Every year, I attend at least one holiday party with some unique fun. And I’m always looking for good Amazon white elephant gifts to bring that everyone will enjoy.
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Because you can find each and every one of these gifts on Amazon, they are perfect last-minute white elephant gifts to buy. Who doesn’t love their quick shipping?
What is a white elephant gift?
A white elephant gift has different definitions, depending on your group, so be sure to talk to them to ensure you are all on the same page.
In general, white elephant gifts are something that is silly or campy, often something you would never purchase for yourself. It shouldn’t be garbage, however, and sometimes that’s a fine line to walk.
In general, you bring your gift wrapped to a holiday party so that no one sees what’s inside until they choose the package and open it. So get creative with how you wrap your gift, whether that means you put something small in a big box, add a really nice bow, or something else to entice people to choose it first.
Why is it called a white elephant exchange?
White elephants are rare, and they do truly exist. There is no single, fully accepted answer as to the origin of the term white elephant gift, but this is my favorite interpretation.
Long ago, the king of Siam would give a rare albino elephant to those who displeased him. Since they were sacred symbols, no one could decline the gift, but it became and expensive and often unwanted gift for the recipient.
While the concept of a white elephant gift exchange has changed slightly so that while the gifts are funny or unusual, they are not ones that make the gift recipient unhappy to receive them.
What are other names for a white elephant gift exchange?
We always call our swap a white elephant exchange, but I have friends who use other terms. In fact, some didn’t know what I was talking about until we figured out we had different names for the same thing.
Some of the other terms I’ve heard include Dirty Santa, Yankee Swap, Thieving Elves, the Grinch Game, Cutthroat Christmas, and Shifty Santa.
The name your group uses may give you a clue as to how seriously they take the game – especially the stealing of other gifts. Don’t be afraid to steal something you like, as it make the whole game more entertaining and fun.
What makes a good white elephant gift?
The goal is to have an item that people want once they see it. Most white elephant party rules let people choose their gifts and later steal already opened gifts, which is half the fun of it.
Items that are more unusual tend to be popular. Gag gifts that are funny without being cruel or too juvenile work well, too.
If you are in a mixed-gender group, you generally want to avoid something that is a traditional boy or traditional girl-type gift. You don’t want anyone going home who is unhappy with what they have.
How much should I spend on a white elephant gift?
Every group that does a white elephant gift exchange has its own rules, so make sure you talk to your group first. In general, groups I’m a part of set a $20 limit.
In general, you want new items, not something already used, but I did have a work white elephant once where we were only to shop from our homes. Interestingly, a blooming onion maker someone had not used in years was the most popular gift at that time.
If the limit is $20, you should not look to spend $5, but you also should respect the $20 limit. It makes people uncomfortable if you also overspend, but it irritates people if they end up with something that is clearly less valuable than others.
Aim to spend within a couple of dollars of the limit. Generally, the limit does not include sales tax either, so keep that in mind.
What should I not use as a white elephant gift?
Know your audience. Most importantly, you do not want to offend anyone who is a part of the white elephant gift exchange.
That may mean that gifts you might purchase for one party may not be a fit for another one. Overtly sexual or political gifts are generally not a good choice, and obviously you want to avoid anything racist, sexist, or demeaning in any way.
You also want to avoid an item that you would not want to bring home. If you would be unhappy receiving it, you should not gift it.
And did I already mention that you don’t want to donate something broken, dirty, or missing pieces – whether it’s new or used.
Where can I find the lowest price on a white elephant gift?
Just like any shopping trip, you can find a variety of prices on a variety of items anywhere. I personally love to find the best Amazon white elephant gifts because there are so many buying choices and so much inspiration.
And of course, they have great Prime prices and free shipping always makes me happy.
When I have a holiday party out of town, the ability to easily ship a gift to my destination – and have Amazon wrap it for me! – is an absolute win.
Plus, when I forget to get something or I find out about a party late in the game, these are perfect last-minute white elephant gifts since I know Amazon Prime delivers to me so quickly.
Whether you use some of these ideas for the best Amazon white elephant gifts to purchase through Amazon or inspire you elsewhere, enjoy some of the most popular gifts I’ve found.
Best Amazon White Elephant Gifts
Amazon has so many fun options. Every item on this list is perfect for a white elephant holiday party, so you can feel confident in anything you choose. In fact, you just might find something that strikes your fancy that you need for yourself, too! Always check the price. You know Amazon prices change constantly, so some that may be under $20 now may be either over $20 or under $10 when you check later. And the same with the under $10 items.
Gifts Under $10
1
Car French Fry Holder
A friend of mine purchased this last summer, and it immediately caught my eye as both hilarious and surprisingly functional. This is exactly the kind of gift you want for your exchange.You probably never knew this existed, but yet it's fun and quirky. And it works – my friend loooooves hers.
I'm sorry, but HOW fun is this? It's so incredibly seasonal, and they actually work.I just flat out want these for myself anyway. They have both a USB to lightning and USB to USB-C charging options, and if I come to your white elephant party, I promise I'm coming home with this.
