Last updated: November 12, 2026
The best Christmas ping pong ball games need a bag of cheap white balls, a few cups, and about five minutes of setup. Below you will find 12 games that work for kids, adults, and big family gatherings, each with clear steps you can follow right away.
Pick two or three, set them out after dinner, and watch the whole room join in.
Christmas Ping Pong Ball Games for Kids
Younger players love games they can understand in one sentence, and ping pong balls are perfect for that. They are light, bouncy, and easy to throw, so even the smallest guests can score a win.
Game 1: Jingle Bell Bounce
Line up red and green plastic cups on a table and drop a small jingle bell from a pack of MCPINKY Christmas jingle bells into each one. Players stand behind a line and bounce a ball so it lands in a cup.
Every time a ball drops in, the bell jingles, which makes each point feel like a celebration. Give each child three tries per round and let them swap places so everyone gets a turn at the front.
- 340-Piece Multi-Color Christmas Metal Jingle Bells Set: Includes 340 craft bells in a single 0.5-inch size, featuring classic Christmas colors—gold, silver, green, and red. Each color is randomly assorted in the pack, making it perfect for Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, ornaments, gift wrapping, and holiday DIY decorations
- Easy Hanging with Built-In Top Holes: Each metal bell comes with a pre-punched top hole for quick attachment. Easily use with ribbon, cord, string, wire, or hooks to decorate Christmas trees, stockings, wreaths, gift packages, ornaments, and festive displays
- Perfect for Christmas Craft and DIY Use: With 340 assorted-color jingle bells, this set is ideal for holiday parties, classroom crafts, ornament making, winter décor, and family DIY projects. The uniform 0.5-inch size works well for both detailed accents and larger decorative arrangements.
- Classic Christmas Color Mix for Festive Styling: Featuring gold, silver, green, and red finishes, these bells match traditional Christmas themes and winter holiday décor. They add bright color and festive shine to trees, wreaths, table décor, stockings, and gift baskets
- Durable Metal with Clear Jingle Sound: Made from sturdy metal with a smooth plated finish, these sleigh bells are lightweight yet long-lasting. Each bell produces a crisp, cheerful jingle, adding movement, sound, and strong Christmas atmosphere to seasonal decorations
Game 2: Snowball Scoop Race
Give each player a spoon and a white ping pong ball, then set a start line and a finish line across the room. Players carry the snowball on the spoon without touching it with their other hand.
If a ball drops, the player picks it up and starts again from the line. Run it as a relay with two teams if you have more than four kids, and let the first team to finish cheer on the other.
Game 3: Rudolph’s Red Nose Toss
Cut a large circle out of a cardboard box and draw a reindeer face around the hole. Hand out red ping pong balls and let players toss them through the opening, which acts as the red nose.
Stand the box against a wall and mark two throwing lines, one close and one farther back. Younger kids use the closer line, while older kids and adults try the farther one for bonus points.
Christmas Ping Pong Ball Games for Adults
Grown-ups tend to get more competitive than the kids, so these games add a little challenge and a lot of laughing. They also work well with a mug of cocoa or cider in hand.
Game 4: Cup Tree Bounce
Stack SOLO red plastic party cups in a triangle on a table so the arrangement looks like a Christmas tree, with one cup at the top and a wider row at each level below. Players take turns bouncing a ball off the table and into any cup.
Score one point for the bottom row, two for the middle, and three for the top cup. The first person to reach ten points wins, and the tree gets rebuilt for the next round.
- Contains 200 – 18 Ounce Plastic Party Cups (4 Bags with 50 Cups Per Bag)
- The ORIGINAL sign of Good Times! Achieve iconic party status with America’s original party cup.
- 4 Grip Areas with a Squared base – A secure hold means fewer spills.
- Smooth rolled rim – Great to drink from!
- Bold, Glossy Color and Bright White Interior – One great looking cup!
Game 5: Blow the Snowball
Mark a start line and a finish line on a long table or hallway floor. Each player gets their own straw and a ping pong ball, then races to blow the ball to the finish line.
Hands stay behind the back, and everyone uses a fresh straw of their own. Lots of puffing and giggling follows, especially when the ball spins off course at the last second.
