Laugh Out Loud or Go Home: 17 Funny White Elephant Gifts That Aren’t Tacky

Looking for a desk-friendly laugh? In our testing, the Kikkerland Decision Maker earned a constant stream of chuckles and quick debates, all while looking unexpectedly office-ready from a distance. It’s an easy $12.50 crowd-pleaser for White Elephant, though the lightweight plastic and smaller size can feel a bit cheap, and the magnetic swing isn’t perfectly random. Our experience shows the packaging can be flimsy, so consider gifting it in a sturdy bag to avoid an underwhelming first impression.

The OTOTO Nessie Ladle brings instant whimsy to soup night, and in our testing it survived boiling pots and the dishwasher without a hiccup. It’s food-safe and makes a memorable $19.95 White Elephant gift that people actually use. That said, the neck can feel flimsy with thicker stews, and the little feet don’t always keep it standing steady in a pot or on the counter. Our experience shows its scoop shape can be awkward for chasing the last ladlefuls.

Bring a laugh to pasta night with OTOTO’s Spaghetti Monster—part conversation piece, part colander. In our testing, the thick, durable plastic handled repeated dishwasher cycles, and the eyestalk handles kept hands comfortably away from steam when draining. We did find the tripod feet can wobble in certain sinks, and the holes are large enough for tiny pastas like orzo to slip through. Storage can be awkward in small cabinets, but for spaghetti and penne it’s delightfully functional.

This quirky Ditoo looks as good as it sounds, with a retro design and pixel-art display that turns a desk into a mini arcade. In our testing, it worked best as a near-field, small-room speaker and a fun desktop decoration thanks to tactile buttons and compact size. Our experience shows the companion app can be buggy, battery life modest, and long-term reliability mixed—keep expectations in check. It shines most as a plugged-in desk buddy rather than a travel workhorse.

Wrapped like a spicy sampler, The Good Hurt Fuego set looks instantly gift-ready, making it a low-effort, high-smile White Elephant choice. During our tasting, the variety of minis was fun for trying different profiles without committing to full bottles, though our experience shows most flavors skew mild and a few taste quite similar. Heat-seekers may want something hotter. At $45.99, it feels premium, but check best-before dates and packaging—some buyers report short shelf life or the odd scuffed or leaky bottle in transit.

Gift a dose of dino fun with the TACOsaurus Rex, a playful taco stand that doubles as table decor. During our review, it held two standard hard shells securely and cleaned up easily on the top rack thanks to BPA-free polypropylene construction. The slots can run narrow for thicker shells, and the lightweight body may tip if you load one side heavily—balance your fillings for best results. It’s a memorable, giggle-worthy serving piece for themed nights and kid tables.

Tea lovers will appreciate the Fred Manatea’s adorable silhouette peeking over the rim—it's a smile-inducing novelty that still brews a decent cup. In our testing, the food-safe silicone was easy to rinse and clean, but the small internal capacity limited leaf expansion, resulting in a milder brew. Fine tea dust can seep through and cloud the cup, so we found it works best with medium or larger loose leaves. At $9.99, it’s a cheeky stocking stuffer for casual tea drinkers.

Want a gift that gets people moving and laughing? During our review, this GoSports portable junior cornhole set impressed us with lightweight boards that are sturdy enough for kids and casual play, plus six bean bags so you can start tossing right away. The smaller, non-regulation size is ideal for apartments, offices, and travel, though older teens and adults may find it less challenging. Our experience shows it’s best for fair-weather fun—don’t leave it out in the elements to avoid warping.

Soft and squishy, this Smoko Banana Mochi plush channels the adorable Tayto fruit character into the perfect cuddle-sized gift. We found the velvety mochi texture seriously stress-relieving, and the mid-size design slides easily into gift exchanges, couches, or office chairs. Do note the spot-clean-only care and small details or zippers that aren’t ideal for very young children, and the price sits higher than generic plush. For white elephant, it’s a guaranteed awww that people keep passing around.

