21 Best Yankee Swap Gifts to Consider this Year

Today, we will discuss some of the best Yankee swap gifts to consider this year. Offering gifts is just as satisfying for the giver as it is for the receiver, so you should put some thought into them. 

A great Yankee Swap gift may come in the form of food, games, storage, knicknacks, or something funny. The best gifts are entertaining, useful, and inexpensive. Sound impossible? That’s why you have us!

Making a list with the best Yankee swap gift ideas and choosing the most suitable ones for some particular receivers is an exercise in creativity if not more. Read on for the best Yankee Swap Gift options!

What is a Yankee Swap Gift Exchange?

You may be asking what a Yankee Swap Party is. Sometimes known as a White Elephant Gift Exchange, or a Dirty Santa Gift Exchange, this party is a clever way to spice up the good old fashioned gift exchange that your family and co-workers bore you with year after year. The rules can vary, but simply, everyone is directed to contribute a wrapped gift within a certain price range.

Usually, to assure everyone gets something nice, the limit is up to twenty-five dollars.

As each participant arrives with their gift they are asked to draw a number from a hat. Each person waits until his number is called. On each person’s turn, he may decide to pick an unwrapped, new gift from the table to open or swap the gift with someone else. Each gift is technically unclaimed until the swap is over. Don’t be surprised though, if in the end there is more swapping going on.

After all, the fun of the party is to go home with something exciting!

If you want more Yankee swap gift ideas, don’t forget to check out our guide on some of the most amazing housewarming party gifts you can buy for close friends, family members, acquaintances, or workmates. On the other hand, if the concept of a Yankee swap is not right up on your alley, you can get your inspiration going form our guide on gift exchange games for large groups. Besides the White Elephant, you also have the Cheer Exchange, the Hot Potato, the legendary & classic Secret Santa, the Numbers Game, and so on. After all, choosing a gift for someone and exchanging gifts with other people require specific mindsets and certain conditions, so pick the game that serves you best.

Now, let’s return to our White Elephant gift ideas to consider this year!

Best Yankee Swap Gifts

The following is a list of the 21 best Yankee swap gifts you can choose from

Before we begin, however, make sure you also check out our guide on the best funny Yankee swap gift ideas we offered a while ago. In that article, you will learn some of the basic rules for choosing the best Yankee swap present. Suffice to say, you can go for anything that is unusual, useful but strange, sexy (only when it is the case), exceedingly tacky or gross (for the laughs, of course), you get the point.

1. BLACK + DECKER Brew ‘n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug

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Family, friends, or co-workers, this gift is perfect for anyone in the group! The coffee brews directly into the 15-ounce travel mug and the mug is designed to fit in almost any vehicle cup holder. The coffeemaker is equipped with a permanent filter, filter basket, and auto shut-off for those busy mornings. The mug is complete with a lid and can be washed safely in the dishwasher. This gift will be a big hit at the swap party. It is also an amazing housewarming party gift, so put it on the list for other parties and occasions requiring presents!


2. Pyrex Simply Store Rectangular Glass Food Storage Set

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This versatile gift will be welcomed by women and men alike. Imagine taking your food from the oven to the fridge in one dish. Carry these dishes with you to the party, and warm the food in the microwave when you get there. You can freeze the leftovers right in the same dish, and place it in the dishwasher when it is empty. The 6 piece set includes one 3-cup, one 6-cup, and one 11-cup rectangular dish. Each dish comes with its own lid. These easy to store, stackable dishes will have everyone fighting over them.


3. Hot Cocoa Gift Set By Fireside

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Everyone likes hot chocolate, so you can’t go wrong with this gift! This gourmet hot cocoa set includes three 8 ounce cans that each consists of salted caramel, chocolate truffle, and peppermint. Just add hot water and you will have a hot cup of cocoa to warm you up on the coldest day. Make a special treat in the summer by adding the cocoa to a glass full of ice. Either way you like it, this gift will be sure to please. Packaged in a gift box with ribbon, your work is already done.


4. Yankee Swap Gift Tee Shirt

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Give them a souvenir to remember the night forever! With this shirt, they can wear it to the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party they will be going to next. This classic fit, lightweight, 100% cotton tee is available in a variety of colors and sizes. Make this the best Yankee swap gift on the table, and be the star of the party. Remember we said above that some best White Elephant gift ideas can be strange and even unsightly as long as they have a good dose of intrinsic humor attached to them? This is one of those Yankee swap gift ideas to consider this year!


