Gifts · $3-$35
Gifts for in-house activities and events
Participation gifts, event goodie bags, and thank-you gifts for volunteers and organisers.
Read more All gift ideas
Games & activities
Prizes for games and contests
Prize ideas and budgets for quizzes, team games, hackathons, and contests - for winners, runners-up, and everyone who takes part.
- Occasion
- Quizzes, games, contests, hackathons
- Typical budget
- $3-$50 for winners
- Currency
- US dollars (indicative)
- Plan ahead
- 2-4 weeks for bulk or custom gifts
Gift ideas by budget (per person, approximate)
Budget
$3-$11
- Chocolates or a snack hamper.
- A pen, notebook, or sticky-note set.
- A certificate and a medal for the winning team.
- A funny trophy for “most creative” and “best spirit”.
Standard
$11-$25
- A coffee mug or a steel water bottle.
- A desk plant or a desk organiser.
- A gift card of $17 for a food or book store.
- A board game for the team room.
Premium
$25-$50
- Wireless earbuds or a power bank.
- A Bluetooth speaker.
- A fitness band or a smart plug.
- A voucher for a team lunch or an experience.
Gift suggestions and prices
Chocolate hamper
$6-$14
A cheerful, low-cost prize for any winner.
Steel or copper water bottle
$11-$25
Useful at the desk every day.
Desk plant in a pot
$8-$20
Brightens the workspace and lasts.
Notebook and pen set
$6-$17
Practical and easy to brand.
Coffee mug with a funny quote
$8-$17
Fits the mood of a game day.
Board game for the team
$17-$50
A team prize that keeps the fun going.
Bluetooth speaker
$25-$50
A premium prize for the overall winner.
Wireless earbuds
$35-$50
A prize people actually want.
Team lunch voucher
$17-$50
Rewards a whole winning team together.
Trophy and certificate
$11-$25
Recognition people enjoy displaying.
Benefits
- Raises energy and participation.
- Makes winners feel recognised.
- Costs little compared with the goodwill it creates.
- Keeps losing teams positive with small participation gifts.
Tips for choosing and giving
- Give prizes for first, second, and third, plus fun categories so many people win.
- Prefer team prizes (a team lunch) over a single winner for collaborative games.
- Announce the prizes before the game - it raises energy.
- Keep prizes useful for work or the desk.
What to avoid
- Cash prizes, which are taxable and feel less personal.
- Prizes that need a lot of explanation.
- Spending more on prizes than on the activity itself.
Prices are indicative, in US dollars, and change with brand, quantity, season, and country - convert and adjust for your local market. Cash and cash-equivalent gifts are usually taxable for employees, and non-cash gifts above a yearly limit may be too in some countries; check the current rules with your finance or tax advisor.
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