15 White Elephant Gifts for Under $25 That You’ll Want to Steal

Stephanie NguyenLifestyle Director
Stephanie NguyenLifestyle Director
I oversee all our coverage of lifestyle topics, which include cleaning, organizing, wellness, entertaining, real estate, travel, and more. I’m based in Honolulu, Hawaii.
published Nov 23, 2025
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Two hands exchanging a pink gift box with gold ribbon in front of a decorated Christmas tree.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Prop Styling: Vicky Wasik and Maya Borrero

The best white elephant parties I’ve ever attended are ones where people are often clamoring and trying to steal the hot gift of the night from one another — whether it’s something super funny, genuinely good, or just downright practical that they actually need. Looking for white elephant gift ideas for an upcoming party? Below, I rounded up the best items that Apartment Therapy staffers recommend bringing to a gift exchange. The best part? They all cost $25 or less.

Big Baggu
$18

“I'd be psyched to get a Baggu bag in a white elephant! The prints are gorgeous, and I think it's something that anyone and everyone could use,” shares Shopping Writer Alexa Casanova. “Particularly the big Baggu bags; they're great for groceries, laundry, you name it. They fold down into a tiny pouch — perfect for chucking in your bag.”

$18 at Baggu
Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Round Cocotte
$22

This supercute Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Round Cocotte is ideal for desserts, single-serve pot pies, and other dishes, but you could also keep it on the countertop to hold a fancy finishing salt. It’s safe for the freezer, oven, microwave, broiler, and dishwasher.

$22 at Amazon
BAGSMART Travel Toiletry Bag
$22

This travel toiletry bag features four compartments and is so lightweight and soft. This brand is a favorite among Apartment Therapy editors — plus, it made it onto Oprah’s Favorite Things list.

$22 at Amazon
Noodle + Sauce Gift Set
$25$20

“I love bringing edible white elephant gifts to the gathering, and this set is perfect for spice-lovers (which is pretty much everyone at my family's holiday parties),” says The Kitchn Senior Lifestyle Editor and Apartment Therapy Staff Writer Quinn Fish. “It gives a nice sampling of noodles and sauces, and it can even be broken up for trade and bargaining sessions afterwards!”

$20 at Fly by Jing
Souper Cubes 1-Cup Silicone Freezer Molds
$22

I can attest to the brilliance of Souper Cubes, which make meal prepping and planning so much easier. Anyone new to the cubes will be in for a pleasant surprise, as they perfectly portion and store food safely in the freezer. Then, you can directly use them in the oven or microwave and put them in the dishwasher for cleaning when done.

$22 at Amazon
Kintsugi Repair Kit
$20$18

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken objects with a lacquer or epoxy mixed with gold pigment — and gifting a DIY kit is so thoughtful and personal, no matter what that individual is going through. They’ll be able to do a meditative craft, transform something broken into something beautiful, and really be present in the moment.

$18 at Etsy
Oyster Mirror
$22

“I’d be excited to get this oyster pocket mirror!” shares Senior Branded Content Editor Elizabeth Entenman. “I love it when useful things are also cute. If you use it a lot, it might as well be adorable and make you smile.“

$22 at Coucou Suzette
HyperChiller Long-Lasting Beverage Chiller
$25$238% off

This nifty gadget will cool down your favorite beverage in just one minute! It’s perfect for coffee, tea, juice, or even alcoholic beverages.

$23 at Amazon
Mattel Games Magic 8 Ball
$11

Looking for a fun and enviable gift idea? Why not get them a retro Magic 8 Ball? I think your answer to that should be “yes.”

$11 at Amazon
Etekcity Luggage Scale
$16

A practical-yet-necessary tool for anyone who travels and has faced the dreaded, “is my bag too heavy?” ordeal. I’d be excited to get this luggage scale, which comes in a two-pack, because it is definitely something I wish I'd had sooner.

$16 at Amazon
Hidden Icon Peekaboo Ceramic Mug
$20

“I firmly believe the key to the best white elephant gift is to know the audience that'll be fighting over the object. I am lucky to have two white elephant party events to go to each year, and I'm still working on cracking the code to the most fought-after family-friendly gift, but I always nail the millennial-aged crowd gifts!” shares House Tours Director Adrienne Breaux. Her secret? Shopping at Urban Outfitters to find something that fits this formula: function + tongue-in-cheek + a vice — like this coffee mug with a hidden martini glass figurine inside.

$20 at Urban Outfitters
The Original Tapple Mini
$10

You may have heard about the super-viral Tapple board game. Well, it just got even better: a mini version of Tapple that’s extremely compact, portable, and battery-free! The same rules apply — choose a card with a category, press a timer, and shout out words related to the category that start with a certain letter — but now you can bring this game with you anywhere and to any event.

$10 at Amazon
Apple AirTag
$29$2031% off

An Apple AirTag may seem a little too practical as a gift, but honestly, you probably know at least one person who is always losing their phone, wallet, or keys, and could really benefit from having an AirTag on hand.

$20 at Amazon
A&J Koti Table Crumb Sweeper
$12

“Personally, I love a little cute tabletop crumb brush,” shares Executive Producer Meghan Smith. This mini one includes a dustbin and has built-in magnets to ensure you never lose a piece of the set.

$12 at Amazon
DoorDash eGift Card
$25

If all else fails, you can’t go wrong with getting a DoorDash gift card for $25 so that you can treat them to lunch or dinner — especially on a day where they don’t feel like cooking or need food soon but are too busy to make something.

$25 at Amazon

Want more gift ideas? Check out our Gift Therapy guide — which highlights the best gifts for everyone on your list, from practical gems to thoughtful finds and even cozy products.

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