How to play Christmas bingo
Christmas bingo is regular bingo with holiday words in place of numbers. Each player gets a different 5x5 card with a FREE square in the middle. A caller reads out one Christmas word at a time, and players mark it if it's on their card. The first player to mark five squares in a row, across, down or corner to corner, calls "Bingo!" and wins the round.
- 1Give each player a card and something to mark squares with.
- 2Everyone marks the FREE square in the center to start.
- 3The caller draws a word, reads it out loud and sets it aside.
- 4Anyone who has that word on their card marks it.
- 5When a player gets five in a row, they call "Bingo!" and read their row back.
- 6The caller checks each word against the ones already called. If they all match, that player wins the round.
Clear the cards, put the slips back in the bowl and play another round. Small prizes help: a candy cane, a sticker or first pick of the cookies.
What's on the cards
The cards draw from 75 Christmas and winter words, such as Santa, Reindeer, Snowman, Hot Cocoa, Gingerbread House, Matching Pajamas and Twinkle Lights. Every word is short, so it is easy to read on the card and easy to hear when it is called.
Each card picks 24 of those words and mixes them in a random order, so no two cards in your set are the same. The list is mostly Santa, snow, treats and decorations. If you need holiday bingo cards for a mixed group, it fits a school party, a family gathering or an office party.
You can also add your own title, such as "Miller Family Christmas Bingo" or "Room 12 Holiday Bingo", and it prints on every card. Choose 1 big card per page or 2 smaller cards per page. Both fit US Letter paper.
Call it from paper or from one phone
You don't need a bingo cage. Pick whichever way suits your group.
Caller slips
Check "Add caller slips" and every word prints as a slip. Cut them apart, mix them in a bowl or a hat and draw one at a time. Keep the called slips in a pile so you can check a winning card.
Call on this phone
Tap Next and the phone shows a random word to read out. It keeps a list of every word called so far, so you can check a winning card right on the screen.
Calling from your phone means nothing to cut and no slips to lose. Want a game that needs no paper at all? Our Christmas games run in the browser on one phone, including Christmas Would You Rather and Christmas Most Likely To.
Tips for printing and playing
- Print on cardstock so the cards hold up through several rounds and a crowded table.
- Laminate the cards, or slide them into sheet protectors, and mark squares with dry-erase markers. Wipe them clean and play again.
- Use small treats as markers, like mini marshmallows or wrapped candies. Buttons, dried beans or torn bits of paper work too.
- Choose 1 card per page for big, easy-to-read squares. Choose 2 per page to save paper and ink.
- Make one card per player, plus a few spares for guests who show up late.
- To print later or at a print shop, choose "Save as PDF" in the print dialog.
Christmas bingo variations
Once everyone knows the game, change what counts as a win.
Four corners
Mark the four corner squares to win. Rounds are quick, so it makes a good warm-up.
Blackout
Mark every square on the card. It takes longer, so save it for the last round or the best prize.
Picture frame
Mark every square around the outside edge of the card.
Letter X
Mark both diagonals. The FREE square counts for both lines.
Gift order bingo
Play before a gift exchange. Each player who gets bingo picks a gift from the pile and sits out. Keep calling until everyone has a gift.
Team cards
Pair up players to share one card. It works well for big groups and gets people talking.
Planning a gift swap too? See our gift exchange games, draw names with the Secret Santa generator or print White Elephant numbers for the turn order.
Who Christmas bingo is for
Christmas bingo suits almost any group, because players only need to listen and mark a square. In a classroom, it fills the last party before winter break, and you can print up to 60 different cards, enough for a full class or a whole grade. At a family gathering, grandparents and young cousins can play at the same table. At an office holiday party, it is an easy activity that still lets people talk between calls.
For more ideas, see our classroom games, office holiday party games and Christmas charades cards.
Questions
Are these Christmas bingo cards free?
Yes. You can make and print up to 60 cards at a time for free. There is no sign-up and nothing to download, except a PDF if you choose to save one.
Is every card different?
Yes. Each card picks 24 of the 75 words and mixes them in a random order, with a FREE square in the center. No two cards in your set are the same.
Do I need a caller card?
You have two options. Check "Add caller slips" to print every word as a slip to cut apart and draw from a bowl. Or use Call on this phone: tap Next for a random word, and the phone keeps the list of words already called.
Can I print 2 cards on one page?
Yes. Choose 2 per page to save paper, or 1 per page for bigger squares. Both fit US Letter paper.
Can I put our own title on the cards?
Yes. Type a title such as "Miller Family Christmas Bingo" and it prints on every card. Leave it blank to use "Christmas Bingo".
Are the words OK for school?
Yes. The words are mostly Santa, snow, treats and decorations, such as Snowman, Candy Cane and Hot Cocoa. They work for a classroom, a family party or the office.
How do I save the cards as a PDF?
Press Print, then choose "Save as PDF" as the destination in the print dialog. This works from a phone or a computer.