In this article
Here are 15 of my favorite gift exchange ideas, broken down into different types of exchanges.
Hosting a gift exchange is serious business. On the surface, it seems like an easy event to plan, but anyone who has successfully pulled off a memorable holiday exchange would disagree. This list of gift exchange ideas will help you begin to visualize your plan. In it, I share information such as the age appropriateness, gathering type, and number of people needed to make each exchange work.
Many of these ideas are gift exchanges I have successfully used to plan my own private parties and as a professional party planner. You may recognize some more popular ones, but there are many lesser-known ideas, too. I also added a few ideas highly recommended by my colleagues. A handful of exceptionally great ideas came to me through researching through various forums – all to make a list of no-fail exchange ideas for you!
Here is a quick tip: When planning a gift exchange, give your participants a theme. When given a theme, your exchange participants will find better gifts. Better gifts mean less regifting and less disappointment!
Always consider your participants’ likes and needs before choosing a gift exchange and theme.
The Swap Exchange
What is a Swap Exchange: At a holiday gathering, all guests bring a gift to add to a gift pile. Guests will receive a different gift from the pile.
How it works: Using a game or a set of instructions, party-goers exchange gifts with each other. Depending on the game, guests can choose a gift from the pile or decide to swap (or steal) a gift from someone else. The exchange ends when the game’s criteria have been met.
1. White Elephant Exchange
Group Size: 10+
Suitable Ages: Adults
Guests choose gifts from the gift pile or swap with other guests. Humor becomes the main focus of the exchange rather than the gifts.
Asking guests to bring weird, unusual, or eccentric presents works best. Cap your budget at $20 to get the creative juices flowing.
Why It Works: The more unusual the gift, the more likely guests will want to swap it. Swapping and stealing gifts increases the entertainment value of the game. Entertaining games make the best memories!
Looking for rules? USA Today has an excellent writeup.
Variations:
- Yankee Swap: Similar rules, but gifts are practical
- Pollyanna Exchange: No stealing allowed, and gifts must be nice
- Dirty Santa Exchange: Stealing and scheming encouraged. Gag gifts work well.
2. Christmas Carol Singalong
Group Size: 8+
Suitable Ages: Old enough to know a variety of carols
With a popular Christmas Carol or Holiday tune playing, pass a gift from the pile around the circle. When the host stops the music, the person holding the gift must finish the lyrical line to open the gift.
Any theme will work here, but the more focused the theme, the better. Example: Use a letter from the Alphabet Exchange Theme and have everyone bring gifts that start with that letter.
Why It Works: Fun and uplifting holiday songs create a great atmosphere. Don’t make people sing if they don’t want to – speaking the answer is just fine.
3. Draw a Card Game
Group Size: 5-10
Suitable Ages: All Ages
Buy or create your deck of printable cards that have play instructions. Instructions such as “Exchange your gift with a person wearing the most green” or “All players pass to the left” work well. One at a time, players draw cards and trade gifts. Once all the cards are used, and nobody has their original gift, everyone opens the gift they have!
Any theme would work here, but themes like “My Favorite Childhood Toy” would work well. This type of exchange can end with some interesting conversations and memories!
Why It Works: I love this game because it dictates how the gifts are distributed in a fun way! You can make your own cards with a printer, cardstock, and imagination!
4. Fun Facts Exchange
Group Size: 4+
Suitable Ages: Any, as long as they can read and write
Assign numbers to each participant. Have each person write a secret fun fact about themselves on a card. Write the corresponding number on the gift and the card. Participants will draw a card and read the facts; if you guess who it’s about, you get the gift with that number.
Choose a theme that incorporates the sharing of favorite themes. Adults could do a cocktail-in-a-box theme. Families could do a ‘favorite way to waste time for under $15’. Kids could gift a favorite toy.
Why It Works: Any group will find this game entertaining, whether to use it as an office icebreaker or as a family trivia game.
5. Left-Right Exchange
Group Size: Any
Suitable Ages: Any
Write (or find) a Christmas-themed story that uses the words left and right throughout. Sit your guests down in a circle with their gifts and read the story aloud. The guests pass their gifts to the left or right every time the words are spoken.
Any theme would work here. It could be as simple as having guests bring something that means something special to them that they would like to share.
Why It Works: This is a totally structured, no-fail game. Families will love creating a new tradition involving a tailor-made Christmas story — especially families with small children.
Variations:
- The Grinch Exchange: Read a copy of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Participants pass their gifts to the left when the word ‘Who’ or a variation is said and to the right for ‘Grinch.’
