White Elephant Rules Generator

Choose your version, steal limit and budget, and get a clean one-page rule card you can print, save as PDF or paste into the party invite. Everyone plays by the same rules, so there are no arguments at gift number 14.

Tip: in the print dialog, choose “Save as PDF” to get a file you can email.

Classic White Elephant Rules

House rules for 15 players

15 playersGift limit $25Gift frozen after 3 steals

Before you start

  1. Everyone brings one wrapped gift worth about $25. No name tags, and disguise the shape if you can.
  2. Put all the gifts in one pile in the middle of the room.
  3. Each player draws a number. The number sets the turn order.

How a turn works

  1. Player 1 picks any wrapped gift from the pile and opens it so everyone can see it.
  2. Each next player chooses: open a new gift from the pile, or steal any gift that has already been opened.
  3. If your gift is stolen, you choose right away: steal a different opened gift, or open a new one from the pile.
  4. A gift can change hands only once per turn. When the person who lost it picks again, they must choose a different gift or open a new one.

Stealing rules

  1. A gift can be stolen 3 times. After that it is frozen and stays with its owner. Mark it with a sticker so nobody forgets.
  2. No immediate steal-backs: you can't take back the gift that was just stolen from you on the same turn.

End of the game

  1. The game ends when the last gift in the pile has been opened and any steals on that turn are done.
  2. Player 1 never got to steal, so they get one final move: they may swap their gift with any unfrozen gift, or keep what they have.
  3. Whatever you hold at the end is yours. Trading after the game is allowed only if both people agree.

Free printable rules from whiteelephant.alexai.top

The basic White Elephant rules

Every guest brings one wrapped gift within the price limit and draws a number. Player 1 opens a gift. Each player after that either opens a new gift from the pile or steals one that's already been opened. A player who loses a gift picks again: steal something else, or open a new one. Most groups freeze a gift after its third steal, and many give player 1 a final swap at the end because they never got to steal.

Which version should you pick?

VersionBest for
SimpleFirst-timers, families, 6–15 people
With a twistGroups who have played before and want new chaos
Large groupOffice parties with 25–100 people
Dice gameFast, timed games with no number tickets needed
Yankee SwapNew England style, where swaps are trades
Steal limitsSettling the “how many steals?” debate

Need turn numbers? Print numbered tickets. All ready-made PDFs are on the printables page.

FAQ

What are the basic rules of White Elephant?

Everyone brings one wrapped gift and draws a number. In number order, each player either opens a new gift or steals an opened one. If your gift is stolen, you open a new gift or steal a different one. The game ends when the last gift is opened.

How many times can a gift be stolen in White Elephant?

Most groups use 3: after the third steal the gift is frozen with its owner. Use 2 for large groups so the game moves faster, or unlimited steals for small, competitive groups.

Can you steal a gift back right away?

Usually not. The common rule is no immediate steal-backs: you can't take back the gift that was just taken from you on the same turn. You can steal it back on a later turn.

Does the first person get to swap at the end?

In most house rules, yes. Player 1 never had a chance to steal, so after the last gift is opened they may swap with any gift that isn't frozen.

What's a good price limit?

$20–$30 is the most common for offices and friend groups. Use $10–$15 for teens and classrooms, and $50 for adult groups who want nicer gifts.

More White Elephant tools

White Elephant Dice GameOnline dice, timer and TV mode→Rules With a Twist7 twists to spice up the game→Large Group Rules25–100 players without the 2-hour slog→Steal RulesSteal limits, freezes and steal-backs→Dice Game RulesPrintable rules for the dice version→Simple RulesThe 5-line version for first-timers→Number TicketsPrintable numbers 1–100 for the draw→Steal rules explainedFreezes, chains and arguments settled→Gift Ideas94 curated ideas by budget and theme→