5. Adult Coloring Book Set of 3

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The latest craze is the relaxing, adult coloring book. This gift is great for a swap party with the girls. Older children will enjoy this gift as well. This set includes mandalas, flower designs, and geometric patterns. These books are great for anxiety and stress relief. Explore your inner creativity with each of the 48 single-sided coloring pages, and express your thoughts on each of the 48 journal pages in every book. Adult coloring books are all the rage right now and make some incredible activities for teens as well during a rainy day in the house, so grab a few for your family as well!


6. Cupcakes & Cartwheels- Ribbons Quick Change Watch

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This is another great gift for the swap party with the girls. From young to old, she will love this gift. This Quartz watch comes with a variety of 11 different ribbon straps that tie in a bow for security.  Complete with a different strap for everyday and every outfit, she will never get bored. For an elegant presentation, this watch is packaged together with the ribbons in a pink gift box. Make everyone fight to get this gift at the party.


7. Oster Fondue Pot

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Everyone loves to eat, and this gift can be fun for everyone. This 3- quart fondue pot is made by Oster, and can be used to dip sweets into chocolate, melt some cheese, or fry some meat. It comes with 8 color-coordinated forks and a sure release break-away-cord. Adjustable temperature control and cool-touch handles make this pot user friendly. This gift will be a big hit, and probably one of the best Yankee swap gifts you will find. Put this item on the list of best housewarming party gift ideas and some of the best presents to offer your parents for their birthday, anniversary, Christmas, or any other occasion!


8. Never Have I Ever: The Game of Poor Life Decisions Card Game

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This party game is for ages 17 and older, so it would be ideal for the adult Yankee Swap Party. This popular game includes 550 cards of hilarious, awkward, and embarrassing adult material. With this game, you have the opportunity to learn more about each other. A fun party game that the winner might want to play with everyone when the swapping is over. You know how much we love a good (and mean) game of Never Have I Ever, so if you want to play it (outside the card game) with your friends and family, here are the best Never Have I Ever Game Questions to make your own version of this amazing campfire activity for adults who know each other pretty well and are not afraid to tap into some personal issues.


9. Fritesla 16000mah Power Bank Portable Charger for Smartphones

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Almost everyone you know has a smartphone, so why wouldn’t this be one of the best Yankee swap gifts at the party? This slim charger is convenient enough to fit right into your pocket, next to your cell phone. This lightweight charger features dual USB outputs, a USB light with an LED reading. Available in four color choices, this gift is something everyone will want.


10. Northpoint Cashmere Velvet Reverse to Cloud Sherpa Throw Blanket

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Nobody will resist the comfort of a soft, warm blanket. This blanket has the feel of velvet plush on one side and reverses to the feel of an extra warm cloud sherpa on the other side. The ideal 50×60 inch size makes for a comfy movie night throw, or wrap it around your shoulders while working at the computer late at night. This gift is available in a variety of colors and will be perfect for anyone in your group. Sit back and watch them fight for this one.


11. Freshly Roasted Delicious Healthy Nuts Basket

This tray of healthy nuts is made with four delicious sections of cashews, pistachios, honey glazed pecans and almonds. These nuts are 100% natural and will make the perfect kosher, vegetarian or organic snack for anyone in the group. The nuts are packaged for freshness in a box, and ready for gift giving. The winner will be so delighted, maybe he will share some with you before the night is over.


12. Pen Light With Stylus Tip

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This is the best Yankee Swap gift for the office party. The pen is engraved with, “Success Dreams Create Reality.” This 3-in-1 ballpoint pen is equipped with a replaceable ink cartridge, replaceable battery, and is complete with an LED flashlight and a stylus tip. This handy pen is everything a person needs to get through a busy day at work. Packaged in a classy gift box, this pen is ready to go. Become the favorite co-worker when they find out this gift came from you.


13. Care Package with 50 Sweet and Salty Snacks

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This variety snack pack is ideal for the family or school swap party. With chips, candy, cookies, crackers, gum and more all in the same package, how can you go wrong? They can share it, re-gift it, or eat it all themselves, but no matter what they choose to do with it, this will be the most talked-about gift of the night.


