White Elephant Gift Ideas Under $40 That Won't End Up in a Drawer

The best white elephant gift under $40 is funny to open, useful afterward and universal enough that anyone in the room would steal it. A single pair of Culprit underwear fits the cap, since most pairs cost $13 to $35. Hoodies (about $98 to $100) and crewnecks (about $84) do not. Here is what makes a gift steal-worthy, what to avoid and when to bring something else.

What makes a good white elephant gift?

A good white elephant gift gets a reaction when unwrapped and still gets used afterward. Steal-worthy gifts are easy to understand at a glance, fit most people and are funny without being mean. If a gift needs explaining, nobody will fight for it.

Three rules:

1. Make it opener-friendly. The laugh should happen the second the paper comes off.
2. Make it genuinely useful. If it gets used on a Tuesday, it gets stolen on Friday.
3. Make it wearable or consumable. No shelf space needed, which matters when the winner carries it home on the train.

Which white elephant gifts under $40 actually get stolen?

Funny, wearable or consumable gifts that are not too niche get stolen the most. Here is how the usual suspects compare:

The winners work as a joke and as a real object. If everyone brings a mug, yours should not be a mug.

Is funny underwear a good white elephant gift?

Yes. The print gets a laugh and the pair gets worn. It is also the kind of gift people jokingly fight over, and whoever gets stolen from at least walks away with a story.

It fits the price cap easily. Most single pairs run $13 to $35: boxer briefs with a fly mostly $17 to $33, LadyBoxers $16 to $32, thongs $13 to $22. Even the top of the range sits under $40, with room for a gift bag and a bow.

Men's boxer briefs have a left-side fly, a mid-rise (12" rise) and a 5 3/4" inseam in size M. LadyBoxers are a boyshort with a mid-high rise (10 1/4" rise, 5 3/4" inseam). Prints like Raptor Nights, Samurai Cats, Trip City, Absinthe Minded, The Good The Bad and The Pugly, Bad to the Bone, Freedom Smackdown, Zebra, Lizard King and Shark Bait come in both men's and women's styles. They are limited editions, which feeds the "ooh, I want that one" energy.

The fabric is 95% sustainably made micro-modal (a plant-based fiber) and 5% spandex, so the gift feels soft and stretchy instead of like a novelty item made of cardboard. Browse boxer briefs, LadyBoxers or our funny gifts for men.

How do I handle sizes for a white elephant?

Pick a mid-range size and attach a note, since you cannot know who ends up with it. White elephant is anonymous by design, which makes sizing a small gamble. Here is how to improve the odds:

• Choose near the middle of the chart. Culprit sizes by waist: S 26-28", M 29-31", L 32-34", XL 35-37", XXL 37-41", 3XL 42-46".
• Lean on the stretch. Micro-modal with 5% spandex has give.
• Add a tag with the size and the print name. If someone swaps, they know what they got.
• Mind the cap. Hoodies are great gifts, but at about $98 to $100 they only suit a group with a bigger budget. If your cap is $40, stay with a single pair.

Full sizing is on the size guide. Prefer a hoodie for a different occasion? See funny hoodies.

What should you avoid bringing to a white elephant?

Anything mean, gross, too personal or dependent on an inside joke. Underwear works as long as the humor is about the print and not about a person.

• Know the room. Boss attending the office exchange? Pick a snack set over underwear.
• Skip the gag that breaks. Cheap novelty items fall apart before dessert.
• Do not match everyone else. The candle and the mug are already there.
• Read the rules. If the group has a hard cap, obey it. $40 means $40.

For more on picking a funny gift for a specific guy, read funny gifts for men that he'll actually wear.

What if the recipient hates it?

A gift recipient cannot use the buyer's money-back guarantee, so white elephant is not a free exchange. The 100-day guarantee covers the first pair on a first order, and it belongs to the person who placed the order.

The practical move: choose a print with broad appeal, pick a middle size and include the tag. If you want to confirm quality before gifting, order a pair, try it on over something first and see for yourself. Terms are on the returns page.

Free U.S. shipping starts over $99, so if you are buying gifts for several parties, bundling gets you there. If someone in the group would love a recurring version, point them to the subscription page.

When Culprit is NOT the right pick

Skip Culprit for a white elephant if the crowd is a buttoned-up office with HR in the room, if the party includes kids, or if you need the gift to arrive in a day or two. The price cap is not a problem here, but the audience can be.

In those cases, bring a snack, a game or a practical stocking stuffer. If a funny gift is still the goal and the audience is a couple, our guide to matching underwear for couples has a better angle.

FAQ

What is a good white elephant gift under $40?

A funny, wearable or consumable gift that works for most people. Printed underwear (most pairs $13 to $35), a hot sauce set or a good card game all fit. Aim for something you would want to steal yourself.

What are funny white elephant gifts for adults?

Printed underwear, novelty snacks and games with a mild edge. Keep the humor about the object, not a person. A bold animal print on boxer briefs gets a laugh without being mean.

Is underwear a good white elephant gift?

It can be, with a fun print, a stretchy fabric and a middle size. Know your group first. At a work event, a snack gift is safer. At a friends' party, a loud print is a hit.

Does a Culprit hoodie fit a $40 white elephant cap?

No. Hoodies run about $98 to $100 and crewnecks about $84. A single pair of underwear fits the cap, hoodies do not. Save the hoodie for a gift where you are the only one giving.

How do I wrap a white elephant gift so it gets stolen?

Plain paper, a slightly mysterious shape and no hints. A neat package attracts steals, and a lumpy, obvious one does not. Do not tell anyone what it is, including your own spouse.

Keep reading

• Funny Gifts for Men That He'll Actually Wear
• Matching underwear for couples
• Micro-Modal vs Cotton Underwear