How to use it
- Type each player’s name on its own line.
- Press shuffle to get a random turn order.
- Press “Next turn” as each person picks or steals, so everyone knows who is up.
The order is generated in your browser and is not stored anywhere, so you can reshuffle as often as you like before the game starts.
Basic White Elephant rules
Everyone brings one wrapped gift within an agreed budget and adds it to a shared pile. The first player opens any gift. Each following player can either open a new gift from the pile or steal a gift someone has already opened. A player whose gift is stolen chooses again: they can open a new gift or steal from someone else, though most groups forbid stealing straight back the gift that was just taken. The game ends when every gift has been opened.
Popular house rules
- Freeze after a few steals. Once a gift has been stolen a set number of times it stays with its current owner.
- Final swap for player one. The first player gets one last chance to swap, which balances out going first.
- Theme the gifts. Funny, useful, homemade or “regift only” themes keep the pile interesting.
- Time limits. Give each turn a short time limit to keep large groups moving.
Tips for a smooth game
Agree on the budget and the steal limit before anyone shops, and announce the rules once everyone is seated. Wrap gifts so their shape gives little away. For big groups, read the order aloud at the start and keep this page on a shared screen. If people are joining remotely, ask them to ship gifts in advance or to open their own gift on camera when it is chosen.
Prefer each person to buy for one secret recipient instead? Use our Secret Santa generator, read the Secret Santa rules, or browse gift ideas under $20 that also work well for White Elephant.
Frequently asked questions
What is a White Elephant gift exchange?
It is a party game where everyone brings one wrapped gift, then players take turns either unwrapping a new gift from the pile or stealing one that has already been opened.
How is White Elephant different from Secret Santa?
In Secret Santa each person secretly buys for one assigned recipient. In White Elephant gifts are not assigned; the fun comes from choosing and stealing in turn order.
How does this generator pick the order?
It shuffles the names with a cryptographically secure Fisher–Yates shuffle, so every possible order is equally likely. Nothing is saved on our servers.
How many times can a gift be stolen?
That is up to your group. A common house rule is that a gift is "frozen" after it has been stolen a set number of times, often two or three.
What does the first player get to do at the end?
Because the first player had no gifts to steal, many groups let them make one final swap with any opened gift after everyone else has taken a turn.
Does the generator work for remote parties?
Yes. Share your screen on a video call, shuffle the order and press "Next turn" as you go so everyone can follow along.