If you’re tasked with finding great Yankee swap gift ideas and wondering, “Uh, how is this different from a white elephant party?,” let us help. During a Yankee swap, everyone in a group (like your office) brings a wrapped gift, draws a number (the higher the better), and the lowest number starts by choosing and opening a present from the pile. Each subsequent person then selects and unwraps a new gift and decides to keep or, unlike at a white elephant party where you just grab a gift from the pile, here you can swap it with an already opened one. Ultimately, you go home with what’s in your hands. To make it even more fun, we suggest going big with your wrapping, either in ways that fully disguise what’s inside or draws attention to it if, say, it’s a funny shape (mini Bop It!, anyone?)
Similar to white elephant and Dirty Santa gift exchanges, Yankee swaps typically have a low price cap. This budget—and not knowing just who will wind up with your contribution—encourages you to get creative with your shopping. Forget gift cards and lottery tickets. Gag gifts and silly games reign supreme here, as well as more practical picks (like a tiny Bluetooth radio or pasta-shaped pot grips) and quirky, unique gifts (like a miniature pickleball set or a DIY s’mores kit). Need a hand hunting down a present that everyone will want to steal—er, swap for? It was our pleasure to round up some of the best Yankee swap gifts, almost all of which are under $20. Enjoy!
