37 Best White Elephant Gifts People Will Actually Want to Keep

Marlen Cimaglia

That's So Dad - Dad Joke Talking Button

Who doesn’t like a good Dad joke? Even though your giftee can probably think of some on their own, this button can provide a lot of comic relief in the meantime. It has more than 100 jokes, and they play in a random order, so you won’t hear the same joke again and again. It also comes with batteries and is all set to start reciting jokes.

Vittyl Mini Bowling Game Set

White Elephant gift exchange or not, I love giving people this bowling set, especially bowling fans. I even got one for myself and have found it’s a great (and fun) way to relieve stress. Your White Elephant gift recipient may even challenge someone to a game on the spot.

Running Press' The Screaming Goat - Book & Figure

This goat will definitely be the life of the White Elephant party. Yes, it sounds like a real goat and also comes with a book of fun facts and trivia.

Voiday Portable Charger for an Apple Watch

Apple Watch owners will love getting this portable charger -- which is conveniently a keychain too -- as their White Elephant gift. CNET's Russell Holly is a fan, saying it's very handy and compact enough to tuck away in a purse or backpack.

Island Dogs Crap Jokes Toilet Paper

If you're looking for a funny White Elephant gift, this is like the Dad jokes of toilet paper and is sure to liven up any holiday party. It's also 3-ply and usable, so it's more than just a conversation piece.

Yankee Candle Car Jar Air Freshener

This Balsam and Cedar car air freshener smells like Christmas. The fragrance will last for up to 30 days and is sure to bring the holiday spirit to your White Elephant gift recipient.

Monkey Business elCorko Silicone Wine Stopper

This wine stopper sombrero has a lot of personality and will definitely liven up any White Elephant party. It’s also airtight, leakproof and BPA-free, and it can be used for other kinds of bottles too -- such as tequila.

Chronicle Books Fantastic Cities Adult Coloring Book

Coloring books are still fun for adults, and with the busy lives we all live -- especially around the holidays -- it's nice to relax with some art therapy. This coloring book has intricate designs of international cities, from New York and Paris to Amsterdam and Tokyo, making a great White Elephant for any age. To round out the gift, you can add a pack of colored pencils or markers too.

Mattel Uno Flip card game

If you love Uno, you’ll love Uno Flip -- and no doubt your White Elephant recipient will too. With these cards, they’re double-sided, and you use both sides of the cards to play -- hence, the “flip” part of the game. This adds more stakes to the game and makes it fun and intense (in a good way).

Dash Mini Waffle Maker

The Dash Mini secured a spot on our list of the best waffle makers of 2024, thanks to its ease of use and its ability to churn out perfectly cooked small waffles. It comes in multiple colors and styles, but who can resist this holiday-themed version?

Amazon Gift Card

Sometimes it's hard to figure out what you should get someone. This is why an Amazon gift card is perfect -- you don't need to overthink a gift. Just load the card up and voilà. This way, your White Elephant giftee can pick out exactly what they want. You can get this gift card with any amount from $5 and up.

Hues and Cues Board Game

This is a fun game for three to 10 people that’s all about color knowledge and guessing. Players need to make connections to colors through words by using one- and two-word cues and others then guess a hue from the 480 color squares on the board. Trust us, it’s easier than it sounds and your White Elephant giftee will get hooked. 

Blueear Bluetooth Beanie

Winter is all about beanies, and your White Elephant gift recipient will appreciate this one -- which has built-in Bluetooth headphones. That’s right, they can make calls or listen to their favorite tunes while wearing it, no external headphones needed. On a full charge, the battery will last 20-to-25 hours when in use and 300 hours while idle, both of which are impressive.

Czech Games Codenames Undercover Board Game

People into spy games will really get into this one. Each player is a spymaster and knows the secret identities of 25 agents, yet their teammates only know the agents by their code names (which are on the cards). Teams face-off to see who will be able to make contact with all their agents before the other team does so. It’s fun for all and hopefully your White Elephant gift recipient will open the game on the spot so everyone can try it out.

Sugarfina Champagne Gummy Bears Cube

These gummy bears are unlike others you’ve had, as they’re flavored like Brut and Rosé. Even though they taste like Champagne, they’re non-alcoholic, so they’re safe to give to people who don’t drink too.

Philosophy Frosted Snowflake 3-in-1 Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath

Whoever gets this White Elephant gift will feel like they stepped into a winter wonderland spa when they use it. Since it’s a three-in-one product -- shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath -- they won’t need anything else.

Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer

This coffee warmer will help keep your giftee’s coffee, tea and hot cocoa hot all winter long. Plus, since it’s so small, it’s very portable -- they can take it to work, while traveling, you name it. To add more oomph to this gift, you can also add some packets of hot chocolate and snowflake-shaped marshmallows. 

D&D Starter Set: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

Chances are, some people at the White Elephant gift exchange are curious about playing Dungeons & Dragons but have yet to, which is what makes this D&D starter kit a perfect gift. CNET's James Bricknell says he loves gifting it so people can embark on their first D&D adventure. "Imagination is the key to a good D&D campaign," he says, "but the rules and dice are important too."

