White elephant dice game: rules and an online dice roller

How do you play the white elephant dice game?

These are the house rules on this page and in the printable sheet. Families play many versions, so agree on yours before the first roll, not halfway through.

Need a dice roller for the gift exchange?

Pick the number of players, 1 or 2 dice and the house rules, then roll. The table for the rules you picked shows the number you rolled, and the page counts whose turn it is. The game clock sits under the table. Nothing you choose is stored or sent.

With 2 dice, the roller chooses which of the two numbers to play. That speeds up a slow game, because more rolls lead to a move.

What happens in round 2?

Round 2 starts once every gift is open. Now people can see what they are swapping, so it gets louder. A 1 means keep your gift and pass the dice on. A 2 or a 3 lets you swap with anyone you like.

A 4 lets the roller pick two other players and swap their gifts. That is the move people remember. A 5 moves every gift one seat to the right, and a 6 moves every gift one seat to the left.

Keep round 2 short: 5 minutes is plenty for most groups. When the clock rings, the game is over and nobody can swap again. Anyone who wants to trade after that may only do so if both people agree.

Can you play without unwrapping until the end?

Yes. Pick "No unwrapping until the end" in the roller. There is only one round, and every gift stays wrapped the whole game. Players can shake, weigh and squeeze the gifts, but nobody peeks.

A 6 in this version means you shake any gift, say out loud what you think is inside and roll again. Guessing gets funnier as the game goes on, because people start to argue over the heavy, rattly box.

When the clock rings, everyone opens at once. This version suits groups who like suspense, and it stops anyone from chasing one gift they have already seen. Give it a longer clock than round 1, as there is no second round.

How long does the white elephant dice game take?

10 minutes for round 1 and 5 for round 2 works for most groups of 6 to 12. Add 5 minutes to round 1 for larger groups. With 2 dice, every turn leads to a move, so the clock matters more than the number of rolls.

The clock decides when the game ends, not the dice. If it rings during a move, finish that move and stop. Set the time out loud before you start, so nobody feels cheated at the end.

Which version fits your group?

With children

Pick "Short game for kids". It has one round of 3 rolls each, nobody swaps with someone they choose, and a 1 lets a child keep a gift they like. Choose gifts that suit every age in the circle, and give young children a seat next to an adult.

At work or with friends

Agree on the tone before anyone shops: funny is fine, unkind is not. Leave out anything that depends on clothing size, drinking or a private joke about one person. Anyone who does not want to play can watch and roll for the group.

On a video call

One host collects the gifts beforehand and plays them on camera. Each player rolls with the dice roller on this page and says the number out loud. The host moves the gifts, then sends each one to its final owner after the call.

With no dice at all

Write the numbers one to six on slips of paper and draw one from a bowl each turn. Put the slip back after each draw. The tables above still work.

Open or steal with dice

If your group prefers classic white elephant, keep the open or steal rules and roll before each choice. Our white elephant rules explain that version, with a turn order generator and a steal counter.

How is this different from white elephant?

In classic white elephant, players choose: open a wrapped gift or steal one that is already open. In the dice game, the die decides. That makes it faster, fairer for shy guests and easier with children, because nobody has to choose to take a gift from someone else.

Both games need one wrapped gift per player and a spending limit. For a game where each person buys for one named person, use the Secret Santa generator instead.

What gifts work for the dice game?

Pick gifts that most people in the circle would like: a puzzle, a mug, a card game, cozy socks or a treat to share. Gifts move a lot, so wrap them firmly and skip anything fragile.

Shape matters too. A box hides what is inside, which keeps the guessing going. A gift in a soft bag tells everyone what it is after one squeeze.

To shop by spending limit, the Secret Santa gift finder lets you pick a budget step and a person, then shows ideas that fit.

What else do people ask about the dice game?

Can you end up with your own gift?

Yes, the dice do not know who brought what. If you end up with your own gift, keep it or offer a trade after the game. Both people have to agree.

What if someone forgets a gift?

Keep one or two spare gifts ready and hand them out before the first roll. If there is no spare, that person can play as a team with someone else and share whatever the team ends up with.

How many players do you need?

Four is enough to play, and the game gets lively at six or more. With more than twenty, split into two circles with their own dice and clocks.