I have several friends who own this, and they swear by it. It's funny and silly, but it actually works really well to clean a microwave.This may not be something you ask for, but I bet this gets stolen once your friends open it!
I mean… do I really need to say more?I'm impressed at how well this is rated – the last thing you want to do is give a gift that doesn't work.I would never think to buy this for myself, but if someone gave it to me? Heck yeah, I would install it!
Does anyone NEED light up chopsticks? Or Star Wars themed chopsticks? No.But once you see them, don't you WANT these chopsticks? I know I do.I actually purchased these for my Star Wars obsessed son a few years ago, and they're really cute and fun to use whenever we enjoy Asian food at home.
I admit it. I love cheesy dad jokes. And the fact that these admittedly cheesy jokes (Where do sheep get a haircut? At the baa-baa-shop!) come packaged like slices of American cheese.Well, it tickles my fancy.Once someone opens this up, you know they'll have to start sharing the jokes they find. And there are 100 of them for you to all enjoy….
Why should kids have all the fun?When my kids were little, I always bought them fun bandaids for their boo boos. But my medicine cabinet is now filled with boring bandages.Bacon? It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "everything is better with bacon."
I love how this yodeling pickle ties in with the traditional pickle in the Christmas tree. But it's not exactly the same thing.I have no idea where my child first found this, but this went on a wish list years ago. And yes, I did actually purchase it.It's… hilarious. And possibly loud. Definitely something that engenders a ton of laughs.
I would never ever buy this for myself, but these dice are a great conversation starter. And they're fun for those days when you just aren't getting things done.I'll get this done when pigs fly? Yeah… I know how that goes.That said, I feel like once I stop laughing, I might actually get my rear in gear and get moving on my to do list.
Growing up, I loved Silly Putty. There are so many fun variations on this now, and it's time to bring back childhood, right?This one is so fun as it changes color as you play with it and it warms up. It's a great stress reliever, too!
Who hasn't had a tough year? Smudge sticks are a perfect way to commiserate with this – and they make for great conversation, too.I love that this set has a guide on how to use the smudge sticks, perfect for those who have never seen them before or those who need a refresher.
I admit it. These were in my family's stockings last year.They really work, too. It's another funny and silly and will definitely make your group laugh. And maybe it will get stolen and maybe it won't, but this is definitely one that will get used once the recipient takes it home.
Remember when I said I had a work holiday party where the Blooming Onion kit was the hot gift everyone wanted to steal? This is that kit.Who knew?Except me. I'm still sort of sad I didn't go home with it at the end of the day. And I still kind of want one of my own.
A friend gave me a burrito blanket years ago. It is the softest and most fun blanket I own.My kids kept trying to steal my blanket, so they each own one now, too. And they love them.This blanket is surprisingly warm and cozy, and it's just all around fun. You know you'll be the hit of the holiday party with this wapped up.
Chia pets are a campy classic, and most of us have forgotten about them – until someone reminds us.Pair that with Bob Ross and… how fun would this be to unwrap?
Everyone loves tacos, and this triceratops taco stand is absolutely adorable – AND it works. I have serveral friends who have this, and they love it.Who doesn't love functional and practical?
Utterly useless? Yes. Completely fun? Also yes.This is ridiculous and silly and bizarre. And yet the one we have in our house gets pulled out far more often than you might expect.
If you haven't figured it out yet, I like silly jokes. These kitchen puns make for a great tea towel that the recipient can actually use and display.Again, would someone decide to run out and buy them for themselves? No. Are they quirky and just a little bit weird? Yes. PERFECT.
There is something so soothing and comforting about the moon. I purchased this lamp for a friend's daughter to use as a night light, and the absolutely loves it.It's unique and fun, and it's just pretty.
Note that this is the pillow cover and not the full pillow, so make sure you grab a 16×16 pillow to include with this gift.Who doesn't love Friends? And who wouldn't burst out laughing as they see Joey's expression popping out as they unwrap this gift?This is a sure to be stolen item, though I feel like this only ever gets bought as joke.
You have to have seen the shark coochie board, right? It cracks me up, and that's generally the reaction people have.This is actually a decent cutting board, so it has utility. And it will be a great conversation piece for whoever takes it home when they use it with friends and family.
I love these fun notes that remind me of the "while you were out" notifications I used to see back in the day. This company makes several versions, and any of them would make a great Yankee gift exchange gift.Some are sweet like this and the gratitude, while others are more entertaining like the paper tantrum or the passive aggressive note. Maybe pick up a couple and make a whole package of them!
Tasteless? Yeah, maybe.But it's also very much a traditional white elephant gift that will provide a ton of laughs for the right group. It may not get hung in public, but that doesn't mean this won't be a gift people steal throughout the night.
I love a good desk calendar, especially when it can bring me a smile in the morning. (I'm not a morning person.)People of Walmart is a perfect example of something that's funny and part of culture that people know and appreciate. But this might not be something you ask people to buy you.
Bathroom humor is always a winner. My mom actually has a sign similar to this in her guest bathroom, and she gets comments on it all the time.Yes, she got it to free. No, she wouldn't have bought it for herself.But that's exactly the type of gift you're looking for, right? Get on it!
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