Renpho Smart Jump Rope

Both fitness fanatics and newbies will love receiving this gift. This smart jump rope makes it easy to squeeze in fitness no matter where someone is -- at home, work or on vacation. And when it’s connected to the Renpho Fit app (on iOS and Android), your White Elephant giftee can track their progress and get other health stats, like how many calories they just burned during their jumping-rope session.

Bonaok Wireless Karaoke Microphone

Let someone be the life of the party with a wireless Bluetooth karaoke microphone. Karaoke is a great way to liven up any White Elephant gathering -- and with this portable mic everyone can sing their heart out.

HyperChiller Beverage Cooler

Iced coffee connoisseurs will love receiving this White Elephant gift. CNET's David Watsky gave it a glowing review since it's able to bring down the temperature of hot drinks in a matter of minutes. Fun fact: It can even chill wine that's too warm.

We're Not Really Strangers card game

Everyone can use some help strengthening their relationships, whether that's with family or friends. This card game does just that, offering question prompts that will launch you into deep conversations. It's a great way to spend wintery days indoors.

Picnic Time Star Wars Cheese Board

We guarantee that this Star Wars Death Star cheese board and knife set will be a hit and many people at the White Elephant gift exchange will want to get their hands on it. It comes with four cheese knives that fit inside the cheese board, making it ideal for charcuterie spreads or any other appetizers.

If you want more Star Wars gift ideas, we've got you covered.

Allcamp Wine Tote Bag

This wine tote bag is also a cooler and couldn’t be more perfect for picnics. It includes two reusable plastic wine glasses, a corkscrew, a bottle stopper and two cloth napkins. It can hold two bottles of wine (not included).

The Crafty Kit DIY Ugly Holiday Sweater Kit

This ugly holiday sweater kit makes the perfect gift for the DIYers and anyone who likes a festive sweater. And who knows? Maybe your White Elephant giftee will want help creating their sweater.

Scrabble to Go

Who doesn't love Scrabble? And now your giftee can play it when they're on the go. I grew up with a version of this board and my grandma loved whipping it out wherever we were, whether it was at a restaurant or on a cross-country Amtrak train trip. It's absolutely fun for all ages.

Hydro Flask French Press

If you ever thought that a portable French press would be a great invention, it exists. This makes a great White Elephant gift, and you can even add a bag of coffee as a bonus gift. And since a lot of people love French-pressed coffee, this gift is bound to get stolen during the exchange.

"Where Should We Begin?" conversation card game

This fairly new game is already a hit. Unlike other conversation card games, it was created by a psychotherapist, so it really digs deep -- in the best way possible. It has prompts like “A risk I took that changed my life…” Whether your White Elephant giftee takes it home or has the whole party play, it’ll be fun for all. And if you get to experience it, you’ll learn a lot about your friends and loved ones.

Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag

These one-liter unisex bags make great gifts and your White Elephant recipient will love getting one. The only issue is, it may become a coveted gift at the party, as it's a perfect accessory.

Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler

This tumbler may have gotten uber popular partly because of TikTok, but it’s for good reason -- it actually works. Its double-wall vacuum insulation will keep your White Elephant giftee’s hot drinks hot and their cold drinks cold. The lid also has three positions, depending on if someone wants to sip from it, use the reusable straw or keep it closed. And it comes in so many fun colors also.

Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Bark

Any White Elephant recipient will love this (highly addictive) peppermint bark, which comes in a collectible tin. It's so good, we recommend buying one for yourself as well.

County Line Cold Brew Coffee Pitcher with Lid

For a quick and easy way to make cold brew coffee, this is it. All your White Elephant giftee has to do is fill the filter with their favorite coffee grounds and add cold water, then let it steep. (If they prefer, they can use it to make iced tea.) And the leak-proof lid helps prevent spills, which is an added bonus. If you’re feeling extra generous, you can include a bag of ground coffee too.

Baggu Puffy Laptop Sleeve

Sometimes the best gifts are the most useful, and this 16-inch laptop sleeve fits the bill. Not only will it keep the gift recipient's laptop safe as they're toting it from the coffee shop to the office, but it will also add a cheerful splash of color to their 9-to-5 routine. Plus, there are a lot of fun styles to choose from.

LoveHandle Pro

While phones add a lot of convenience to our lives, constantly holding or gripping onto them to catch up on news or social media can get frustrating -- plus, they have a tendency to get hot. That’s where this phone kickstand comes into play. It makes it easier to be hands-free and also has a one-inch elastic strap for when you do want hold your phone.

Homesick Candle

This is a fun and thoughtful gift: Give a candle designed to smell like your city's local baseball stadium (yes, there's a hint of grass and cotton candy in there) or the state where you live. You can also get festive and seasonal with a "Snow Day" or "Buddy's Breakfast" candle. The options are endless and your White Elephant giftee is sure to like it.

Seattle Chocolate Truffles

These truffles make a great White Elephant gift. They’re not overly sweet and have fun, flavorful centers, like Blackberry Creme.

JBL Go 4

The JBL Go 4 is not only durable and portable but provides impressive sound for its small size. As for battery life, it'll last up to seven hours (versus the JBL Go 3's five hours). It also has an IP67 water-resistance rating, which means it can handle a pool or beach day. All in all, it's one of the top micro Bluetooth speakers out there and we bet your White Elephant giftee will agree.