts.
Put all gifts in a pile. Everyone draws a number to set the order.
Player 1 picks a gift from the pile and opens it.
Each next player either opens a new gift from the pile, or steals an opened gift from someone else.
If your gift is stolen, you pick a new gift from the pile or steal from someone else. You can't steal back the gift that was just taken from you.
The game ends when every gift is opened.

Steal limits

Without limits, one popular gift can bounce around forever. Most groups use one of these:

Three steals and it's frozen. After a gift is stolen the third time, it stays with that person.
One steal per turn. A gift can't be stolen twice in the same turn.
Player 1 gets a last turn. Since player 1 never got to steal, they may swap with anyone at the end.

White elephant vs. Secret Santa

In Secret Santa, you draw a name and buy a gift for that one person. It's more personal and works well for families and close friends. White elephant is about the game: funny, random, and best with a group that's in the same room. Some groups do both: a Secret Santa for family, and a white elephant round for laughs. If you're doing Secret Santa, draw names here for free.

Gifts that get stolen

The best white elephant gifts are useful or funny enough that people fight over them. Think a heated blanket, a good tumbler, a quirky gadget, or a giant candy bar. See white elephant gift ideas.

Common questions

What is the difference between white elephant and Secret Santa?

In Secret Santa, each person buys for one person whose name they drew. In white elephant, everyone brings one gift for a shared pile, and players take turns opening or stealing gifts.

How much should a white elephant gift cost?

Most groups set $20 to $30. Funny gifts work well, but something useful at the limit tends to get stolen the most.

Draw names for free

Set up your group in about a minute. No sign-up. Everyone gets a private page with their match and wish list.

Start a draw