Christmas guide

How to run a fair white elephant gift exchange

White elephant is a gift swap where players can steal each other's wrapped or unwrapped gifts. It is fun when everyone knows the rules and a bit chaotic when they do not. Here is a simple set of rules you can announce before the game starts, plus a few ways to keep it fair.

Before the party

Set a price range and tell everyone in the invitation, for example "about $20". Agreeing on a range keeps gifts roughly equal in value.

Decide whether gifts are wrapped, whether they need to be neutral enough for any guest and whether you will use a theme such as something edible, something cozy or something funny.

Count your players. Every guest brings one gift, so the number of gifts equals the number of players.

Basic rules

Each player draws a number to set the turn order.
Player 1 picks a wrapped gift and opens it.
Each later player either opens a new wrapped gift or steals an opened gift from someone else.
The player who lost a gift picks again: they steal a different gift or open a new one.
A gift can be stolen only a set number of times, commonly two or three, then it is frozen with its owner.
You cannot steal back the gift that was just taken from you on the same turn.
After the last player, player 1 may swap with any unfrozen gift as a final turn (optional).

Keeping it fair and fun

Write the steal limit and the no-immediate-steal-back rule on a sign where everyone can see it. Most arguments come from rules that were never said out loud.

Use a tracker to note which gifts are frozen and how many times each has been stolen. A simple table on paper is enough.

Let people who do not want to steal opt out by opening a gift instead. The game should feel like play, not pressure.

For a Secret Santa instead, each person is secretly assigned one person to buy for, so there is no stealing. Choose that if your group prefers a calmer exchange.

Want it ready to print?

Secret Santa & White Elephant Gift Exchange Kit on Etsy. 24 printable pages: name draw slips, sign-up sheet, steal tracker, gift swap bingo, rules and reveal cards. $5.99. Instant download, nothing ships. See it on Etsy.

More Christmas guides

Free printables: Christmas activity cards, gift and budget pages and more on the free printables page.