Gift guide
White Elephant Gifts for Men That Actually Get Stolen
Funny, useful and fought-over picks for every price limit, from a $10 card game to a $50 speaker.
A good white elephant gift has one job: make the room laugh when it’s opened, then make somebody want to steal it. The worst gifts do neither. They get a polite smile, sit in a corner and go home in the wrong person’s car.
This guide is for gift swaps with a lot of guys in them: the office party, the family Christmas exchange, the fantasy league dinner or a Yankee swap with friends. Every pick is a well-known product with strong reviews, sorted by what it does in the room: get a laugh, start a game, or get stolen three times.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How we pick.
The short answer
- The rule: funny gets the laugh, useful gets stolen. The best gifts do both.
- Best under $15: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza (about $9–12). Everyone plays it before the party is over.
- Best laugh: the Chia Pet Bob Ross (about $20–25). Happy little chia trees.
- Most likely to be stolen: the JBL Go 4 speaker (about $40–50) or a Stanley IceFlow tumbler (about $30–40).
- Best for a $25 limit: the SipCaddy shower beer holder plus a motion toilet light. Two laughs for one gift.
How to win a white elephant swap
- Stay at the price limit. Going way over makes things awkward, and going way under gets you remembered for the wrong reason. Aim for 80–100% of the limit.
- Pick something anyone could use. You don’t know who ends up with it. A card game, a tumbler or a speaker works for almost every guy (and most women too).
- Funny should still be useful. A gag gift that does nothing is trash by January. A gag gift that works, like a shower beer holder, gets bragged about.
- Wrap it well. Mystery is half the fun. A heavy, oddly shaped box gets picked first.
Games that start the party
A game is the safest white elephant gift for men: it costs little, everyone understands it, and it usually gets opened and played before dessert.
Best under $15: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
$9–10 (approx.)A fast slapping card game you can learn in 30 seconds. It is loud, silly and perfect for a group that’s had a drink or two.
See it on AmazonThe modern classic: Exploding Kittens (Original Edition)
$18–23 (approx.)Russian roulette with cards and cats. Easy rules, quick rounds, and it fits in a coat pocket for the next game night.
See it on AmazonFor a rowdy group: UNO Show ’Em No Mercy
$9–15 (approx.)UNO with draw-10 cards and a “mercy rule” that knocks players out. Every guy knows UNO, and this version makes them yell at each other.
See it on AmazonBest adults-only pick: Cards Against Humanity
$25–35 (approx.)The party game for horrible people. Only bring it to swaps where the crowd is friends, not the office party with HR present.
See it on AmazonFor the meme guy: What Do You Meme? Core Game
$25–35 (approx.)Players match caption cards to meme photos. It works with almost any group and gets better the more people play.
See it on AmazonFunny gifts that still get used
These get the big laugh when they’re unwrapped, then actually make it into his house.
Best laugh: Chia Pet Bob Ross
$20–25 (approx.)Bob Ross’s famous afro, grown from chia seeds. It’s a desk plant and a joke in one, and somebody always steals it.
See it on AmazonThe shower legend: SipCaddy Shower Beer Holder
$13–18 (approx.)A suction-cup holder for a beer can in the shower. It sounds like a joke until he uses it once.
See it on AmazonFunny and genuinely handy: Motion Toilet Night Light (2-Pack)
$12–15 (approx.)A motion-sensor light that clips inside the toilet bowl and glows in 16 colors. Gets a big laugh, then ends every 3 a.m. stumble.
See it on AmazonFor the older guys: “Why Are My Nuts in the Toilet Water?” (Book)
$6–10 (approx.)A funny Q&A book about getting older. Cheap, and great as a second gift to round out a lower price limit.
See it on AmazonCozy picks everyone fights over
Winter swaps reward warmth. These are the gifts that get stolen until they’re locked.
Most stolen at $50: The Comfy Original Wearable Blanket
$40–50 (approx.)The oversized sherpa hoodie from Shark Tank. Grown men pretend it’s silly, then put it on and refuse to take it off.
See it on AmazonBest tech under $25: Bluetooth Beanie with Headphones
$15–22 (approx.)A warm knit beanie with thin speakers built in. Great for dog walks, shoveling snow and the gym commute.
See it on AmazonFor the cold commute: OCOOPA Rechargeable Hand Warmers (2-Pack)
$25–35 (approx.)Two magnetic pocket heaters that charge by USB. Perfect for football games, ice fishing or a long walk to the train.
