Prizes for a Scavenger Hunt

99 prize ideas by crowd and budget, 15 of them ways to send every team home with something.

Prizes for a Scavenger Hunt

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  1. Line leader for the rest of the dayThe classroom version. It works because every child in the room wants it.
  2. A sheet of stickers for each hunterCut a big sheet into strips so nobody leaves with nothing.
  3. A pouch of chocolate coinsThe classic treasure. Ask the parents first whether every hunter can have chocolate.
  4. A box of play coins and plastic gems to share outCount them out so every hunter gets the same. Too small for children under three.
  5. A later bedtime tonightSay how much later before the hunt starts, so nobody bargains afterward.
  6. A stuffed animal waiting in the treasure boxFor one child hunting alone, such as a birthday morning.
  7. Choosing what is for dinnerOffer two or three choices if the kitchen has limits.
  8. Picking the movie for movie nightGood for brothers and sisters, who argue over this one all year.
  9. A packet of flower seeds and a small potA prize that is still going weeks later.
  10. A craft kit to make that afternoonIt keeps the party busy after the last clue.

Next step Rhyming clues that lead to the prizeAward titles for every team

All 99 prizes

For kids 22

  • A board game or a puzzle for the whole family One box that the winning team opens together.
  • A book chosen for each child's age Wrap each one and write a name on it, so nobody compares.
  • A bottle of bubbles Cheap enough to give one to every child.
  • A box of crayons and a pad of paper Useful while the grown-ups clear up.
  • A box of play coins and plastic gems to share out Count them out so every hunter gets the same. Too small for children under three.
  • A box of sidewalk chalk The winners can draw the map for the next hunt.
  • A craft kit to make that afternoon It keeps the party busy after the last clue.
  • A jump rope It fits in a treasure box and gets used the same afternoon.
  • A kite to fly the same day Hide it at the end of an outdoor trail.
  • A later bedtime tonight Say how much later before the hunt starts, so nobody bargains afterward.
  • A magnifying glass It turns the walk home into a second hunt.
  • A packet of flower seeds and a small pot A prize that is still going weeks later.
Show all 99 prizes (87 more)

For kids, continued

  • A paper crown and the title Chief Hunter Make it the night before and let the winner wear it through cake.
  • A pouch of chocolate coins The classic treasure. Ask the parents first whether every hunter can have chocolate.
  • A sheet of stickers for each hunter Cut a big sheet into strips so nobody leaves with nothing.
  • A small flashlight Right for a hunt at dusk or in a dim basement.
  • A stuffed animal waiting in the treasure box For one child hunting alone, such as a birthday morning.
  • An outing the winner chooses The pool, the playground or mini golf. Write it on a card and roll the card up like a scroll.
  • Choosing what is for dinner Offer two or three choices if the kitchen has limits.
  • First pick of the next game The winner will remember choosing longer than any candy.
  • Line leader for the rest of the day The classroom version. It works because every child in the room wants it.
  • Picking the movie for movie night Good for brothers and sisters, who argue over this one all year.

For teens 17

  • A bag of the winner's favorite candy Ask a friend beforehand what each player likes.
  • A charging cable The one prize a teenager is sure to use.
  • A deck of cards It starts the next game before anyone leaves.
  • A gift card for a shop the winner picks Ask which shop afterward, so the card is one they will use.
  • A hooded sweatshirt in the team color For a school, club or camp hunt with a budget.
  • A notebook and a set of good pens For the artist or the list-maker on the team.
  • A pizza delivered to the winners Order it when the first team is two clues from the end.
  • A trophy made from an old toy sprayed gold Ugly on purpose, which is why it gets kept.
  • A water bottle and stickers to cover it with Put the stickers inside the bottle.
  • A week off one chore Let the winner name the chore. Write it down and sign it.
  • An extra hour before lights out at the sleepover Agree the hour with the other parents first.
  • Choosing where the group goes next The next outing, the next film or the next game.
  • Control of the playlist for the ride home It costs nothing, and teens will fight for it.
  • Fuzzy socks Odd, cheap and worn all winter.
  • Glow sticks and glow bracelets Right for a night hunt: the winners wear the prize.
  • The last slice, by right Announce it before the pizza arrives.
  • Movie tickets for the winning team One prize the whole team uses together.

For adults 18

  • A bag of good coffee beans Split it between the winning pair.
  • A bar of very good chocolate One each for the winning team.
  • A basket of snacks for the team to split Fill it yourself. A basket you packed looks bigger than the same things in a bag.
  • A candle Small, wrapped and welcome in most homes.
  • A class to book later: cooking, pottery or climbing Write it on a card as a voucher from the host.
  • A day of no dishes For a hunt at home. The losing team washes up.
  • A gift card for dinner out One card for the winning team to share.
  • A jar of local honey or jam Buy it where the hunt takes place and it doubles as a souvenir.
  • A mug with the date and the team name written on it Write it with a marker made for ceramics.
  • A paperback the host loved Write a line inside the cover.
  • A picnic blanket or a cooler bag Right for a park or beach hunt.
  • A potted herb or a small houseplant It lasts longer than anything you can eat.
  • A travel game or a deck of cards It suits a group that already likes games.
  • Bragging rights and a photo at the finish Print the photo and it becomes the trophy.
  • First pick at the dessert table Small, public and enjoyed by everyone watching.
  • The losers host next time The prize is not having to.
  • Naming the theme of the next hunt It also settles who organizes it.
  • Tickets to a film, a game or a show Leave the date open if you can.

