Nothing is worse than being at a Yankee Swap and nobody wanting your gift. That’s why I wrote this blog post with the 25 best Yankee swap gift ideas that everyone at your Yankee swap or white elephant gift exchange will fight over! I was at an office Yankee swap a few years ago, and nobody wanted my gift—it was awful. I don’t want that to be you this Christmas season, so you need to check out these fun and practical Yankee swap gift ideas.
I’ve curated the perfect list of the best Yankee swap gifts, all under $25! Not only are these gifts affordable, but they are versatile for coworkers, family members, or friends. I have divided these great gift ideas into categories – comfort, kitchen, leisure, and practical gift ideas.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission if you purchase through one of my links at no cost to you. I only recommend products I love, use, or thoroughly review.
Crafting the Perfect Yankee Swap Gift:
- Practicality: Will people use this item? Don’t settle for a gift people won’t use. Find something that you know several people will use.
- Appeal: You want to get a gift that a variety of people will be interested in.
- Quality: Even within a specific price range, ensure you bring a good-quality gift to the swap.
How to Have a Good Yankee Swap Experience
Before we discuss the gift ideas, let’s discuss ways to make the most of your Yankee swap experience:
- Know the Yankee Swap/White Elephant Rules: Every party or group has different rules or guidelines for running their swap. Some Yankee swap rules allow stealing, and gifts may have a price limit or minimum.
- Be a Creative Wrapper: You want people to pick your gift! Make sure you use unique wrapping paper or a fun gift bag. If you take it further, you can put your gift into a box it doesn’t belong in to catch people off guard.
- Have Fun: Don’t take the Yankee swap too seriously. It can be a big bummer if the gift you got or stole is taken from you. Just enjoy what you end up with and have a good time.
Comfort Gift Ideas
You can't go wrong with a comfy blanket! Years ago, when I was at a Yankee swap, the comfy throw blanket someone brought was a big hit and a gift many wanted, including myself. If I were attending another Yankee swap gift exchange, I would get this cozy blanket as my gift.
This blanket hoodie is a funny yet practical gift idea for a gift swap. It is a one-size-fits-all gift that anyone who runs cold will love. It comes in multiple colors to pick the best color for your office or friend group. This item also has raving reviews on Amazon, and it will be a sought-after item at your upcoming gift exchange.
If you live in a colder-weather area, a heating pad may be the best gift to bring to this year's Yankee swap. I have gifted heating pads to friends and family members, and they're a hit! I have one myself, and I use it daily in the winter. People will fight over this during your swap; I would!
An essential oil diffuser is a gift many people will love! Especially if you are doing a gift swap with women, they are more popular with my girlfriends than my guy friends. This diffuser has many great features and will look great in anyone's living room or office.
Self-care items can make great Yankee swap gifts! These Gua Sha Cyro Sticks can be heated or cooled for the perfect facial massage experience. If you wanted to give a similar gift that was less expensive, you could also bring an ice roller, which can offer a similar experience.
Kitchen Gift Ideas
This durable stainless steel set is perfect for the 21+ Yankee swap crowd! This set includes everything you need to make professional and stylish cocktails at home. If you want to add more to this gift, include stylish cocktail glasses.
I love my 10oz Yeti Rambler, and I bet your friends or coworkers will love it, too! A Yeti Rambler is a versatile gift that is perfect for anyone. I loved bringing mine to work for my first cup of coffee in the morning.
How perfect is this charcuterie board set? Christmas time is filled with hosting parties and events, and a charcuterie board is the ideal gift to bring to a Yankee swap. I would want to "steal" this gift if I were attending a swap and saw this charcuterie board set!
I know a lot of people love popcorn. A popcorn popper is the perfect, reasonably priced gift for any group of people. To make this gift even better, include some popcorn kernels or seasoning.
A popcorn kernel set is the perfect addition to the hot-air popcorn popper above. It's a fun gift set for trying unique popcorn flavors that any popcorn enthusiast would love! The fun part of this set is the different popcorn seasonings.
