30 Funny White Elephant Gift Ideas Everyone Will Fight Over (Most Under $25)
The white elephant gift exchange has winners and losers. The winners bring a gift that gets stolen three times and causes a minor feud. The losers bring a scented candle. Don’t be the candle person.
Here are 30 funny white elephant gift ideas that get laughs and still end up being used. Most fit under a $25 budget, which is the most common limit for office and friend-group exchanges.
What Makes a Great White Elephant Gift?
- It gets a laugh when it’s opened. The reveal is half the fun.
- Someone actually wants it. Funny plus useful is the winning combination.
- It works for almost anyone. Gender-neutral, size-friendly, age-friendly.
- It respects the budget. Going way over makes everyone else look cheap.
Funny Gifts People Will Actually Use
- A funny T-shirt. It’s cheap, it’s wearable and the reveal always gets a laugh. Pick a unisex tee in size L or XL to fit most people.
- A giant coffee mug. The bigger the better. Bonus points if it holds a full pot.
- A desk punching bag. For the office stress nobody talks about.
- A toilet-time golf set. Bathroom putting green. It will be stolen. Guaranteed.
- A “world’s okayest” anything. World’s okayest coworker, aunt or employee. Honest and humble.
- A burrito blanket. A blanket printed to look like a giant tortilla. Weirdly cozy.
- A pizza-shaped pizza cutter. Useful and slightly absurd.
- A mini waffle maker. The perfect blend of practical and delightful.
- A shower speaker. Concert-quality singing in the shower, finally.
- A fancy hot sauce sampler. Good for foodies, terrible for the weak.
Gag Gifts for Big Laughs
- A “Do Not Disturb” sign that says “Disturb at Your Own Risk.” Every office needs one.
- A bacon-scented anything. Candle, air freshener, lip balm. Pick your weapon.
- Socks with the recipient’s face. Works best when you know who’s coming.
- A banana phone. A Bluetooth handset shaped like a banana. Answering calls just got better.
- A desk-sized fire extinguisher for “office emergencies.” Filled with candy, ideally.
- A crying-baby rubber duck. Pure chaos in the bathtub.
- An inflatable unicorn horn for cats. Even people without cats will want it.
- A “Wine Glass That Holds an Entire Bottle.” The title is the joke and the reason it’ll be stolen.
Cozy and Consumable Gifts
- Gourmet hot chocolate kit. Marshmallows, peppermint and maybe a little something extra.
- A giant candy bar. The five-pound kind. Everyone gets a piece.
- Coffee sampler. Safe, useful and secretly a favorite.
- A snack box from around the world. Office favorite. Gone in an hour.
- Fuzzy slipper socks. Boring? Yes. Stolen four times? Also yes.
- A heated blanket. Slightly over budget, but it will start a war.
Holiday-Themed Gifts
- An ugly Christmas sweater or tee. Instant party outfit.
- A Christmas pickle ornament. Explain the tradition while they open it.
- A Santa butt cookie jar. Classy, no. Hilarious, yes.
- A reindeer antler ring-toss set. The gift that starts its own party game.
Gifts for Specific Personalities
- For the person who’s always cold: a wearable blanket hoodie.
- For the person who’s always late: a giant novelty alarm clock that runs away from you.
White Elephant Gift Mistakes to Avoid
- Anything too personal. Lotion and perfume are weird from strangers.
- Anything genuinely offensive. Edgy is fun. Getting a call from HR is not.
- Bad regifts. If you didn’t want it, neither will anyone else.
- Ignoring the budget. Stay within a couple of dollars of the limit.
The Easy Win: A Funny Tee
T-shirts are one of the safest bets in any white elephant exchange. They’re cheap enough to fit the budget, funny enough to get a laugh and useful enough that people fight over them. Our tees are $24.95 with free US shipping, so they fit a $25 limit. Pick one from our trending shirts or full collection, and order a couple of weeks before the party since everything is printed to order.
New to the game? Read our white elephant rules guide before the party.