I Found the Best White Elephant Gifts, and They’re All Less Than $40 (2024)

There’s nothing like giving a gift to someone, even if it’s small. And, let’s be honest, we all love getting gifts too. But I won’t lie—exchanges where you have no idea who’s getting the gift can be nothing short of a challenge to shop for.

You need to find those chameleon pieces that almost anyone would love. I think it's acceptable to stick to a theme and a safe bet is gifts for food lovers or homebodies. That’s what I gravitate towards, and it’s exactly why I went ahead and collected a list of my favorite gift ideas for a white elephant. You’ll find everything from cast iron skillets to cozy blankets, and most pieces come in at around $20 (but none are over $40). Shop the 11 best picks below.

Editor-Loved White Elephant Gifts

• Y Yhy 6-Piece 30-Ounce Pasta Bowls Set, $29 with coupon (originally $36) at amazon.com
• Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet, $20 (originally $34) at amazon.com
• Escali Primo Digital Food Scale, $25 (originally $27) at amazon.com
• Homedics SoundSleep White Noise Sound Machine, $19 with coupon (originally $24) at amazon.com
• J.K. Adams Maple Wood French Dowel Rolling Pin, $15 (originally $19) at amazon.com
• OXO Good Grips Large Salad Spinner, $30 at amazon.com
• Brightland Stocking Stuffer, $20 at brightland.co
• Material The (grippy) reBoard, $40 at materialkitchen.com
• Burlap & Barrel Weeknight Collection Set, $26 (originally $28) at burlapandbarrel.com
• Baggu Standard Bag, $14 at baggu.com
• Pottery Barn Fireside Cozy Sherpa Reversible Throw, $39 (originally $49) at potterybarn.com

Y Yhy 6-Piece 30-Ounce Pasta Bowls Set

This is as chameleon as it gets. Everyone needs dinnerware in their home, even if they don’t cook a single meal. What makes these bowls the best is that they work for virtually every dish, from takeout to homemade ravioli. I love them because of their size and shape. They hold 30 ounces, which I find isn’t too big or too small, giving me more leeway for what I can pop in them. They’re also durable, microwave-safe, and easy to clean by hand or right in the dishwasher. A set of six is great, since whoever steals them last will likely want to use them for every meal.

Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet

A cast iron skillet is something most people should also have on hand, since the pan’s material can sear and bake like no other. I love this Lodge skillet as a beginner piece, because it’s not a high investment. And if it’s cared for, it’ll last a lifetime, so it’s a great gift to give someone. It’s exactly what my parents own, and we often pull it out to sear off salmon, steak or to bake biscuits, cinnamon rolls and more. Nothing else gets the same crust or caramelization, and some recipes really need it to be at their best.

Escali Primo Digital Food Scale

A food scale isn’t just for skilled bakers. Everyone can benefit from one of these in the kitchen, and this Escali model is my personal favorite. I recommend it to anyone because it has a very simple to use design that both beginners and professionals can benefit from. It measures grams, ounces, and pounds quickly and accurately. I love that the surface is elevated, because it makes it easy to read the number at the base. It comes in a wide variety of colors to keep it exciting too. It’ll unlock a wide variety of baking projects so it’s perfect for bakers that want to improve their skills, but it also helps with other kitchen tasks like splitting a pound of pasta evenly.

Homedics SoundSleep White Noise Sound Machine

Wellness is of the utmost importance these days, and getting sleep is one of the best ways to take care of yourself. I’m a light sleeper, and for me, a simple sound machine has made all the difference. I love this specific Homedics one for people that are just trying out a sound machine because it’s not too expensive and works wonderfully. It has the perfect white noise sound that I find most people enjoy, plus five natural sounds to choose from like summer night, rain and thunder. My partner uses this for his noisy Brooklyn apartment and it has definitely helped improve his sleep quality. Not only that, but it also helps him during the day when he's studying or working to block out noise. I love to put mine on when I’m reading so I can really focus on my book, too. It seems a little niche, but it makes an awesome white elephant gift that anyone can use, whether it’s for sleep or just for relaxation.