Game 6: Naughty or Nice Toss
Set two bowls on a table, one labeled naughty and one labeled nice. Write a silly dare on small slips of paper for the naughty bowl and a compliment or fun trivia question for the nice bowl.
Players toss a ball toward the bowls and read whatever slip comes with the bowl they hit. Keep the dares light and friendly, like singing a verse of a carol or telling a favorite holiday memory.
Christmas Ping Pong Ball Games for Large Groups
When the house is packed with cousins, neighbors, and friends, you need games that handle a crowd. Team formats keep everyone moving and give shy guests an easy way to jump in.
Game 7: Ornament Bucket Bounce
Hang a few plastic ornaments from a string and place a bucket under each one. Teams line up and take turns bouncing balls into the buckets while teammates cheer from the sidelines.
Each bucket can have a different point value, with the farthest bucket worth the most. Count up the scores after every player has had two turns.
Game 8: Stocking Stuffer Relay
Set a large stocking at the end of a short course for each team. Players carry a ball on a spoon, drop it into the stocking, and race back to tag the next teammate.
The first team to stuff every ball into the stocking wins. Use a different color of ball for each team so it is easy to tell who finished first.
Game 9: Christmas Bingo Ball Draw
Write a Christmas word on each ping pong ball with a permanent marker, such as tinsel, mistletoe, sleigh, or cocoa. Drop the balls into a paper bag, hand out simple bingo cards, and draw one ball at a time.
Players mark the word on their card, and the first person with a full row calls out bingo. This one is great for mixed ages because nobody has to be fast or athletic to win.
Quiet Christmas Ping Pong Ball Games for Small Spaces
Not every gathering has room to run around. These Christmas ping pong ball games fit on a coffee table, a kitchen counter, or a spot on the living room rug.
Game 10: Snowman Face Toss
Draw a big snowman on a sheet of poster board and cut holes for the eyes, nose, and buttons. Prop the board against a chair and let players toss balls toward the holes from a seated position.
Give each hole a different point value and keep a running tally on a sticky note. Smaller holes are worth more, which makes the buttons feel like a real prize.
Game 11: Hide the Snowballs
Hide a handful of white ping pong balls around the room while the players wait in another space. When everyone comes in, they search for the snowballs and bring them to a basket.
For extra fun, number a few balls and assign each number a small prize. The player who finds the most balls gets bragging rights, and the lucky number holders get a treat.
Game 12: Candy Cane Hockey
Set up two goals on opposite ends of a table using paper cups on their sides. Each player uses a candy cane, such as Brach’s mini peppermint candy canes, as a stick and tries to tap the ball into the other goal.
Play to five points, then rotate opponents. Wrapped candy canes work best, and the winner gets to eat the one they used.
- CLASSIC SHAREABLE CANDY: Contains 260 individually wrapped mini candies in every container. Kids, teens, and adults will enjoy family time all holiday season.
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- TASTE AN AUTHENTIC HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE: Brach’s Peppermint Mini Candy Canes are made with real peppermint oil to bring the fresh taste of joy to every occasion this season
- ENDLESS WAYS TO ENJOY: A classic holiday treat, ideal for snacking, baking, and decorating the holiday tree, gingerbread house, and more
- CLASSIC QUALITY, FAVORITE FLAVORS: Brach’s Candy Canes are a classic holiday treat. Create small moments of holiday cheer with a miniature version of sweet and minty individually wrapped candy canes.
How to Set Up Your Christmas Ping Pong Ball Games
A little prep makes the games run smoothly and keeps the fun going. Most of what you need is already in your kitchen or craft drawer, and the rest costs very little.
Gather plastic cups, a few bowls, spoons, straws, painter’s tape, and a bag of ping pong balls in white, red, and green. Keep everything in a single basket so you can pull out a new game whenever the energy dips.
Mark a clear throwing line with ScotchBlue Original painter’s tape so everyone knows where to stand. Tape peels off most floors and tables without leaving a mark, and it lets you move the line closer for younger players.
