The Best White Elephant Gifts Under $30 That The Whole Party Will Want (2024)

Table of Contents
Best White Elephant Gifts Under $30, At A Glance: Best White Elephant Gifts Under $30 A Cute Trinket Dish Wenshuo Cute Cloud Trinket Dish Potted Plants For Anyone With A Green Thumb Modern Sprout Tiny Terracotta Kits A Retro Puzzle Le Puzz Lighten Up! Puzzle (500 Pieces) Japanese Meditation Candles Daiyo Rice Wax Japanese Candles A Unique Set Of Playing Cards Moooi Extinct Animals Playing Cards A Chic Ornament Cody Foster Vintage Glass Food Christmas Ornaments A Tool For Serious Snackers Chef'n FridgeFork Condiment Fork A Calendar Inspired By Our National Parks Parks Project National Parks 2024 Calendar A Beloved Multi-Tool Gerber Gear Suspension-NXT 15-in-1 Multi-Tool A Vintage-Inspired Vase Ban.do Vintage Rise And Shine Ceramic Vase A Fun (And Functional) Pop-Up Book This Book Is A Planetarium: And Other Extraordinary Pop-Up Contraptions Girl Dinner Accoutrements Fishwife Smoked Albacore Tuna Trendy Blemish Patches Starface Hydro-Stars Hydrocolloid Pimple Patches (32 Count) A Beloved Reusable Tote Standard Baggu Tote An Ice Roller For An At-Home Facial Esarora Ice Roller A Microwavable Popcorn Bowl The Original Proper Popper Microwave Popcorn Bowl A Stylish AirPods Case Casely Day & Night Colorblock Mountains AirPods Case An Electric Mug Warmer For Hot Coffee All Day Vobaga Electric Coffee Warmer A Daily Calendar For The Dog Lover WeRateDogs 2024 Day-To-Day Calendar A Pair Of Trendy Socks Sock Candy Tree Of Life Sheer Crew Sock Playful Fridge Magnets Hey Foly Ramen Refrigerator Magnets A Disposable Camera To Capture Lasting Memories Fujifilm QuickSnap Disposable Camera An Entertaining Cat Toy Potaroma Flopping Fish Cat Toy A Decorative Night Light For Book Lovers Xiudi Mini Folding Wooden Book Lamp (8 Colors) A Fun Breakfast-Themed Candle Lucky Charms Cereal Scented Soy Candle A Personalized Straw For Sipping Pretty Customizable Crazy Straws A Funky Art Print Nephthys Foster Le Homard Poster Onsen Powder For A Relaxing Soak Okuhida Yunohana Onsen Powder A Cute Tea Infuser Genuine Fred ManaTea Silicone Tea Infuser Best-Selling Pens For An Artist Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Assorted Pens (8-Pack) Wine Purifiers For A Headache-Free Night Out PureWine Wine Wands Purifier (8-Pack) A Light For Late-Night Bookworms Glocusent Upgraded LED Neck Reading Light A Mug For The Lego Lover Lumsburry Build-on Brick Coffee Mug Fun Culinary-Inspired Nail Art Stickers Lisa Says Gah Nail Art Stickers A Whimsical Weather Predictor Storm Cloud Weather Predictor A Cute Neon Light Lovely Cat Neon Light A Pasta-Inspired Tarot Deck The Pasta Tarot (78-Card Deck) A Roaring Headlamp The Original DinoBryte LED Headlamp A Set Of Salty Shot Glasses Himalayan Salt Tequila Glasses (Set of 4) A Funny Neck Pillow Shrimp Neck Pillow A Portable Handwarmer Orastone Rechargeable Hand Warmer A Beautiful Set Of Japanese Watercolors Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Set Novelty Erasers For Little Mistakes Urban Outfitters Popcorn Eraser Set Elegant Scented Matches Boheme Scented Matches (Seraphina) A Set Of Cute Reusable Food Savers Food Huggers Reusable Silicone Food Savers (5-Piece) A Funny Wine Bottle Stopper Genuine Fred Coq Au Vin Wine Bottle Stopper A Classic Japanese Card Game From The 1500s Hanafuda Cards By Nintendo Tarot-Inspired Seed Collections Sow The Magic Tomato Seed Collection A Handheld Toy From The '90s Giga Pet Star Cat Game A Beloved Portable Charger Zendure Power Bank Hand-Carved Seed Stamps Seeds Ink Stamp Kit (Set Of 5) A Simple But Classic Lawn Game ApudArmis Bocce Balls Set Adorable Handmade Soaps Mini Strawberry Frog Vegan Jelly Soap (12-Pack) A Popular Handheld Juicer Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer A Fancy Liqueur For Holiday Cocktails UME Plum Liqueur What Are Some Unique White Elephant Gifts Under $30? Where Can I Find The Best Deals On White Elephant Gifts Under $30? Can I Personalize Or Customize White Elephant Gifts Under $30? More Gifts Stories To Shop

