Gift guide · 12 ideas
White elephant gifts under $25
Useful, fun or both: the gifts that change hands twice before the game is over, not the ones left on the table.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How this works
In a white elephant swap, the gag gift gets a laugh and then goes home with nobody. The presents people steal are useful or fun to use, and they work for whoever ends up holding them, whether that’s the new hire, the boss or your cousin’s new boyfriend.
Each idea comes with our pick from one of our top lists, and every pick was under $25 when we checked. Prices move around, especially in December, so it’s worth a quick look before you buy.
A mini waffle maker
The gift half the room quietly hopes to unwrap. Whoever ends up with it gets breakfast sorted, even in a tiny apartment kitchen.
Dash Mini Waffle Maker (4 in, Red)
$10–$20
A tiny waffle maker that heats in minutes and makes one 4-inch waffle at a time: breakfast for one, a dorm-room treat, or a quick batch of keto chaffles and hash browns. It weighs about a pound and tucks into a drawer.
What owners say: Owners love how little room it takes and how simple it is to use and clean, and many make chaffles and breakfast sandwiches in it; a few wish it got hotter.
A closer look: There’s no dial or timer: plug it in, wait for the indicator light to show it’s ready, then add just enough batter to cover the bottom plate and close the lid. Beyond waffles it does hash browns and cornbread, and it’s small enough to pack for a camping trip or a vacation rental.
- One 4 in mini waffle
- Ready light, no settings
- Fits in a drawer
Rechargeable hand warmers
For the commute, the bleachers or an office that’s always too cold. The pair splits between two pockets, so whoever takes it home can share one, if they’re feeling generous.
POMPONGO Rechargeable Hand Warmers (2-pack)
$10–$20
A pair that snaps together into one warmer or splits for two pockets, with three clear settings, 108°F, 120°F and 131°F, and up to 20 hours on low by POMPONGO’s figures. Each is UL-certified and weighs about 3.5 oz.
What owners say: They warm up the moment they’re switched on, owners say, and earn their keep at evening ball games once the sun goes down, outlasting disposable packets; small enough for a coat pocket.
A closer look: Start on 120°F, the everyday setting, and save 131°F for standing still in real cold, since the top setting drains the battery fastest. Snapped together they make one thicker warmer for the whole palm; pull them apart to share one.
- 3 heat levels, 108–131°F
- 20 hours max on low
- Heats in 2 seconds
A star projector
It’s the gift that gets plugged in and switched on at the party, which is usually when the stealing starts.
HERHOTER Galaxy Star Projector with Remote
$10–$20
A palm-sized projector, about 3 in across, that washes the ceiling in slow-moving waves of red, green and blue under a scatter of stars. A sound mode makes the light pulse with music, and the timer runs from half an hour to four hours.
What owners say: Mixing the colors into different skies is half the fun, and parents find it calming at bedtime and bright enough for a child’s room; whether it covers a whole room and how well the remote works divide them.
A closer look: Two bases come in the box along with a USB cable, but no plug, so use a phone charger. In sleep mode it switches itself off after an hour with no buttons pressed, handy for a child who drifts off quickly.
- Color waves and stars
- Timer up to 4 hours
- Light pulses with music
A cocktail shaker set
For the friend who orders an Old Fashioned and secretly wants to make one at home. Unwrapped, the stand full of tools looks like a lot of gift, and that tends to get it stolen.
HMYBAR 22-Piece Cocktail Shaker Set with Bamboo Stand
$20–$30
Thirty-nine recipe cards covering whiskey, vodka, rum, gin and tequila, with a 24 oz cobbler shaker, a Hawthorne strainer with a tight spring that holds back pulp, a ½ and 1 oz jigger and party extras like glass markers and cocktail picks, all on a black bamboo stand.
What owners say: A kit that has everything, owners find, and one that makes mocktails as happily as margaritas. The shaker works well and holds up, though a few have struggled to get the lid off.
