Free tool
Want a video reveal? White Elephant video
White Elephant Randomizer
Who goes first? Type everyone's names and draw a fair order in one tap. Free for any size group, nothing to install.
What's free vs PremiumWhite Elephant
A fair turn order for the gift swap.
Free
Always free, any size group.
Names
Lottie stops on one name at a time. Tap Draw next for each turn.
Lottie's animated reveal uses 1 free reveal per draw (30 a month free with a free sign-in); the draw itself is free. No cap with a Premium Event or Lottie Plus.
The draw is free, no account needed. Want Lottie's animated reveal? Sign in (free, 30 a month; unlimited with Premium).
Fair shuffle using your browser's secure randomness. Nothing is stored unless you share a link.
Turn order
The order shows up here. #1 goes first.
Steal limit and final swap
Steals: 2. Player 1 final swap: yes.
| Order | Name | Gift |
|---|
Numbered slips
Premium features
Premium Event, $5.99 for this event, or included with Lottie Plus.
Coming soon: not available yet and not part of the $5.99 Premium Event.
Video
How everyone sees the order.
Your event: Free
Free draw for any size group. Add a Premium Event ($5.99) for reminders, a scheduled reveal and more. What's free vs Premium
How to draw numbers for white elephant
01. Add every name
Type one person per line. Couples who share a gift can share a line. Or switch on Just numbers and enter the head count.
02. Draw the order
One tap shuffles a fair order. #1 goes first and the last line is the last turn. You can reveal the names one at a time on a TV.
03. Share it or film it
Copy the list, print slips, or send a share link with the draw time. When you want a party video, both reveal orders are included.
Who goes first in white elephant?
#1 opens the first gift. The last turn waits, watches the table, and usually has the widest choice. If you want player 1 to have a closing move, give them one final swap after the last gift. Decide that before anyone tears paper, and put it on the rules card.
White elephant rules in 60 seconds
Bring a wrapped gift, draw an order, then open or steal. A gift freezes after the steal limit. The full steps, including dice, large groups, and a printable card, are on the rules page.
Read the white elephant rulesBig groups (20+)
Keep the steal limit at two so the night does not stall. Above 20 people, the reveal video groups about five turns into each scene, and the summary card still lists every name in order. Leave a short pause between gifts if you are playing along live.
Playing on a video call
Share your screen and tap Draw next for each turn, or play the finished video and pause between turns. Everyone can open the same share link, so the order is not trapped on one phone.
White elephant vs Yankee swap vs Dirty Santa
Same game, three names. Yankee swap is what you will hear in New England. Dirty Santa is the Southern name. The draw and the video do not change.
Yankee swap generatorDirty Santa number generatorOrder the reveal video
FAQ
How do you decide who goes first in white elephant?
Draw the order before the party and let #1 open a gift first. The last turn watches the longest and usually has the best chance to choose. Write the order down, or share the link, so nobody has to renegotiate it at the table.
How do you draw numbers for white elephant online?
Type one name per line, or a count if you only want numbers. Draw the order, then copy it, print slips, or share a link that shows the time it was drawn. The shuffle uses your browser's secure randomness.
Does number 1 go first, and is going first good or bad?
Number 1 opens the first gift. Going first is cozy if you like to set the table, and the last turn is the one most people want, because more gifts are unwrapped by then. Neither seat is a penalty.
How many times can a gift be stolen in white elephant?
A common rule is two steals, and some parties allow three. After the limit, the gift is frozen and stays with that person. Pick the limit before you start so the table is not debating it mid-turn.
What does it mean when a gift is frozen?
A frozen gift has been stolen the maximum number of times, so it stays put. Set it aside or mark it so the next player does not try to take it. The rest of the gifts are still in play.
Does player 1 get a final swap?
Many parties give player 1 one last swap after the final turn. They may trade their gift for any unfrozen gift. Say yes or no before the first turn, and print it on the rules card so it stays settled.
Is this randomizer really fair?
Yes. The draw uses the secure random source in your browser, with rejection sampling so every order is possible, even with 13 or more people. Nothing is stored unless you choose to share a link.
Can I share the order with the group?
Yes. Share link makes a short page with the event name, the order, and the time it was drawn. Send that to the group chat. Drawing again makes a new link, so the first one still shows the earlier order.
Do couples get one turn or two?
Put both people on one line, such as Ines + Bram, when they should open one gift together. That line is one turn and one clip. If they each brought a gift, give them each their own line.
How do you do white elephant with a large group?
Keep a steal limit of two so turns stay short. Above 20 people, the video groups about five turns into each scene, and the summary card still lists the full order. Plan a little extra time between gifts.
How do you play white elephant virtually?
Share your screen and use Reveal one at a time, or play the finished video on the call. Everyone can follow the same order from the share link. Open gifts on camera when it is your turn.
What's the difference between white elephant, Yankee swap and Dirty Santa?
They are the same party game under different names. Yankee swap is the New England name, and Dirty Santa is common in the South. The draw, the steals, and the video work the same way for each.
Can I turn our order into a video for the party?
Yes. After the draw, order a reveal video and we film both versions: who goes first, and a countdown that ends on #1. You get a TV file and a phone file.