This story is part of the Forbes Vetted 2023 Holiday Gift Guide, where you can find handpicked presents for everyone on your list.

Who doesn’t love a white elephant gift exchange? It’s one of the few gift-giving events where the rules are minimal and your choices are only limited by price (which is perhaps the golden rule: Do not go over budget). Otherwise, the only real goal is to incite a small frenzy. To help you get inspired, we rounded up the best white elephant gifts under $30—from the practical to the unique (and everything in between).

There are three simple guidelines to finding the perfect white elephant gift. First, the aforementioned budget. Stick to it—it was selected for a reason. Second: A pure gag gift can be fun, but it typically ends up in the bin. Aiming for something funny and useful, unique or consumable makes for a more well-rounded present. Lastly, tailor your gifts to your audience. A gift exchange among friends will have a much different tone than an office party. With that in mind, go forth and shop the best white elephant gifts under $30 that all the party guests will want.

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Best White Elephant Gifts Under $30, At A Glance:

Best White Elephant Gifts Under $30

A Cute Trinket Dish

Wenshuo Cute Cloud Trinket Dish

Strike a balance between whimsical and practical with this adorable trinket dish. The sturdy ceramic tray is perfect for jewelry, makeup or keys, and will add a touch of playfulness to any space.

Potted Plants For Anyone With A Green Thumb

Modern Sprout Tiny Terracotta Kits

Gardens may be winding down, but these little terracotta planters can bring a little green into your space throughout the winter. Each kit comes with everything you need to start growing lavender, daisies, catnip, poppies or clover.

A Retro Puzzle

Le Puzz Lighten Up! Puzzle (500 Pieces)

Puzzles are a winter staple—perfect for a relaxing weekend getaway or a cozy night in. Le Puzz takes puzzling seriously, with uncommon designs and random-cut pieces that will pose a decent challenge to any puzzle lover. Plus, you basically have a work of art when you’re done.

Japanese Meditation Candles

Daiyo Rice Wax Japanese Candles

These thoughtful candles are composed of environmentally friendly rice wax and rush weed wicks. Each candle has a 15 minute burn-time that’s perfect for a little meditation break. The package is equally as gorgeous as the candles, making it a unique gifting experience all around.

A Unique Set Of Playing Cards

Moooi Extinct Animals Playing Cards

Everyone should have a cool set of playing cards. This gorgeous deck was designed in collaboration with the Dutch interior designer Moooi. The custom art is lush and colorful, and made with paper sourced from sustainable forests.

A Chic Ornament

Cody Foster Vintage Glass Food Christmas Ornaments

Ah, a Christmas ornament, the most traditional of casual holiday gifts. This caviar bauble steps the sentiment up with a fun, vintage-inspired design. If caviar doesn’t do it for you, there are tons of cute pantry-inspired designs on Food52’s site.

