White Elephant Gift Ideas Under $20: Hilarious Presents for a Steal

Pure absurdity for $14.99, the Archie McPhee Electronic Yodeling Pickle is the kind of White Elephant gift that starts a chorus of groans and giggles. In our experience, the included batteries make it ready to go the moment it’s unwrapped, and its small, lightweight size slips easily into a stocking or desk drawer. It’s novelty-only with a single repetitive yodel and plastic that can feel flimsy, but that’s part of the charm—and why it keeps getting stolen.

This toilet-shaped mug is hilariously on-theme for a White Elephant exchange and actually holds a standard ~12 ounces, so it’s not just a prop. In our hands, the ceramic build feels solid, but we found the quirky shape and handle can be awkward to drink from—more desk gag than daily driver. Some buyers report chips or discoloration on arrival, so check it on receipt and rebox with padding if you’re mailing. Handwash is recommended, which reduces dishwasher convenience, but the laughs-per-dollar ratio is undeniably high.

Poo-Pourri’s Original Citrus is the pre-game plan your office bathroom will thank you for—spray into the bowl first and it traps odors under a fresh, not-too-strong citrus layer. In our testing, the travel-size bottles tuck easily into a purse or cabinet and are perfect for discreet gifting during a white elephant exchange. For tougher odors you may need a few extra spritzes, and some folks find the small bottles pricey for the volume. Still, at under $10, it’s a reliable, crowd-pleasing pick.

We’ve found the PopSockets PopGrip to be an easy upgrade for slippery phones—one-handed texting and selfies are way more secure, and it flips into a surprisingly sturdy kickstand. At under $10, it’s a practical White Elephant pick that won’t feel like a gag. Keep in mind it adds a bit of bulk, the adhesive weakens if you peel and re-stick it often, and some wireless chargers won’t work with it attached. If you use wireless charging, check compatibility and placement before committing.

Surprisingly fun for a holiday brunch or spooky-season breakfast, the Dash Spiderweb Mini Waffle Maker turns batter into a playful web that gets laughs at gift swaps. In our testing, the PTFE nonstick plates released waffles effortlessly and wiped clean, and the compact, lightweight body tucks into dorm or small-kitchen drawers. Do note the mini size makes very small waffles and the plates aren’t removable, so deep cleaning takes a little patience. If you prefer to avoid PTFE coatings, this one isn’t for you.

For a stocking-stuffer price, the Gerber Shard brings real utility—our testing shows it’s genuinely pocketable, TSA-friendly, and handy for quick prying, opening boxes, or light screw turns. It disappears on a keyring, though the oversized lanyard hole can let it slide around and occasionally snag. The thin profile’s hard edges may wear at pockets, and the tiny Phillips driver isn’t up to larger screws. As a travel-safe, always-there backup tool, it punches above its price and makes a practical, stealable gift.

During our review, this pocketable Sweep & Swipe cleaner earned a permanent spot in our laptop bag—one end’s a retractable brush for crumbs, the other a microfiber pad for smudges. It’s quick for touch-ups and sits at that sweet sub-$20 price for gifting or stocking stuffers. Just note the microfiber can wear with heavy use and there aren’t official replacements, and tough oily fingerprints still need proper cleaner. The small brush also makes larger screens slower to tackle, but it’s clutch for on-the-go tidying.

In our review, the Baggu Standard proved surprisingly tough—its ripstop nylon shrugged off daily grocery runs and it’s rated to carry up to 50 pounds. We love how it folds into a tiny pouch for a glove box or backpack, making it an easy win at a White Elephant exchange. Just know the pouch is separate (and easy to misplace), the bag won’t stand up on its own, and the handles can feel awkward on a shoulder. For durability-to-price, it’s hard to beat.

For a useful tech gift under $20, this 64GB SanDisk Ultra UHS card is hard to beat. During our review, it worked seamlessly across phones, cameras, and tablets, and the durable design (water-, temperature-, X-ray-, magnet-, and shock-proof) adds peace of mind in real-world use. Do know write speeds trail peak reads—so long, continuous 4K recording isn’t its strength—and rare failures or counterfeits can occur with third-party sellers; buy from reputable sources and always back up important data.

