White elephant number generator, pass the phone like a hat.
Fill the hat with as many numbers as there are players, then pass the phone round: each person taps once, sees their number and hides it for the next. Or type the names and get the whole order to read out or paste in the group chat.
By the Gift DeskUpdated
Then pass the phone: each person taps once, sees their number and hides it for the next.
How do you draw numbers for white elephant?
Give each player a number from 1 to however many of you there are, at random: slips from a hat, or the generator on this page. Number 1 opens the first gift, then 2, 3 and so on, each opening a new gift or stealing one. Most groups give number 1 one last swap at the end, to make up for going first.
- Two ways: a hat passed round on one phone, or an order from names
- Fair: drawn with your browser’s secure random numbers
- 2 to 60 players
- Free, no sign-up, no app; names never leave the phone
- Printable number slips to cut out
Two ways to draw
Pass the phone
Best in the room. Set the number of players and fill the hat. Each person taps Draw my number, reads it, and taps Hide it before passing the phone on, so nobody sees anyone else’s number. A hat still going round stays on the phone for 12 hours, so a reload or a locked screen doesn’t lose it.
From names
Best before the party, or over Zoom. Type or paste everyone’s names, one per line or separated by commas, and draw the whole order at once. Send the list to the group chat: number 1 is marked, with the last-swap rule beside it. The list stays on the phone for 12 hours.
The rule for number 1
Number 1 goes first and has nothing to steal, so they only get the first wrapped gift. To make up for it, when the last gift has been opened, number 1 gets one final turn: swap with any gift that isn’t frozen, or keep their own. Then the game is over.
Without that rule, number 1 is the worst number to draw. With it, it’s the best, which is why most groups keep it.
Which number is best?
The later you go, the more gifts are open to choose from, so high numbers are good: the last player sees every gift but one before deciding. With the last-swap rule, number 1 is better still, because they get the final word on everything. The worst spots are the low numbers after 1, who choose with almost nothing open and have no swap at the end.
Other ways to pick the order
A deck of cards
Take the ace to 10 of one suit for ten players, both red suits for twenty. Ace is number 1. Shuffle, and everyone draws one.
Youngest first
Popular with families: the kids go first and the grandparents go last, with the most gifts to choose from.
Birthdays
Closest birthday to Christmas goes first. No slips to cut, and a quick way to learn everyone’s birthday at an office party.
A dice roll-off
Everyone rolls a die; highest goes first and ties roll again. Slower than a hat, but it’s a warm-up for the dice game.
Printable white elephant number slips
Choose how many players you have and print: the slips come out five to a row, ready to cut, fold and draw from a hat. Number 1 is marked with its last-swap rule.
Numbers: cut out, fold, draw from a hat
- 1first, last swap
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
Free online game tracker, number generator and dice: giftruly.com/white-elephant
Got your numbers?
The game on our white elephant page takes it from there: it shows whose turn it is, offers open or steal, freezes gifts after their steal limit and gives number 1 the last swap.
Play white elephant on one phoneQuestions people ask
How do you pick numbers for white elephant?
At random, one number per player from 1 to the number of players: slips folded in a hat, a deck of cards, or a number generator like the one on this page, which works on one phone passed round or from a list of names.
Is it better to go first or last in white elephant?
Last, unless your group plays the last-swap rule: then number 1 is best, because after every gift is open they may swap with anyone whose gift isn’t frozen. The low numbers just after 1 are the worst draws.
What does number 1 get in white elephant?
Number 1 opens the first gift, with nothing to steal. In most groups they also get one final turn when the last gift is opened: swap with any gift that isn’t frozen, or keep their own.
Can I draw numbers before the party?
Yes. Switch the generator to From names, type everyone in and draw the order, then share the list to the group chat or an email. Everyone knows their number before they arrive.
Does the number generator save the names?
Only on your phone. Everything happens in your browser and names are never sent to us. The hat or the list stays on that phone for 12 hours, so a reload doesn’t lose it, then it starts fresh.
How many numbers can it draw?
From 2 to 60. Over about 30 players, split into two games, or play the white elephant dice game with a timer.