Yankee Swap, or Dirty Santa, is a classic group gift exchange game that gets everyone involved.
Everyone picks a number to determine the opening order. Then people choose between opening an unwrapped gift or stealing an already opened present. Careful; it might get stolen from you next!
Choosing a great gift for a Yankee swap that everyone will want to take can be challenging, but we’ve got you covered with the 25 best Yankee swap gift ideas.
You can be the Michael Scott of the gift exchange without dropping lots of money with these funny, practical, and enviable gifts.
Sriracha: The Game is a fast-paced card game for two to four players. The box is designed like a Minecraft version of a Sriracha bottle, making things fun from the moment you unwrap it.
Players pick cards from a facedown pile and play them on the table. As players add their cards, combos appear. When the right combination of cards appears, slap the deck first in a lively competition to steal all the cards.
This is an excellent Yankee swap gift idea that everyone can enjoy on the night of the gift exchange if its new owner allows it.
Liven up a bedroom, home office, or TV room with LED strip lights. These easy-to-install strip lights come with a remote controller to change colors at the touch of a button.
LED strip lights are a great Yankee swap gift idea for under $25 because who doesn’t enjoy mood lighting? With two rolls of 50-foot (15.24 meters) LED light strips, these can line the underside of your bed and wrap around the edges of your ceiling.
At least one person at your Yankee swap is going to be filled with envy upon watching someone else open a coffee mug warmer. Tea lovers are welcome to steal this useful gadget too!
This Yankee gift swap idea features a plug-in ceramic heating plate and coffee cup. The coffee warmer gives a continuous heat of 55 degrees and transforms a cold beverage into a steaming cup in no time.
Looking to be the joker at this year’s Yankee swap? Then this funny gift exchange idea is up your alley because this wooden Christmas tree ornament doubles as a shot-glass holder.
This tree ornament hangs on a Christmas tree but could also be hung around the house year-round.
Engraved at the top are the words “We All Need A Shot.” An engraving that could make anyone in the group likely to commit theft for this great gift idea.
Everyone loves a new favorite mug, and this adorable coffee or teacup set is worthy of stealing in a Yankee swap.
The clear glass mugs have a double layer that protects your fingers from the piping hot liquid inside. The best part? The inner layer is shaped like a heart so that your coffee or tea gathers in a heart-shaped pool of warming liquid.
This shiny balloon dog desk statue is eye-catching from the moment it hits the light. It looks exactly like a balloon animal from a clown. Unlike a dog balloon, this one is never going to deflate.
This Yankee swap gift idea is great for workstations, home decor, or as a fun napkin holder. It comes in various colors and sizes to fit any gift exchange budget.
Everyone at your Yankee swap is going to want to take this Bob Ross chia pet. Or, choose from five other celebrity heads to grow chia hair on like:
David Hasselhoff
Rupaul
Weird Al
Willie Nelson
Richard Simmons
Spread the chia seeds over Bob’s perm and watch as the green sprouts grow into the fuzzy ‘do we all know and love. After they’ve sprouted, wash away the sprouts from Bob Ross’ hair and repeat the process over again.
A build-on brick mug is sure to be a hit at the company gift exchange. This mug has an outer layer that’s compatible with LEGO blocks.
Make your coffee break a play break with this fun toy that’s also a cup – this is one of the perfect Yankee swap gifts for the kids at heart, those who fidget during conference calls or need a quick change of pace to refresh mid-workday.
Artists at your Yankee gift swap will go wild for this fun gift exchange idea. Salvador Dali is a surrealist painter famous for his painting featuring clocks melting like giant cheese pizzas.
Brought into 3D, this Salvador Dali melting clock sits on a desk or shelf as a striking and conversation-starting piece worthy of stealing from your friends.
Bring out your inner kid, with an adult twist, with this champagne gun shooter. This is one of the best Yankee swap gift ideas for those in your group that are the life of the party.
Connect a bottle of champagne, beer, wine, or water, and squirt it into the mouths of your friends for a hilarious and photographable moment.
This is one of the Yankee gift swap ideas that will get unboxed and used on the night of the gift exchange.
Who wouldn’t want to wrap themselves in a giant pizza? This pizza blanket is one of the fun and stealable Yankee swap gift ideas you need to get for your friends.
This circular blanket has a pizza design on one side and a white underside. Both sides are soft and perfect for cocooning on the couch on pizza night.
