How to Play White Elephant (In-Person and Online)

White Elephant is a gift exchange game made for surprises and laughs, where no one quite knows what’s coming. 

Everyone brings a wrapped gift, then takes turns opening or “stealing” gifts from others. 

It ends up being this chaotic, fun swirl of swapping until someone winds up with something totally unexpected.

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Basic White Elephant Game Rules

What You’d Need to Play

How do you play white elephant game? Here’s the minimal setup (and some good to have) items so things go smoothly:

• At least 4 players; ideally, 6-12 gives a fun balance.
  
  
• Each person brings one wrapped gift. Set a price limit or theme ahead of time so gifts are more or less equal.
  
  
• A method to decide playing order: drawing numbers, drawing names, or using an online randomizer.
  
  
• A place or platform where people can gather: living room, party hall, or Zoom / Teams / Slack for remote.
  
  
• If virtual: everyone needs a way to show the gift (a photo, link, or image), and someone (host/admin) to keep track of whose turn, stealing, etc.
  
  

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Step-by-Step White Elephant Gameplay (Same for Both Online & In-Person)

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How do you play white elephant game? Here’s how, step by step:

1. Everyone brings or submits a wrapped/unlabeled gift (or photo/link if online).
   
   
2. Players draw numbers (or are randomly assigned) to determine turn order.
   
   
3. Player #1 picks a gift from the pile/unopened collection and opens it for everyone to see.
   
   
4. Player #2 (and subsequent players) can either open a new gift or steal any already opened gift.
   
   
5. If someone’s gift is stolen from them, they then either open a new gift or steal from someone else.
   
   
6. There’s usually a limit on how many times a gift can be stolen (for example, 2 or 3 times). Without that, the game can drag. (Pro tip: set that limit clearly before you start).
   
   
7. After everyone has had a turn, optionally, Player #1 may get a final chance to steal. (Some versions include this; others don’t.)

How to play white elephant gift exchange ideas are countless.

Pro tips:

• Stealing adds spice. But too many steals = chaos. Agree on “max steals per gift” and “max steals per person” ahead of time.
  
  
• Make sure gifts are wrapped similarly so nobody can guess what’s inside by feel.
  
  
• If virtual, have everyone share images/descriptions ahead of the game to build anticipation.

How to Play White Elephant In-Person

When you’re all in one space (living room, office lounge, party venue), here’s how to run it smoothly:

1. Gather everyone: Set a time, send reminders, and get everyone in one place.
   
   
2. Collect gifts: Put all wrapped gifts in one place (pile, table), visible to all.
   
   
3. Draw numbers: Random order decides who goes when. Number 1 goes first, then 2, 3, …
   
   
4. Turns:
   
   
   
   • Player #1 picks and opens a gift.
     
     
   • Player #2 can either pick a wrapped gift or steal #1’s gift. If stealing, the person who lost that gift can pick a wrapped one or steal from someone else.
     
     
   • Continue down the order.
     
     
5. Steal limits: Usually, a gift can’t be stolen more than a set number of times. Also, in some white elephant game rules for home play, a gift can only be stolen once per turn.

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Collectible toys are very famous amongst Gen Z and millennial adults. 

Want to know how to play white elephant gift exchange ideas? 

How do you play white elephant game when you know the friends group closely? Simple, get things they love the most and watch them hilariously fight.

1. Optional final twist: After all turns, Player #1 might get a chance to swap (steal) again. This gives the first mover a redemption move.
   
   
2. End game: Once everybody has a gift, and no one wants to steal further (or you’re out of allowed steals), game over. Everyone keeps what they have.

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How To Play White Elephant at Home Using a Die

If you feel that your White Elephant gift exchanges feel a bit clunky, people waste time, the “stealing” part drags, or gifts never move. 

Over the years, this twist has gotten great feedback: fast, fun, and keeps everyone involved.

Here’s how it works:

• Use one standard six-sided die (like in the game LCR).
  
  
• Everyone picks a wrapped gift first.
  
  
• Seating & turn order:
  
  
  
  • Friends: Sit in a circle, ideally next to people whose gifts you might like. The host rolls first.
    
    
  • Families: Sit oldest to youngest; the oldest person rolls first.

