14 Great White Elephant Gifts Under $20

White elephant gift-giving can be an entertaining addition to almost any type of celebration or event, from a corporate holiday party to a baby shower. Or a white elephant swap can be an epic failure. In case you’re unclear about what a white elephant exchange is, it’s kind of like a Secret Santa swap. Each guest brings a wrapped gift priced under a certain dollar amount (in this case, white elephant gifts $20 and under) and puts it in a central location like on a table. There is no “from” tag on the gift, so the exchange is anonymous – at least in theory.

In turn, each guest unwraps a randomly selected gift and shows the other guests. The next person in line can either steal that gift or select a different wrapped gift from the table. When guests get their unwrapped gift stolen, they opt to unwrap a new gift or steal someone else’s. Usually, swaps are limited to two, so no brawls break out over a coffee mug. In the end, everyone gets a random object, and laughs and tears abound.

The colloquialism “white elephant” refers to an unwanted burden that is difficult to dispose of. And in today’s age of rampant consumerism, no one wants any more junk to regift or throw away secretly. So, why not bring a white elephant gift that the recipient will feel lucky to have secured? Here’s a list of 14 items that guests will adore – all for less than $20 each at the time of this writing. With each item is a Peerspace venue, in case you’re looking for venues to exchange gifts.

Uncommon Goods is a great site to start looking for gifts in all price ranges. Independent artisans around the world make all the items available for sale. This attractive deck of 100 cards suggests ways that anyone can help their community, like pick up litter or check in on a lonely neighbor. It’s both an inspirational and inspired white elephant gift.

Analog is back with a vengeance and working from home is all the rage. This optimistic notebook is a perfect white elephant gift for any recipient who wants to write stuff down by hand while staying positive. The cover reads “What’s the BEST that can happen?” and at a white elephant exchange, receiving this notebook from Society6 just might be the answer.

UNICEF is an international organization that helps needful children in various capacities around the world. The organization’s online and brick-and-mortar markets sell items sourced from artisans who generally live in impoverished conditions. Proceeds from each sale go to various charitable endeavors and help support the artists. For example, anyone at a white elephant exchange would be happy to receive these teak iced teaspoons from Bali. Bonus: gift wrapping is usually free.

Face masks don’t appear to be going anywhere any time soon, so you might as well gift one that makes folks as happy as possible. Luckily designers are creating new styles seemingly every second, so there’s no shortage of cool face masks to be found. Check out Tonlé’s zero-waste reusable masks that come in pretty patterns printed on linen and cotton for a thoughtful white elephant present.

DoneGood is a certified B Corporation that prioritizes environmentally and socially conscious finds over profit. Any guest at a white elephant would appreciate this assorted hand soap collection that comes in right under the price limit. There are hundreds of other giftable items at that price point on the website; check it out and get inspired.