Scavenger Hunt Generator

Ten finds that fit the room, yard or hotel you are standing in, with ten more on every press.

Next step Letter and color sheets for small children Turn it into a clue trail

How it works

This scavenger hunt generator names no place. Each find is a property to match, such as something crinkly or a gap too narrow for your hand, so the list works in whatever room or yard you are standing in.

Read the full guide

Deal a list that fits

Press Pick 10 new finds. The menu under the button keeps the deal Indoors or Outdoors: a random scavenger hunt generator only helps if every row can be found where you are. Its last entry, More filters, sorts the scavenger hunt items by kind of test: touch, size, sound and smell, what it does, count, name, or pairs.

Print it or play from the phone

Tick finds off on the phone, or press Print for a free scavenger hunt printable with a box beside each line. Choosing Save as PDF in the print window makes it a free printable scavenger hunt pdf. A photo of the thing is the find: nothing is picked, bought or moved.

Tips

With small children, choose More filters, press Easy and read the list aloud.
One phone for each team is enough. The youngest player carries the list.

Questions and answers

What are good things to find on a scavenger hunt?

Things described by a property, not by name: something crinkly, a shadow longer than the thing that makes it, three of one thing in three sizes. Players argue about what counts, which is the fun, and every house has an answer.

How many finds should a list have?

Ten suits one room and young children. Twenty or thirty suits a yard, a park or older players with an hour to fill. Deal more than the players can finish and let them choose.

Does it work without a printer?

Yes. The list runs in the phone's browser with nothing to install. Tick each find as you go, and the ticks stay on that phone.

All 207 finds

By touch 27

Something bumpy all over Run a finger over it first. A photo is the find.
Something crinkly Foil, a dry leaf, a snack bag.
Something fuzzy A blanket, a peach, a caterpillar. Look at living things, do not pick them up.
Something grainy, like sand or sugar Rub it between two fingers. Salt, sand, sugar on a spoon.
Something hard on the outside and soft on the inside A loaf of bread, an egg, a couch with a wooden frame.
Something heavier than it looks Guess first. Lift only with a grown-up's OK.
Something lighter than it looks A big empty box, a foam block, a balloon.
Something prickly, touched with one careful finger A pine cone, a hairbrush, a stiff broom. A cactus is for looking only.
Something rough like sandpaper Bark, a brick, a doormat.
Something rubbery An eraser, a tire, a rain boot.
Something scratchy A wool sock, a stiff clothing tag, a scouring pad, dry grass.
Something slippery A bar of soap, a wet leaf, a silky scarf.
Something smooth and cold A spoon, a window, a stone in the shade.

Show all 207 finds (194 more)

By touch, continued

Something so light you can barely feel it on your hand A feather, a tissue, a leaf that has already fallen.
Something soft enough to squish It springs back when you let go.
Something sticky on one side only Tape, a sticker, a stamp, a bandage still in its wrapper.
Something stretchy A rubber band, the cuff of a sock, a hair tie.
Something that bends and springs back A ruler, a paper clip, a twig that is already on the ground.
Something that feels colder than the air around it Metal and stone usually win.
Something that feels different on each side A leaf, a sponge with a scrubber, a piece of cardboard.
Something velvety A flower petal, the lining of a box, a cat's ear if the cat agrees.
Something warm that nobody heated on purpose A sunny windowsill, a rock in the sun, a phone fresh out of a pocket.
Something waxy A crayon, a shiny leaf, a candle that is not lit.
Something with a pattern you can feel with your eyes shut Raised letters, a coin, the dots on a domino.
Something with ridges you can count A bottle cap, a shell, the edge of a coin. Say the number.
Something woven, with threads going over and under A basket, a chair seat, a shoelace seen up close.
Something you can press into a new shape that stays Modeling clay, dough, wet sand, a bean bag.

