We eat cookies to offer a better experience. Privacy Policy
The Ultimate List of Trivia Prize Ideas (for Every Occasion)
In this article, I will try my best to help you choose the best prizes for your quiz night. We will have the classics, cheap options, novelties, and original prize ideas for you to choose from.
By Salim Dın
September 29, 2025
9 min read
3,924 views
listinspirations
For trivia nights and pub quizzes, you don’t actually need a prize for the winner. If you have great questions and an audience that likes to have fun, that’s already a win for everyone, and winning itself can be a prize for the winner.
You might be surprised why I started my article on trivia prize ideas this way. No, I’m not trying to change your mind on setting a good price for your trivia night, and I will actually share my list of prize ideas.
But it’s just a reminder that your quiz content will be much more important than having a fun quiz night. Think of a cake; The questions and audience are the cake layers and the fillings. Your prize will be the cherry on top.
In this article, I will try my best to help you choose the best cherry for your quiz night. We will have the classics, cheap options, novelties, and original prize ideas for you to choose from.
The short list: Top 5 trivia prizes
Before diving into the full list, here are the five popular quiz prizes. They are evergreen and work like a charm even with different audiences and budgets:
Gift Cards: It can get simpler than that. Just let the winners choose their own prize. Perfect for any quiz nights.
Merch and swags: People love a free t-shirt or a mug. You are not only giving people free items, you are also giving your brand a space to get more recognition.
Trophies: We love physical awards, something tangible. They create lasting memories and bragging rights for the winner.
Novelties: Think of quirky items you don’t need to have, but it would be fun to have. They are perfect for themed quiz nights.
Salim has experience in content marketing, growth marketing, and building viral quizzes. Salim founded Quiz Questions Org (QQO, in short) in 2025. Ever curious, he loves researching different topics and areas to turn them into quizzes. Salim has a lifelong passion for cycling and traveling.
Vouchers: A free drink, food, or even a service at discounted prices. It’s perfect for local events and can support your community-building efforts.
The ultimate list of prize ideas for quiz nights
Now, let's explore specific trivia prize ideas across different categories. Whether you're looking for cheap prizes for quiz nights or original ideas, you'll find options that work for your budget and audience.
Gift cards & money prizes
Gift carts from popular brands, like Amazon, M&S, Starbucks, and so on
Let’s get the classics out of the way. The most flexible option you have is gift cards and money prizes. The question here is how much. How much should I set the prize reward? The answer is it depends; however, giving the winning team a reward between $10 and $100 would work perfectly fine most of the time. If you have a large audience, think about setting second and third prizes.
Cash 💰*cha ching
Amazon gift cards
Starbucks or coffee shop cards
Gas station gift cards
Local grocery store gift cards
Donations (you donate to a certain organization for the winning team)
Trophies & certificates
A small trophy can go a long way. It’s something tangible, something the winner can display and be proud of. Alternatively, you can have a board to show the previous winners in a list.
Engraved mini trophies with team names
Funny plaques or certificates with made-up titles (Imagine, you made a quiz about food; the winning title is “Burger King”)
Custom medals on ribbons
Framed "Winner" certificates
Bobblehead trophies
Glass or crystal awards
Wooden desk plaques
Food & beverage prizes
Food & beverage prize examples, such as beer, sweets, and drink vouchers
Everyone likes free food. You can have a prize that makes people's mouths water and is not so expensive.
Branded mechs are the pinnacle of prizes. The winners are happy to wear or use the merch because whenever they do, they remember their win. The venue is happy because whenever someone wears or uses the merchandise, it gets recognition.
Branded t-shirts
Custom coffee mugs with funny sayings
Bottle openers with venue logo
Trivia-themed tote bags
Branded pens and notepads
Coasters with quiz night branding
Keychains with clever quotes
Baseball caps or beanies
Stickers and button sets
Power banks
Books & Educational Items
Depending on your audience, something educational can be the perfect trivia gift.
Trivia and fact books
Crossword puzzle books
Brain teaser collections
Popular fiction bestsellers
Local history books
Sudoku puzzle books
Atlas or geography books
Science experiment kits
Language learning books
3D models or Legos
Novelty & Gag Gifts
Everyone sees novelty items, they like them, but few actually buy. When you give out novelty prizes for trivia night, people will be motivated because they will get something unique and something they won’t buy themselves. If you could find a novelty item about your trivia theme, that would increase the impact of your prize.
