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    74 White Elephant Gifts That'll Be the Talk of the Party — Starting at Under $10

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    74 White Elephant Gifts That'll Be the Talk of the Party — Starting at Under

    If there’s one occasion to embrace chaos (and intentionally cause it), it’s your annual white elephant gift exchange. If you choose wisely, your gift will be treasured, stolen, and even fought over. But finding a good white elephant gift can be challenging, especially when you need to consider a spending limit. 

    We’re here to help: As shopping experts, we’re also elite gift givers. In addition to testing so many products this year, we also scoured the internet to find the best gifts that your white elephant party will love. Whether you’re looking for a funny white elephant gift or something more practical, we’ve found so many steal-worthy options, from the best lip mask we’ve tested to a heat-changing Bob Ross mug. 

    Here are the best white elephant gifts of 2024.

    Best White Elephant Gifts

    Gifts Under $10

    People / Kayla Kitts


    If your gift exchange is capped at $10, there are still plenty of great gifts to choose from. Spruce up a lucky recipient’s Stanley Tumbler with a viral snack tray or gift a satin pillowcase that makes our hair silky smooth. 

    Shop the best and cheapest white elephant gifts below.

    PHOTO: Amazon

    Party guests will be fighting over this gift — especially if your gift exchange includes multiple people with long hair. This is the best satin pillowcase we’ve tested, and you can purchase it at a fraction of the cost of the pricier silk alternatives we’ve tried. It’s a surprisingly effective haircare tool, making our hair noticeably smoother and less frizzy.

    Dash Mini Waffle Maker

    PHOTO: Amazon

    Our senior shopping editor loves this mini waffle maker, which brings nostalgic fun to breakfast at home. It has over 194,000 five-star ratings at Amazon, and reviewers say it makes “perfect waffles every time.”

    More White Elephant Gifts Under $10

    Gifts Under $25

    People / Alyssa Brascia


    Our editors have tested so many quality under-$25 products, and we think they would make great gifts, too. Among the best are the Debatable Holiday Edition Game, which is sure to turn any party rowdy, and the Yellowbird Hot Sauce Variety Pack, which includes travel sizes of our favorite hot sauce. At this price point, there are near-endless options, but we’ve found the best ones, below.

    Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K

    PHOTO: Belkin

    This power bank brings a level of convenience that everyone needs. When we tested it, we were able to charge our iPhone three times with just one charge of the power bank. Plus, it’s super portable, so you can throw it in a small bag to take on any event worry-free.

    Testers Say

    Our tester loves that this power bank features one USB-C port and two USB ports, so they can charge multiple devices at once. Better yet, they never have to worry about wasting battery, since this power bank holds enough power to charge an iPhone multiple times. 

    Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

    PHOTO: Sephora

    Beauty lovers will be fighting over this best-selling lip mask. Our beauty writer touts this mask as the most hydrating lip product she’s tried, and it has over 37,000 five-star ratings on Amazon.

    Writers Say

    “My mom gifts me this lip mask each year, and it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving: It usually lasts me all the way until the following Christmas! I’ve given so many away as gifts, too, and Laneige even offers a mini variety pack, which is perfect for gifting.”—Genevieve Cepeda, staff shopping writer

    More White Elephant Gifts Under $25

    What is a white elephant gift exchange?

    If you’ve never been to White Elephant party, you’re not alone. Mariah Carey previously revealed to PEOPLE that she has never participated in the gift exchange—or Secret Santa! When asked whether White Elephant was a “slay or nay,” she wasn’t quite convinced, awarding it a “nay-ish.”

    Gifts Under $50

    Uncommon Goods


    With a spending limit of $50, the world is your oyster. Our favorite white elephant gifts under $50 include an Oprah-approved wine chiller that our editors love, too, and unique Lego sets that are bound to be a hit. We’d definitely fight over these gifts.

    VoChill Stemless Wine Glass Chiller

    PHOTO: Amazon

    Our editors love this wine chiller, which keeps your glass chilled for up to two hours. It fits perfectly with a stemless wine glass and never slips or drips. After trying it for ourselves, we can’t wait to gift it to other wine lovers.

    Uncommon Goods Pickleball Paddle Snack Tray

    PHOTO: Uncommon Goods

    Frequent hosts and pickleball players alike will be fighting over this pickleball snack tray. It perfectly fits chips, veggies, and dips, and it’s dishwasher- and microwave-safe

    More White Elephant Gifts Under $50

    Why Trust PEOPLE?

    Genevieve Cepeda is a staff shopping writer who specializes in beauty and fashion. She loves to find thoughtful, funny, and unique gifts for her loved ones. One of her favorite gifts she has received has become an annual tradition: Each year, her mom gifts her a Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in her stocking (and she doesn’t need another lip balm until the next Christmas). 

    Our Shopping Experts

    • Erin Johnson is PEOPLE’s associate shopping director. She specializes in home products and appliances and has tested over 150 products this year alone. She’s also obsessed with the holidays, so she takes gift-giving very seriously.
    • Shalwah Evans is a senior shopping editor with extensive experience testing and reviewing beauty products. She has a knack for the technical side of product testing, which has made her an expert in the field.
    • Kayla Kitts is a shopping editor and home expert. She regularly tests home and family products, so she’s our go-to resource for practical home gifts and fun family-friendly games. 
    • Madison Yauger is a shopping editor, with expertise in the lifestyle, pets, and travel space. She has personally tested hundreds of products since the launch of PEOPLE Tested. 
    • Cai Cramer is a staff shopping writer who specializes in beauty and health. She is passionate about helping consumers make informed decisions, so she’s intent on recommending only the products that are truly worth your money. 
    • Alyssa Brascia is a staff shopping writer and makeup artist, and she’s PEOPLE’s go-to expert on makeup products. She always stays up to date on noteworthy launches and trending products.
    Members of the PEOPLE Tested team setting up artificial Christmas trees to find out which ones are the easiest to assemble.

    People / Joy Kim


    What Is PEOPLE Tested? 

    We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

    But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

    In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

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