A Tool For Serious Snackers

Chef'n FridgeFork Condiment Fork

This condiment fork solves the snacker’s lament: Should you wiggle your little piggies in the pickle jar or dirty a clean fork? The holster attaches to most jars and holds the FridgeFork in place, so you can quickly snag a pickle (or a couple of olives) without any extra fuss. If you’re more of a cornichon fan, this little grabber tool is great too.

A Calendar Inspired By Our National Parks

Parks Project National Parks 2024 Calendar

A gift fit for any nature lover, this 2024 calendar is full of unique art and donates a portion of proceeds to national conservation efforts. It’s a win-win that will have the giftee looking forward to the new year.

A Beloved Multi-Tool

Gerber Gear Suspension-NXT 15-in-1 Multi-Tool

If your white elephant crew is made up of outdoorsy folks, this multi-tool might start a riot. The tool folds up into a compact 4.25-inch size, but still houses needle nose pliers, a wire stripper, three flathead drivers, a #2 cross driver, awl, nail file, scissors, tool lock, can opener, bottle opener, partially serrated blade and pocket clip.

A Vintage-Inspired Vase

Ban.do Vintage Rise And Shine Ceramic Vase

A vase can be easily overlooked, but it’s a home essential for anyone that appreciates a pretty bloom. This cute vintage-inspired design will brighten any space and can even stand alone as a fun sculpture when you’re between bouquets.

A Fun (And Functional) Pop-Up Book

This Book Is A Planetarium: And Other Extraordinary Pop-Up Contraptions

Great for science-loving adults and kids alike, this pop-up book can transform into six fully functional tools—including a planetarium, an infinite calendar and a playable instrument.

Girl Dinner Accoutrements

Fishwife Smoked Albacore Tuna

With the rise of tinned fish night and girl dinner this past year, Fishwife has become a foodie staple. These responsibly sourced tins are delicious and adorably packaged. And if the giftee really likes them, they can sign up for a subscription service to try all of the flavors.

Trendy Blemish Patches

Starface Hydro-Stars Hydrocolloid Pimple Patches (32 Count)

A skincare essential, these hydrating pimple patches are a cute way to deal with a less cute problem. The hydrocolloid patches are designed to absorb fluids and reduce inflammation. The set includes 32 stickers and a cute refillable carrying case with a mirror for on-the-go touch ups.

A Beloved Reusable Tote

Standard Baggu Tote

These beloved Baggu totes are durable and attractive. They come in 32 unique patterns and colors, are machine washable and can hold up to 50 pounds. They’re sort of a do-it-all bag (and sustainable to boot).

An Ice Roller For An At-Home Facial

Esarora Ice Roller

Whether your skin could use a little refresh after a night out or you’re soothing a headache, this beloved ice roller is a tiny little spa treatment in the palm of your hand. You might want to go ahead and order one for yourself as well.

A Microwavable Popcorn Bowl

The Original Proper Popper Microwave Popcorn Bowl

Everyone loves popcorn, right? It’s a delicious, easy snack made even easier with a microwaveable popcorn bowl. Just add kernels (and your oil/seasoning of choice) and pop it into the microwave for about four minutes. Voila: you’ve got a perfect bowl of homemade popcorn for a cozy movie night.

A Stylish AirPods Case

Casely Day & Night Colorblock Mountains AirPods Case

Casely’s unique AirPods cases are a perfect example of a fun but useful white elephant gift. They offer 48 styles in a variety of patterns and colors—as well as matching phone cases and portable chargers.

An Electric Mug Warmer For Hot Coffee All Day

Vobaga Electric Coffee Warmer

I spend a lot of time walking back and forth between my desk and the microwave: The Sisyphean task of keeping my coffee warm. This electric mug warmer sits on your desk and keep your beverage warm for hours. It can reach up to 149 degrees, has an auto shut-off after four hours and a light that lets you know when the pad is still hot to the touch.

A Daily Calendar For The Dog Lover

WeRateDogs 2024 Day-To-Day Calendar

Inspired by the popular Instagram account, WeRateDogs, this day-to-day calendar by Matt Nelson will start your mornings off right with a funny dog photo, caption and rating that’s always over 10 because, well, just look at that face. This gift is especially great for a workplace white elephant party—who wouldn’t want this on their desk?