14. Burt’s Bees Hand Repair Gift Set

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Everyone has dry, chapped hands every now and then, so choosing this gift will not be a waste. The hand repair kit includes Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream, Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and Shea Butter Hand Repair Cream. This kit is packaged in a clear nylon bag tied with ribbon. As an added bonus, the kit also includes a pair of cotton gloves to help keep in the moisture. The person that wins this gift will have to hide it from the rest.


15. Woodwick Candle Fireside

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Everyone likes to hear the crackling of the fireplace or of a veritable campfire. With this candle, not only will they get the sound and relaxation listening to the crackle from the wick, but the fireside scent will top it off. This candle is available in two sizes and will put off the scent for 100 hours. You won’t go wrong giving this candle jar to your friends at the party.


16. The Grill Light by Knight Lighter

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This unique gift will be sure to lighten up the room. This light is the perfect BBQ companion, but has many other uses as well! Made with a durable Nylon Glass Fiber and 11 gauge steel clamp, this light is made to withstand heavy heat and light rain. Clip it in your dark closet or onto your beach chair. If you need light, grab the grill light as well. Make your friends fight for this gift at the swap party.


17. Heat Sensitive Color Changing Coffee Mug

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This 16 ounce, ceramic mug will confuse everyone in the room. The mug will change color and design when it is hot, and will change again as the beverage cools down. This mug can be fun for everyone, and with this design, even the kids will love it. Keep a sleepy person on their toes with this happy conversation piece.


18. Rustic Whitewash Tabletop Chalkboard Sign

BEST YANKEE SWAP GIFTS

The chalkboard that is meant to go on tabletops in homes is great things to give someone as a gift for a housewarming party or any other occasion. They are fun products that anyone can enjoy. Witty, encouraging, helpful, or sweet things can be written on it in any household. Chalk even gives them the freedom to draw, be creative, and set the tone for the house and any guests who enter in. You can’t go wrong with this gift!


19. Play Visions 450 Nose Aerobics Game

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This gift will be fun for anyone! Enjoy watching your adult friends play this game when they put on the plastic glasses and try to catch the tiny ball in the little basket. This can make any party entertaining, or watch your co-worker secretly play behind his cubby. For ages 5 and up, but this game will be a riot when the adults try to play!


20. Hidden Alcohol Sunscreen Flask

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This is the best gift for the adult party. These two, 9.7-ounce realistic sunscreen bottles, will conceal your drinks so you can sneak them in with you wherever you go. They are leakproof with airtight seals and are food-grade safe. Extra seals and a funnel are included. The flasks easily hold approximately nine shots each, and can easily be passed around for sharing.


21. Knock Knock Bathroom Guest Book

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This unique book will have everyone spending time in the bathroom at the next party. Each page is designed for the guest to answer questions, draw a picture and describe their bathroom experience. No more trifling through an outdated magazine, or critiquing the color of your host’s bathroom. Even the serious grump at the party will laugh at this book!



Is there a Difference Between Yankee Swap vs White Elephant Gift Ideas?

Historically speaking, yes, there is, although in the modern world, Yankee swap gifts ideas and White Elephant gift ideas are quite the same thing. The Yankee swap gift concept goes back to the American Civil War, they say, when generals were swapping prisoners in a barter system that had nothing to do with human rights as we know them.

On the other hand, the idea of receiving a White Elephant is, by all means, and purposes, a burden. The king of Siam proved to his people back in the day that getting a white elephant was a punishment and not so much of a token of appreciation.

In conclusion, White Elephant gift ideas should be a bit ridiculous and useless in nature, while Yankee swap gift ideas, no matter how brutal, had some intrinsic value to them. Today, we do not make much of a difference between them and both are extremely fun gifting exchange ideas.


Best Yankee Swap Gifts: Bottom Line

Whether you call them White Elephant gift ideas or Yankee swap gift ideas, we hope our suggestions proved useful to you to have some fun with family, friends, or co-workers this year. If you have more ideas you tried already and made the hoped impact, tell us everything about them in the comment section below! We would love to upgrade this article with some of the best Yankee swap gifts that our readers vouch for and recommend!

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