By size 29

A gap too narrow for your hand Between fence boards, under a door, between two couch cushions.
A shadow that is longer than the thing that makes it Early morning or late afternoon is the time to look.
A shadow that is shorter than the thing that makes it Try around the middle of the day.
The smallest thing with writing on it that you can find A coin, a pencil, a clothing tag.
Something as thin as paper that is not paper A leaf, foil, a petal, a blade of grass.
Something as wide as your hand with the fingers spread Lay your hand on it for the photo.
Something exactly as long as your foot Stand beside it. Heel to toe decides.
Something exactly one giant step long Mark both ends with your feet.
Something half as tall as you It comes up to about your belly button.
Something huge that you can still see all of at once The moon, a hill, a building across the street.
Something round that is bigger than a dinner plate A clock, a wheel, a hoop, a table.
Something round that is smaller than a coin A button, a bead, a pea.
Something short and wide A step stool, a pumpkin, a couch cushion.
Something small enough to hide under a bottle cap A pea, a pebble, a button. Photograph it beside the cap.
Something small enough to sit on your thumbnail A bead, a seed, a grain of rice. Photograph it on your thumb.
Something tall and thin A lamp post, a broom, a giraffe in a book.
Something taller than you A door, a tree, a grown-up if they agree.
Something that looks small from far away and is big up close A plane, a water tower, a hill.
Something that needs two hands to hold Ask a grown-up first if it could break.
Something that would fit in a pocket but should not go in one A snail, an ice cube, somebody else's key. Photograph it where it is.
Something the same height as your knee Stand next to it. A stool, a fence rail, a big dog.
Something thicker than your arm A tree trunk, a table leg, a rolled-up rug.
Something thinner than a pencil A straw, a blade of grass, a shoelace.
Something tiny that is a copy of something big A toy car, a doll's chair, a map.
Something too big to fit through the door A car, a tree, a couch that came in sideways.
Something wider than your arms can reach A wall, a car, a big tree trunk.
Something you can measure in paper clips Say how many clips long. No clips? Use coins laid edge to edge.
Something you could cover completely with one hand Hover your hand over it for the photo.
Three of the same thing in three sizes Spoons, leaves, shoes. Photograph each where it is.

By sound and smell 28

A smell that tells you what is for dinner Follow your nose to the kitchen. Name the dish before you look.
A sound from an animal you cannot see A bird in a tree, a dog behind a fence, a cricket.
A sound that comes from above you A plane, a ceiling fan, a bird, footsteps upstairs. Record five seconds.
A sound that repeats every few seconds A sprinkler, a dripping faucet, a clock chime.
The quietest sound you can record A clock ticking, a page turning, a pencil on paper.
Something that clicks A pen, a light switch, a seat belt in a parked car.
Something that crunches A dry leaf underfoot, a cracker, gravel.
Something that echoes A stairwell, a tunnel, a big empty room. Clap once and record it.
Something that hums A refrigerator, a fan, a bee near a flower: look only.
Something that jingles in a pocket Keys, coins in a jar, a collar with a tag.
Something that makes a noise when you shake it A box of pasta, a bunch of keys, a seed pod on the ground.
Something that makes a sound without anyone touching it A clock, a refrigerator, a bird, the wind in a tree.
Something that pops Air-bubble packing, a soap bubble, the lid of a jar.
Something that rings, dings or beeps A bell, a kitchen timer, a bike bell. One ring only.
Something that rustles A paper bag, fallen leaves, a newspaper.
Something that smells better than it looks A wrinkled orange, a plain bar of soap, the end of a loaf.
Something that smells like a place you have been Sunscreen for the beach, cut grass for the park. Say where it takes you.
Something that smells like the outdoors Pine, soil, rain on pavement, a tomato leaf.
Something that smells minty, lemony or spicy Toothpaste, a lemon, a jar of cinnamon. Sniff, do not taste.
Something that smells sweet A flower, a piece of fruit, a bar of soap.
Something that sounds hollow when you knock on it A door, an empty box, a watermelon.
Something that sounds solid when you knock on it A brick, a thick table, a tree trunk.
Something that squeaks A door, a shoe on a clean floor, a dog toy.
Something that swishes A broom, a curtain, the sleeve of a rain jacket.
Something that taps or drips in a rhythm A faucet, rain on a roof, a clock.
Something that whistles A bird, the wind in a gap, a teammate. A kettle is for grown-ups.
Something with no smell at all Two teammates sniff and agree.
Two things that make the same note when you tap them Glasses, pot lids, fence rails. Tap gently with one finger.