- BLUE PAINTER’S TAPE: Includes One 1.88 in x 60 yd roll of ScotchBlue Original Painter’s Tape, a blue masking tape for painting that helps protect surfaces by preventing paint bleed
- MEDIUM ADHESIVE FOR SMOOTH OR LIGHTLY TEXTURED SURFACES: This blue paint tape has a medium-strength adhesive that sticks securely to smooth or lightly textured walls, trim, tile, and glass, helping prevent paint bleed and ensuring professional results
- CLEAN REMOVAL FOR UP TO 14 DAYS: The wall safe tape removes cleanly for up to 14 days with no sticky residue or surface damage, letting you paint at your own pace without worrying about repairs
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- INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PROJECTS: UV- and moisture-resistant, this painting tape is ideal for a variety of indoor and outdoor home improvement projects, from redecorating kitchens and bathrooms to touching up exterior doors and window trim
Buy more balls than you think you need, such as a Hanaive 60 pack of table tennis balls, because they roll under couches and into corners faster than you would expect. Having extras means the game never stops while someone hunts for a missing ball.
- Plentiful Quantity to Satisfy Your Needs: there are 60 packs of table tennis balls in your package; The abundant quantity and simple colors can satisfy your decorative requirements and entertainment needs; You can also share them with your friend
- PP Plastic Material: these balls are made of PP plastic material with exquisite polishing process, no seam, reliable and sturdy, lightweight and waterproof; The surface of each ball is in a nice texture, easy to grip; You can use them for a long period
- Proper Sizes to Play Easily: these balls are measuring approx. 1.57 inch/40 mm in diameter, 2.4g in weight, the suitable size allows you to carry or apply them conveniently; You can place them into your pocket, bags and other places without taking too much space
- Teaching or Playing Tools: these colored balls have the matte surfaces, washable and reliable, allowing you to write words and draw pictures on them, suitable as teaching tools and game accessories, bringing happiness to children
- DIY for Fun: each 40mm ball can be regarded as adornments to decorate your home, tree, parties, garden and so on, you can also use them to do some crafts to improve your ability
Use a small tray or cookie sheet to catch strays and keep the playing area tidy. It also gives you a simple way to collect the balls at the end of every round.
Keep an eye on little ones around small balls since ping pong balls can be a choking hazard for very young children. Assign an adult helper to the youngest players and put the balls away when the games wrap up.
Why Christmas Ping Pong Ball Games Work So Well
Ping pong balls are some of the easiest party supplies to find, and they fit almost any game idea. They come in bulk packs, they are lightweight, and they bounce in a way that makes everyone smile.
They also work for every age and skill level. A grandparent who has never played a video game can still beat a teenager at the snowball scoop race, and that mix of players is what makes a family party feel special.
Best of all, these games cost very little and need almost no cleanup. You can set up a full evening of entertainment for less than the price of a single board game, and you can reuse the supplies next year.
Many of the setups also double as party decor, so a row of red and green cups or a painted snowman board looks cute on the table before anyone starts playing. Guests often wander over to try a game before the official fun even begins.
Cleanup usually means scooping the balls into a bag and stacking the cups. Kids can handle most of it on their own, which leaves you free to enjoy the rest of the party.
Christmas Ping Pong Ball Games Questions
How many ping pong balls do I need for a party?
A good rule is to buy a pack of at least 50 so you have enough for several games at once. If you plan to play the bingo draw, write on balls you do not mind keeping for next year.
Can I use regular cups for these games?
Yes, plastic party cups, paper cups, and even clean yogurt containers all work well. Choose sturdy cups for the bounce games so they do not tip over when a ball lands inside.
What age are these games best for?
Most of these games work for a wide range of ages, with a little help from an adult for the youngest players. The quiet games are great for grandparents and younger kids with an adult nearby, while the bounce and relay games suit older kids and adults.
How do I keep score without making it complicated?
Use a whiteboard, a sheet of paper, or a pile of candy as tokens. Awarding a candy for each point is a fun way to keep track, and the winner ends up with a sweet pile of rewards.
Can I play these games outside?
You can, as long as the wind is calm, since ping pong balls are very light. A garage or covered porch is a good middle ground when the weather turns chilly.
Time to Play
Now that you have a full list of Christmas ping pong ball games, it is time to grab a bag of balls and gather your supplies. Choose one active game, one team game, and one quiet game, then set up a play space before guests arrive.
A clear tabletop and a basket of supplies are all you need. Pick a date this week, tuck a few small prizes into a basket, and get ready for a lot of laughing.
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Candy cane games for Christmas parties and family fun
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