Office holiday party ideas
The best office holiday parties are short, inclusive and easy to say yes to: pick a time during work hours or just after, offer food that fits every diet, and add one low-pressure activity like a gift exchange. Here are formats, budgets and a plan.
Pick a format that fits your team
| Format | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Catered lunch at the office | Hybrid or large teams, low pressure | Low to medium |
| Potluck | Small teams, tight budgets | Very low |
| Off-site dinner | Teams that like a night out | Medium to high |
| Afternoon party with games | Teams that want fun without a late night | Low |
| Virtual party | Remote teams, see virtual holiday party games | Low |
| Volunteer event | Teams who prefer giving back | Low |
Make it inclusive
- Call it a holiday party or end-of-year celebration, not a Christmas party, unless your whole team celebrates it.
- Hold it during work hours so caregivers and commuters can come.
- Offer vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and nut-free options, and label them.
- Offer non-alcohol drinks that are as good as the rest, and keep alcohol optional.
- Make every activity optional, including the gift exchange.
- Pick a place that is accessible, with seating for people who need it.
Add a gift exchange everyone can join from one link, with no app or signup. Create your group, free
Budget by team size
Costs vary a lot by city and venue, so treat these as rough starting points, not quotes. Decide the total first, then split it into food, drinks, venue, decor and games.
A common split is about half for food, a quarter for drinks, and the rest for decor, music and small prizes. Potlucks and in-office lunches cost a fraction of an off-site dinner. If you have no budget, ask people to bring one dish each, and keep the activity free.
Activities that work in an office
- A gift exchange: Secret Santa or a white elephant. See white elephant rules.
- Office holiday party games that take five minutes each.
- An ugly sweater contest with a few small prizes.
- A cookie or ornament exchange.
- A team photo corner with props.
- A volunteer hour or donation drive in place of a party.
A timeline
For a longer list, see the holiday party planning checklist.
- Six weeks out: pick the date, set the budget and ask about dietary needs.
- Four weeks out: book the venue or caterer and send the invite.
- Three weeks out: open sign-ups for the gift exchange.
- Two weeks out: draw names and send the games plan.
- One week out: confirm headcount and send a reminder.
- The day: set up early, put the schedule on a sign and keep a first-aid list handy.
Add a gift exchange without the awkwardness
A swap is the easiest activity to fold in, because it needs no space or setup. Keep the budget at $15 to $25 so it works for everyone, make joining optional, and skip any rule that forces a group joke. People join from one link and type a first name, with no app, account or email. The organizer cannot see the matches. Start with the Secret Santa generator, and see Secret Santa holiday party ideas for how to fold the reveal into the event.
Send the plan in one message: date, time, place, food, dietary form link and the gift exchange rules.
Frequently asked questions
What are good office holiday party ideas?
A catered lunch with a gift exchange, a potluck, a games afternoon, an ugly sweater contest or a volunteer event are all easy to run.
How do you plan an office holiday party on a small budget?
Hold it at the office during work hours, ask for a potluck and run free activities like a gift exchange and games.
How do you make an office party inclusive?
Use a neutral name, hold it in work hours, offer varied food and drinks and make every activity optional.
When should I start planning?
About six weeks ahead. Book venues and caterers earlier in busy cities.
Should alcohol be served at an office party?
That is for your company to decide. If served, offer good non-alcohol options and make it optional.
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