White Elephant Rules (and Yankee Swap)

How white elephant works

Everyone brings one wrapped gift. Players take turns either opening a new gift or stealing one that's already open. The steals are what make it fun.

1. Agree on a price limit before the party. Everyone brings one wrapped gift.
2. Put all the gifts in one pile where everyone can see them.
3. Draw a random turn order, so each player has a number.
4. Player 1 picks a gift from the pile and opens it in front of everyone.
5. On each turn after that, the player either opens a new gift from the pile or steals a gift someone has already opened.
6. If your gift is stolen, you open a new gift or steal a different one. You can't take back the gift that was just taken from you.
7. A turn ends when someone opens a new gift from the pile. Then the next number goes.
8. If you use a steal limit, a gift that reaches it is frozen and stays with whoever has it.
9. The game ends when every gift is open, or after the final swap if you play with one.

Common variations

• Steal limit per gift: a gift can only be stolen a set number of times, for example 3. Agree on the number before you start.
• Frozen gifts: once a gift reaches the steal limit, it's frozen. Nobody can steal it again, and it stays with its owner to the end.
• Final swap: player 1 had nothing to steal on the first turn, so once every gift is open, player 1 may swap their gift for any other opened gift that isn't frozen.

How Yankee swap works

Yankee swap is another name people use for this kind of gift game. Players open a new gift or take one that's already open, just like white elephant. Groups that call it Yankee swap often have their own house rules.

1. Everyone brings one wrapped gift within the agreed price limit.
2. Draw numbers for the turn order.
3. Player 1 opens a gift and shows it to everyone.
4. Each next player either opens a new gift or takes an opened gift from someone else.
5. A player whose gift is taken opens a new gift or takes a different opened gift. No taking back the gift you just lost.
6. Keep going until every gift is open.
7. Many groups finish by giving player 1 one turn to swap with anyone.

How it differs

• The two names often mean the same game. House rules change more from group to group than the name does.
• Some groups use "white elephant" for joke or regifted presents and "Yankee swap" for gifts people actually want. Others don't make that difference.
• The final swap for player 1 shows up in both games. Decide whether you're using it before the first turn.

Tips for hosts

• Set a price limit and stick to it, so the steals feel fair.
• Agree on the steal limit and the final swap before the first turn, and keep the rules where everyone can see them.
• Ask everyone to wrap their gift so nobody can guess what's inside.
• In a big group, a steal limit keeps the game moving.
• Keep count of steals per gift, for example with a sticky note on each one.