The design may be super realistic, but the soft flannel material feels nothing like a greasy pizza pie. The blanket is machine washable, so its new owner won’t need to worry if they drop some marinara sauce on it.
This pooping pooches calendar is another one of the best Yankee swap gift ideas for jokesters in the group.
Just like a regular calendar, every month features a new image. However, instead of a picturesque landscape, every month has a different dog taking a dump.
It may not be the prettiest gift, but it will get a laugh and be used as a reminder for important events and pertinent meetings with your furry best friend.
Good things come in small packages, like this four-piece gold and marble coaster set. This Yankee swap gift idea for under $25 is made of solid marble with a 22-karat gold edge.
This great gift idea will spruce up someone’s living room and hopefully prompt them to invite you over for drinks one day soon.
If you’re looking for the best Yankee swap gift ideas under $50, this set of air purifying plants in seashells is a great place to start.
This set comes with four air plants inside of sea urchin shells for a unique plant that fits in perfectly on a coworker’s desk or in a friend’s bedroom.
Music lovers will sit on the edge of their seats when they see this portable Bluetooth speaker unwrapped at the gift exchange.
This speaker can be attached to a bike for athletes in the bunch. It’s waterproof and shockproof, so this speaker will withstand a wipeout on a bike to work in the rain.
This Tentree baseball cap is one of the best Yankee swap gift ideas for anyone wanting to take part in holiday fun without harming the planet.
Not only does this gift suit anyone that loves wearing hats, but it also helps fight against climate change. Tentree plants ten trees for every purchase made. So even if someone who hates hats ends up with this at the gift exchange, at least they can still feel good about it.
Everybody deserves to pamper themselves, and this Turkish unisex robe is a great Yankee swap gift idea that brings the spa home.
As soon as the gift receiver feels the soft cotton, they won’t want to give it away. The best part? This Yankee swap gift under $50 looks like you went over budget.
Help someone in your gift exchange organize their space with these beautiful geode book ends. This Yankee swap gift idea adds a natural touch to an indoor office or reading room.
These geode book ends are two halves of an agate crystal. At around three pounds a piece, your books are sure to sit firmly in their spot.
This Gua Sha set is one of the best Yankee swap gift ideas under $50 for anyone with a skincare routine. Gua Sha is a beauty technique originating in traditional Chinese medicine where stones are used to massage the face.
The set comes with a Gua Sha stone and anti-aging face oil that is vegan, paraben-free, and 100% organic.
Part of the holiday season is the stress that comes along with it. So, this aromatherapy essential oil diffuser is a great gift for a holiday gift exchange. This high-quality glass essential oil diffuser is one of the best Yankee swap gift ideas under $100.
The oil diffuser has a wooden base and a rounded top that looks like a science experiment brewing on your desk. The vapor collects in the rounded glass top and spouts out the side with a refreshing scent of your choice.
It features multiple light options for a calming glow that makes it all the more enviable to those next on the unwrapping list.
This falling stars choker necklace is sure to end up in the grateful hands of someone at your Yankee swap. And even if it doesn’t, they’ll certainly know someone they can regift this gorgeous piece to.
All of Vivamacity’s jewelry is made with premium-quality materials that won’t tarnish or turn your neck green. Pair this with other necklaces to create an edgy-layered look, or wear it on its own for an elegant accessory.
Entertainers in your gift exchange will ache to get their hands on this epic charcuterie board.
Gift givers have the choice between the wood color, configuration, and even personalized engravings. Since you won’t know who’s getting it, get it engraved with a quote or a funny message.
This charcuterie board has sectioned-off areas to separate the cheeses, meats, fruits, and nuts on display.
Attach a note to this charcuterie board stating that the winner has to host wine and cheese night next.
Not all who wander are lost, but it’s a lot easier to navigate when you’ve got a map of middle earth. Lord of the Rings book and movie lovers alike will delight in this thoughtful Yankee swap gift idea.
This map of middle earth poster is printed on cotton canvas and attached to a hangable wooden frame. The seller lets you choose the size so that this gift idea matches any gift exchange budget.
Cardi “likes to party” Clark has 15+ years of designing, planning, and executing successful parties and events. Highly skilled in event strategy, management, planning, and execution with a track record of exceeding expectations. I make it happen. I get it done and people have fun!