Give a wall some personality: Umbra’s Buddy hooks double as playful decor and practical catch-alls. During our review, the included paper template made installation straightforward, and they’re great for light items like hats, keys, and small backpacks. Our experience shows the smooth plastic can be slippery for towels, and the anchors felt flimsy in drywall—mount into studs or upgrade hardware for heavier loads. At $25, they’re a whimsical entryway upgrade, just don’t expect them to hold winter coats solo.

Hot sauce fans will get a kick out of these Sriracha2Go minis—tiny, refillable bottles that keep your favorite heat within reach. In our testing, the compact size made them great for travel or a daypack, and the novelty factor always sparked smiles. That said, the carabiner and smaller bottle can feel flimsy, and a few users report brittleness, so treat them gently; value-wise, some may find the price high for a refillable container. Fun, practical, and very regiftable.

If your crew loves chaotic party games, Exploding Kittens’ Zombie Burrito delivers fast, physical fun that gets everyone laughing in minutes. The rules are simple enough for mixed ages, and at $24.99 it’s a spirited White Elephant pick. Our experience shows you’ll want open space to avoid breakables, and a quick rules walkthrough helps with a few initially confusing mechanics. During our review, balance felt better with larger groups—smaller player counts can favor the zombie roles—so plan for a crowd when you play.

Nothing gets a room giggling faster than a mini tube man shimmying on a desk. During our review, the Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy delivered silly, instant joy and even comes with a 32-page mini book for extra laughs, all for about $11.66. That said, reliability is hit-or-miss: weak airflow and finicky motors are common, and you’ll likely need a quality 9V battery or an AC adapter (not included). For best results at a White Elephant, demo it briefly, then pass the hype.

When you need instant laughter, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza delivers chaotic, slap-happy energy in minutes. We found it incredibly easy to teach and compact enough to toss in a bag for parties or travel, making it a go-to icebreaker. Just be mindful of the slapping mechanic—play on a soft surface and set gentle house rules to avoid accidental bumps. Durability isn’t its strongest suit, but at under ten bucks it’s a high-laugh, low-commitment crowd pleaser.

Poetry for Neanderthals is a surefire laugh generator—during our game night, the single-syllable challenge and the inflatable “NO!” club had the whole table in stitches within minutes. Setup is quick, rules are simple, and at $19.99 it’s a perfect party or White Elephant grab. Our tip: swap the included sand timer for a phone timer, which proved more reliable in our testing. Younger kids can struggle with the word limits, and gameplay may feel repetitive over many rounds without mixing in fresh cards.

For the cat-and-cabernet crowd, these Fred & Friends Wine Lives markers instantly turn a glass lineup into a playful, white-elephant winner. In our testing, the six color-coded kitties made it easy to track whose drink was whose, and the food-safe silicone stayed grippy and rinsed clean in seconds. Just note they may not fit very thick or unusually shaped stems, and the tiny pieces can disappear if you don’t store them together. At $9.99, it’s a charming, reusable upgrade over disposable tags.

We found the Dash Mini Maker surprisingly handy for small kitchens, dorms, or solo breakfasts where counter space is tight. The nonstick plates release waffles cleanly and make cleanup quick, and at $12.99 it’s an easy, practical White Elephant pick. Just know it only makes one mini waffle at a time and offers no temperature or browning settings, so control is limited. During our review, the plastic housing and simple hinge felt less durable than pricier models—fine for occasional use, not marathon brunches.

Call it peak party icebreaker: during our testing, the Banana Phone paired quickly and worked reliably for hands-free calls and even music, and the 8–10-hour battery kept the jokes going. It’s undeniably a conversation piece for a White Elephant exchange at $39.99. Our experience shows sound quality can vary, with an occasional buzz or connection drop, so it’s better for casual chats than mission-critical calls. The novelty shape isn’t pocket-friendly, but it shines on a home desk or during gatherings.