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• Rounds 1 & 2: Roll the die each turn.
  
  
  
  • L = pass all gifts left or swap gifts with the person on your left
    
    
  • R = pass all gifts right or swap with the person on your right
    
    
  • C = choose a gift to swap or keep your own
    
    
  • Dot (or “•”) = open your gift, then either keep it or swap with someone else

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• After all gifts are opened, move to Rounds 3 & 4: Roll the die again each turn, but swaps become optional instead of mandatory:
  
  
  
  • L = swap with left or keep your gift
    
    
  • R = swap with right or keep
    
    
  • C = choose to swap or keep
    
    
  • Dot = same choice to swap or keep
    
    

Why This Version Works Well

• Such white elephant game rules add structure and chance, so the game flows more naturally.
  
  
• Since gifts open early (in round 1-2), everyone sees what’s out there, fewer awkward “what is this weird wrapped thing” moments.

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• The die imposes randomness that keeps things exciting without letting people dominate with endless steals.
  
  
• Swaps later (Rounds 3-4) give people chances to strategize once the full picture of gifts is known.
  
  

How to Play White Elephant Online

How does white elephant work in remote or virtual settings? Well, it needs a little adaptation. But you can keep the fun intact.

• Use a White Elephant platform that lets you set white elephant game rules, collect gift links/images, and manage turns & stealing virtually.
  
  
• DIY version: Zoom / Teams + Google Sheets (or any shared doc) for tracking. Share a screen of the gifts. People can show their gift image/link.
  
  
• Ahead of the event: decide gift budget, deadlines for submitting gifts, wrapping (if physical), or photos/links (if virtual).
  
  
• On game day: Join the video call. Host/admin shares list of gifts; unwrapping (or revealing photos); handle stealing rounds just like in person. Send physical gifts afterward, or order online gifts and ship after the game.
  
  
• Keep time in mind: Video fatigue is real. Set turn timers; limit total duration.
  
  

Teambuilding guides suggest having slide decks or virtual templates so people can see all gifts visually, track which gift has been stolen, how many times, etc. 

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Additional Tips On How To Play White Elephant Online

1. Choose a good video conferencing setup & tools
   
   
   
   • Pick a platform that supports screen sharing, gallery/grid view (so people can see each other), and chat. Video + audio on for everyone enhances engagement.
     
     
   • Use breakout rooms if you have a lot of people and want smaller side-conversations or joint decision rounds.
     
     
   • Consider using visual tools/templates such as White Elephant Game. Create your own background and let the game day magic work!

Want to know more about how to do white elephant gift exchange? [virtually]. Check this image.

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1. Set clear rules & logistics in advance
   
   
   
   • Budget range: Typically US $10–$30 is common for virtual exchanges. Helps avoid people buying wildly different value gifts.
     
     
   • Shipping & delivery: Decide whether gifts are shipped only after the game ends, so no mix-ups. Some people make participants wait until the end so the final owner is clear.
     
     
   • Turn order determination: Randomizer (digital), drawing numbers, trivia, etc.

Bonus: No need to run around external logistics support whilst pondering how does white elephant work. Get all-inclusive support from whiteelephantgames.com. 

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You can add gifts by simply pasting a URL from any online store or uploading a photo of something you already own. If someone can’t do it themselves, the host can submit gifts for players, too.

To choose your gift: paste a link from places like Amazon, Best Buy, Etsy, etc., and our system will pull in the title and image automatically so it looks clean.

Then there’s wrapping: pick from different box shapes and sizes. 

Want it to look extra special? Customize the color of your box and ribbon, match them to your taste or your theme.

1. Manage stealing & gift-locking rules
   
   
   
   • Limit how many times a gift can be stolen overall (e.g., 2-3 times), so it doesn’t bounce around endlessly.
     
     
   • Some white elephant game rules say a gift can only be stolen once per turn (so someone can’t steal back immediately).
     
     
   • If a gift reaches its max steals, mark it as “frozen” (locked) so no one else can take it. Helps finish the game cleanly.
     