Stanley water bottles are a trendy gift idea! Although their tumblers are their most popular item, Stanley water bottles are a versatile gift many people will fight over. This water bottle comes in various colors that will fit your Yankee swap crowd.
Bringing a coffee variety pack to a Yankee swap is a good bet for any group! If it's your first time attending a gift swap, coffee is a lovely gift to bring since you can bet many people will love getting a coffee.
Leisure Gift Ideas
Who doesn't love a good puzzle? This puzzle is a bit complicated, which I love! For your next gift exchange, bring a puzzle like this one from White Mountain Puzzles.
It's not a bad idea to throw a fun game like this into a Yankee swap gift exchange! "The Chameleon" is a board game in which everyone knows a secret word except the person with the chameleon card. The person with that card pretends to know the word so they won't be discovered. The people with the secret word must find out who the chameleon is! It's a great game that a lot of people would enjoy playing.
I was given a picnic blanket like this one as a gift and didn't realize how much I would love it! It is excellent to keep it in the back of your car for a last-minute picnic. Your Yankee swap group will love this practical gift idea.
A Bluetooth speaker like this makes a versatile gift for a Yankee swap party with your office or people you don't know well. I love that it has an excellent waterproof rating so that the recipient can bring it to the pool or beach with them.
If you have an office swap gift exchange event coming up and are looking for a funny gift, this is the idea for you! Everyone will laugh when they see this coffee pot mug. Joke gifts are fun at Yankee Swaps, but this practical one will be a laugh around the office.
Practical Gift Ideas
This power bank has incredible reviews on Amazon and would make a useful gift for any Yankee swap gift recipient. The most important thing a good power bank does is hold a charge for a long time, and this one does exactly that.
If you have some people in your friend group/work group who love to cook - this may be the perfect gift to bring to a swap this holiday season. The herbs included are Cilantro, Dill, Parsley, Sweet Basil & Chives!
I would be very excited if I received this cleaning kit at a Yankee swap! This isn't the best gift if you live in the city and no one has a car. However, if everyone in your group of friends or coworkers drives a vehicle, then this will be a popular gift idea.
This set is a traditional gift, one that I have received myself and loved. You can't go wrong with Burts Bees! This set makes an excellent gift for an in-office Yankee swap because whoever receives it can keep it at their desk throughout the day.
Do you know people who love to smother hot sauce on top of everything? I know a number of people who would love to receive this as a gift. Melinda's is a famous hot sauce brand and will be a huge hit among diverse friends! If I were doing a Yankee swap with my family, this would be the most popular gift!
23. Lottery Tickers
Some might say this is the worst gift you could give, but is it also the best? What if someone wins big, and their life is changed? In 2022, a woman at an office White Elephant party swapped a gift card for $25.00 worth of scratch tickets, and she ended up winning $175,000, which was a huge blessing to her family. She ended up paying down car payments and her daughter’s student loans. Talk about life-changing!
24. Alcohol
A nice bottle of wine, champagne, or liquor from the liquor store is always a good idea for a Yankee swap (21+ crowd). I always say that the best present is something that you can consume. People have too many things, so if you have a food or drink you know people will love, I suggest bringing that. If you have some room in your budget, you can pair the alcohol with a small cheese board or nice wine or cocktail glasses.
25. Gift Card
Another fail-safe gift to bring to a Yankee Swap is a gift card to a local restaurant, Amazon, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, the TJ Maxx stores, or any other local business your friend or colleagues love.
I hope you found these 25 great Yankee swap gift ideas helpful and clarified what gift you wanted to bring to your next gift swap gathering. Whether you’re looking for a gift for an office Yankee swap, a family gathering, or a friend group white elephant party, I hope you found what you were looking for in this gift guide. You may be the one who brings the gift that everyone is fighting over this year. From cozy gifts like a throw blanket or hoodie blanket to kitchen items like a charcuterie board or air popper, there’s a gift for everyone in this gift guide.
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