By what it does 32

Something that bounces higher than your knee Drop it from waist height onto a hard floor, away from windows.
Something that can be tied in a knot A shoelace, a ribbon, a scarf, a garden hose is cheating.
Something that carries other things A bag, a wagon, a pocket, a tray.
Something that changes color A leaf in fall, a ripening banana, the sky at sunset.
Something that folds flat A chair, a map, a cardboard box, a stroller.
Something that gives shade A tree, an umbrella, an awning, a hat, a curtain.
Something that hangs A coat, a picture, a swing, a spider on its thread.
Something that has grown since last week A plant, a fingernail, a puppy, the pile of laundry.
Something that holds other things together A paper clip, a button, tape, a clothespin.
Something that holds water A cup, a puddle, a watering can.
Something that keeps spinning after you let go A top, a bike wheel off the ground, a salad spinner.
Something that keeps things cold A refrigerator, a cooler, an ice pack, the shade.
Something that keeps you dry An umbrella, a raincoat, a roof, a porch.
Something that leaves a mark Chalk, a pencil, a muddy shoe. Mark only paper or pavement.
Something that locks A door, a bike lock, a gate latch. Photograph it locked.
Something that makes a shadow you can change Your hand, a toy, a branch. Move it and photograph two shapes.
Something that makes light A lamp, a flashlight, the sun: point at it, never stare.
Something that measures A ruler, a scale, a thermometer, a measuring cup, a rain gauge.
Something that needs wind to work A kite, a flag, a pinwheel, a wind chime.
Something that opens and closes A door, a book, a gate, a flower through the day.
Something that points the way An arrow on a sign, a compass, the hands of a clock.
Something that rubs a mark out An eraser, a wet cloth, the rain.
Something that shows you your own face A mirror, a spoon, a puddle, a dark window.
Something that sinks A coin, a pebble, a spoon. Fish it out again.
Something that sticks to a magnet Test with a fridge magnet: a paper clip, a spoon, a key.
Something that tells the time without numbers A clock face with only marks, a shadow on the ground, a rooster in a book.
Something that turns one way to open A jar lid, a faucet, a doorknob. Say which way.
Something that turns the picture upside down The bowl of a spoon, a drop of water on a leaf, a glass ball.
Something that works without batteries or a plug Scissors, a bike bell, a whisk, a book.
Something that would melt in the sun An ice cube, a crayon, a chocolate chip, a snowman.
Something with a zipper that is not clothing A bag, a cushion, a tent, a pencil case. Zip it once for the video.
Something you were sure would sink, but it floats Test in a sink or a puddle, with things that may get wet.

By count 30

A dozen of anything Eggs in a carton, twelve crayons, twelve stairs.
A group of exactly five matching things Five clothespins, five books in a row, five petals on one flower.
A page, a tile or a step with your age as its number Count from the start if nothing is printed.
A pattern that repeats, and its rule Tiles, fence posts, beads. Big, small, big, small is a rule.
A printed number with four digits A year, a price, a house number seen from the sidewalk.
More than twenty of the same thing in one place Books, bricks, tiles, leaves. Guess first, then count a row.
The number of steps from where you stand to the nearest door Count out loud and say the number.
Seven of anything, counted on camera Point at each one as you count.
Something with a number on it that changes A clock, a thermometer, a scoreboard, a timer.
Something with a zero on it A clock, a ruler, a phone keypad, a house number.
Something with eight legs or eight arms A spider, looked at and not touched, or an octopus on a page.
Something with exactly five points A star, a leaf, a hand held up.
Something with exactly one hole A ring, a keyhole, a bagel.
Something with exactly six sides A nut on a bolt, a pencil seen end on, a cell of honeycomb in a picture.
Something with exactly ten of something Fingers, toes, bowling pins in a set, the keys in the number row.
Something with exactly three colors on it A flag, a toy, a cereal box. Name all three.
Something with exactly two wheels A bike, a scooter, a hand truck.
Something with four legs that is not an animal A chair, a table, a stool, a grill.
Something with more holes than you can count in ten seconds A colander, a screen door, a sponge.
Something with more than four legs A long table, a bug to look at, a centipede in a book.
Something with more than ten buttons A remote, a keyboard, a coat, a calculator.
Something with numbers that go round in a circle A clock, a dial, a combination lock.
Something with only one handle A mug, a door, a suitcase, a watering can.
Something with spots, and how many A die, a domino, a dotted sock, a ladybug in a book.
Something with stripes, and how many A shirt, a towel, a bee in a book. Count one color only.
Something with three wheels A tricycle, a stroller, a wheeled toy.
Something with twelve of something A clock face, an egg carton, the inches on a ruler.
Something with two handles A cooking pot, a trophy, a wheelbarrow.
Something you can count by twos Shoes, socks, bike wheels, the eyes on a row of toys.
Two groups of things that add up to ten Six eggs and four spoons. One photo, or two side by side.