Funny desk toys and stress balls
Quirky kitchen gadgets
Novelty socks with fun patterns
Joke books or comedy collections
Unusual houseplants (like succulents)
Vintage items from thrift stores
Funny bathroom books
Desktop games and puzzles
Unusual picture frames
Comic or novelty magnets
Playing cards
Tech & gadgets
Tech items work great with working people. A power bank or a cable organizer can always come in handy. Items can be cheap in this category, like cable organizers. But make no mistake, no one wants cheap/not-quality earbuds they won’t use. So, be selective when setting tech gadgets as trivia prizes.
Phone accessories (cases, pop sockets, stands)
Bluetooth speakers
Wireless earbuds or headphones
LED string lights
Smart home accessories (outlet plugs)
Cable organizers and tech pouches
Home & lifestyle
Small but useful gifts to use at home. These can go from drinking glasses to posters about your quiz night theme.
Beer glasses (the ones in the pubs)
Decorative throw pillows
Kitchen utensil sets
Serving trays or cheese boards
Plant pots with herb seeds
Bath bombs or spa gift sets
Desk organizers and storage solutions
Reusable shopping bags
Wall art prints or posters
Gift/Prize ideas for church events
Church trivia helps build community and educate people. The general prizes in this article would also work; however, the church gifts we list here will reflect the values of your congregation, all the while being lighthearted and enjoyable.
Bible and other books on Christian living
Bookmarks with scripture verses
Charitable donations made in the winner's name
Family board games
Magnets with good messages, like "God is love"
Fall/autumn
Whether your trivia is about Fall or in Fall, you can provide the cozy, festive atmosphere of autumn with these prizes. Think warm colors, harvest themes, and everything pumpkin spice.
Pumpkin spice treats or coffee
Scented candles (Cinnamon, apple, pumpkin are good fall fragrances)
Fall-themed decorative items (Stickers, garlands, and so on)
Pumpkin carving kits (You know, for Halloween)
Baking kits
Sweatshirts (It's their time in Fall!)
Winter
Winter trivia nights are perfect for celebrating the holiday season and cozy indoor gatherings. Like other themed trivia, any general prize would work, but you can go a little further with your winter prizes. They can be practical, like clothing, or decorative.
Fuzzy socks or slipper sets (Especially, cute ones)
Blankets (Can be winter themed, but regular ones work too)
Spring
With Spring trivia events, you can go for fresh, colorful, and garden-inspired prizes. They work beautifully for trivias in spring.
Flower seed packets
Small potted plants
Gardening tool sets
Spring-scented candles (Floral, fresh cut grass)
Reusable water bottles
Herbal tea collections
Summer
Now with summer, people get outdoor fun, beach vibes, and vacation spirit. Your summer prizes can help people enjoy the sunny season a little more.
Beach towels
Sunscreen & moisturizers (Listed here, but they are important in all seasons.)
Frisbees, balls, or beach toys
Hammock (Who wouldn't love a hommock?)
Portable chairs (for beach and picnics)
LGBT+ /Pride
In your Pride trivia, you have diversity, identity, and community. So, why not make your prizes honor the spirit of pride? Any general prize would work in this article, but with pride prizes listed here, you can offer items that winners will genuinely love, use, and remember your event.
Rainbow pride merchandise (flags, pins, bracelets)
Books by LGBT+ authors
Donations to LGBT+ organizations
Pride-themed arts
Pride edition playing cards or games
How to set your prizes that excite and motivate
The best trivia prizes for adults are ones that match your audience, budget, and event style. While some options are choosable most of the time, there is no universal code. Here are key considerations:
Know your audience: Regular players might appreciate practical items like gift cards, while casual participants often prefer fun novelty prizes that spark conversation.
Mix it up: Rotate between different categories to keep things interesting. One week might feature gift cards, the next could highlight local vouchers or fun merchandise.
Build partnerships: Local businesses often provide vouchers or prizes in exchange for promotion during your quiz nights. This creates cheap prizes for quiz nights while supporting your community.
Set clear rules: Make sure everyone understands how prizes are awarded, whether it's for first place only or if you have multiple prize tiers.
Consider your venue: Prizes should align with your location's atmosphere. Bar quiz nights might feature drink-related prizes, while family events could focus on books or games.
Create Prize Packages: Sometimes, combining several smaller items creates more excitement than one larger prize. A package might include a gift card, some candy, and a funny certificate.
Whether you're working with a tight budget or have more flexibility, the key to successful prizes for quiz winners is choosing rewards that celebrate achievement while building excitement for future events. The right combination of practical prizes, fun novelties, and local partnerships will keep your quiz night thriving and participants coming back week after week.
