Yankee Swap
Yankee Swap is the classic New England gift exchange: everyone brings one wrapped gift, then takes turns opening or stealing until the last present is claimed. Here are the full rules, a step-by-step guide, and a free way to run it online.
What is a Yankee Swap?
A Yankee Swap is a party gift-exchange game most popular in the Northeastern United States. Everyone brings one wrapped, unlabeled gift and adds it to a shared pile, then players take turns either opening a new gift or "stealing" one that has already been opened. The strategy and the good-natured stealing are what make it a holiday-party staple. It's the same game as White Elephant and Dirty Santa, just with a different regional name.
Yankee Swap rules
The rules are simple, and you can tweak the details for your group:
- Everyone brings one gift. Wrapped, unlabeled, and within the agreed budget. Add it to a shared pile.
- Draw numbers. Each player draws a number for turn order, player 1 goes first.
- Open or steal. On your turn, unwrap a new gift from the pile or steal an already-opened gift from another player.
- Re-pick if you're stolen from. If someone takes your gift, you immediately open a new one or steal a different opened gift.
- Three-steal limit. A gift can be stolen up to three times, then it's frozen and stays with its owner. A gift can't be stolen back on the same turn.
- Player 1 finishes. After the last player goes, player 1 may keep their gift or steal any unfrozen one, ending the game.
Skip the paper number slips, draw turn order online free in one tap.
How to play Yankee Swap
Everyone brings a wrapped gift
One gift per person, unlabeled, within budget, all placed in a common pile.
Set a budget
Agree on a spending limit up front, commonly $20 to $30, so gifts feel fair.
Draw numbers for turn order
Randomly assign each player a number. It's the one thing an online tool makes instant.
On your turn, open or steal
Unwrap a new gift from the pile, or steal an already-opened gift from someone else.
Stolen from? Go again
Anyone who loses their gift immediately opens a new one or steals a different opened gift.
Freeze after three steals
Once a gift has been stolen three times it's locked with its owner, which keeps things moving.
Player 1 gets the last move
After the final player, player 1 may swap for any unfrozen gift. Then everyone keeps what they hold.
Free · no account needed to start
How to play Yankee Swap, at a glance
Pin it, print it, or share this quick visual guide with your group.
Yankee Swap vs. White Elephant vs. Dirty Santa
All three are the same steal-and-swap gift game with regional names.
Yankee Swap
The Northeastern US name. Turn order matters and player 1 usually gets a final swap.
Prefer assigned matches instead? That's Secret Santa, and you can run either with our free tool.
Yankee Swap questions, answered
What is a Yankee Swap?+
What are the rules of Yankee Swap?+
How many times can a gift be stolen?+
Yankee Swap vs. White Elephant, what's the difference?+
Run your Yankee Swap the easy way
Set it up free in two minutes, draw turn order in one tap, set a budget, and invite everyone, in person or online.
🎁 Start your Yankee Swap free