By its name 29

Four finds that start with H, U, N and T A hat, an umbrella, a nut, a towel.
The longest word you can find printed anywhere Say it and count the letters.
Something named after what it does A toaster, a sharpener, a sprinkler, a dishwasher.
Something named for the noise it makes A buzzer, a rattle, a whistle, a zipper.
Something that has two different names A couch is a sofa, a faucet is a tap, a pail is a bucket.
Something that rhymes with your own name Close counts if the team laughs.
Something that starts with A, E, I, O or U An apple, an umbrella, an egg, an ice cube.
Something that starts with Q, X or Z A quilt, a quarter, a zipper, a xylophone.
Something that starts with the first letter of your name Say the word and the letter in the video.
Something that starts with the same letter as today M for Monday, S for Saturday. Say the day in the video.
Something whose name ends in Y A key, a toy, a daisy, a penny.
Something whose name hides a smaller word Carpet hides car and pet. Blanket hides ant.
Something whose name is also a color An orange, a violet, a rose, a lime.
Something whose name is also a person's name A daisy, a jack, a penny, a robin.
Something whose name is longer than the thing itself Write the word on paper and lay it beside a ladybug, a paper clip or a thumbtack.
Something whose name is two words stuck together Toothbrush, doorbell, sunflower, mailbox.
Something whose name reads the same forward and backward A kayak, a level, an eye, a pup.
Something whose name starts and ends with the same letter A tent, a bib, a rooster, a window screen does not count.
Something whose name takes exactly three claps to say Ba-na-na, um-brel-la, bi-cy-cle.
Something whose name takes one clap Cup, shoe, rock, leaf.
Something with a double letter in its name Spoon, door, pillow, puddle.
Something with a number in its name A tricycle, a three-ring binder, a four-leaf clover.
Something with a word on it that you can read out loud A sign, a box, a shirt.
Something with a word on it that you do not know yet Read it out, then ask a grown-up what it means.
Something with no letter E in its name Cup, dog, lamp, sock. Spell it out loud to be sure.
Something with only three letters in its name Cup, key, hat, bug.
Something with ten letters or more in its name Thermometer, wheelbarrow, toothbrush. Spell it to check.
Three things that start with the same letter A book, a ball and a button.
Two things with rhyming names, found ten steps apart or less Sock and clock, chair and bear. Photograph both.

Pairs and opposites 32

A big one and a baby one of the same thing A spoon and a teaspoon, a tree and a seedling.
A left one and a right one Gloves, shoes, the two handles of a wheelbarrow.
A pair with one missing One sock, one glove, one earring.
A real one and a toy one of the same thing A car and a toy car, a broom and a toy broom.
Something above your head and something below your knees One photo each, taken from where you stand.
Something fast and something slow A bird and a snail, a fan and the hand of a clock.
Something first in a line and something last Books on a shelf, fence posts, shoes by the door.
Something full and something empty Cups, boxes, flowerpots.
Something grown and something made, in one photo A leaf on a bench, an apple in a bowl.
Something heavy and something light of about the same size A rock and a sponge, a book and a box of tissues.
Something in the light and something in the shadow One photo can hold both.
Something indoors that belongs outdoors, or the other way round A leaf on the rug, a chair on the lawn. Leave it or put it right.
Something loud and something quiet Record two seconds of each.
Something moving and something still A flag and its pole, a ceiling fan and the lamp.
Something old and something new A scuffed shoe and a clean one, a worn step and a fresh board.
Something open and something closed Two doors, two books, two flowers.
Something rough and something smooth made of the same stuff A rock and a pebble, a towel and a bed sheet, bark and a sanded board.
Something shiny and something dull A spoon and a wooden spoon, a new leaf and a dry one.
Something straight and something curly A ruler and a phone cord, a pencil and a vine.
Something that belongs to the oldest person here and something that belongs to the youngest Ask first. Photograph the two side by side.
Something that comes in a pair Shoes, mittens, chopsticks, bike pedals.
Something that goes up and something that goes down Two different things: stairs do both and count once.
Something that is always there and something that will be gone tomorrow A wall and a puddle, a tree and a chalk drawing.
Something that matches your shirt The same color or the same pattern.
Something thick and something thin Two books, two sticks on the ground, a rope and a thread.
Something warm and something cold A sunny step and a shady one. Hover a hand, do not grab.
Something wet and something dry Leave both the way you found them.
Something whole and something torn or chipped A leaf with a hole, a snapped crayon. Break nothing for the photo.
Something with four corners and something with none A book and a ball, a window and a plate.
Something you can see through and something you cannot A window and a wall, a jar and a can.
Two things that look alike but are different kinds of thing A ball and an orange, a pencil and a stick.
Two things you cannot tell apart Twin spoons, two bricks, a pair of socks that really match.

How this list was compiled: Written for this site by its editors on 2026-09-30: original finds that name no place. Each is a property to match (how a thing feels, how big it is, what sound or smell it has, what it does, how many it has, what it is called, or what it pairs with), so the same list works in an apartment, a yard, a classroom or a hotel room. Nothing was copied from another list, and no find repeats a line of another list on this site. A photo of the thing is the find: nothing is picked, bought, taken or moved from where it lives, living things are looked at and not touched, and nobody climbs or crosses a road. The levels (easy, medium, hard) are the editors' judgment. Licence: own work