Top 10 Gift Cards for a White Elephant Exchange
Here is Granny's quick answer: the best white elephant gift card is one that is a little silly but that anyone at the table would still be happy to walk away with, loaded to match the party's price limit (usually $20 to $25). A gift card also solves the two problems every white elephant gift has, because it never ends up the wrong size and it is easy to wrap into something funny. Below are my ten favorites, all sold right here at Gift Card Granny. Pick the one that will get the most laughs and the most steals.
What Makes a Good White Elephant Gift Card?
A white elephant gift lives in a sweet spot: fun enough to get a laugh when it is unwrapped, but useful enough that people fight to steal it. Keep these three things in mind:
- Match the price limit. Most white elephant parties cap gifts around $20 to $25, so load the card to fit the rules.
- Aim for a laugh, not a dud. The best picks are a little unexpected, but still something the winner will use.
- Wrap it big. Half the fun is the reveal, so bury a slim gift card inside an oversized or ridiculous box.
1. Dave & Buster's
A night of arcade games and prize tickets is a gift the whole room wants to steal. It is fun, it is a little goofy, and nobody leaves a Dave & Buster's gift card sitting on the table. A strong pick to lead with.
2. Topgolf
Know someone who could not hit a golf ball to save their life? That is exactly why a Topgolf gift card works. You do not have to be any good to have a blast, so it plays as a gentle gag that turns into a real outing.
3. Build-A-Bear Workshop
There is something delightful about handing a grown adult a Build-A-Bear Workshop gift card. It gets the laugh you want at a white elephant party, and then the winner secretly enjoys building a bear like a kid again.
4. Chuck E. Cheese
A Chuck E. Cheese gift card is pure nostalgia bait. Give it to the coworker with the biggest inner child, and watch them reminisce about pizza and skee-ball while everyone else plots to steal it.
5. Bass Pro Shops
The classic gag for the friend who has never pitched a tent in their life. A Bass Pro Shops gift card is funny for the city dweller and quietly useful for anyone who fishes, camps, or just likes the giant aquarium in the store.
6. Cracker Barrel
Part restaurant, part old-country store, a Cracker Barrel gift card is comfort food plus a rocking chair full of gag-worthy trinkets. It reads a little retro and gets a smile, but the winner will happily use it on biscuits.
7. NASCAR Shop
Random in the best way. A NASCAR Shop gift card is unexpected enough to get a laugh, and there is always one fan in the group who is thrilled to steal it for a diecast car or a race tee.
8. Bath & Body Works
The safe crowd-pleaser with a wink. Nobody is upset to unwrap a Bath & Body Works gift card, and the candles-and-lotion aisle makes it one of the most reliably stolen cards at any exchange.
9. Dunkin'
Everyone runs on coffee, so a Dunkin' gift card is low on gag value but high on steal value. It is the pick for a party where people would rather win something they will use every morning.
10. A Visa or Mastercard Gift Card
Not the wackiest option, but hear me out: a prepaid card is almost always the most-stolen gift in the room, because the winner can spend it anywhere. A Visa gift card or Mastercard gift card is the safe bet when you want your gift to be the one everyone fights over.
A Tip Before You Buy
You can shop all of these right here at Gift Card Granny, and you can earn cash back on select brands as you go (the brands and rates rotate, so it is worth a look before you check out). Load the card to your party's price limit, wrap it big, and you are set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are gift cards a good white elephant gift?
Yes. A gift card never ends up the wrong size or style, it is easy to wrap into something funny, and a fun brand gets the laugh a white elephant gift is supposed to. Pick one that is a little silly but still usable.
How much should a white elephant gift card be?
Most white elephant parties set a price limit around $20 to $25, so load the card to match the rules. Always check with the host, since some exchanges go higher or lower.
What is the funniest gift card for a white elephant exchange?
Crowd favorites are Build-A-Bear Workshop, Chuck E. Cheese, and Bass Pro Shops, since they get a laugh when unwrapped but the winner will still happily use them.
What gift card will everyone want to steal?
Universally usable cards get stolen the most. A Dave & Buster's, Dunkin', or a prepaid Visa or Mastercard gift card tends to be the one people fight over.
Can you use a Visa or Mastercard gift card for a white elephant gift?
Yes, and it is often the most-stolen gift in the room because the winner can spend it anywhere Visa or Mastercard debit is accepted. It is the safe pick when you want yours to be the popular one.
Where can I buy gift cards for a white elephant party?
You can buy all of the cards above at Gift Card Granny, including local and national brands plus Visa and Mastercard gift cards, and earn cash back on select brands while you shop.