For teams at work 13

  • A box of doughnuts or pastries for the winners' table Buy enough for the winners to share out afterward.
  • A donation to a charity the winning team picks Announce the amount before the start.
  • A lunch hour that runs long Say how long, and on which day.
  • A medal on a ribbon for each winner Cheap, and it ends up on a desk where people ask about it.
  • A round of coffee bought by the organizer Take the order at the finish line.
  • A team outing: bowling, mini golf or an escape room Book it within a month, while people still remember winning.
  • A traveling trophy with each year's winners written on it The longer it runs, the more the hunt matters.
  • An early finish on Friday Check with whoever signs off on hours before you promise it.
  • First choice of seats, desks or shifts for a week Pick the one your workplace argues about.
  • Lunch for the winning team Let them choose the place.
  • Matching silly hats to wear until the end of the day The prize is the photo.
  • Matching T-shirts printed after the event Put the team name and the date on them.
  • The winning team's photo on the wall until the next hunt Frame it and hang it where people pass.

For a Halloween hunt 14

  • A book of spooky stories for their age Read the first one aloud before bed.
  • A cape, a hat or a wand for the costume Find out what they are dressing as first.
  • A cookie decorating kit in orange and black It gives the party something to do after the hunt.
  • A flashlight for trick-or-treating A prize they use the same night.
  • A full-size candy bar It stands out on a night when every other house gives the small ones.
  • A paper Best Hunter badge shaped like a bat Cut a few spares for second and third place.
  • A small pumpkin and a marker to draw its face No carving, so no knives.
  • A treat bag to carry on the big night Hide it empty and let the neighbors fill it.
  • The biggest pumpkin and a carving kit A grown-up does the cutting. The winner draws the face.
  • Choosing the Halloween movie A grown-up offers three that suit the youngest child in the room.
  • Face paint crayons The winning team gets painted first.
  • First pick from the candy bowl Before the trick-or-treaters get to it.
  • Plastic spider rings Tip a bagful into the treasure box. Keep them away from children under three.
  • Telling the ghost story The winner holds the flashlight and the floor.

So every team wins 15

  • A certificate for each hunter with a made-up title Master Clue Reader, Fastest Feet, Best Map Holder.
  • A golden ticket hidden on the trail for a bonus prize It gives a slow team something to win.
  • A Never Gave Up award for last place Say it kindly and hand it over first.
  • A photo of every team at the finish, sent round afterward Take it before anyone checks the scores.
  • A prize table: winners pick first, then everyone picks Lay out one more prize than there are hunters.
  • A ribbon for every finisher Write the place on the back, not the front.
  • A small prize at every stop and the big one at the end Nobody finishes with empty hands, even if they finish last.
  • A ticket for every find, then one prize draw at the end More finds mean more chances, and any team can still win.
  • A trophy the winners keep until the next hunt Then they have to come back to defend it.
  • Awards beyond first place Fastest, funniest photo, best team name, best teamwork. Decide them as the teams come in.
  • One prize that needs everybody A piñata, a cake or a film. The winners go first.
  • One shared treasure box with enough inside for all The first team opens it. Everyone gets a turn to reach in.
  • Points traded for prizes at a little shop table Price everything in points and let teams choose.
  • Winners eat first, and everyone eats End the trail at the picnic, the cake or the grill.
  • The winning team hands out the prizes to the others It turns winning into a job, and children take it seriously.

How this list was compiled: An original list of October 2026: 99 prize ideas for a scavenger hunt or a treasure hunt. 22 are for children, 17 for teenagers, 18 for adults, 13 for teams at a workplace, 14 for a Halloween hunt, and 15 are ways to hand prizes out so that no team leaves with nothing. 31 cost nothing, 45 are small things to buy or make and 23 are one bigger prize. Nothing was copied from another list. No shop, brand, product name or price appears, and no prize involves alcohol, betting or money changing hands between players. The list states no facts: the line under each idea is the host's reason for choosing it. The three budget labels are a judgment, not a price guide. Licence: own work

How it works

The best prize for a treasure hunt is one the winners use that day, and 31 of these 99 scavenger hunt prize ideas cost nothing: a later bedtime, the playlist for the ride home. The list opens on prizes for kids.

Read the full guide

Pick the crowd, then the budget

The menu under the button changes the crowd: For teens, For adults, For teams at work. Under More filters, Costs nothing keeps privileges, Small and cheap keeps things that fit a treasure box, and One bigger prize keeps what a whole team shares. Treasure hunt prizes for adults lean toward food and time off.

So nobody leaves with nothing

So every team wins holds 15 ways to hand out the prizes for a treasure hunt: a table where winners pick first and everyone picks, a ribbon for every finisher, awards for the funniest photo or the best team name. With young children, put a small prize at every stop and keep the big one for the end.

  • Hide the prize before you write the last clue, then write the clue to fit the hiding place.
  • For a team, buy a prize that splits evenly: four medals for a team of four, not one trophy.

Questions and answers

What are good treasure hunt prize ideas?

For children, the treasure itself: chocolate coins, play gems, stickers or a small flashlight in a box where the trail ends. For teens and adults, something to share on the spot, such as a pizza or first pick at the dessert table.

What are good Halloween treasure hunt prizes?

Glow sticks, a flashlight for trick-or-treating, a small pumpkin with a marker to draw its face, or a full-size candy bar. For a Halloween hunt in the menu has 14, and 4 of them are free, such as telling the ghost story.

What is a good treasure hunt prize for a boy?

The same as for any child: choose by what he likes, not by a label. A magnifying glass, a flashlight, a kite, sidewalk chalk or a book on his favorite subject all work, and so does choosing dinner.

Does every player need a prize?

With young children, yes: give every hunter something small and let the winners pick first. Older players are happy with one team prize and bragging rights, as long as the rule is announced before the start.

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