A closer look: If the cap sticks once the tin is ice-cold, hold it in warm hands for a few seconds and twist rather than pull. The glass markers earn their keep at a party, where everyone’s drinks look alike, and the brush in the box cleans out the straw and pourers.
- 22 pieces with bamboo stand
- 24 oz cobbler shaker
- Glass markers and cocktail picks
Electric salt and pepper grinders
The kitchen gadget nobody buys for themselves and everyone uses once they have it, so it works for anyone who goes home with it.
Gaivis Rechargeable Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder Set
$20–$30
Five minutes on a USB-C cable powers a whole meal, and Gaivis says a full charge lasts up to two months. The dial for its six grind settings sits on the outside, away from the grinding end, and a wide mouth makes the chambers quick to fill.
What owners say: Coarse-to-fine adjustment and smooth grinding for everyday cooking get the most praise, along with a charge that lasts and a light for judging the seasoning. Not every set holds up, though: some broke within two months.
A closer look: Two USB-C cables come in the box, one for each mill, but no wall adapter, so use a phone charger or a laptop port. Between charges they stand on their own storage bases, and the cleaning brushes clear any salt that clogs the ceramic grinders.
- Rechargeable with USB-C cables
- 6 grind settings
- Wide-mouth chambers fill fast
An insulated water bottle
Everyone seems to carry an oversized insulated bottle, so expect a few people to make a play for this one.
IRON °FLASK 40 oz Wide Mouth Insulated Bottle with Straw Lid
$10–$20
Forty ounces in a sweat-free double-wall steel bottle, with a leakproof straw lid on a carabiner loop that clips to a bag strap. It keeps water cold for up to 24 hours; the straw lid isn’t meant for hot drinks.
What owners say: Plenty of people call it their favorite: it keeps water cold all day, shrugs off rough handling and comes in lots of colors and sizes. Whether it leaks is where reports differ.
A closer look: Forty ounces is a lot to carry full, so it suits the gym, a desk or the car more than a small bag. The straw lid clicks shut against leaks, and the wide mouth takes ice easily and makes washing by hand quick.
- Holds 40 fl oz
- Straw lid with carabiner
- Sweat-free outside
A phone tripod with a remote
Somebody has to take the group photo at the party, and with this nobody gets left out of it. After that it’s for video calls and filming recipes at home.
TODI 60 in Selfie Stick Tripod with Remote
$10–$20
Light at about 9 oz, with an aluminum pole that pulls out to 60 in, legs in tough nylon and a zinc-alloy joint where the parts meet. It folds in seconds, and the clamp takes phones up to 3.9 in wide.
What owners say: Owners call it sturdy enough for uneven ground and easy to set up, and it packs into a suitcase without fuss. The Bluetooth remote is the weak spot, pairing reliably for some and not for others.
A closer look: Tilt the ball head rather than moving the legs: it angles the phone down for a shot of a table or up for a crowd while the base stays put. The remote runs on a AAA battery, so a spare in the bag saves a missed shot at the end of a long day out.
- Extends to 60 in
- Folds to 11 in
- Ball head tilts the phone
A microwave popcorn popper
Movie night, upgraded. Nearly everyone has a microwave, so it suits a dorm room as well as a family kitchen.
Ecolution Micro-Pop Microwave Popcorn Popper (3 qt)
$20–$30
No machine at all: a 3-quart glass bowl with a silicone lid that goes in the microwave and pops plain kernels without oil in about three minutes. The lid measures the kernels first and melts butter on top as the corn pops.
What owners say: Owners say it turns out tasty, theater-style popcorn from plain kernels. Results depend on the microwave: some get nearly every kernel popped, others a lot left over or a scorched batch.
A closer look: Try a lidful of kernels for two and a half minutes the first time, then add time in short bursts until the pops slow to a few seconds apart, since every microwave is different. Lift it out by the handle, give the glass a minute to cool, and it goes straight in the dishwasher.
- Microwave popcorn bowl
- Pops without oil
- Dishwasher safe
Heads up: Use it only in a microwave with a turntable, and skip the popcorn button: set the time yourself, as Ecolution advises.
