Gift Exchange Games: 7 Fun Ways to Swap Gifts
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The best gift exchange games, and the easiest Christmas gift exchange ideas, are white elephant, Secret Santa, Yankee swap, the left-right story and the dice swap. Pick Secret Santa if everyone should get a gift chosen for them, and a stealing game if you want laughs and don’t mind who ends up with what.
When Each Person Buys for One Person
Secret Santa suits families and offices where people know each other. Everyone draws one name in secret and buys for that person, so each gift is chosen with someone in mind. A free generator does the drawing, and keeps couples or whole households apart.
Games Where You Can Steal
White elephant: everyone brings a wrapped gift for anyone, then takes turns opening one or stealing one. The funnier the gifts, the better it goes.
Yankee swap: much the same, with gifts people really want, and the first player gets a last chance to swap at the end.
Games That Need Only the Gifts
The left-right story: everyone sits in a circle holding a wrapped gift, and one person reads a story full of the words left and right. Pass your gift that way each time you hear one, and keep whatever you’re holding at the end.
Pass the parcel: wrap a gift in many layers, and pass it round while music plays. When the music stops, whoever holds it takes off one layer, and the last one keeps the gift. Tuck a small treat in the layers, so younger children all win something.
Games With Dice, a Wheel or a Timer
The dice swap: put the gifts in the middle, and take turns rolling two dice. Roll doubles to take a gift from the middle, and once it’s empty, set a timer for five minutes. Doubles then let you take a gift from anyone, and you keep what you hold when the time is up.
The spin swap: on each turn, spin a wheel that says open a gift, steal one, or swap with your neighbor. Nobody has to choose, so it’s gentler for groups who feel awkward about stealing.
How to Choose
For a work party, use Secret Santa or a spin swap, with a clear budget and gifts fine for anyone. For a big family, play a stealing game after dinner, or run a separate one for the children. In class, use small treats that everyone has brought, and a game such as the left-right story where nobody picks a favorite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the easiest gift exchange game?
The left-right story. It needs only a wrapped gift each and someone to read, and it’s over in a few minutes.
What’s a good gift exchange for a small group?
Secret Santa works from three people. Stealing games get better with six or more, as there’s more to steal.
How do you do a gift exchange at work without it being awkward?
Set a budget, make taking part optional, and ask for gifts that would suit anyone. Secret Santa also works well for a remote team.
Draw Names for Free
Type the names and we email each person a private link to spin and see who they’re buying for.
Open the Secret Santa generatorMore from the Blog
- Yankee Swap: Rules, How to Play and Fun TwistsYankee swap rules in plain steps: everyone brings one wrapped gift, draws a number, then opens a new gift or steals one. Plus limits and twists to try.
- Secret Santa Generator With Email: Send Each Link FreeA Secret Santa generator with email: draw names, type an address beside each one, and each person gets only their own private link. Free for any group.
- Family Secret Santa: How to Run One With Every HouseholdFamily Secret Santa, step by step: keep each household from drawing its own, set a budget that suits everyone, and send each person a private link.
- White Elephant Gift Ideas People Actually Fight OverWhite elephant gift ideas under $25: funny, useful and easy to find. The gifts that get stolen most at family, office and class swaps, plus how to run the game.
- What Should I Do? Spin a Wheel When You Can’t DecideWhat should I do? Write down your options, spin a wheel and notice how you feel about the answer. It’s the quickest way to find out what you really want.
- Truth or Dare Questions for Kids, Family and FriendsTruth or dare questions that are funny and clean: truths and dares for kids, family nights and sleepovers, plus ground rules and a wheel to pick the next turn.
- Icebreaker Questions for Work, School and PartiesIcebreaker questions for work, school and parties, all easy to answer and safe to ask anyone. Read from the lists, or spin a wheel so nobody has to choose.
- Conversation Starters for Family, Friends and WorkConversation starters for the dinner table, new friends and work: easy questions that get more than a one-word answer, plus a wheel that picks the next one.