Santa Bingo: Free Printable Santa Claus Bingo Cards for Kids

Bingo Card Online Editorial · Reviewed by Joan Ramos · Updated November 2026 · 5 min read

Santa bingo is Christmas bingo where every square is about Santa himself: his sleigh, his reindeer, the chimney, the cookies and milk and the nice list. Below is a ready list of 32 Santa words that prints straight onto 5x5 cards with a free center, plus a picture version for kids who can't read yet. It's free, every card comes out different, and you can have a whole stack printed in about five minutes.

The button opens the generator with the full Santa list already loaded. Pick the Red & Green holiday theme, type how many cards you need, and print.

▶ Make these exact bingo cards

32 Santa bingo words, ready to copy

Every word here is something a child can picture, and none of them leans on a movie or a trademarked character. They're grouped so you can trim the list fast if you want a smaller game.

A 5x5 card has 24 squares plus the free center, so 32 words gives you enough spread that two kids sitting side by side won't have the same card. If you want the free square to feel special, tell everyone the middle is "Santa's square" and let them draw a tiny Santa hat in it before you start.

How to play Santa bingo with kids

1. Print one card per player, plus a few spares. Someone always spills cocoa on theirs.
2. Hand out markers. Crayons, stickers, mini marshmallows or little paper snowflakes all work.
3. Call one word at a time. Read it from the master call sheet, or use the generator's caller on a laptop or TV so kids can see the word too.
4. First to mark a full row, column or diagonal shouts "Ho ho ho!" instead of "Bingo." Kids love this, and it's easier to hear over a noisy room.
5. Check the card against the calls, hand out a small prize, clear the cards and go again.

Short on time? A single-line round on a 5x5 card usually ends within 10 to 15 calls. Three rounds fit in about 20 minutes, which is right where most kids' attention runs out anyway.

Which card size works for which age?

Santa bingo for non-readers: the picture version

Preschoolers can play too. This version puts a little emoji picture next to each word, so kids match by sight. It's a 4x4 card with 24 pictures, which is big enough for small hands and quick enough to finish before anyone melts down.

• 🎅 Santa, 🤶 Mrs. Claus, 🦌 Reindeer, 🛷 Sleigh, 🍪 Cookies, 🥛 Milk
• 🎁 Present, 🧦 Stocking, 🎄 Tree, ⭐ Star, 🔔 Bell, ❄️ Snowflake
• 🌙 Moon, 🏠 House, 🧝 Elf, 🥕 Carrot, 🍬 Candy, 🧸 Teddy bear
• 🚂 Toy train, ✉️ Letter, 🎀 Bow, ⛄ Snowman, 🧤 Mittens, 🔥 Fireplace

Make the picture version of Santa bingo (4x4, 24 pictures). For more ideas on running bingo with kids who aren't reading yet, see picture bingo for non-readers.

Fun ways to call Santa bingo

• Put on the hat. Whoever calls wears a Santa hat and reads every word in their best jolly voice.
• Ring a bell before each call. A small jingle bell gets the room quiet faster than shushing.
• Give a clue instead of the word. For older kids, say "He comes down this on Christmas Eve" and let them work out Chimney.
• Use the auto-call timer. Set the generator to call every 10 or 15 seconds so you can help little ones find their squares.
• Finish with a blackout. The last round of the night is "fill the whole card," and the winner gets to put the cookies out for Santa.

Good prizes for Santa bingo

Keep them small, because a fun game hands out a lot of them. A few that kids actually get excited about:

• A candy cane or a sticker sheet
• Choosing the next Christmas song
• First pick of the cookie plate
• Hanging one special ornament on the tree
• Being the next caller (in the Santa hat, of course)
• A "nice list" certificate you print and sign

Santa bingo, Christmas Eve bingo or general Christmas bingo?

They overlap, but each one fits a different moment:

• Santa bingo (this page) is all about Santa and his trip, so it's great for a classroom party, a Breakfast with Santa event or a holiday playdate.
• Christmas Eve bingo for kids waiting for Santa is a calm, bedtime wind-down game for the night itself.
• Christmas bingo for kids mixes Santa with decorations, treats and snow for a broader game.
• Christmas bingo cards has the longest general list if you're playing with all ages.

Mistakes that make Santa bingo drag

• Too few words. If your list is the same size as the card, every card holds every word and everyone wins at once. Keep at least 30 words for a 5x5 card.
• Photocopying one card. Copies mean ties. Print unique cards from the generator instead.
• Calling too fast for little readers. Pause long enough for the slowest player to scan the whole card.
• No master list. Keep the call sheet so you can check a winning card in seconds.

▶ Make these exact bingo cards

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play Santa bingo?

Give each player a unique Santa bingo card and some markers. The caller reads Santa words one at a time, players mark them, and the first to complete a row, column or diagonal shouts "Ho ho ho!" and wins the round.

Are there printable Santa bingo cards for free?

Yes. The button on this page opens the free generator with 32 Santa words already loaded. Pick how many cards you need and print them as a PDF. Every card comes out different.

What words go on Santa Claus bingo cards?

Good Santa words include sleigh, reindeer, red-nosed reindeer, chimney, North Pole, cookies and milk, nice list, workshop, elves, toy sack, red suit, white beard and Mrs. Claus.

Can preschoolers play Santa bingo for kids?

Yes. Use the picture version on a 4x4 card, where each square has an emoji like a sleigh or a cookie. Hold up a matching picture as you call so pre-readers can match by sight.

How many Santa bingo cards should I print?

Print one per player plus two or three spares. A 5x5 card with 32 words gives plenty of different cards, so a classroom of 30 is no problem.