A Pair Of Trendy Socks

Sock Candy Tree Of Life Sheer Crew Sock

Socks don’t have to be a secret, hidden beneath your shoes. These best-selling fashion socks come in bold, whimsical designs, like the Tree of Life above or these strawberry ruffles. If you’re looking for something less baroque, these retro-inspired tube socks are an excellent option.

Playful Fridge Magnets

Hey Foly Ramen Refrigerator Magnets

The refrigerator is the unofficial art gallery and message board for many homes, but often magnets go overlooked. These ramen fridge magnets can stand on their own as fun décor or hold up that pending wedding invitation (that you should RSVP to soon, by the way).

A Disposable Camera To Capture Lasting Memories

Fujifilm QuickSnap Disposable Camera

Disposable cameras are back, baby. Gone is the era of the perfectly posed picture, we’d rather capture the moment (and leave our phones in our pockets). Pass it around a party, bring it on your next trip or keep it in your bag—you never know when the photog mood might strike.

An Entertaining Cat Toy

Potaroma Flopping Fish Cat Toy

Okay, so this gift is less for your friend and more for their pet. (But any cat lover knows that a good cat toy will entertain them both.) This rechargeable fish has a motion sensor that flops around when touched, and a durable plush exterior.

A Decorative Night Light For Book Lovers

Xiudi Mini Folding Wooden Book Lamp (8 Colors)

This handheld light is super cute. Designed to look like a book, the mini lamp is bound in wood and cycles between eight different colors. Each charge should last about two to three hours.

A Fun Breakfast-Themed Candle

Lucky Charms Cereal Scented Soy Candle

Your giftee may never burn this adorable candle. Playful and nostalgic, choose from sweet culinary delights—like the Lucky Charms design above—or savory snacks, like a bowl of mac and cheese.

A Personalized Straw For Sipping Pretty

Customizable Crazy Straws

There may never be a more perfect time for a novelty straw than a white elephant gift exchange. Customize the straw with inside jokes or funny words up to 10 letters—but beware the longer the word, the less stable the straw.

A Funky Art Print

Nephthys Foster Le Homard Poster

This London-based illustrator makes fun, stylized designs, like this bold lobster or these graphic sardines. But any fun and funky art print from a favorite artist would make an excellent gift.

Onsen Powder For A Relaxing Soak

Okuhida Yunohana Onsen Powder

Bring healing minerals from the northern Japanese Alps to your party with this Yunohana Onsen Powder. The natural hot spring mineral mix produces a relaxing, unscented milky water fit for a private onsen soak.

A Cute Tea Infuser

Genuine Fred ManaTea Silicone Tea Infuser

The ManaTea might be a bit of a cliché in the stocking stuffer game at this point, but it’s still an excellent white elephant gift. Cute, functional and entirely based around a bad pun—what more could you want?

Best-Selling Pens For An Artist

Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Assorted Pens (8-Pack)

Sometimes old-school methods just hit different: Texting will never feel better than penning a letter and sketching by hand has a different fluidity than a tablet. If your group has any artists or writers, a good set of pens is a swoon-worthy gift.

Wine Purifiers For A Headache-Free Night Out

PureWine Wine Wands Purifier (8-Pack)

This is the perfect gift for the wine lover who suffers from common sensitivities like headaches or restlessness after a glass or two. Supposedly, these wine wands help purify your glass (and also restore open, oxidized wine) without impacting the flavor. So you can enjoy your rosé without the stress of a rough morning after.

A Light For Late-Night Bookworms

Glocusent Upgraded LED Neck Reading Light

This rechargeable book light is perfect for late night readers, knitters or really any hobbyist who could use some illumination. It’s comfortable, has an optional 30-minute auto-off timer, three lighting temperatures and an 80-hour battery life.