The Draw Exchange
What it is: A gift exchange draw is a process in which each person is randomly assigned to bring a gift for another person. Each participant brings one gift and will receive one gift. It is different from a swap because you know some information about whomm you are bringing a gift to.
How it works: Draw exchanges can be as easy or as complicated as you like. You don’t even need to have a gathering to exchange the gifts. There is only one real rule when planning a draw exchange: draws should happen far enough in advance to give people time to get their gifts ready.
1. Secret Santa
Group Size: Any
Suitable Ages: Any
This is the most well-known holiday gift exchange. Names are drawn, and each participant becomes the Secret Santa of another participant. A Secret Santa exchange has only one rule – keep your gift recipient’s name a secret!
Any gift theme would work here, but give your gifters some guidelines. This exchange often sees thoughtless gifts. Nobody wants to be disappointed, so make sure everyone involved wants to take part.
Why It Works: This can fit into practically any holiday gathering. Groups of friends or family living who can’t gather can ship gifts to one another.
Variations:
- The Wish List Exchange: Want to avoid boring gifts? Have everyone write a short wish list or a few likes and dislikes to help gifters find their way.
2. The Charitable Donation Exchange
Group Size: Any
Suitable Ages: Teen, Adult
Instead of drawing names for gifts, draw for donations. Pick a charity you think the person you’re giving the gift to would like, and then donate in their name. Do they love nature? Look for a local park conservation group. Do they love their pets? A local rescue organization could always use your donation.
Creative themes might work, but it might be better to set rules, like asking everyone to give to local charities.
Why It Works: Many people want to avoid adding to the commercialization of the season. Giving to charity is a great alternative.
Variations:
- Toy Drive: For a kid’s exchange, buy two identical toys. Children give one to the child whose name they’ve drawn, and the other is donated to a local toy drive. This only works with new, packaged toys, as charity toy drives usually don’t accept anything used.
- Donate to Santa: If you want kids to make room for new toys, have them select one of their old toys to donate to a local shelter. Toys should have all of their original pieces and be in good condition.
3. Thrift Store Exchange
Group Size: 5+
Suitable Ages: Adult
This is an excellent idea for a Christmas party. After all your guests have arrived, have everyone draw a name, and then head to a local thrift store. Look for a thrift store that supports community charities. Buy a nice gift – not something gross or unsanitary – for your recipient.
Back at your venue, have a room with wrapping supplies and gift tags so each person can privately wrap their gift. Pass out gifts, and open!
Go back in time with a 90’s theme, or try a Tacky Art hunt. You don’t need a theme; visiting a thrift store as a group is a theme in itself.
Why It Works: Thrifting is very trendy because of its eco-friendly status. Spending a little time together in a living time capsule is a great way to bring some spark into the holidays. Not to mention that the community groups that run these stores could use all the extra patronage they can get.
4. Best Memories Exchange
Group Size: Any
Suitable Ages: Any
Draw names in advance. Each gifter gifts something that reminds them of the person they’re gifting. Have gifters include a note explaining their reasoning behind the gift choice. Reasons could include reliving memories or sharing something in common.
For an added twist, ask that all participants craft or personalize their gift. A framed photo theme could make for an entire evening of walking down memory lane.
Why It Works: Making memories is how we build relationships. Remembering them is how we keep relationships strong. It’s a great way to remind people of the bonds they share.
5. Book and a Beverage Exchange
Group Size: Any
Suitable Ages: Adults
Get a book you think your giftee would love. It can be new, used, or from your own collection. Pair a beverage you would love to enjoy with your choice. Chai? A chocolate stout? A bottle of your favorite rosé? A suitable mug or glass would also be a nice accompaniment.
Why It Works: If your group is full of readers, this exchange will be an instant hit. Even kids would enjoy an age-appropriate book and strawberry milk.
Variations:
- Movie and Snack Bucket: Does your crowd prefer to entertain themselves with screens over pages? Make a movie bucket filled with snacks. Include a note with a movie suggestion and a gift card for the movie or subscription service.
Everyone Exchanges Gifts With Everyone
What it is: This style of exchange is a great way to ensure everyone feels included. It is my favorite type of gift exchange!
How it Works: The premise is simple. Bring as many of the same gifts as other people in the exchange, and swap your gift with each person!
Is there a better way to share the spirit of the holidays than to bring enough gifts for everyone? Not to mention, you also walk away with a gift from everyone else!
1. The Cookie Swap
Group Size: 8 or Less
This exchange calls for one of our favorite holiday indulgences – cookies! Bake a dozen cookies for each participant. Don’t forget to include yourself in the number. Bag or box them up in a decorative wrap, and add a small card with the recipe’s name and your name. At the exchange, give everyone a package of your homemade magic and grab a dozen from everyone else.
