The 25 best White Elephant gifts under $50 everyone will want to steal

In a pinch? Pick up this two-in-one kitchen gadget and claw it a day. This crustacean cutie pulls double duty as a steam releaser and spoon holder, with one happy customer writing that the silicone legs “expand to hold different thicknesses of spoon handles.”

Thanks to you, they’ll be able to bring KFC’s original recipe straight to their kitchen whenever the craving strikes. This candle captures it all — the grease, the garlic, the fried goodness — and can be enjoyed for up to 80 hours. 

Now, here’s something that’ll really quack them up. Give this light-up duck a pat on the back to adjust between three brightness levels or set a 30-minute timer. “Battery life is still running high after a week of buying without charging,” one five-star reviewer raved. “You also get to sit your phone in its legs and it turns into a phone holder!”

Elf on the Shelf, who? Celebrate the holidays in the Dogghouse with this mini plush made to look just like Snoop, gold bling and all. If you’ve got a bigger budget, pair it with Snoop’s best buddy, Martha on the Mantel. 

If they’re the type to put hot sauce on their hot sauce, then this seven-piece sampler will be a real treat. But if they don’t? Then these mini bottles, ranging from a smoky bourbon to a fiery habanero, will be too hot to handle. 

What a hot frisbee of fun! The culinary twist on a classic will take them straight to Flavortown with properties and game pieces inspired by the spiky-haired Food Network star, including a ’68 Chevy Camaro and his signature sunglasses.

First, they’ll laugh. Then, they’ll realize that there’s no better statement piece, especially if they’re a bread lover. Pair it with real or faux flowers, so they can put it to use right away. 

Lego’s botanicals, like this 258-piece chrysanthemum kit, are the gift that keeps on giving. Sure, there’s the building part that’s fun for anyone who likes stepping away from screens and tinkering away at something for an hour or so. Then there’s the fact that they can bask in the beauty of their handiwork for all the years to come. 

This is one of those nifty inventions you didn’t know you needed … until you need it. Relieve headache pain with this compression cap, which can be heated or cooled to your liking. This five-star review says it best: “I have struggled with chronic migraines for 25 years, and it feels as if I have tried every ice pack. This hat is amazing! It stays soft and comfortable, making it easy to sleep with. And it gets so cold very easily — I leave mine in the refrigerator, no freezer needed.” 

Paid for by Walmart

Peak coziness unlocked: When the temperatures take a nosedive, they can snuggle up in this faux fur throw and set it to one of six heat settings from 86°F to 113°F. One cozy customer raved that it “looks and feels expensive.” Another added: “I have two cats that love it so I really like the fact that you can remove the cover and wash it.” 

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they get excited about opening up a new pack of sponges. Give that experience to a special someone — times 12! You have two choices to make: Wrap up all three gift sets (giving 12 sponges in total), or just give one box and hold onto the extras for future Christmas gifts. 

This isn’t your typical reusable water bottle. Nope, this Amazon bestseller is virtually spill-proof, with our Deputy Editor Izabella Zaydenburg gushing that “it can be flipped upside down without leaking.” It also has a built-in straw, easily fits in most cupholders and keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours. Your trendy tumbler (ahem, not naming names) could never! 

Everyone’s been singing snail mucin’s praises recently — including Senior Beauty Editor Jennifer Romolini. She put the brand’s bestselling serum to the test and wrote that “my skin was more supple, my fine lines appeared less deep and my face appeared generally more even and had a sort of glow.” These sheet masks are infused with the same slimy goodness to help achieve the “glass skin” that we’re all after. 

Now, here’s something that everyone knows and loves. Take the practical route by wrapping up an AirTag or two. The recipient will thank you the next time they track down their missing wallet, keys, backpack or [insert lost item here]. 

The right tote bag can do wonders. Lean into the season’s hottest trend (all puff everything!) with this quilted beauty, complete with all the pockets one could ever need and a separate compartment big enough to hold a 15-inch laptop. “I’m a nurse and use this bag to hold my laptop, lunchbox, drinking cup, and everything else I carry to and from work,” a happy shopper wrote, adding that it’s also incredibly lightweight (less than a pound!) and easy to clean. 

Burning candles is risky business. There’s the smoke, soot, fear that you forget to blow it out and, ya know, the ever-present risk of fire. Candle warmer lamps melt the wax to release an aroma without a single flame. This one even lets you switch between four brightness levels (because vibes) and set a two, four or eight-hour timer. 

Readers, crafters and tinkerers can’t get enough of this wrap-around light. They can switch between three different color temperatures and brightness modes until it casts the perfect glow. More than 10,000 Amazon shoppers picked it up last month, with one writing that they originally bought it “so I could crochet at night when my husband wanted the room dark for TV” but found it especially useful to “have on hand in case there’s a storm when you lose electricity.”

Elevate their mornings with a fancy cuppa. The perfect balance between kitschy and elegant, this cup and saucer duo is just the right size for tea or espresso. Settle on one color (either white, pink or yellow) or pick two, so they can mix and match.

Is microwaving lunch at your office a bit of a gamble? Enter this electric lunch box, which will warm up a single serving of soup, chili or last night’s leftovers right at their desk. “I recently used it during a 10-hour class and my chili was piping hot within an hour,” one five-star fan gushed. “I’ve experienced zero leaks with it and it doesn’t require much space.”

This one’s a bit of a risk, but the payoff will be worth it (as long as everyone in your office has a solid sense of humor). “The stamp is legitimate. Not chintzy like some gag gift items,” one office jokester wrote, adding that her “salty coworker” loved it. 

It doesn’t matter what they drink to fuel up for their workday: The point is that they need something to sip — coffee, matcha, you name it. This little doodad will keep their drink of choice at one of four temperatures (between 131°F and 185°F) for a set amount of time (from one to 12 hours). 

Desk lunches are pretty sad, but you know what’s sadder? A desk covered in the remnants of whatever you just ate. This palm-sized vacuum sucks up crumbs, dust and other debris — just power it up with two AA batteries and put it to work! 

Everyone washes their hands (or so you hope), so this festive foursome is something that anyone could use. The four scents capture the holiday season at its best: Gingerbread is perfectly spicy and sweet, Pine is quintessential Christmas, Snowdrop is a citrus and floral hybrid, and Peppermint is a — dare I say — sophisticated mint. They come nicely packaged in a colorful box — just add a bow and go!

Even your office Scrooge will crack a smile when they catch a glimpse of this cheery waffle maker. It comes with six interchangeable plates, including classic circle, heart and holiday-specific designs. That way, they can use the same machine to make waffles for Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Christmas and all the days in between. 

Replenish their snack drawer with a 30-piece assortment of Japanese dagashi, everything from cookies and gummy candy to salty, savory favorites. If you’re lucky, they’ll share with you and the rest of your coworkers!