View on Amazon See our top 5 popcorn makers →Bluetooth over-ear headphones
Headphones suit almost anyone in the room, from the coworker on calls all day to the friend with a long commute.
BERIBES 65H Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones (Black)
$10–$20
Over-ears with soft cushions, 65 hours on a charge and six EQ modes to choose between bass-heavy and brighter sound. At 6.1 oz they’re light to wear, and they pair with a phone and a tablet at once.
What owners say: Soft, comfortable cushions that don’t hurt after hours of wear, easy pairing and a battery that seems to go on and on are what owners mention most. Some find they block outside noise well; others hoped for more.
A closer look: Plug in the 3.5mm cable once the battery runs out and they carry on as wired headphones, so they never leave you without music. A full charge takes about two and a half hours, and the band folds to pack them into a school or gym bag.
- 65-hour battery
- Over-ear, weighs 6.1 oz
- Pairs two devices at once
Heads up: They block sound with their cushions only, with no active noise canceling, so they suit a quiet office better than a jet engine.
View on Amazon See our top 5 wireless headphones →A tabletop ping pong set
Families and office break rooms both have a table for it, so it lands well wherever it ends up, and there’s always someone up for one more game.
FBSPORT Ping Pong Set with Retractable Net
$10–$20
A net that pulls out to 5.25 feet and clamps onto almost any table up to 1.8 inches thick, plus two paddles and six balls, so the dining table or a picnic table becomes a ping pong table in a minute.
What owners say: Fun for all ages and quick to clamp onto a dining table, it fits most surfaces. The net divides people: some say it stays put, others find the tension weak or parts wearing out within weeks.
A closer look: The net clamps on at each side and winds back in at the press of a trigger when the game’s over. It’s a set for casual games on the kitchen table or a picnic table rather than serious rallies, and the carry bag keeps paddles, balls and net together.
- 2 paddles, 6 balls, net
- Carry bag included
- Net extends to 5.25 ft
An aroma diffuser
A soft glow and a little scent for a desk, a bedroom or a small apartment, and nobody minds being stuck with it at the end of the game.
InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser (3.4 fl oz, Basic White)
$10–$20
A plain white teardrop that suits any room: a 3.4 fl oz tank, steady mist for a quick burst of scent or mist every 30 seconds to last most of the night, and seven light colors set separately from the mist.
What owners say: Owners say it’s simple to fill and run, enjoy the scent and the changing colors, and some keep it on as a night light; a few found it smaller than they pictured, while others say the size suits a bedroom.
A closer look: On intermittent mode it pauses every 30 seconds, which stretches a full tank to six to eight hours, enough for a night’s sleep. InnoGear puts its reach at 100 to 250 sq ft, so it’s happiest in a bedroom or an office rather than an open-plan living space.
- 3.4 fl oz tank
- Up to 8 hours intermittently
- Covers 100–250 sq ft
A watercolor paint set
A whole new hobby in a slim tin, for January evenings when nobody wants to go out. Even someone who hasn’t painted since school can have a go the same night.
ARTISTRO 50-Color Watercolor Paint Set
$10–$20
Fifty richly pigmented colors in a compact metal case with a built-in mixing palette and eight brushes, from fine liners to broad wash brushes, so there’s nothing else to buy before the first painting.
What owners say: Bold, highly pigmented color and a compact case that suits small pieces and travel are the draws, and there’s everything a beginner or a seasoned painter needs to start.
A closer look: Start with a light wash and build color in layers, letting each one dry before the next. Painting a swatch of all fifty on a scrap of paper on day one makes the right color quicker to find, and the metal case keeps pans and brushes together for class or a trip.
- 50 colors
- 8 brushes and mixing palette
- Packs up for class trips
White elephant tips
- Buy for the whole room, not one person: a gift that suits only one kind of person rarely gets stolen.
- Stay at or just under the limit. Going well over makes everyone else’s gift look stingy.
- Wrap it so the shape doesn’t give it away. Half the fun is the gamble.
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
Not quite right? Our gift finder picks from all our lists.
Try the gift finder