Why It Works: Everyone has a favorite recipe they would love to share, and everyone loves cookies. Plus, it’s much easier to use one recipe to make a lot of cookies than to use several different ones to make separate batches.
Are you planning to exchange with more than eight people? Instead of swapping batches of 12 cookies, make it more manageable by cutting the number to trade with each person to 6.
Variations:
- The Beer Swap: Buy a box of your favorite beer and trade bottles with everyone else! Obviously, this one isn’t for kids.
3. One Big Gift
Group Size: Any
Instead of having everyone exchange gifts, why not pitch in on one big gift? This works well with experiences such as travel or a concert. It could be an evening at an activity that the family might generally avoid because of the cost.
Don’t expect everyone to pitch in the same amount. If equal contributions are necessary, make it affordable for everyone.
Why It Works: This is a great way to spend time together and build memories. For the rest of your lives, someone will bring up that one Christmas when you did that thing – and that is priceless.
4. Potluck
Group Size: Any
Instead of trading gifts, which can be hit-and-miss, exchange your favorite homemade foods. If you want, have everyone bring recipe cards to trade, too. Make it unique by asking everyone to bring their favorite holiday appetizers. Or choose a unique theme, like a Christmas Luau!
Why It Works: No gift stress! It’s just a nice dinner to celebrate with everyone contributing to the feast.
5. The Long-Distance Exchange
Group Size: Any
There is still hope for those who can’t get together over the holidays. Like the ‘My Favorite Things’ exchange above, but with shipping. Everyone ships a small present from a local purveyor to everyone else on their list. As gifts come in, place them in a box you decorate yourself. No peaking!
When everyone receives their gifts, get on a Zoom or FaceTime call. Enjoy your time together with some hot chocolate, and open your gifts!
Why It Works: It feels like the whole family or group celebrates together despite being far apart.
Bonus: Gift Exchange Theme Ideas
It’s fun to share gifts, but the whole experience can be even more fun if everyone sticks to a theme. Give everyone direction on what kind of gift to give, and you will have more creative gifts!
1. Mathom Party
Group Size: Any, but groups of at least 8 work best
A “mathom” was something that Hobbits in Tolkien books kept even though they didn’t need it. Cookbooks, coffee table books, lampshades, or wall art will work well. Think of things you don’t want to give away but would be glad to do so if you knew they would have a second life.
Why It Works: You don’t have to spend money to give a treasured gift. Though not everyone is sentimental, many will appreciate gifts that they know were cherished by a friend or family member.
2. Alphabet Exchange
Group Size: Any
This theme has almost no restraints. Simply choose a letter from the alphabet and have guests bring a gift that starts with that letter.
If the letter T is the designated letter, gift things like
- Tiki torch
- Teapot
- Tetherball set
How do you avoid everyone bringing the same gift? Let everyone know there will be a penalty for anyone found guilty of bringing a similar item as another guest. Be creative! Penalty ideas could include speaking in a bad accent for the rest of the game or wearing a pair of (new) boxers on their head.
Why It Works: These themes work because they get those creative juices flowing without much constraint.
Variations:
- Color Exchange: Instead of choosing a letter from the alphabet, choose colors.
3. The Festive Stocking Exchange
Group Size: Any
Find zany Christmas socks (not stockings) and stuff them with tiny stocking stuffers. Gourmet hot chocolate packets, chocolates, fidgets, novelties, and candy canes all work.
Make sure to let everyone know what size of socks they should bring. If you need to, break the exchange down into groups by size.
Why It Works: A light and easy approach to giving, but with something anyone can wear. A good pair of Christmas-themed socks brings humor to your gathering and gives each person something to wear on Christmas morning.
4. Local Favorites
Group Size: Any
Share your favorite shops and services with a gift card, trial, or locally made product. Virtually every store has a voucher. Spas and salons often offer deals around the holidays. Local chocolatiers often have small boxes of chocolates.
Why It Works: Give gifts you love and support your favorite local business simultaneously. It’s a win for everyone!
5. Cocktail in a Box
Group Size: Any
Gather all the ingredients for your favorite cocktail. Put them in a box with an appropriate glass, the recipe, and a note on how/where/when to best enjoy it.
Why It Works: Why wouldn’t it? Cocktails are underrated, and yet everyone has a favorite. Nonalcoholic versions are lots of fun, too! Have you ever tried a Watermelon Breeze? Yum!
Next Steps
Once you have chosen your favorite gift exchange idea, it’s time to start working out the details. Firm up your list of participants and let everyone know all the relevant details. It’s gifting time!
And most of all, make memories and have fun this holiday season!
