Guides → Bingo prize ideas
Bingo prize ideas for every budget
The best bingo prizes are cheap, useful, and matched to the people in the room. For a typical night, plan one small prize per game, a few spares for ties, and one bigger prize for the final game. Mix bought items with donations, set everything out on a prize table, and let winners choose.
How many prizes do you need?
Start from the number of games, not the number of guests. Every game produces at least one winner, and sometimes two or three on the same call.
- Regular games: one prize each.
- Ties: add two or three spare prizes. Non-cash prizes are hard to split, so a spare is usually easier than a tie-breaker.
- Final game: one bigger prize, often for a blackout. Saving the best prize for last keeps people in their seats.
- Everyone-wins extras (optional): a small treat for every player is a nice touch at kids' parties and care homes.
Example: a 10-game night needs 9 regular prizes + 1 grand prize + 3 spares = 13 prizes. A 6-game afternoon at a senior center needs 5 + 1 + 2 = 8 prizes.
If the same few players keep winning, try a one-win-per-night rule: past winners keep playing for fun, and the prize goes to the next person to call bingo. Announce it before the first game.
Prize ideas by budget and audience
Prices are rough and vary by store and region. Use them to plan, not as quotes.
| Budget | Kids | Seniors | Adults and bars | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $5 | Stickers, bubbles, glow sticks, fun pencils | Puzzle book, hand lotion, warm socks, deck of cards | Candy bar, koozie, coupon for a free appetizer from the venue | Gourmet snack, nice pen, fun sticky notes |
| $5–$15 | Card game, sidewalk chalk, small craft kit, paperback book | Large-print word search, tea or coffee sampler, small potted plant | Coffee shop gift card, candle, mug filled with snacks, venue T-shirt | Desk plant, coffee gift card, good notebook |
| $15–$40 | Board game, art supply set, movie gift card | Fleece throw, grocery gift card, large-print novel, photo frame | Restaurant gift card, insulated tumbler, cooler bag | Lunch delivery gift card, phone charging stand |
| $50 and up (grand prize) | Large building or art set, family movie-night basket | Gift basket, restaurant gift card for two | Themed gift basket, event tickets (often donated) | Larger gift card, small kitchen gadget |
Prizes that cost nothing
Privileges are free, never run out, and are often the prizes people remember.
- Pick the pattern for the next game.
- Call the next game (kids love this).
- First in line for food or dessert.
- The best parking spot next week (churches, offices, schools).
- Choose the music for the next round (bars and parties).
- A homework pass or extra recess, if the teacher agrees.
- Leave 30 minutes early on a Friday, with a manager's approval.
- A "bingo champion" sash or crown that passes from winner to winner each week.
Tips for each crowd
- Kids: keep prizes similar in value so nobody feels cheated, and end with a small treat for everyone. Skip small toys for children under 3, which can be a choking hazard, and check for allergies before handing out candy.
- Seniors: useful and consumable beats knickknacks, especially for residents with little storage space. Check dietary rules before giving food. Our guide to bingo for seniors covers the rest of the session.
- Adults and bars: ask the venue for house prizes such as an appetizer, merchandise, or a gift card for next visit. Those prizes bring winners back. Rules on giving alcohol as a prize vary by state, so check before you do it, and never give it to anyone under 21.
- Office: keep prizes roughly equal and inclusive, with nothing that could embarrass someone in front of coworkers. E-gift cards are easiest for remote players. Check company policy on gifts.
- Fundraisers: donated prizes keep more money for the cause, and showing the donor's name builds goodwill. For themed nights and pricing ideas, see bingo fundraiser ideas.
Donated or bought?
Bought prizes are predictable. Donated prizes cost nothing and give local businesses a thank-you in front of a room full of neighbors. Most groups buy the small prizes and ask for donations for the bigger ones.
How to ask for donations:
- Start four to six weeks ahead. Larger businesses and chains often have a request process that takes time.
- Ask in person when the shop is quiet, and leave a short letter with your group's name, the event date, how many people you expect, and how you'll thank them.
- Ask for something specific. "A $25 gift card or a large pizza" is easier to say yes to than "anything you can give."
- Offer real thanks: the donor's name on the prize table, a mention when the prize is won, and a line in your bulletin, newsletter, or social post.
- Keep a donor list with what each gave and who to contact, and send a thank-you note within a week. It makes next year's ask easy.
If your group is a registered nonprofit, some donors will ask for a receipt. Ask your treasurer what you can provide.
Buying on a budget: dollar stores and bulk packs cover small prizes. After-holiday clearance is a good time to stock up on gift sets and candles. Gift cards are flat, easy to store, and suit almost anyone.
A sample $100 prize budget
Here is one way to spread $100 across a 10-game night (8 regular games, a halfway special, and a final blackout):
| Prize | How many | Each | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular games | 8 | $5 | $40 |
| Halfway special | 1 | $15 | $15 |
| Final blackout | 1 | $30 | $30 |
| Spares for ties | 3 | $5 | $15 |
| Total | 13 | $100 |
If a local business donates the grand prize, that frees up $30. Spread over the 8 regular games, it raises each one from $5 to about $8.75 ($30 ÷ 8 = $3.75 more per prize). Unused spares go back in the box for next time.
Cash, gift cards, and the rules
Rules vary by state and city. In many places, charging for cards and awarding prizes, especially cash, makes bingo a regulated game that may need a license. Some rules also cap prize values or treat gift cards like cash. Don't assume a small game is exempt: check with your state or local authority first, and read do you need a license for bingo?
Make small prizes feel bigger
- Use a prize table. Winners walk up and choose, and the first winner gets first pick. Keep the grand prize separate and in view all night.
- Wrap a few as mystery prizes. A paper bag with a ribbon makes a $3 prize more fun than a $10 one in plain sight.
- Name the donor each time a donated prize is won.
- Celebrate the winner. Say their name, lead the applause, and give them a moment. If the numbers are on a TV, BingoBoardTV's winner screen puts that moment up for the whole room.
- Settle the tie rule up front. Our guide to running a bingo night covers announcing rules and paying out.
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Frequently asked questions
How many prizes do I need for a bingo night?
One prize per game, two or three spares for ties, and a bigger prize for the final game. For a 10-game night that works out to about 13 prizes.
How much should I spend on bingo prizes?
There is no set amount. A simple plan is a few dollars for each regular game and a larger share saved for the last game; a $100 budget covers a 10-game night with the split shown in this guide.
Can you give cash prizes at bingo?
It depends on where you are. Cash prizes, especially when players pay for cards, are regulated in many places and may need a license. Check with your state or local authority before offering cash.
What are good bingo prizes for adults?
Gift cards to local restaurants or coffee shops, candles, mugs with snacks, and house prizes from the venue such as a free appetizer or a T-shirt. Letting winners choose from a prize table makes even small prizes feel special.
More guides: Bingo fundraiser ideas · Bingo for seniors · How to run a bingo night · Do you need a license for bingo?