J.K. Adams Maple Wood French Dowel Rolling Pin

For some reason, I’ve gathered that a lot of people just don’t own a rolling pin. I could see why — they’re a specific tool a lot of people don’t feel like they need. Sure, you could grab that wine bottle, but I guarantee you’re going to struggle a little and wish you had a rolling pin. I love this one from J.K. Adams because it’s simple in design, flattens and works over doughs with ease, and it's not too bulky, so it's easier to store. If you’re used to a rolling pin with handles, using a dowel shape like this can be a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it you’re golden. I think bakers and anyone looking to cook and experiment more often will appreciate the quality and value of it regardless.

OXO Good Grips Large Salad Spinner

This salad spinner has been an absolute game changer for me, and I want other people to experience it. I used to hand rinse and dry every single piece of lettuce for my salads often, and nearly every day in the summer when they’re fresh from the farm. With this spinner, the process is so much easier and faster, and my lettuce is just as clean if not more clean. Not only that, but this spinner dries it better than I ever could too. I love the volume I can fit in it too, as I make pretty hefty salads and will often serve salads for holiday dinners and get-togethers too. For $30 it's completely worth it and makes life so much easier.

Brightland Stocking Stuffer

A delicious olive oil can go a long way in a wide variety of recipes. I love Brightland’s high quality options, from smooth every day extra virgil varieties, to bright lemon-infused options. Right now for the holiday season, you can shop these mini stocking stuffer-sized 3.4-fluid ounce bottles for just $20. Use them to drizzle over pastas, to balance salad dressings, or to dip bread in. They’re the perfect little gift to grab for something like a white elephant—I wouldn’t be surprised if people fought over it honestly.

Material The (grippy) reBoard

This is the perfect sustainably-focused kitchen gift to grab someone. Everyone needs a cutting board, and this one is made from 75% recycled plastic and 25% renewable sugarcane. I use mine everyday because it has a simple, effective design. It’s the perfect size at 14.75 by 10.75 plus it's nice and thin at less than half an inch so it’s easy to store. It has small little silicone tabs on each corner which make it slip-proof. Since it’s plastic, you’ll see some knife marks, but it doesn’t bother me. It's easy to clean and maintain too. It comes in four fun colors too, including a light taffy purple, a bright pimentón orange, a deep lapis blue, and a peachy dahlia pink.

Burlap & Barrel Weeknight Collection Set

Good quality spices are something not a ton of people will buy for themselves, even if they’re super into cooking. That’s why I think they’re the perfect gift. I’ve been eyeing Burlap & Barrel’s incredibly flavorful spices after I had the opportunity to try them recently. This set is a great fuss-free place to start, and it includes some really unique varieties designed to amp up everyday meals. It comes with cured Turkish sumac, purple stripe garlic from Vietnam and Turkish sun dried tomato powder. You can also build your own set from the brand’s catalog, if you want to make something more customized.

Baggu Standard Bag

Baggu makes bags that are so popular that a lot of folks will go out of their way to collect them. It makes sense, as the brand's reusable bags serve as both functional and fashionable. I love to throw them in my purse when I leave the house because they fold down to nothing (and come in a carrying case too) and I know I have a bag in case I go on an impromptu shopping or grocery trip. Grabbing a bag or two in some fun or new colors giftees might not have is a stellar idea in my book.

Pottery Barn Fireside Cozy Sherpa Reversible Throw

I recently bought this blanket as a gift for someone and I contemplated keeping it for myself for about two full days. It is so soft and comfortable—it’s like touching a cloud. I love to give a blanket because most people will actually use it, so I feel like it's practical and special at the same time. This one is essentially a two-in-one situation because it is reversible. Your giftee can choose or switch between the sherpa or fluffier side. It’s selling fast since it’s on sale, but you can still score the ivory, black and red colors right now.