Holidays
71 White Elephant Gift Ideas for Work, by Budget
· 7 min read
A good White Elephant gift is one people fight over. In an office exchange that means something useful with a bit of fun, at the same price as everyone else's, that works for whoever ends up with it. Here are 71 White Elephant gift ideas for work, grouped by budget, plus the gifts most likely to be stolen and a few to avoid.
Every idea is office-safe: no alcohol, nothing about looks or age, and nothing that only makes sense to one kind of person. New to the game? Start with our White Elephant rules for work.
White Elephant gift ideas by budget
Under $15 (£12 / ₹600)
Small, useful and easy to find. Good for a low-limit exchange or a big group.
- A good mug with a bag of coffee, tea or hot chocolate
- A hard-to-kill desk plant, like a succulent or snake plant
- A box of the best chocolates or sweets from your city
- A quality notebook and a pen that writes well
- A phone stand for the desk
- A pack of fun sticky notes and highlighters
- A deck of cards or a small card game
- A cable tidy set or a cord organiser
- Fuzzy winter socks
- A hot sauce or spice sampler
- A puzzle cube or a desk fidget toy
- A pocket-size jigsaw or brain-teaser puzzle
- A digital luggage scale for weighing bags before a flight
- A string of warm fairy lights for a desk or shelf
- A paperback bestseller, fiction or non-fiction
Under $25 (£20 / ₹1,000)
The most common office limit. This is where the gifts that get stolen tend to sit.
- An insulated travel cup or water bottle
- A soft throw blanket for a cold office or home desk
- A party card game the team can play at lunch
- A snack box with treats from different countries
- A desk lamp or a small LED light
- A mini desk fan or hand warmer
- A wireless phone charging pad
- A cookbook of quick lunches
- A grow-your-own herb or mushroom kit
- A 500-piece jigsaw puzzle
- A scented candle and matches
- A gourmet popcorn kit for a movie night
- A sketchbook with a watercolour or paint set
- A smart Wi-Fi plug that switches a lamp on from your phone
- A popular non-fiction book and a bookmark
- Battery-powered decorative lights, like a neon sign or a lantern
Under $50 (£40 / ₹2,000)
For exchanges with a higher limit. Expect these to hit the three-steal lock.
- A small Bluetooth speaker
- Noise-cancelling earbuds from a budget range
- A heated mug or mug warmer
- A weighted blanket or a large cosy throw
- A board game for groups
- A coffee or tea gift set with a brewer
- A portable phone charger
- A desk organiser in wood or leather
- A sunrise alarm clock
- A pizza stone or baking set
- An instant camera with a pack of film
- A plush robe or slippers
- A gym bag or a weekend duffel
- A laptop backpack or a utility tote with plenty of pockets
- A hardback set of two books: one novel, one non-fiction
- A beginner's acrylic painting kit with a small easel
The gifts that get stolen most
Steals go to gifts everyone can picture using on Monday. If you want yours to be the one people fight over, pick from this list:
- A heated blanket or large throw
- A small Bluetooth speaker
- A gourmet snack or chocolate box
- A board game the whole team wants to play
- A coffee gift set
- A portable charger
- An insulated tumbler
- A mini projector, when the budget allows it
Funny White Elephant gifts that are still useful
A laugh when it's opened, and still on the desk in March. That's the test a funny gift has to pass at work.
- A desk-size punching bag
- A mug that says "This meeting could have been an email"
- A desk calendar of terrible office puns
- A giant pencil or an oversized coffee cup
- A tiny desk trophy for "Best Inbox Zero"
- A rubber duck for talking through problems
- A desk plant that comes with its own name tag
- A self-watering plant pot shaped like an animal
White Elephant gifts for remote teams
When the exchange runs on a video call, the buyer ships the gift to whoever ends up with it. Pick things that are light, ship well or arrive digitally:
- A snack box shipped straight to the winner's home
- A digital gift card for coffee or food delivery
- A music streaming gift card, like Spotify
- A Google Play or app-store gift card
- A subscription to a puzzle or crossword app
- An e-book or audiobook voucher
- A plant delivery
- A cosy blanket or socks that ship flat
How to pick a good White Elephant gift
- Match the budget. Spend close to the limit, not far under or over. A gift that's clearly cheaper feels like a dud, and one that's clearly dearer makes everyone else look bad.
- Think "anyone". You don't know who will end up with it, so pick something most people would use.
- Make it useful first, funny second. Joke gifts get a laugh and then go in a drawer.
- Wrap it well. A good-looking box gets picked earlier, and a heavy one gets everyone guessing.
What to avoid at work
- Alcohol, unless your workplace has said it's welcome
- Anything about weight, looks, age or health, like diet books or anti-wrinkle cream
- Rude or adult gag gifts that need explaining to HR
- Food with common allergens and no label
- Anything religious or political
- Regifts that are clearly used
Common questions
What is a good White Elephant gift for coworkers?
Something useful that most people would want: a good mug with coffee, a cosy blanket, a snack box, a desk plant or a card game for lunch. These get stolen because anyone can use them.
How much should you spend on a work White Elephant gift?
Around $15–30, £10–25 or ₹500–1,000 is typical. The organiser sets the limit, and everyone should spend roughly the same.
Should White Elephant gifts be funny or useful?
Both, if you can. At work, useful wins: the gifts that get stolen most are practical ones with a bit of fun.
Run the exchange online
Once the gifts are bought, TeamPlay's White Elephant generator runs the game. Everyone adds their gift with a line about it and a photo if they like, the app draws a random order, and each person opens a box or steals. It keeps the steal limit and the clock, and it runs the final swap round. It works for 2 to 40 people, in the room or remote. Host a free session, or see our Secret Santa guide if your team would rather buy for one person.