We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Gift Guides The 60 Best White Elephant Gift Ideas Under $50 You can’t go wrong with one of these fun, quirky, and crowd-pleasing gifts. By Ariane Resnick, Ariane Resnick Ariane Resnick, CNC is a leader in the realm of nutrition and special diets, helping to make healthy eating affordable and easy for all. She has cooked professionally, intermittently, for well over twenty years, and has nearly a decade of professional writing experience. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Dillon Evans, Dillon Evans Dillon is an Update Writer at Food & Wine, where he spends most of his time ensuring product recommendations are fresh and relevant. He's performed testing on kitchenware like bundt pans and cookware sets. In his free time, he bakes, develops recipes, and sips on North Georgia wine. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Laura Denby Laura Denby Laura Denby is a New York-based food writer and private chef with a diploma in culinary arts. As an expert in cookware and kitchen tools, she has tested more than 100 kitchen products for Food & Wine, including hand mixers, nonstick pans, and carbon steel pans. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 6, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article What Is a White Elephant? Gifts Under $50 Gifts Under $40 Gifts Under $30 Gifts Under $20 FAQ More Gift Ideas Our Expertise Photo: West Elm White elephant gifts are one of the trickiest things to buy during the holiday season. Unlike the most thoughtful and heartfelt kitchen gifts for your loved ones, white elephant gifts can at once be both silly and useful, not to mention the quirky gag gifts that add a little fun and whimsy to the game. Finding something everyone at your party will fight over is no easy feat, so we’ve taken the guesswork out of choosing the perfect item. Whether you need to cross one last gift off your list or you're just starting to plan your holiday shopping, these gifts for home cooks will ensure you don’t show up empty-handed. We found kitchen gear, accessories, and more to suit the baker and the bartender alike, all while staying within a $50 budget. Our choices are surprisingly useful, while not compromising a stitch on the fun factor. After all, ‘tis the season. And you’re bound to be the hit of the party with any one of these options. Food & Wine What Is a White Elephant? A white elephant is a party game and a gift exchange usually played around end-of-year holidays like Christmas. Everyone has their favorite style of white elephant, but the most common version has each participant choose a gift, open it in front of the other players, and then decide to keep it or steal a different gift from someone else. Because of its cutthroat yet guilt-free format, a white elephant gift exchange is often the obvious choice for office parties. Unlike other games such as Secret Santa or Dirty Santa, the gifts you bring into a white elephant are often anonymous, ambiguous, and varying in value and utility — but that makes it competitive! Are you going to be able to keep the fancy toaster oven you landed on the first pull, or is someone you don’t even know going to steal it and leave you with a basic bottle of wine? Solo Stove Gifts Under $50 At the $50 price point, you can impress your future giftee. Whether you settle on a classic pour-over coffee maker, an enviable smokeless fire pit, or the wine stopper no one knew they needed, there are plenty of solid choices. We’ve found similarly great $50 gift ideas, including kitchenware, barware, and entertaining essentials that are bound to get snatched up at the gift exchange. Solo Stove Cinder Tabletop Bowl $55 at Amazon $40 at Walmart View on Solostove.com Pretti.Cool Waffle Trivets $48 at West Elm View on Pretti.cool Fredericks & Mae Multicolor Small Plastic Cutting Board $40 at Food52 $40 at Backcountry.com View on Moma.org Sprezz Whimsical Oil Bottle View on Maisonette.com $45 at Neiman Marcus View on Sprezznyc.com Dusen Dusen for Areaware Everybody Timer $48 at Food52 View on Dusendusen.com View on Areaware.com Misen Paring Knife $44 $33 at Amazon $40 at Misen.co Henckels Stainless Steel Serrated Steak Knife Set $60 $40 at Amazon $90 at Wayfair $45 at Walmart Anthropologie Amelie Latte Pasta Bowls $29 at Anthropologie Le Creuset Champagne Stopper $50 at Amazon $50 at Williams Sonoma $50 at Wayfair Chemex Classic Series Coffeemaker $49 at Amazon $42 at Williams Sonoma $67 $49 at Walmart Wabash Valley Farms Whirley Pop Color Changing Popcorn Maker $50 at Amazon $39 at Wayfair View on Whirleypopshop.com Crate & Barrel Monogrammed Serving Board $50 at Crate & Barrel Crate & Barrel Swoon Wine Decanter $50 at Crate & Barrel Melati Classic Non-Alcoholic Botanical Spirits View on Thezeroproof.com Great Jones Gifts Under $40 We selected many gift ideas for those with a $40 white elephant budget. We included every home cook’s necessary cookware piece: the cast iron skillet, plus highly rated cookbooks and measuring cups to elevate someone’s kitchen game going into the new year. Plus, statement pieces like a stunning set of martini glasses might make you consider stealing the white elephant gift you brought to the party. Fortessa Jupiter Beaded Glass Martini Glasses $40 at Target $40 at Williams Sonoma $28 at Wayfair Great Jones 2-Cup Measuring Cup View on Greatjonesgoods.com View on Bespokepost.com Alessi Pino Funnel $52 at Amazon $32 at Walmart View on Alessi.com Lodge 12" Cast Iron Skillet $28 at Amazon $30 at Target $15 at Wayfair Jacobsen Salt Co. Infused Salt Set With Stand $42 at Amazon $40 at Williams Sonoma View on Jacobsensalt.com Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co. The Classic Smoky Trio $39 $36 at Amazon $33 at Eatfishwife.com NEEPA HUT Collapsible Food Tent $38 at Food52 Go-To Dinners: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook $35 $20 at Amazon $35 at Williams Sonoma YETI Rambler 20 oz Tumbler $35 at Amazon $31 at REI View on Yeti Savory Baking by Erin Jeanne McDowell $40 $23 at Amazon $23 at Target Kurt Adler Deli Food Ornaments Set of 4 $37 at Amazon Haand Olive Tray View on Haand.us Burlap and Barrel God’s Love We Deliver Blend Set View on Burlapandbarrel.com Fellow Carter Wide Mug $35 $24 at Amazon $30 at Nordstrom $27 at Fellowproducts.com Fly By Jing Gifts Under $30 We found many fun gifts under $30 for friends, family, and coworkers. For folks who love hosting, there are cute cocktail picks, colorful kitchen decor, and serving trays. We’ve even included ritualistic favorites that everyone grabs at like a travel coffee mug and French press coffee maker, each with a unique twist. Gag gifts like a bread vase and a bok choy hair clip will keep the white elephant exchange fun and lively. Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Round Cocotte, 8 oz. $26 at Amazon $32 $22 at Nordstrom $25 at Wayfair Crate & Barrel Marin Chip and Dip Server View on Crate & Barrel Unzipped Glass Zipper Bag $27 at Wayfair $24 at Uncommon Goods Jenny Lemons Large Bok Choy Hair Claw Clip View on Jennylemons.com Bodum x World Market 8 Cup French Press $30 at World Market Urban Outfitters Bread Vase $28 at Urban Outfitters Love & Victory Surfer Cocktail Picks $28 at West Elm View on Loveandvictory.com Teaspressa Classic Cocktail Kit $30 at Sur La Table $30 at Anthropologie View on Teaspressa.com Fly By Jing Triple Threat $28 at Amazon View on Flybyjing.com Hydro Flask All Around Travel Tumbler $35 $31 at Amazon $35 at Nordstrom View on Hydroflask.com Maille Mustard Variety Pack $21 at Amazon $33 at Walmart The Cocktail Box Co. Old Fashioned Cocktail Kit $24 at Amazon $11 at REI Uncommon Goods Himalayan Salt BBQ Plank $30 at Uncommon Goods Jean Dubost Laguiole Oyster Tool Set View on Crate & Barrel Brightland Parasol Champagne Vinegar $27 at Amazon View on Brightland.co Hedley & Bennett Chef's Towels $30 at Amazon View on Hedleyandbennett.com Runamok Organic Vermont Maple Syrup Sampler $22 at Amazon Snacking Bakes $25 $16 at Amazon $16 at Walmart $25 at Barnesandnoble.com Terrain Antiqued Brass Candlestick $28 at Anthropologie $34 at