Struggling to find unique white elephant gifts under $30? We’ve got you covered! Our shopping experts scoured the internet for 18 bizarre, affordable gifts that’ll make you the star of the party.
White elephant gifting is all about strange, funny presents that bring laughter to holiday gatherings.
Forget practicality – this game celebrates the weird and wacky. But great ideas often come with a hefty price tag, putting a damper on your gifting spirit.
That’s why we compiled a list with budget-friendly, wonderfully odd white elephant gift ideas that’ll steal the show without emptying your wallet.
Best White Elephant Gifts Under $30
1. World’s Smallest Vacuum
A funny gift that also manages to be practical, the World’s Smallest Vacuum is sure to get a chuckle out of anyone who opens it. If the recipient is an office worker, they can use this tiny little vacuum to get their desk clean from crumbs and the like.
When they turn it on, they can spread the joy by making their coworkers laugh when they lay eyes on the vacuum for the first time. It can easily be kept charged by plugging it into a USB port or a charging adapter.
2. Large bread shaped pillow
This Giant bread pillow is the perfect White Elephant gift for those who love a side of humor with their comfort. Soft, cuddly, and sure to make you the toast of the party!
3. Stick Man Fart Necklace
Unleash laughter with the Stick Man Fart Necklace – a stainless steel pendant that’s a gas! Perfect for White Elephant exchanges, it’s a stinky good time under $2.
4. DAILY MOOD Desk Flipchart
With the Fred THE DAILY MOOD Desk Flipchart, the recipient can let the rest of the office know how they’re feeling on any given day, giving them a clue on whether or they should engage with them.
This flipbook comes with 47 moods to flip through, each one with its own bold and vivid smiley face that reflects that mood.
On the flip side, there is a snarky definition waiting to be read, sample sentences to help define it, and interesting facts about the mood. The gift box it comes with makes it ready to gift straight away.
5. Hasbulla Magomedov Meme Keychain
Get your meme on with the Hasbulla Magomedov keychain! This hip-hop inspired accessory will add a touch of viral humor to their keys or bags. A White Elephant win that costs a couple of bucks on AliExpress.
6. Pair of artistic socks
Everyone likes to keep their toes snug on a chilly day, so this Pair of artistic socks will definitely serve a purpose while making them smile. The socks are one of a kind with their designs that take after famous art pieces, such as The Scream, Starry Night, and the Mona Lisa.
They are as comfortable as they are warm, fashioned out of 80 percent cotton, 15 percent acrylic, and five percent spandex to provide the perfect fit for almost any size of a foot.
7. Peleg Design Mr. Razor
For the beard-growers in your office, the Peleg Design Mr. Razor is a funny, cute, and still useful gift. It features a man with a beret and a thick black mustache who can attach to the wall to keep their razor attached and ready to go.
It uses a suction cup to attach to the wall and to tiles and mirrors as well, helping to declutter showers and sink spaces at the same time.
8. Cup for Tiki Creative Elk
How about this quirky reindeer mug! It’s a 200ml glass cup that’s perfect for sipping your favorite beverage while adding a dash of humor to the party. Plus, at just €15.67, it won’t break the bank!
9. Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy
Put a little joy into someone’s day to day by gifting them the Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy. This white elephant gift can sit on their desk at work and be turned on to cheer them up on a stressful day while also attracting the attention of their coworkers at the same time.
All they have to do is press the button to send the wacky waving inflatable arm-waving tube guy into motion for as long as they’d like. Its compact nature allows it to easily fit on any desk.
10. Medieval D*** Picks Calendar
Need a White Elephant gift that’s sure to raise eyebrows? This Medieval D*** Pics 2025 Calendar is a hilarious conversation starter! At just €6.18, it’s a cheeky, budget-friendly choice that’ll have everyone laughing.
11. Cat Butt Magnets
Whenever a cat is finished getting pet by their owners, they always seem to turn, walk away and show them their butts. It’s a trait that every cat lover knows well, and it has become something of a running joke among such people.
These Cat Butt Magnets will make an excellent gift for cat lovers in your office and is sure to make them laugh every time they put one on their refrigerator or smiling cabinet. There are six cats in this magnet pack, each of a different breed.
12. Screaming Goat
If someone in your office loves goats or just loves to cause a little mischief, they’ll love this Screaming Goat as their white elephant gift. This goat demands attention as it screams and bleats, and it will sound with the simple push of a button.