A Mug For The Lego Lover

Lumsburry Build-on Brick Coffee Mug

Kids or AFOL (adult fans of Lego—it’s a whole thing) will love this fun Lego-compatible mug. It’s available in several different colors and can hold hot liquid up to 100 degrees—but it is not microwave safe.

Fun Culinary-Inspired Nail Art Stickers

Lisa Says Gah Nail Art Stickers

Equal parts playful and stylish, these culinary-inspired nail stickers will please any foodie. You can even pick up a holiday themed design to really get into the seasonal spirit.

A Whimsical Weather Predictor

Storm Cloud Weather Predictor

This decorative piece is perfect for a desk or bookshelf. The specialized liquid inside the cloud crystallizes when it detects changes in barometric pressure (indicating a storm is on the horizon).

A Cute Neon Light

Lovely Cat Neon Light

Amazon makes tons of fun neon-inspired LED lights that are bright and surprisingly effective for the price. (I actually have a few myself.) The cute lounging cat above (or this furry friend) will please animal lovers or you can go a little more esoteric with something like this tropical sunset design.

A Pasta-Inspired Tarot Deck

The Pasta Tarot (78-Card Deck)

Where are my witchy pasta-loving girlies at? This unique divination set is full of pasta, pop culture references and funky art. Plus, tarot cards are traditionally supposed to be gifted, making this set even more perfect (if possible).

A Roaring Headlamp

The Original DinoBryte LED Headlamp

This battery-powered lamp works great for kids or as a silly (but still functional) option for adults. You can find highly-rated classic headlamps under budget as well, if you want a more traditional design (but who can say no to a roaring headlamp?).

A Set Of Salty Shot Glasses

Himalayan Salt Tequila Glasses (Set of 4)

Raise a glass to the late great Jimmy Buffet with these salty vessels. Bringing along a bottle of tequila would technically push you over budget—but maybe it’s okay to break the rules just this once.

A Funny Neck Pillow

Shrimp Neck Pillow

Classic neck pillows are out, giant shrimp are in. This delightful plush pillow isn’t just a gimmick, it’s actually pretty cozy, surprisingly well made and comes in well under budget.

A Portable Handwarmer

Orastone Rechargeable Hand Warmer

Functional but niche, this rechargeable hand warmer is the perfect white elephant gift for the chilly months ahead. The double-sided warmer comes in different designs and also has a built-in LED light.

A Beautiful Set Of Japanese Watercolors

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Set

If you’ve got a creative group of friends, this watercolor set will be a surefire hit. These traditional Japanese paints are vivid, vegan and come in a gorgeous giftable box.

Novelty Erasers For Little Mistakes

Urban Outfitters Popcorn Eraser Set

Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone has an adorable eraser to take the edge off. This fun eraser set comes with 12 puffy popcorn pieces and a retro container to hold them.

Elegant Scented Matches

Boheme Scented Matches (Seraphina)

These handmade matchsticks are sustainably harvested from Aspen wood and smell like orris, iris and petitgrain. It’s an elegant gift from the inside out, including chic packaging. All in all, a fun way to add a little extra pizzazz to a practical tool.

A Set Of Cute Reusable Food Savers

Food Huggers Reusable Silicone Food Savers (5-Piece)

Help your giftee reduce food waste with these handy silicone food savers. The food huggers come in a variety of sizes that can slip over fruits, veggies and open containers to keep them fresh. You can also choose from a handful of fun colors.

A Funny Wine Bottle Stopper

Genuine Fred Coq Au Vin Wine Bottle Stopper

This bottle stopper will keep your wine fresh and looks great doing it. It’s funny, it’s fun, it’s functional. What more could you ask for? Psst, it also comes as a cute cat.

A Classic Japanese Card Game From The 1500s

Hanafuda Cards By Nintendo

Did you know Nintendo was founded in 1889? Pretty wild. But before it was making beloved video games, it was known for its handmade hanafuda playing cards. The deck above is not only gorgeous, but a fun card game to have on hand.