Field Notes’ Original Kraft is the pocket notebook we keep reaching for—at 3½ x 5½ inches, it slips into a back pocket or small bag without fuss. During our review, the sturdy kraft cover developed a handsome patina and the paper handled ballpoint and gel pens consistently well. The trade-offs: only 48 pages per book, a staple binding that can work loose with hard carry, and fountain pens may feather or bleed. Still, for under $15, it’s a thoughtful, everyday-use gift.

For a practical pick that still gets stolen, Pilot G2s are office gold. During our review, the gel ink wrote smoothly and the cushy rubber grip kept long notes comfortable, plus the refillable design means you can swap cartridges instead of pitching the pen. Our experience shows the ink can stay wet and smudge—especially for lefties—and a few units may leak or run inconsistently, but at $5.19 it’s a crowd-pleasing, everyday-use gift that punches above its price.

Classic crowd-pleaser for under ten bucks, UNO is the kind of White Elephant gift that gets opened and played on the spot. We found its quick, simple rules work for mixed ages, and the compact deck slips easily into a bag for trips or office breaks. Just note the card stock can feel thin and luck drives much of the outcome, and if buying online, stick to reputable retailers to avoid counterfeit copies that occasionally circulate.

This pocket-sized party game is a sneaky-good White Elephant gift because anyone can jump in within seconds. In our testing, the rapid-fire, short rounds kept groups engaged between other activities, and the compact tin makes it easy to throw in a purse or carry-on. The Pocket edition’s smaller cards can be harder to handle and a bit slippery, though, and the container feels flimsier than the full-size version—minor trade-offs for a $5.99 pick that travels everywhere.

If you want instant chaos and belly laughs, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza delivers every time. In our testing, players learned within minutes and the fast, slap-happy rounds had the whole group cracking up, while the compact box tosses easily into a bag for parties. That said, the reflex-heavy gameplay offers minimal strategy and can feel repetitive after multiple rounds, and the enthusiastic slapping can lead to bumped hands or knocked drinks—so clear the table before the first flip.

Bananagrams is a crowd-pleaser at parties and family gatherings—fast rounds (about 5–15 minutes in our testing) keep the energy high without complicated rules. The banana-shaped pouch makes it ultra-portable for travel and the game doubles as a fun way to build spelling skills for a wide age range. A few caveats: tiles are small, so keep away from toddlers, and some buyers have encountered flimsy pouches or lower-quality/counterfeit sets. Buy from a reputable seller and you’ve got an instant hit under $20.

A sweet-heat staple, Mike’s Hot Honey turns pizza, fried chicken, cheese boards, and even ice cream into instant crowd-pleasers. We found the drizzle-ready squeeze bottle convenient and the flavor balanced and mild, which suits a wide range of palates during a gift exchange. Heat seekers may want more spice, and it’s pricier than regular honey with a touch of vinegar some notice, but at $10.39 it’s a versatile kitchen upgrade most recipients will actually use.

If you want instant holiday vibes, Balsam & Cedar nails that realistic Christmas‑tree aroma—our experience shows even the small jar throws enough fragrance to fill a room. It’s a budget-friendly gift, often priced under $20, and feels seasonal without being kitschy. That said, sensitive noses may find the scent strong, and the small jar won’t burn as long as larger sizes. We recommend careful packaging if shipping, since glass can arrive chipped when not protected.

A cheeky White Elephant pick that’s actually useful, Duke Cannon’s Big Ass Lump of Coal doubles as a laugh and a legit shower upgrade. In our testing, the oversized 10 oz bar lasts far longer than typical soaps, and the activated charcoal gives a deep-clean with a bold bergamot-and-black-pepper vibe. Be aware some bars arrive a bit dusty and can feel waxy at first (with occasional tug on body hair), and the strong, masculine scent may overwhelm fragrance-sensitive folks—though the $9.95 price is a steal.