Ugly Sweater Bingo: Free Printable Spot-It Cards for Ugly Sweater Parties
Ugly sweater bingo is a mingling game for ugly sweater parties: every square on the card is something you might spot on a sweater, like pom-poms, jingle bells, blinking lights, tinsel, a reindeer or a knitted snowman. Guests walk around, look at each other's sweaters, and mark a square when they find a match. First to five in a row calls bingo. Below is a 28-square list that prints as 5x5 cards with a free center, ready for your office, classroom or family party.
The button opens the generator with all 28 squares loaded. Pick the Red & Green theme, set the number of cards and print.
▶ Make these ugly sweater bingo cards
How to play ugly sweater bingo
- Hand out cards as people arrive. Put a pen or a few stickers with each one.
- Mingle and spot. Look for sweaters with the features on your card. "Is that a real bell? Can I count it?"
- Mark the square and, for a fun twist, write the name of the person whose sweater it was.
- One sweater, one square. Each sweater can only fill one square on your card, so you have to talk to lots of people.
- Five in a row wins. Across, down or diagonal. The winner reads out which sweaters they spotted.
The "one sweater, one square" rule is the secret. It turns bingo into an icebreaker, because nobody can win by standing next to the one person in a sweater with everything on it.
28 ugly sweater bingo squares
These are all things you can actually see on a sweater, so nobody needs a caller.
Decorations
- Pom-poms
- Jingle bells
- Blinking lights
- Tinsel
- Sequins
- Glitter
- Fringe or fluff
- Ribbon or a bow
- A 3D nose
Pictures on the sweater
- A reindeer
- A knitted snowman
- A Christmas tree
- Snowflakes
- A penguin
- A polar bear
- A gingerbread man
- Candy canes
- Presents
- Stars
- Ornaments
Style and color
- A cardigan
- A sweater vest
- A hood
- Mostly red
- Mostly green
- Stripes
- Homemade sweater
- Matching family sweaters
Ugly sweater party bingo for the office
Ugly sweater bingo is one of the easiest office party games, because it gets people talking to coworkers they don't usually see. A few tips:
- Set a time limit. Fifteen to twenty minutes during the party's first half hour, while people are arriving.
- Let non-sweater people play. Not everyone owns an ugly sweater, and that's fine. Spotters are welcome.
- Play online too. On a video call, players spot features on screen. Ask everyone to stand up and show the whole sweater once.
- Keep the prizes small. Hot cocoa, candy canes or first pick from a prize table.
For more ideas, see bingo for office holiday parties, and if your crowd is all grown-ups, Christmas bingo for adults has more party formats.
Ugly Christmas sweater bingo for school
Lots of schools hold an ugly sweater day in December. Bingo fits right in:
- Play in the classroom. Kids walk around the room and spot features on classmates' sweaters (and the teacher's).
- Use the hallway. At lunch or recess, kids can spot sweaters across the whole grade.
- Make it kind. Remind kids that "ugly" is just the name of the game, and every sweater is a winner. No teasing about anyone's clothes.
- For younger grades, cut the list to the easy picture squares and make 4x4 cards in the generator.
Planning the last day before break? Our classroom Christmas party bingo is a calm, no-candy game for the whole class.
Ugly sweater bingo for family parties
At a family Christmas party, the grandparents become the stars. Their vintage sweaters often fill three squares at once. Play while everyone's arriving, then hand out a few silly awards at the end:
| Award | Who wins |
|---|---|
| Best spotter | First bingo of the night |
| Most squares in one sweater | The sweater that fits the most squares |
| Best homemade sweater | The most creative DIY sweater |
| Brightest sweater | The one with the most lights or sparkle |
| Best family match | The best set of matching sweaters |
When is the best time to play?
Most ugly sweater parties happen in the first three weeks of December. National Ugly Sweater Day is usually held on the third Friday of December, which is December 18, 2026. Christmas Day is Friday, December 25. Print the cards a few days ahead, and make a few extras for guests who bring a friend.
Common mistakes
- Squares nobody can find. Skip one-of-a-kind features (like "a sweater with a working music box") unless you know someone has one.
- No "one sweater, one square" rule. Without it, the game is over in two minutes.
- Making it about who looks worst. Keep it about spotting fun details, not judging people.
- Character or brand sweaters as squares. Keep squares generic so every guest's sweater has a chance.
Want a classic Christmas card to play after the sweater round? The free Christmas bingo cards are ready to print, or open the bingo card generator and make your own.
▶ Make these ugly sweater bingo cards
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play ugly sweater bingo?
Give every guest a card. As people arrive and mingle, players look for sweaters with each square's feature, like pom-poms, jingle bells or a knitted snowman, and mark the square. First to get five in a row calls bingo and shows which sweaters they spotted.
What goes on an ugly sweater bingo card?
Features you can spot on a sweater: pom-poms, jingle bells, blinking lights, tinsel, a reindeer, a knitted snowman, a Christmas tree, snowflakes, sequins, a 3D nose, a cardigan, a vest and matching family sweaters.
Is ugly sweater bingo good for office parties?
Yes. It gets coworkers talking to each other, because you have to look at sweaters and ask about them. It works in person and on a video call, where players spot features on screen.
When is National Ugly Sweater Day 2026?
National Ugly Sweater Day is usually held on the third Friday of December, which is December 18, 2026. Most ugly sweater parties happen in the weeks around it.
What are good prizes for ugly sweater bingo?
Hot cocoa packets, candy canes, fuzzy socks, a small ornament, a cookie, or a funny 'best spotter' award. For an office, a small gift card or first pick from a prize table works well.
