How long does a Christmas dice game take?

Round one takes as long as it takes to empty the pile, then most hosts set a five-to-ten-minute timer for round two. Plan on 20 to 30 minutes for 12 players.

What's a good price limit for a gift exchange?

$15 to $25 is common for offices and friend groups. Whatever you choose, tell everyone in advance so gifts are roughly equal.

Christmas Gift Exchange Games: Dice Game, Left Right & White Elephant Rules

A gift exchange turns a pile of presents into the most memorable 30 minutes of a Christmas party. The three most popular formats are the dice game, the left right story and white elephant. Here's how each one works, which group it suits, and the house rules that stop it from dragging on.

Before you start: set a budget

Every game works better when gifts are roughly equal. Pick a price range ($15 to $25 is common for offices and friends), ask everyone to wrap their gift so it can't be identified, and tell guests whether gag gifts are welcome.

1. The Christmas dice game

Best for: 6 to 20 players who like a bit of chaos. You need: one or two dice, a timer, and a dice chart everyone can see.

Sit in a circle with gifts in the middle. Pass the dice around; on your turn, roll and follow the chart. In round one, players take gifts from the pile. When the pile is empty, set a timer for five to ten minutes and keep rolling: now the actions move gifts between players. When the timer goes off, you keep what you're holding.

Roll	Round 1 (pile)	Round 2 (timer)
1	Take a gift from the pile	Swap gifts with the person on your left
2	Take a gift from the pile	Swap gifts with the person on your right
3	Pass the dice, no gift	Everyone passes gifts one seat left
4	Take a gift from the pile	Steal any gift you like
5	Roll again	Trade with anyone you choose
6	Take a gift from the pile	Everyone passes gifts one seat right

House rules: nobody opens gifts until the timer ends; if you get the same gift back, hold on to it.

2. The left right story game

Best for: any size, especially office parties and families with kids. You need: a story with lots of "left" and "right" in it.

Everyone holds a wrapped gift. The host reads a Christmas story aloud, and every time the words "left" or "right" are read, everyone passes their gift that way. When the story ends, you open what you're holding. Read slowly and dramatically; the fun is in the scrambles. For big groups, split into two circles with a reader each.

3. White elephant (Yankee swap)

Best for: adults and teens, 8 to 30 players. You need: numbered slips of paper.

Everyone draws a number.
Player 1 opens a gift from the pile.
Each following player either opens a new gift or steals an opened one. If your gift is stolen, you open a new one or steal from someone else (but not the gift just taken from you).
When every gift is open, player 1 gets one final chance to swap.

House rules that keep it moving: a gift can be stolen at most three times, then it's "frozen"; and no immediate steal-backs. With more than 20 players, set a time limit per turn.

Which game should you pick?

Mixed ages or a quiet group: left right story. No strategy, no hurt feelings.
Competitive friends: white elephant.
You want laughs and speed: the dice game.

Our Christmas party games bundle includes a printable left right gift exchange story and a gift exchange dice game card, plus 10 more party games. And if you're wrapping the gifts, printable tags make even a dollar-store box look boutique.