The 10 best white elephant gift ideas for 2025

The best white elephant gifts are those that spark a little curiosity as soon as they enter the pile. And it’s impossible to have a full-sized, 4.3-pound fire log wrapped in holiday paper no To note. It will almost certainly dwarf any other gift up for grabs, and will spark endless questions and speculation about what might be in the strange and surprisingly heavy box.

The fact that the comically large box contains a fire scented with the smell of KFC fried chicken makes the whole gag even more entertaining. I have a gas fireplace at home, so, unfortunately, I have no idea what the smoke from a KFC 11 Herbs and Spices fire actually smells like. Many online reviews claim that it smells exactly like KFC. Whether that’s attractive to you or not probably depends on how close you are to the Colonel. But I can’t think of a more fun gift to give someone who really wanted to see what was inside the big, heavy box. — Carissa Bell, Senior Reporter

A gift that anyone can appreciate is the gift of warmth, and a pair of these magnetic hand warmers is one of the best (and most convenient) ways to give that. They are small, rechargeable balls that can be used stuck together or separately to warm frozen hands during the winter – or any time of the year. They heat up super quickly (in fact, within seconds) and will last up to eight hours each on a single charge. It would also be great for those who insist they never catch a cold because it’s so small and compact that they can sneak it into their coat pockets, with no one being the wiser. —Valentina Palladino, deputy editor

Is there really any point to having sushi or noodle night if you’re not eating with utensils protected by The Force? No, the answer is no. These lightsaber chopsticks glow in different colors at the push of a button and come with batteries included so your giftee can protect their dishes from evil forces. They’re sure to be a hit among Star Wars fanatics, but anyone can find enjoyment in a pair of extra-sturdy chopsticks with which to have impromptu “food battles” between bites of sashimi. – Vice president

Native Union is a French accessories company that made its name over a decade ago with the Pop Phone. It was a big, old-fashioned handset, designed to plug into iPhones when the world still felt a shudder of hope. It helped capture that brief period when we were using vintage photography filters on our social media photos, mixing old with new. Now, the company has re-released the Pop with USB-C, allowing you to connect it to any phone or device you want to take calls on. The sound quality is more than good, and will likely be an even more eye-catching clip in 2025 than it was in 2015. —Daniel Cooper, Senior Reporter

I’ve never been a big fan of jigsaw puzzles, but the artistic pieces that Magic Puzzle Company creates for you to put together are a joy. For starters, each has gorgeous, distinct artwork – while there are a variety of artists who have contributed to the company’s puzzle lineup, they all feel connected, full of colour, whimsy and a host of secrets that you’ll notice as you build. The puzzle pieces themselves are high quality and sturdy, which goes a long way toward making putting together puzzles fun.

But my favorite part is the fact that once you’ve finished the main puzzle, you’re not done yet. Each has sections that can be moved after completion, opening up a new middle area to be filled with an additional section of pieces. This new addition fits seamlessly into the puzzle and expands on its story. It’s hard to describe, but it’s unlike anything I’ve seen in other puzzles. I’m largely unfamiliar with puzzle makers, but I can’t wait to get more from the Magic Puzzle Company and explore their secrets. —Nathan Ingraham, deputy editor

Who doesn’t want their living room to look like a galaxy far, far away? Your giftee may have to compete with her little ones (or others in your gift exchange) for this galaxy projector, which projects different light effects onto the ceiling with adjustable brightness and speed. They can use it to create the perfect atmosphere for their next Star Wars viewing party, or just to get a good night’s sleep. In addition to the included remote and accompanying app, the projector also has a timer so they can set it to turn off once they fall asleep. The mobile app will allow them to customize all aspects of their personal space field, from the nebula and shimmer effects, to the swirling colors, to the music they pair with (yes, there’s a built-in speaker, too). Forget your old, boring smart light bulbs – this Galaxy Projector is the smart device that will elevate anyone’s home environment. – Vice President

What’s better than a warm and cozy beanie? A warm and cozy beanie also helps you see better when you’re walking your dog on a cold, dark winter morning, going for an evening jog, or looking for a particular tool in your garage. This unisex hat has a removable light on its front brim that has four LED lights inside and can run for up to eight hours on a single charge. And when it needs more power, you can simply remove the light fixture, recharge it, and put it back in the hat. – Vice President

Our offices are crowded and boring, but this adorable little rechargeable light can brighten things up. The chibi torch inside an old kerosene lamp shape is made of silicone, so it’s as squishy as it is cute, and has two lighting modes: candlelight and nightlight. The soft, warm color it emits will be great for setting the mood in your space, and it’s also dimmable so you can get the right amount of light to suit your style. – Vice President

The Banana Phone is exactly what you’d expect – a banana that’s also a phone. It may not have a SIM card or service plan attached, but the gift recipient can pair it with her smartphone via Bluetooth so she can ditch that tired $1,000-plus phone and start taking calls the right way — with a piece of fruit. In addition to making and receiving calls, they can also use the Banana Phone with Google Assistant and Siri to ask about the weather or tell them to “Play Cruel Summer by Bananarama.” Yes, the Banana Phone also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker and has a 30-foot range, so it can play tunes when he’s not using it conducting official business. – Vice President

If a white elephant gift is intended to be a form of minor torture, then an alarm clock on wheels might be the greatest white elephant gift of all. (Well, except for those weirdos who wake up at 4:30 a.m. every day bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.) It’s an alarm clock that, if the gift-giver tries to hit the snooze button, runs away from them and continues to beep, telling them in no uncertain terms that it’s time to wake up. And every morning, they will get out of bed sleepy and curse your name. – Terence O’Brien, former managing editor