White elephant gifts for coworkers

What works at an office exchange

You do not know everyone's taste, hobbies or home life. That is why broad, useful gifts win at work: a good mug, a warm blanket, a snack box, a desk item. They are easy to understand when unwrapped and nobody feels singled out.

Office groups also run wide. A team of 25 has people from their 20s to their 60s, with different budgets and beliefs. A gift that works for one narrow type of person will sit unopened on the table, or sit unstolen at the end.

A quick check before you wrap

• Would I be fine with my manager seeing this open? If not, put it back.
• Does it avoid jokes about politics, religion, bodies, age or relationships?
• Is it under the price limit, including tax, and not far under it?
• Does it work with no setup, batteries or an app?
• Is it wrapped neatly and in a box shape that hides what it is?

If the group has a written limit, stay inside it. Spending much more than everyone else makes people uncomfortable, even if it is meant kindly.

Gifts to skip at work

• Alcohol, unless your office has clearly said it is fine.
• Anything personal, like perfume, clothing sizes, skin products or health items.
• Gag gifts with adult humor. They get a laugh from three people and a complaint from one.
• Gift cards for one store. They are easy to steal but a bad fit for a person who never shops there.
• Anything that needs space or noise, like a loud toy at an open desk.

Set the rules in the invite

Say the price range, the steal limit and the date in the first message. For wording, see the white elephant rules and the shorter page on white elephant rules for work. If your team is split across locations, the virtual white elephant page covers video calls.

If some coworkers cannot join the in-person party, they can follow along. The host runs the turn order on one screen and anyone with the link sees the same board.

Run the office game with turn order, steal limits and a screen for the room. No app, no signup. Run a game night

How much to spend

Most offices pick $15 to $25. At $15 you can still find solid useful gifts. At $25 you get a wider range, which makes the game more fun because more gifts are worth stealing. See white elephant gifts under $20 and under $25 for lists by price.

Gift links go to Amazon search results, not one fixed product. Prices are approximate and change, so check the listing before you buy.

Plain, useful and easy to explain.

Almost everyone at work will eat or drink one of these.

A laugh that nobody has to explain to HR.