White Elephant rules

The classic rules, step by step

This is the version most offices and families in the US play. You need one wrapped gift per person, a set of numbered slips and something to draw them from.

1. Gifts on the pile. Everyone puts their wrapped gift in the middle. No names on the tags. Sit or stand in a circle so everyone can see the gifts.
2. Draw numbers. Each person draws a slip. That number is your turn. Say the order out loud once, so there's no confusion later.
3. Number 1 opens. The first player picks any gift from the pile and unwraps it for everyone to see. That's it for now.
4. Open or steal. Every next player chooses: unwrap a new gift from the pile, or steal a gift that's already open. You can only steal open gifts.
5. Stolen from? Pick again. If your gift gets stolen, you choose right away: a new one from the pile, or steal a different open gift. You can't take back the gift that was just taken from you. Then play moves on to the next number.
6. Three steals, locked. Count how often each gift changes hands by stealing. On the third steal, it's locked. Whoever holds it keeps it.
7. The final swap. When the pile is empty, number 1 gets one more turn. They had no choice at the start, so now they may swap their gift with any gift that isn't locked. Then the game is over.

Stealing: the rules people argue about

Most arguments at a White Elephant exchange come from stealing. Settle these four points before the first gift is opened, and read them out loud.

• Steal limit. Three is the usual number. A lower limit, like two, speeds up large groups.
• No instant steal back. You can't take back the gift that was just stolen from you in the same turn. Later in the game you may, if it's still unlocked.
• One steal chain per turn. Some groups let a chain run: A steals from B, B steals from C, C picks from the pile. That's fine, as long as the chain ends with someone opening a new gift.
• How to mark a locked gift. Put a sticker, a bow or a sticky note on it after each steal. Three marks and everyone can see it's locked.

One more tip: say it's a game before it starts. Losing a gift you liked is part of the fun, and nobody should take a steal personally.

The dice version

The dice version skips the numbers and the stealing tactics. A die decides what happens, so it's faster, louder and easier for kids and big groups. Everyone gets a turn many times instead of once.

All gifts start on the pile. Players take turns rolling one die and do what the number says. Only a 6 brings a new gift into play. Set a timer. When it rings, the game stops, and everyone keeps what they're holding.

Early on, many rolls do nothing, because your neighbor may still have empty hands. Just pass the die. Once the pile is empty, every roll moves gifts around, and that's when the timer starts to matter. Ten minutes after the last gift is out is plenty for ten people.

Want the full dice rules on one page, or a die that rolls in your browser? The White Elephant dice game page has both, plus a printable PDF to put next to the die.

Classic or dice: which one fits your group?

• Classic with steals works best with 8 to 20 adults who enjoy a little strategy. It gets exciting when one gift is on its second steal.
• Dice works with any group from three people up, including kids and coworkers who don't know each other well. Nobody has to decide to take something from someone. The die did it.
• More than 25 people? Split into two circles, or use the dice version with two dice starting on opposite sides of the room.

Before the party

• Set a price limit and put it in the invitation. Everyone plays on the same level that way.
• Agree on the kind of gift. Funny, oddly useful or truly useless? Say it up front, so the person who brings a nice scarf doesn't end up next to a singing fish.
• Wrap it so nobody can guess. A box inside a bag inside paper does the trick.
• Keep it kind. No gifts that make fun of a person, nothing that only works at an adult party if kids or coworkers are there.

White Elephant in the app

GameClique rolls the die for you. Tap the screen or shake the phone, and the move shows up in plain words, like "Swap with the person on your left." You set a timer for 5, 10 or 15 minutes, or play without one. The final minute starts with a signal, and when time is up the app calls the stop.

The Classic rule set is free. With Plus you get more sets and your own rules for each number, including the US Steal set: most numbers are a steal, and a gift is locked after three steals. The app also has gift ideas by budget, an invitation text to share and a certificate for the best junk of the night.