White Elephant Gift Exchange Sign-Up
White elephant goes by a few names (Yankee swap, Dirty Santa, the stealing game), but the idea is the same: everyone brings one wrapped gift, players take turns opening a new gift or stealing one that is already open, and the best gifts change hands all night. Nobody is assigned a person ahead of time, which is what makes it different from Secret Santa.
What you do need ahead of time is a count of who is playing, a price limit everyone agrees on, and the rules written down before the arguing starts. This template is an RSVP where "yes" means "I'm playing and bringing a gift", with the price limit and house rules already in the description. Send the link, and players reply with just a name.
What's on the sheet
This is the starting point. Rename, add or remove anything before you share it.
White elephant time! Bring one wrapped gift, about $25. Funny, useful and strange are all fair game.
RSVP "yes" if you're playing so we know how many numbers to draw. Bringing someone who wants to play? Add them as a plus-one, and they bring a gift too.
Our rules: draw a number, then open a new gift or steal an opened one. A gift can be stolen twice. After that it's frozen.
- RSVP optionsGoing · Maybe · Can't make it
- Plus-onesUp to 1 per guest
- Guest messagesOn
How the game usually goes
- Everyone puts their wrapped gift on one table and draws a number as they arrive.
- Player 1 opens any gift and shows it off.
- Each player after that either opens a new gift or steals one that has already been opened.
- If your gift is stolen, you open a new gift or steal a different one. Most groups don't allow stealing right back the gift that was just taken from you.
- Many groups cap steals. A common rule is that a gift is "frozen" after its second or third steal and stays with whoever has it.
- Some groups give player 1 one last chance at the end to swap with anyone, since they never got to steal.
Price limits and gift rules
Pick a round number that works for everyone in the group, and put it in the description so nobody guesses. At work, a lower limit keeps it easy for everyone to join in.
Say up front what kind of gifts you want. Some groups love gag gifts; others want something people will actually use. Gifts that tend to get stolen are the ones almost anyone would want: a cozy throw blanket, a good mug with fancy coffee or cocoa, a card or board game, a nice candle, a snack basket. At work, keep everything work-appropriate.
Running it with a big group
- Past about 20 players, the game can run long. A two-steal limit and a short timer for each turn keep it moving.
- Have one person call the numbers and keep track of how many times each gift has been stolen. A sticky note on the gift works.
- If some players are remote, ask them to mail or drop off their gift ahead of time and play over video. Someone in the room opens for them.
- Close RSVPs a day or two before the party so the number of gifts is settled, and keep one spare gift for a surprise guest.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between white elephant and Secret Santa?
In Secret Santa, names are drawn ahead of time and everyone shops for one specific person. In white elephant, nobody is assigned anyone: gifts are brought for the pile and claimed during the game. If you'd rather draw names, use the Secret Santa template, which does the draw for you.
How do we pick who goes first?
Numbers from a bowl, drawn as people arrive, are the simplest and feel fair. Write the numbers ahead of time based on how many people said yes.
What if someone shows up without a gift?
Keep one or two spare gifts on hand, around the price limit. If you don't have one, they can still watch and cheer, and you can let them in next year.
Can people still join after RSVPs close?
Closing RSVPs is a switch in the organizer view, so you can turn it back off whenever you like. Just remember each new player means one more gift and one more number in the bowl.
Related templates
More about Party RSVPs · Browse all templates
Ready when you are
Set it up in about a minute, share one link, and let people sign themselves up.
Use the White Elephant Gift Exchange template