Do you have a white elephant gift exchange coming up and aren’t sure what to buy? You’re not alone. The goal is to give outrageous or silly gifts, but it’s not always easy to find something that will make the person laugh and be useful. If you’re struggling to find the perfect present, I’ve got you covered. Here are 25+ white elephant gift ideas that everyone will actually want.
The 25+ Best White Elephant Gift Ideas That Everyone Will Actually Want
1. Portable Neck Fan
How ridiculous is a portable neck fan? The funny thing is – it’s actually useful. And the person you’re gifting it to will appreciate it when the summer heat kicks in.
Portable neck fans have a headphone design and sit on your shoulders. The built-in fan delivers a steady, cool breeze to keep you comfortable even on the hottest of days.
2. Coffee Mug Warmer
A coffee mug warmer is a great gift for someone who spends every waking moment at their desk. Just plug it in (some are powered by USB), sit a coffee mug on the plate, and it will keep it warm for as long as you want.
You can find warmers for less than $20, making them an excellent choice for a white elephant gift exchange.
3. Sling Puck Game
Here’s a silly gift that the recipient will love: a sling puck game. The goal is to use the slingshot to catapult your pucks to the other player’s side of the board. It’s essentially a tabletop hockey game. The best part? It’s a cheap gift that’s perfect for this type of exchange.
4. Nachosaurus
Here’s a ridiculous but awesome gift to give – a Nachosaurus set. It’s basically a dinosaur chip and dip set, but what’s not to love? Stack your chips on the dinosaur’s back, and add your favorite dip to the bowl. You can even use them to hold tacos.
5. Ransom Notes Word Magnet Game
Looking for fun white elephant gift ideas? Ransom Notes is a word magnet party game where players use word magnets to respond to questions or prompts. Because you only have a limited number of words, the responses can be hilarious.
It’s a game that’s easy to play, and everyone will want to join in.
6. Breakfast Sandwich Maker
This gift is so practical and boring that it fits the bill for a white elephant gift. But at the same time, who wouldn’t want a breakfast sandwich maker? The only appropriate response to a gift like this is: thanks?
Hamilton Beach’s sandwich maker is really affordable, and it comes in a bunch of fun colors.
Related: 25+ Best Gift Ideas for Men Who Have Everything
7. Benson Duck Lamp
How cute and silly is this duck lamp? Sure, it’s made for kids, but we can all agree that adults will love it, too. It has a USB-C charging port, so they don’t have to deal with batteries. And you can even change the color of the light with the remote control.
8. Bonsai Starter Kit
A bonsai starter kit may not be what you’d expect to find on a white elephant gift list, but it’s fitting. It’s unexpected, and bonsais are delicate things that need a lot of work. This starter kit allows you to plant four species of plants and comes with everything you need to get started.
9. Lightsaber Chopsticks
If you know that the person eats with chopsticks, these light saber chopsticks are the perfect white elephant gift. And they’ll actually want it and use it. They come in a wide range of colors, and you can buy multiple pairs if you wish.
10. Fondue Kit
Here’s another cheesy, boring gift that’s actually perfect for a white elephant gift exchange: a fondue pot. They can use it for cheese or chocolate. Some even have detachable serving trays.
11. Offensive Pens
I love these offensive pens for an office gift exchange. They’re not really offensive, but they’re hilarious. Anyone who works in an office will have a good laugh. And if they’re not someone who works in an office, you can find other pen sets with funny sayings, like:
12. Tabletop Bowling
I love giving gifts like this tabletop bowling set because they’re silly, but they’re also fun. The person receiving it will – hopefully – want to play this game and enjoy it. It’s easy to play, and it fits perfectly on a table.
13. Cards Against Humanity
I love white elephant gift ideas that are game-related (can’t you tell?), and when it comes to outrageous or offensive games, it doesn’t get much better than Cards Against Humanity. At this point, there are so many expansion sets for this card game, but to be on the safe side, stick to the classic or original edition.
14. Tortilla Throw Blanket
It’s a tortilla blanket. You know how people say that they’re wrapped in their blanket like a burrito? Well, you can make that happen with this double-sided, flour tortilla. The blanket’s radius is 71”, so it will wrap around the person and hold them just like a burrito.
You can even add this cheese hat for extra measure if you like.
Related: 25 Best Gift Ideas for Women Who Have Everything
15. Shark Blanket Hoodie
Is it a shark or a blanket? No one knows. This shark blanket hoodie is a costume that fits any sized adult. And, if the person loves Shark Week, the gift will have even more of an impact. Plus, the hoodie is ultra comfortable.
16. Emotional Support Fries
Support fries is one of the most unexpected white elephant gift ideas on the list. These viral, cute plush fries have a variety of expressions and are a cute idea for anyone who loves fries.
Put them right on the person’s plate and they’ll laugh the moment that they see them.
17. Pancake Socks
A gift of pancake socks is something no one expects, but it’s a gift that will surely put a smile on their face. Start cooking up some delectable pancakes and put this gift in place of the person’s pancakes.
They’re sure to have a laugh.
18. My Last Nerve Candle
If your recipient has been going through a difficult time in life, the “My Last Nerve” candle is one that they’ll be sure to love. Why? It’s hilarious. What I didn’t tell you is that the rest of the phrase says, “oh look… it’s on fire.”
A person who has been through a lot lately will surely appreciate this gift.
Related: 16 Best Hostess Gift Ideas That’ll Keep You On The Guest List This Holiday Season
19. Tabletop Fire Pit
Smokeless and made of ceramic, a tabletop fire pit is something that the recipient will never expect. You can even roast marshmallows on the fire, so it’s like a mini party in a box for the person who loves sitting around the campfire.
20. Yodeling Pickle
Random and hilarious? I’ll take it. The yodeling pickle is something that no one really expects. For hours of fun, make the pickle yodel at the most random times, such as when he’s dead asleep or in the middle of a conversation.
21. Positive Potato
White elephant gift ideas are rarely this cute. A positive potato is something that I wouldn’t mind receiving. It’s cute and funny. You’ll find plenty of options with different sayings, so pick one that matches the person’s personality best.
You can choose sayings, such as:
- This one that says, “small potatoes can still make a big impact.”
- This one says, “I may be a small potato but I believe in you.”
22. Cat Tissue Box
Wait. Where are you pulling that tissue out of exactly? A cat butt tissue holder is something no one really expects, and it’s sure to get a bunch of laughs the moment someone opens it up.
23. Gnome Bird Feeder
Gnomes are adorable, add in a bird feeder, and you’ll be hooked on this adorable gift idea. A gnome bird feeder can be cute, like this one holding a sunflower, or if you have more squirrels than birds, you can even consider this squirrel gnome feeder.
24. Fish Slippers
What a funny gag gift? Fish slippers or flip flops are a cute, affordable gift to buy for someone special in your life. The slippers are unisex, so you can even wear them if you like.
25. T-Rex Planter
T-rex and planters? What’s not to love? You can find plenty of options, such as this one from Walmart, but there is a cheaper option on Amazon, such as this one. You’ll even find some options that are dinosaur skulls, which are actually pretty neat.
26. Screaming Goat Toy
Screaming goats are more than a major hit on YouTube – they’ve also made it to the toy industry. You’ll find plenty of great options here, and this is one of the gifts that I’ve personally bought for someone.
You’ll love this screaming goat toy, but there are plenty of others that look adorable like this one and this one.
