A good office Christmas party does not need a big budget or weeks of planning. A few simple games, a fair way to run Secret Santa and some light hearted awards are enough to get the whole team laughing together, whether you are in the office, in a meeting room or at a table in the local pub.
Key Takeaways
- Choose activities that everyone can join, including new starters and colleagues who do not drink.
- Keep quiz questions about Christmas and winter rather than about work, so nobody is left out.
- Agree a Secret Santa spending limit early and collect wish lists to make buying easier.
- Use kind, friendly award titles that celebrate people rather than tease them.
- Print everything a few days before so the host can relax on the day.
Work Christmas parties come in all shapes and sizes. Some teams book a restaurant, others stay in the office for an afternoon of mince pies and games, and many hybrid teams now mix the two. Whatever your plan, the same few ideas work again and again because they are easy to run and give everyone something to do.
How to Plan an Office Christmas Party
- Pick a date early: December diaries fill up quickly, so agree a date with the team as soon as you can.
- Set a budget: decide what the company is paying for and what, if anything, people pay themselves.
- Think about everyone: plan food, drink and activities that suit different diets, beliefs and energy levels.
- Choose two or three activities: a quiz, a game of bingo and a short awards slot fill an afternoon nicely.
- Sort out Secret Santa: draw names, share the spending limit and set the date for swapping gifts.
- Print and prepare: answer sheets, bingo cards, gift tags and certificates should be ready the day before.
- Name a host: one person keeps time, reads the questions and hands out the prizes.
Office Christmas Party Games That Work for Everyone
A Christmas Quiz
A team quiz is the classic office party activity. Mix departments in each team so people chat to colleagues they do not usually work with. Keep the questions about Christmas traditions, festive food, carols and winter facts, so long serving staff have no advantage over someone who joined last week. Five rounds of ten questions fills around 45 minutes to an hour with marking. For more ideas on running a quiz, see our guide to hosting a Christmas quiz night.
Office Christmas Bingo
Bingo is perfect when people are coming and going, because anyone can pick up a card and join in. Swap numbers for office words, such as printer jam, reply all or biscuit tin, and let the caller read them out one at a time. Make sure every card is different so there is a real winner, and keep a small prize ready.
Quick Fire Party Games
If you have time between activities, short games like charades or Would You Rather keep the energy up. Our post on easy printable Christmas party games has more ideas that work for both family and office parties.
How to Run Secret Santa at Work
Secret Santa lets everyone give and receive a gift without the cost of buying for the whole team. A few simple rules make it fair and stress free:
- Set a clear spending limit and tell everyone at the start, so nobody feels awkward.
- Draw names privately using paper name slips, and keep an organiser sheet so nobody is missed.
- Ask for wish lists with a few ideas, likes and dislikes, which takes the guesswork out of buying.
- Keep gifts suitable for work and avoid anything that could embarrass the person opening it.
- Use gift tags with the name of the person receiving the gift, so the swap runs smoothly on the day.
Funny Office Awards Your Team Will Love
A short awards slot near the end of the party is a lovely way to thank people for the year. The best awards are warm and inclusive, celebrating the colleague who always makes the tea, rescues everyone from tech trouble or keeps spirits up on a busy day. Ideas include Most Festive Desk, Inbox Hero, Chief Biscuit Officer, Spreadsheet Wizard and Best Christmas Jumper. Write the winner's name on a printed certificate and read a line about why they won.
A Simple Office Party Plan
If you are not sure how to fill the time, this running order works well for an afternoon or evening party:
- Welcome, drinks and nibbles while people arrive
- Office Christmas bingo as a warm up
- The Christmas quiz in teams, with a break halfway
- Secret Santa gift swap
- Office awards and a thank you from the team leader
Plan the Whole Party in One Download
If you would rather not write everything yourself, our Office Christmas Party Pack has it all ready to print. It is a 42 page A4 PDF with a 50 question Christmas quiz in 5 rounds, tiebreakers, a team answer sheet, a scoreboard and answer key, 20 unique office bingo cards with a caller sheet, a complete Secret Santa kit with name slips, an organiser sheet, wish list cards and 24 gift tags, and 12 friendly office award certificates. It prints well in colour or black and white and is not tied to a year, so you can use it every Christmas.
Hosting a family get together as well? The Christmas Family Quiz has 100 questions for home, and the Christmas Party Games Pack adds 6 more printable games. For the wider festive season, our guide on how to plan Christmas without the stress helps you keep on top of everything.
Related Guides
- Christmas Party Games: 6 Easy Printable Games for Family and Office Parties
- Christmas Quiz Questions and Answers: How to Host a Family Quiz Night
- How to Plan Christmas Without the Stress
Frequently Asked Questions
What games can you play at an office Christmas party?
A team Christmas quiz, office bingo, charades and Would You Rather all work well. They need very little equipment and everyone can join in.
How do you organise Secret Santa at work?
Set a spending limit, draw names privately, ask everyone for a short wish list and agree a date to swap gifts. An organiser sheet helps you check nobody has been missed.
How much should you spend on Secret Santa?
Choose a small, fixed limit that everyone is comfortable with, and tell the whole team before names are drawn.
What are good funny awards for the office?
Kind titles work best, such as Most Festive Desk, Inbox Hero, Tea and Coffee Champion, Tech Rescue Hero and Best Christmas Jumper. Avoid anything that could upset someone.
How long should an office Christmas party quiz be?
Five rounds of ten questions takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour with marking, which leaves plenty of time for other activities.