White Elephant (sometimes called Yankee Swap or Dirty Santa) is a holiday gift exchange where players draw numbers, choose a gift or “steal” a gift from a previous recipient. This game is a great way to involve people of all ages and genders at your holiday party—and have a little cheeky fun in the process. Typically, there’s also a set price point; for this guide, we’re rounding up White Elephant gifts under $100 to give you plenty of different options.
While some folks like to give gag gifts for this irreverent exchange, we prefer to choose items that people will actually use all year—and want to steal from others during the party (after all, that’s part of the fun). When it comes to the very best White Elephant holiday gifts, you should think about the vibe and crowd: Are you doing the exchange with your all-female book club, or will you be at your work holiday party? If it’s the latter, choose a gift that most people would enjoy (think: a cool desk calendar, wineglasses or an ultra-soft blanket).
From fun gadgets to festive decorations to beautiful objets d’art, here are the best White Elephant gifts under $100.
Tory Burch Essence of Dreams Layering Oil, Sandalwood
Tory Burch Essence of Dreams Layering Oil, Sandalwood
Top notes of ginger; heart notes of vetiver, cedar and balsamic; and base notes of Australian sandalwood make this sweet and woody fragrance oil a beautiful gift. Your recipient can wear it as a standalone perfume or layer it with other Tory Burch oils for a bespoke scent that can be altered with each season.
Everyone could use a pair of luxe socks, and this pair gives us all the cozy Cotswolds vibes. Hand-knitted from alpaca wool in England, these socks are antibacterial, moisture-wicking and thermo-regulating (read: just like Goldilocks, your feet will never be too hot or too cold). Chunky, soft and slouchy, they're absolute perfection for winter movie nights and slow weekend mornings.
Gift Set, Lip Balm 3-Pack, Best of the Best
Gift Set, Lip Balm 3-Pack, Best of the Best
This gift set includes all-natural lip balms in three delectable flavors: sweet mint, island coconut and pomegranate peach. Coconut oil, beeswax, sunflower oil and vitamin E will keep their lips nourished all winter long, and you can feel good about gifting this eco-friendly beauty bundle since product is poured into 100% recyclable cardboard tubes (with adorable vintage-inspired packaging) and is made without any animal testing.
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We're obsessed with these co*cktail napkins with fun sayings from one of our favorite holiday movies, Home Alone.
Several of these 8-quart stockpots are on sale for $80—a steal for a kitchen workhorse that can cook pasta, boil seafood, simmer soups and more.
Ok we may be a bit biased, but this coffee table book makes a perfect gift for design lovers. It features over 30 spectacular homes around the world that embody effortlessly chic style. From coastal escapes to country retreats to dramatic city residences, there's design inspo to be found on every page.
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These cotton canvas pouches are panel printed by hand in India. We think they make a beautiful vessel for giftable goodies such as perfume, small toiletries, candy or a chic deck of cards.
Villa Real Mexican Hot Chocolate Variety Gift Set
Villa Real Mexican Hot Chocolate Variety Gift Set
Made in Oaxaca, this festive Mexican hot chocolate gift set includes two discs of almond, vanilla, and sweet dark chocolate. We love that the chocolate is made of simple ingredients (just cocoa butter, sugar, almonds, and other nuts and spices) for a treat you can feel good about. Add a handcrafted molinillo with your gift for a thoughtful touch.
Who doesn't love a sweet treat around the holidays? Choose anywhere from two to 12 types of candy for your Sugarwish box, or wrap up a gift card to let your gift recipient choose their own! They can also use the gift card on wine, cookies, candles and more.
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This festive, 500-piece puzzle will have your gift recipient ready to pop a bottle of bubbly!
Stanley 64 oz. Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler
Stanley 64 oz. Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler
Most of us could stand to drink more water throughout the day, and this 64-ounce tumbler will help make staying hydrated way easier thanks to its double-walled insulation that'll keep H2O ice cold all day.
Everyone could use a chic calendar to help them stay organized in the new year. This one is simple, but the beautiful typography and silk paper make it feel elevated (and gift-worthy) instead of utilitarian.
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Bone Inlay Domino Set in Black and White Pinstripe
Bone Inlay Domino Set in Black and White Pinstripe
These handcrafted Perry Ellis x Mela bone inlay dominos are inspired by the manors of Renaissance Europe. They're perfect for game night, but still pretty enough to display on a coffee table all year.
Sometimes, a crowd-pleasing holiday candle is just the ticket for a gift exchange. This one—with notes of earthy green, galbanum, tart citrus, cassis, tropical fruit and fruity musk—will wake up any winter home and make it feel instantly more happy.
This beautiful White Elephant gift includes so much for the price! It's pre-filled with 13 wooden utensils (including a flat spatula, five beechwood cooking spoons, a multi-purpose scoop, a sugar/salt spoon set, a lemon reamer, a co*cktail mixer, a honey dripper, a tasting spoon, and a bottle opener), and is packaged alongside an artisan-made, hand-thrown crock. We love that the crock could also be used as a flower vase.
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In today's hectic world, everyone could use a little extra help tracking down their phone, keys, purse or even pets. AirTags are the modern-day solution to help you find your things, since they'll immediately ping your phone when your lost items are detected.
Everyone's schedule tends to pick up in the winter—between co*cktail parties, charity benefits and all the errands of the holiday season, we could all use a little more downtime and self-care. These eye patches will make your gift recipient look like they scored a full night of sleep in mere minutes.
This hand-carved acacia board is ideal for serving up cheese, charcuterie, crudités and more. Anyone would want to steal this handsome White Elephant gift!
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These candles are a two-in-one gift. First, you'll get to enjoy a single-wick scented candle, and then you can plant the seed-infused box to grow tomatoes, flowers, herbs and more (depending on which you choose).
Catherine Martin Starry Night co*cktail Shaker
Catherine Martin Starry Night co*cktail Shaker
Who wouldn't be delighted to open a gift box with this vintage-inspired co*cktail shaker inside (or want to steal it from the person ahead of them)? It makes the perfect bar cart addition—and you can pair it with a co*cktail recipe book or bottle of simple syrup if you want to up the price point of your White Elephant gift.
Jaime Milan
Deputy Digital Editor
Jaime Milan (she/her) is the deputy digital editor for VERANDA, where she writes about design, architecture, gardens, jewelry, fashion, travel, wine, news and trends. In her spare time, she can be found shopping at the antique store, cooking, gardening, or teaching her mini Australian Shepherd, Gumbo, new tricks. Follow her on Instagram at @jaimemmilan.
