How to play Halloween bingo
Halloween bingo is regular bingo with Halloween words in place of numbers. Each player gets a different 5x5 card with a FREE square in the middle. A caller reads out one word at a time, like Black Cat or Candy Corn, 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.
- 1Hand out the cards 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 those words against the ones already called. If they all match, that player wins the round.
Rounds are short, so you can fit a few between the costume parade and snack time. Clear the cards, put the slips back and play again. Small prizes help: a mini candy bar, a sticker or first pick from the treat bowl.
What's on the cards
The cards draw from 75 Halloween words. There are friendly characters (Ghost, Witch, Mummy, Scarecrow), night creatures (Black Cat, Bat, Owl, Spider Web), pumpkin patch favorites (Jack-o'-Lantern, Hayride, Corn Maze), treats (Candy Corn, Caramel Apple, Gummy Worms) and costume words (Pirate, Superhero, Costume Parade).
The list is spooky, not scary. There is no gore, nothing with weapons and no characters from movies or TV shows, so the same set works for a classroom, a family party or the office. Each card picks 24 of the 75 words and mixes them in a random order, so no two cards in your set are the same.
Add your own title, such as "Room 8 Halloween Bingo" or "Oak Street Trunk-or-Treat", 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 party.
Caller slips
Check "Add caller slips" and every word prints as a slip. Cut them apart, drop them in a candy bucket or a witch 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 "Bingo!" right on the screen.
Calling from your phone means nothing to cut and no slips lost in the costume bin. Want a game with no paper at all? Our Halloween games run in the browser on one phone, with no app and no sign-up. Try Halloween Would You Rather while everyone gets into costume, or Halloween Most Likely To at the office party.
Tips for printing and playing
- Print on orange or white cardstock so the cards hold up through a whole party of rounds.
- Laminate the cards, or slide them into sheet protectors, and mark squares with dry-erase markers. Wipe them clean and save them for next year.
- Use candy corn, wrapped candies or plastic spider rings as markers. In a classroom, check for food allergies before you hand out candy.
- Choose 1 card per page for big squares that are easy to read in a dim room, or 2 per page to save paper and ink.
- Make one card per player, plus a few spares for siblings and late arrivals.
- To print later at school or a print shop, choose "Save as PDF" in the print dialog.
Halloween bingo variations
Once everyone knows the game, change what counts as a win or how the words are called.
Four corners
Mark the four corner squares to win. It's quick, so it makes a good first round while guests are still arriving.
Blackout
Mark every square on the card. Save it for the last round and the biggest treat.
Haunted house
Mark the whole top row and both outside columns, like the roof and walls of a house.
Riddle calls
The caller gives a clue instead of the word, like "It sleeps upside down and flies at night." Players work out the word (Bat) before they mark it.
Spot it
At a trunk-or-treat or a costume parade, players mark a square when they see the thing, like a Pirate, a Pillowcase or a Glow Stick, instead of waiting for a call. Some words can't be seen, so play for one line, not a blackout.
Team cards
Pairs or small teams share one card. It works well for big groups and for an office party where people don't know each other yet.
Want something to act out next? Charades has a Halloween deck that plays on one phone, from carving a pumpkin to a mummy coming unwrapped.
Who Halloween bingo is for
Halloween bingo suits almost any group, because players only need to listen and mark a square. Here is how it fits four common Halloween events.
Class Halloween party
Halloween bingo cards make an easy classroom party station. Print up to 60 different cards, enough for a full class or a whole grade, and play a round between the costume parade and snack time.
Trunk-or-treat
Set up a bingo table at one of the cars, or hand out cards at the start and play Spot it as families walk from trunk to trunk.
Family Halloween party
Cousins, parents and grandparents can all play at the same table. Play a few rounds before trick-or-treating, then a blackout round after, while everyone sorts their candy.
Office costume day
Put your team name in the title and play a round at lunch or while the costume contest votes are counted. Team cards help people who don't usually work together start talking.
For more ideas, see our classroom games and icebreaker games. Planning ahead? Thanksgiving bingo cards work the same way.
Questions
Are these Halloween 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.
Are the words too scary for little kids?
No. The words are spooky, not scary, such as Ghost, Black Cat, Pumpkin Patch, Candy Corn and Costume Parade. There is no gore, nothing with weapons and no movie or TV characters.
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.
How many cards can I print for my class?
Up to 60 at a time. Choose 1, 10, 20, 30, 40 or 60 cards. For a class of 25, choose 30 and keep the extras for visitors or next year.
Do I need a caller sheet?
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 put our own title on the cards?
Yes. Type a title such as "Room 8 Halloween Bingo" or "Oak Street Trunk-or-Treat" and it prints on every card. Leave it blank to use "Halloween Bingo".
How do I save the cards as a PDF?
Choose 1 or 2 cards per page, press Print, then choose "Save as PDF" as the destination in the print dialog. This works from a phone or a computer.