Tarot-Inspired Seed Collections

Sow The Magic Tomato Seed Collection

If you’ve got some green thumbs in your group, check out this cute seed collection. Each set includes unique seeds in fun, tarot-inspired packaging. The tomato collection above includes Mushroom Basket Tomato, Hillbilly Tomato, Dr. Wyche’s Yellow Tomato, Blueberry Cherry Tomato and Black Beauty Tomato seeds. You can also pick up a herb collection, flowers and more.

A Handheld Toy From The '90s

Giga Pet Star Cat Game

In the ‘90s, Giga Pets were the hottest gift around. This cute little handheld toy is packed full of nostalgia and has a handy little key ring so you can always keep it with you, even when you’re on the move.

A Beloved Portable Charger

Zendure Power Bank

Perfect for frequent travelers (or folks who just can’t seem to keep their phone charged), the Zendure Power Bank is a super popular and reliable portable charger. You can power up two devices at once and it also provides quick charging to any 3.0 compatible devices (but you’ll need an extra cord).

Hand-Carved Seed Stamps

Seeds Ink Stamp Kit (Set Of 5)

These handmade stamps will make a unique offering for a crafty group. Each stamp is hand-carved to look like various seeds including pine cone, sycamore, dandelion, acorn, poppy and rosehip. Choose from a single stamp or bundle all six together.

A Simple But Classic Lawn Game

ApudArmis Bocce Balls Set

Every family has a game they play when they get together. (For my in-laws, it’s pétanque, which is basically bocce with slightly different rules.) Yard games are a fun way to casually socialize in a larger group without having to devote too much attention to a complex set of rules.

Adorable Handmade Soaps

Mini Strawberry Frog Vegan Jelly Soap (12-Pack)

It doesn’t get much cuter than these vegan jelly soaps. Shaped like adorable little frogs, this set comes in a strawberry-scented 12-pack. The shop offers different scents and shapes, like a large mint frog or this sleepy vanilla pug.

A Popular Handheld Juicer

Chef'n FreshForce Citrus Juicer

This practical and reliable bar tool is durable, works well and is dishwasher safe. A win-win-win. It’s great to have on hand for cocktails, mocktails or just adding a little fresh citrus to your water. Keep in mind that the different colors offered vary by size.

A Fancy Liqueur For Holiday Cocktails

UME Plum Liqueur

This vibrant liqueur is made from plums, dark cherries and grapes. It’s pretty and unique—perfect for any craft cocktail lovers out there. Plus, Forbes Vetted readers can get an exclusive discount right now with code FORBES15.

What Are Some Unique White Elephant Gifts Under $30?

The best unique white elephant gifts are niche but useful. Funny is great, but you don’t want to shell out for something that will get thrown away at the end of the night. Items that your giftee can enjoy in their day-to-day—but that they may not have thought to buy for themselves—is the sweet spot. Consider consumables, like a bottle of local cider or honey, or practical tools—like a quality set of pens or a reading light. Local shops are another great way to find unique gifts while supporting artisans and artists.

Where Can I Find The Best Deals On White Elephant Gifts Under $30?

Shopping sales online is your best bet to find the largest variety of deals on white elephant gifts under $30. You can’t beat instant access to sites like Amazon or Etsy—especially when it comes to the sheer diversity of products. However, shopping local is also an excellent way to find affordable gift selections. Check out a local bookstore or farmer’s market for some knickknack inspiration.

Can I Personalize Or Customize White Elephant Gifts Under $30?

Absolutely—to a point. The nature of a white elephant gift exchange is largely random, so the best gifts will apply to the majority of the party. However, customizing your white elephant gift to the audience is a fun way to give it a little extra flair (and guarantee everyone will be fighting for it). Shared hobbies or inside jokes are great opportunities to personalize your gift while still keeping it applicable to the group at large.

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The Best White Elephant Gifts Under $30 That The Whole Party Will Want (2024)
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