     
2. Timing & pacing to avoid fatigue
   
   
   
   • Use timers for turns, especially in virtual settings, so people don’t lag. Keep each turn from taking forever. Some hosts give ~60 seconds to choose or steal.
     
     
   • Keep the overall event duration reasonable (e.g., 60-90 minutes), including buffer for tech delays, introductions, and post-game wrap-up.
     
     
3. Gift submissions & visuals (how to play white elephant gift exchange ideas)
   
   
   
   • Ask participants to submit gift images or product links ahead of time, so the host can prepare a “virtual table” of gifts. Makes choosing or stealing more visual. White Elephant Online supports this.
     
     

For physical gifts, specify shipping deadlines and addresses well in advance. For digital gifts (gift cards, subscriptions, etc.), ensure everyone accepts these.

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1. Boost engagement & fun
   
   
   
   • Add themes (e.g., “Quirky kitchen tools”, “local artisans”, “books only”, etc.) to give people ideas and make gifts more interesting.
     
     
   • Use small side-games or trivia to decide the order, or give a bonus “steal rights”.
     
     
   • Encourage show-and-tell when gifts are opened: everyone holds up the gift on camera, maybe shares why they chose that gift (if they picked).
     
     
2. Technical backup & preparation
   
   
   
   • Have one person (host) in charge of tracking steal counts, handling disputes, and making sure everyone knows whose turn it is.
     
     
   • Plan how gifts will ultimately reach winners (physical or digital) to avoid confusion.
     
     

Key Variations to Customize Your Game

To keep things fresh (and avoid the same old White Elephant every year), here are popular variations people use:

• Gift Steal Limit per Gift: e.g., a gift can be stolen at most 3 times.
  
  
• Max Times a Player Can Be Stolen From: You might limit how many times someone can lose a gift.
  
  
• Frozen Gifts Rule: According to some white elephant game rules, once a gift is stolen the maximum number of times, it’s “frozen” (nobody can steal it anymore).
  
  
• Bonus Steal for Player #1: After all turns, give Player #1 an extra chance to steal something.
  
  
• Themes: like “kitchen gadgets”, “funny gag gifts”, “under $25”, “re-gifts only”, etc.

Tips for Making It Awesome

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Here’s a checklist to help your White Elephant game be memorable, fun, and fair:

• Set a clear price range and stick to it. Everyone should feel comfortable participating.
  
  
• Encourage “fun/funny gifts”, but remind people to choose something someone could actually use (or at least appreciate).
  
  
• Use a timer per turn, especially online, to avoid slow drags.
  
  
• Let people opt out of stealing if they don’t want to; it’s okay just to open a new gift.
  
  
• Keep rules consistent and communicate them before the game starts. No last-minute ambushes.
  
  
• Add personal touches: inside jokes, custom gift tags, a theme, or even friendly prizes for weirdest gift, best steal, etc.

FAQs

What’s the best price range for White Elephant gifts?

It depends on your group. For many work or mixed groups, something like US$10-$30 works well. If people are local, consider what’s typical in your area or cultural context. The idea is fairness, not extravagance.

Can I use digital gifts (e-gift cards, NFTs, etc.)?

Yes. They work especially well for virtual exchanges. Just ensure everyone accepts that format beforehand. If you do e-gifts, clearly share the delivery method (email, link), and maybe wrap via photo or graphics so the “unwrap” moment still feels fun.

What are the rules for stealing gifts in White Elephant?

• Usually, a gift can only be stolen a limited number of times.
  
  
• A gift can be stolen once per turn (so someone cannot have the same gift stolen back immediately).
  
  
• Some versions let Player #1 steal again at the end.
  
  
• If a gift reaches its steal limit, it’s “locked” or “frozen,” so no more stealing.
  
  

How to play White Elephant with dice?

You can assign actions to dice rolls. For example: roll a die to decide whether you must steal, open a new gift, or swap with someone specific. This adds randomness beyond turn order. Works best with groups that want something less predictable.

How to play White Elephant with a deck of cards?

How does white elephant work using cards? You can:

• draw to set order (e.g. Ace = 1, King = last)
  
  
• assign special powers (e.g., drawing a spade allows you an extra steal)
  
  
• random twist cards in some turns (swap, freeze a gift, etc.)
  
  

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