See it on AmazonUseful upgrades that get stolen
If you want to be the person who brought the gift everyone wanted, pick something practical that feels like a small luxury.
Most likely to be stolen: JBL Go 4 Bluetooth Speaker
$40–50 (approx.)Pocket-size, waterproof and surprisingly loud. A guaranteed steal at a $50 swap.
See it on AmazonThe tumbler everyone wants: Stanley IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler (30 oz)
$30–40 (approx.)Keeps drinks cold all day with a flip straw that doesn’t spill in the truck. The black one is easy to hand to any guy.
See it on AmazonFor the office swap: SKLZ Pro Mini Basketball Hoop
$30–40 (approx.)An over-the-door hoop with a foam ball. Whoever takes it home, it ends up in an office within a week.
See it on AmazonFor the whiskey guy: Whiskey Glasses and Chilling Stones Gift Set
$25–30 (approx.)Two heavy whiskey glasses, granite chilling stones and a gift box. Looks like it cost more than it did.
See it on AmazonThe snack attack: Jerky.com 26-Piece Jerky & Meat Stick Gift Basket
$30–45 (approx.)A box of jerky and meat sticks in a dozen flavors. Gets passed around the room, and nobody gives it back.
See it on AmazonFor the grill guy: Meat Church BBQ Rub Combo (Honey Hog + Holy Gospel)
$25–35 (approx.)Two big bottles of the rubs pitmasters actually use. Any guy with a grill will try to steal it.
See it on AmazonWhite elephant gifts by price limit
- $10 limit: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, UNO No Mercy or the “Why Are My Nuts in the Toilet Water?” book. For more ideas, see our stocking stuffers for men under $10.
- $25 limit: Exploding Kittens, the SipCaddy, the toilet light, the Bluetooth beanie or the Chia Pet Bob Ross. Pair two cheap ones to fill the limit.
- $35 limit: the Stanley IceFlow, the SKLZ mini hoop, the whiskey glasses set, Meat Church rubs, Cards Against Humanity or the hand warmers.
- $50 limit: the JBL Go 4 speaker, The Comfy, or the Jerky.com basket. See more in gifts for men under $50.
What to skip
- Joke gifts that do nothing. A plastic novelty gets one laugh and goes in the trash. Funny and usable always wins.
- Anything with a size. Clothing and shoes are a gamble when you don’t know who ends up with it. A beanie or a blanket hoodie is the exception.
- Raunchy gifts at work. Save the edgy stuff for friends. At the office, a game or a tumbler is safer.
- Re-gifted candles and mugs. Everyone can tell. If you’re short on time, a well-reviewed card game takes two clicks.
White elephant vs. Secret Santa
In Secret Santa you buy for one person you know, so you can be specific. Our gifts for male coworkers under $25 guide is built for that. In white elephant (also called a Yankee swap or Dirty Santa), you don’t know who will end up with your gift, and people can steal. That’s why broad, crowd-pleasing gifts like the ones above work best.
Ordering for a December party? Order by early December to be safe, and watch for deals on games and speakers around Black Friday (November 27) and Cyber Monday (November 30).
Quick FAQ
What is a good white elephant gift for men?
A crowd-pleaser he would actually use: a party card game like Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza or Exploding Kittens, a Stanley tumbler, a small JBL speaker, or a funny but useful gift like a shower beer holder.
What is the most stolen white elephant gift?
Useful, slightly luxurious things get stolen most: Bluetooth speakers, insulated tumblers, wearable blankets like The Comfy, and jerky or snack baskets that the whole room wants to share.
How much should you spend on a white elephant gift?
Stay at or just under the group’s limit. Most swaps set $20, $25 or $50. If there’s no limit, $25–35 is the most common range.
What is a funny white elephant gift that isn’t junk?
The Chia Pet Bob Ross, the SipCaddy shower beer holder and a motion toilet night light all get a big laugh and still get used after the party.
Related guides: gifts for male coworkers under $25, stocking stuffers for men under $10 and Christmas gifts for him. Or browse every gift for men under $25.
Keep browsing
Related gift guides
Want picks matched to him?
Buying for one specific guy instead? Tap who he is, the occasion, his budget and his interests. Get a list in a few taps.
Start the Gift Finder