Yankee Swap Order
Random gift-opening order for a Yankee Swap / White Elephant.
Overview
The Yankee Swap Order generator randomises the gift-opening order for a Yankee Swap (also known as White Elephant). Enter the participants, tap once, and the generator returns a fair, fully random order — no more drawing numbers out of a hat at the start of the party.
It exists because the order really does change the game. The first opener has to commit to an unknown gift; the last opener gets first pick of everything already revealed. Randomising fairly is the only way to keep things friendly.
How it works
You enter the names of everyone playing. The generator uses a standard shuffle to produce a fair random ordering and displays it as a numbered list. The first name opens first, the second name follows, and so on.
Rerun any time someone arrives late or drops out. The shuffle is independent each time, so there is no bias from previous runs.
Examples
- Six players: "Riley, Sam, Avery, Jordan, Chen, Pat" → "Avery, Pat, Riley, Chen, Sam, Jordan".
- A family of eight on Christmas Eve — pin the order on the fridge before opening starts.
- A workplace exchange of twelve — share the order in the chat so latecomers know when they are up.
- A friend group of five — rerun after one friend has to leave early.
FAQ
How does Yankee Swap work?
Each player draws a wrapped gift in turn. After opening, the next player can either pick a new wrapped gift or steal an already-opened one (subject to house rules on steal limits).
Why does the order matter?
The last player gets first pick of every revealed gift; the first player commits blindly. A fair order keeps the game balanced.
Can I save the order?
Screenshot the list or copy it into a chat. The order itself is not stored.
What if someone drops out?
Rerun the generator with the updated list to produce a fresh order.
Are steal limits part of this tool?
No. The order generator only handles the opening sequence. Steal limits and other house rules are between you and your guests.