The goat sits on a tree stump that will balance well on any office desk and waits for you to wake it up so it can start yelling. It comes with a fun, 32-page illustrated pocket guide that will give some fun trivia and facts about the farm animal to further entertain.
13. Funny Celebrity Face Mask
Moving on from medieval mischief, how about a 3D printed full face mask for your next White Elephant gig? This quirky cosplay headwear is sure to turn heads at just €2.60. It’s a thrifty way to bring some tricky fun to the party!
14. Farting Animals Coloring Book
Everyone experiences a slow day at the office now and then. With The Farting Animals Coloring Book as a white elephant gift, you can help your coworkers pass the time, stave off boredom and get a few laughs in during the day.
This coloring book features pages upon pages of animals to color, each one with little fart clouds behind them.
15. Nicolas Cage Mermaid Pillow
Nicolas Cage has become something of a walking meme these days, and it is one that everyone seems to get a laugh at. By gifting this Nicolas Cage Mermaid Pillow, you can take your coworkers off guard with his face. At first, it appears to just be a typical throw pillow with a sparkly exterior.
The magic happens when they run their hands over it to pull back the glittery scales and expose Nic Cage’s face. The throw cushion measures around 16 inches by 16 inches and fits on any sofa comfortably. It makes a great addition to the break room at work.
16. Mini waffle maker
Everyone enjoys a good waffle now and then, and the Mini waffle maker makes it an easy process to enjoy a quick bite. This mini waffle maker creates waffles in the shape of a heart, making the treatment of this breakfast food even sweeter.
It weighs only one pound and can be just as easily used at home as it can at work, making it a gift that the whole office can potentially enjoy. All you have to do is plug it in and let it go thanks to its plug-and-play technology.
17. Burritos Blanket
Last but not least, the Burritos Blanket makes a great choice for the cozy nap-lovers in the white elephant gift exchange. When all wrapped up in a blanket, people tend to call themselves a blanket burrito, but with this product, they can actually turn themselves into one.
This blanket is fashioned out of ultra-soft, warm fleece and is made to look like a flour tortilla. It has realistic details that make it even funnier when you see someone wrapped up snugly inside of it.
18. Poor Cat Plush Toy
From masks to meows, surprise your White Elephant crew with these adorable 21cm El Gato cat plushies! At €4.84 for two, they’re a purr-fectly affordable way to spark smiles and collectible joy.
White Elephant Gift Exchange: How It All Started
Ever wondered about the story behind the White Elephant gift exchange? Here’s how it all started:
This fun party game involves bringing quirky or useless gifts to swap. The name “white elephant” comes from old Southeast Asian tales, particularly from Siam (now Thailand).
Back then, white elephants were rare and holy animals, showing off the king’s riches and power. But they were also super expensive to keep and couldn’t do any work, making them a real headache for their owners.
The king would “gift” these elephants to people he didn’t like, forcing them to spend big bucks on their care.
The idea of giving white elephants to burden others turned into our modern gift swap game. Instead of real elephants, we now give away funny or unwanted items.
This tradition became a big hit in the U.S. during the 20th century, especially at holiday parties.
Where is it popular?
The White Elephant gift exchange is a fave in the U.S. and Canada. It goes by other names too, like “Yankee Swap” in New England and “Dirty Santa” in the South. Though it started in Southeast Asia, the game is now mostly played in Western countries.
Need a refresher on the rules? Check them out here.
White Elephant vs. Secret Santa
While both White Elephant and Secret Santa are festive gift exchange games, they differ significantly in their mechanics:
Feature | White Elephant | Secret Santa |
|---|---|---|
Gift Picking | Bring a wrapped gift without knowing its contents. Participants take turns choosing or “stealing” gifts. | Assigned a specific person to buy for, aiming to fulfill their wish list. |
Gift Style | Gifts are usually whimsical or impractical, focusing on humor. | Gifts are more personal and thoughtful, intended to be desirable to the recipient. |
Anonymity | The identity of the gift giver is revealed only after all gifts have been exchanged. | The recipient tries to guess their Secret Santa after opening their gift. |
Bottom Line
Finding a fun white elephant gift has never been easier than it is with our list above. We’ve laid out 18 of the best white elephant gifts under $30 for you to get some inspiration.
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