White elephant rules generator
Choose your price limit, steal limit and the rules your group argues about every year, and get one clear set of house rules to read out or print, with numbered draw slips and an optional random turn order. Free, no sign-up, and nothing leaves your browser.
1. Your game
2. Your house rules
3. Turn order (optional)
Add names to get a random turn order instead of paper slips. Leave it empty to print numbered slips to draw from a bowl.
Your house rules
Turn order
Track every steal on the night
The rules settle the arguments before the game. The organizer keeps score during it: who has what, how many times each gift was stolen, and when a gift freezes.
Type Open or Steal and a gift number: the next player, steal counts, frozen gifts and who goes home with what fill in. Printable house rules and draw number cards.
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Guest preferences, assignments and reveal numbers for an ornament swap.
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Guest list, menu, drinks, budget and a run sheet for the night.
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More: white elephant gift exchange rules, explained, the free Secret Santa name generator and the party food calculator.
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White elephant questions
What are the basic white elephant rules?
Everyone brings one wrapped gift and draws a number. On your turn you open a wrapped gift or steal an opened one. If your gift is stolen, you open or steal again straight away. The game ends when the last gift is opened.
How many times can a gift be stolen in white elephant?
It is up to the host. Three steals is a common limit: after the third steal the gift is frozen and stays with its last owner. Fewer steals make a shorter game; no limit makes a long one.
Can you steal a gift back in white elephant?
Most groups say no steal-backs on the same turn: if your gift is taken, you cannot immediately take it back. You may be able to steal it later, on another turn, if it is not frozen.
Does the first player get another turn?
Often, yes. Player 1 had nothing to steal on the first turn, so many groups give them a final swap after the last gift is opened. Switch the final-turn rule on or off to match your group.
How long does a white elephant game take?
Roughly a minute and a half to two minutes a player, plus a few minutes to explain the rules. A steal limit keeps a big group on time.
Is it the same as a Yankee swap or Dirty Santa?
Yes, these are other names for the same open-or-steal game. Secret Santa is different: names are drawn in advance and each person buys for one person.
Does this save our names?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is stored or sent. Print the rules and number slips before you close the page.