Shopterrain.com West Elm Drinking Glasses $28 at West Elm Amazon Gifts Under $20 $20 is a standard price point for white elephant parties. It’s just enough money to get unique versions of go-tos like coffee mugs, but not so high a price that the “losers” of the exchange leave feeling disappointed. Our selection will help make someone happy and liven up your gathering with sought-after presents like tasteful bar cart accessories. And you’d be surprised how many people would love to get their hands on these plastic-free produce bags. The Wine and Cheese Board Deck $20 $15 at Amazon Tequila Mockingbird (10th Anniversary Expanded Edition) $17 $11 at Amazon $17 at Barnesandnoble.com $17 $16 at Bookshop.org ban.do Cocktail Measuring Jigger $17 at Amazon View on Bando.com View on Myshopify.com Monkey Business Farfalloni Pasta Pot Grips $17 at Amazon $16 at Moma.org Anthropologie Rika Mug $18 at Anthropologie Netany Drinking Glasses with Glass Straws $19 $15 at Amazon Uncommon Goods Funny Food Plastic-Free Produce Bags $15 at Uncommon Goods Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit $22 at Amazon $13 at Target $22 at Walmart Boska Cheese Slicer with White Oak Handle $16 at Sur La Table Le Creuset Pie Bird $16 at Amazon View on Le Creuset Rishi Tea Matcha Powder $15 at Amazon $10 at IHerb $12 at Rishi-tea.com Mueller Cold Brew Coffee Maker $17 at Amazon Frequently Asked Questions What are the best types of gifts for a white elephant? The best white elephant gift is an item anyone in your group can use. Edible food gifts are great if you’re mindful of allergies and sensitivities. Clothing, shoes, and accessories can be cute gift options, but — depending on the price limit and group composition — you could risk someone going home disappointed and empty-handed. Try useful small kitchen appliances, host gifts, or gifts for coffee lovers if you’re stumped. Do you wrap white elephant gifts? Yes, you do wrap white elephant gifts. Ideally, no one will know who brought which gifts. Hiding the gift in a gift bag or wrapping it allows you to add your silly — or extravagantly overpriced — gift to the mix and watch the madness unfold later.How you conceal your gift also matters for a white elephant. Start by asking the party host for their preference and err on the side of using a gift bag. White elephant exchanges can take a long time since each participant has to choose and open their present in front of everyone. Using a simple gift bag and tissue paper ensures your gift keeps things moving forward at a fun pace. More Gift Ideas The 44 Best Chocolate Gifts of 2024, Including Some Editor Favorites The 30 Best Gifts for Cocktail Lovers, According to Bartenders The 64 Best Gifts Under $100, Including Several of Our Tested Favorites The 30 Best Gifts Under $50, Including a Few of Our Tested Favorites The 35 Best Camping Gifts for Campers Who Love to Cook Our Expertise Ariane Resnick is a special diet private chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author. She has written for platforms such as Simply Recipes, The Spruce Eats, Allrecipes, Huffington Post, and Health. Dillon Evans updated this article to be categorized by price and include more gift selections. He is a Food & Wine writer, lifelong home baker and cook, and certified cake decorator. His work can also be found at EatingWell. Dillon hosts his annual white elephant exchange for between $20 and $50 and used that experience to contribute to this piece. Laura Denby is a food and wine writer with a degree in Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education and a WSET level 2 award in wine and spirits. She has years of experience working as a professional chef and is passionate about exploring new and emerging wine regions and varietals. She has worked on vineyards both on Long Island and the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France, where she has experience leading group tastings in the tasting room and working alongside winemakers in the cellar during vinification. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit