What you need
- One wrapped gift per person. Agree on a budget first, $10 to $25 is typical. Gifts shouldn't be labeled, everybody plays for the whole pile.
- One to three dice. One for up to ten players, more for bigger groups.
- A timer. A phone works. A kitchen timer that rings loudly works better.
- The roll chart printed out, written on a whiteboard or shared in the group chat.
- A circle. Around a table or on the floor, so gifts can travel left and right.
The dice game is ideal for 6 to 25 people. With fewer, classic Secret Santa is often nicer. With many more, split into two circles.
White Elephant dice game rules
The game has two rounds. The first fills everyone's hands, the second mixes everything up.
Round 1: take a gift
- Put all gifts in the middle and pick a starting player (the youngest, the person who traveled farthest or whoever wore the ugliest sweater).
- The first player rolls. On a 1 or a 6 they take any gift from the pile and put it in front of them. Any other number: nothing happens.
- Pass the die to the left. Keep going around the circle.
- Players who already have a gift keep rolling. If they roll a 1 or 6 again, they take another one. Yes, you can end up with three gifts for a while.
- Round 1 ends when the pile is empty.
Round 2: the timed round
- Start the timer: 5 minutes for small groups, up to 10 for big ones. Don't show the remaining time, the uncertainty is the fun.
- Keep rolling around the circle. Now every number triggers an action from the roll chart below.
- Play fast: roll, act, pass. No long debating.
- When the timer rings, everyone freezes. Whatever is in front of you is yours.
- If someone ended with no gift and someone else with two, the person with two gives one away (their choice, or roll for it).
- Unwrap one by one or all at once.
Tip: Have one person who doesn't play act as game master. They watch the timer, read out the chart and settle arguments. It speeds everything up.
Roll chart for the timed round
There's no official chart, so use this one or tweak it for your group. Copy it into your group chat before the party.
| Roll | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Swap one of your gifts with the person on your left |
| 2 | Swap one of your gifts with the person on your right |
| 3 | Everyone passes all their gifts one person to the left |
| 4 | Everyone passes all their gifts one person to the right |
| 5 | Steal any gift from anyone in the circle |
| 6 | Lose your turn (or: roll again, your choice as a group) |
🎲 GIFT EXCHANGE DICE GAME 🎁
Round 1: roll a 1 or 6 = take a gift from the pile
Round 2 (timer runs):
1 = swap with the person on your left
2 = swap with the person on your right
3 = everyone passes LEFT
4 = everyone passes RIGHT
5 = steal any gift
6 = lose your turn
When the timer rings, you keep what you've got!
Variants of the gift exchange dice game
Once your group knows the basics, try one of these. Pick one per party, not all at once.
1. Unwrap as you go
- Best forsmaller groups
In round 1, players unwrap a gift as soon as they take it. Round 2 gets much more strategic (and louder) because everyone knows what's worth stealing. Best with 6 to 12 players.
2. Two dice, more chaos
- Best forbig groups
Pass two dice around the circle from opposite sides. When both land in the same pair of hands, that person rolls both and does both actions. Perfect for 15 people or more.
3. Bonus rules for doubles
- Best forgame nights
Play with two dice from the start. Any double gets a bonus action: snake eyes means everyone stands up and switches seats, double six means you may unwrap any one gift and decide who gets it.
4. Kids' version
- Best forfamilies
- Time10 to 15 minutes
Skip the stealing (6 can be "give a compliment to the person on your right" instead) and keep the timer short. Kids love passing everything left and right, and nobody cries over a stolen gift.
5. Left right story version
- Best forfamilies, offices
No dice: one person reads a short Christmas story out loud. Every time the word "left" or "right" comes up, everyone passes their gift in that direction. You can write your own story with the group's names and inside jokes. When the story ends, you keep what you hold.
6. Gag gift edition
- Best forfriends, offices
Everyone brings one silly gift and one nice one, in the same kind of wrapping. Nobody knows which is which until the end. Our Secret Santa gift ideas have funny picks for every budget.
Tips for a smooth game
- Same budget for everyone, so no gift is a clear winner or a clear dud.
- Wrap it well. Boxes are better than bags, they survive passing.
- Clear the table of drinks and food. Gifts will fly.
- Agree on the "two gifts" rule before you start, so nobody argues at the end.
- Offer a quiet swap afterward. If someone ended up with something they really can't use (an allergy, a food they can't eat), let people trade privately.
Dice game or Secret Santa?
| Dice game | Secret Santa | |
|---|---|---|
| Who's the gift for? | Anyone in the circle | One specific person |
| Preparation | Buy one generic gift | Draw names, then shop for your person |
| Everyone in one room? | Yes | No, works remotely too |
| Best for | Parties, big groups, mixed ages | Friends, families, teams who know each other |
Many groups do both: a proper Secret Santa with names drawn in advance, plus a quick dice round with small $5 gifts at the party. If you go for Secret Santa, drawing names online takes two minutes and nobody has to pull slips from a hat.
psst … this makes it easier
Draw Secret Santa names in two minutes
- Add names and exclude couples if you like
- Everyone gets their own private link by text or WhatsApp
- Free, no sign-up, no email addresses
Looking for more to do at the party? Our Christmas party games list has 20 games with quick rules, and Christmas party ideas help with themes and planning.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the White Elephant dice game?
Everyone puts a wrapped gift in the middle and sits in a circle. In the first round players roll one die in turn and take a gift when they roll a 1 or a 6. In the second round a timer runs and every number triggers an action like swapping or passing gifts. When time is up, everyone keeps and opens the gift in front of them.
What do the numbers mean in the gift exchange dice game?
There's no official chart, every group can make its own. A popular version: 1 swap with the person on your left, 2 swap with the person on your right, 3 everyone passes gifts left, 4 everyone passes right, 5 steal any gift, 6 lose your turn. Print or post the chart so everyone can see it.
How long does the gift exchange dice game take?
Round one takes as long as it takes to empty the pile, usually 5 to 15 minutes depending on group size. Round two runs on a timer, so 5 to 10 minutes is typical. With unwrapping, plan about 30 to 40 minutes in total.
How many dice do you need?
One die is enough for small groups. With more than ten people, use two or three dice passed around the circle at the same time so it keeps moving. Big foam dice are fun and easy to see across the table.
Is the dice game the same as White Elephant?
It's a variant. Classic White Elephant uses numbered turns and steals, while the dice game lets luck decide who takes, swaps or passes. Both use a pile of wrapped gifts and work best with everyone in the same room.