Handbag bingo is the funniest kitty party game that needs no preparation: every guest gets a card of everyday items, and she has to dig through her own handbag to find each one. A square is marked only if she can show the item, and the first guest with a full line wins. These free handbag bingo cards have 36 items, you can print up to 200 different cards, and you can also play online on phones.
Handbag bingo to print (PDF)
These four pages show a handbag bingo set: a page of two 5 by 5 cards, a page of quick 4 by 4 cards, the small 3 by 3 cards and the one-page rules. Click any picture for the PDF, or use the generator at the top of the page to change the items, the title and the number of cards.
Handbag game: what is on the cards
The starter list has 36 items that many bags hold, in four groups. Some are almost certain (a pen, tissues) and some are rare (a loyalty card, a ticket stub), so the game has a mix of easy and hard squares.
| Group | Squares | Items on the starter list |
|---|---|---|
| Beauty and grooming | 11 | Lipstick, Comb or hairbrush, Small mirror, Lip balm, Perfume, Hair clip, Hair tie, Nail file, Kajal, Bobby pins, Bindi packet |
| Health and hygiene | 7 | Hand sanitizer, Tissues, Plaster (band-aid), Mints, Chewing gum, Wet wipes, Paracetamol |
| Tech and travel | 7 | Car keys, Earphones, Phone charger, Umbrella, Water bottle, Sunglasses, Reading glasses |
| Paper and odds and ends | 11 | An old receipt, Safety pin, A coin, A pen, A photo, Loyalty card, Business card, Ticket stub, Shopping list, Chocolate, Safety pin chain |
How to play handbag bingo
- Hand out the cards. Every guest gets a different card, a pen and her own handbag.
- Say go. Guests search their bags for the items on their card.
- Show the proof. A square can be marked only when the guest holds up the item and shows it to a neighbor.
- Shout bingo. The first guest with a full line shouts, and the host checks the items.
- Put it all back. The guest returns everything to the bag, so that no item is lost on the table.
Whats in your purse bingo: the rules in one line
Whats in your purse bingo has one rule: you must show the item. A lipstick that you remember owning does not count. That rule makes the game funny, because every guest finds things she had forgotten about, from an old receipt to a lucky coin.
How long does a handbag bingo game last?
In handbag bingo nobody calls the items, so the game ends when a guest finds the right items in her bag. How fast that happens depends on how full the bags are. This simulation assumes that each item is in a bag with a given chance, and shows how likely a line is.
| Items a typical bag holds (of 10 on the card) | Chance one player gets a line | Chance someone wins, 10 players | Chance someone wins, 20 players |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 10 | 16% | 83% | 97% |
| 5 out of 10 | 36% | 99% | 100% |
| 6 out of 10 | 62% | 100% | 100% |
| 7 out of 10 | 86% | 100% | 100% |
When a typical bag holds half of the items on the card, a single guest gets a line only about a third of the time, but with 10 players someone almost always wins. If nobody has a line after five minutes, give a hint: “Everyone find a pen!”
Handbag game kitty party ideas: the best opening round
A handbag game is the classic kitty party opener: it needs no teams, no skills and no preparation, and it gets everyone laughing within a minute. Any host who wants a handbag game kitty party members will remember should start here. Play it right after the guests arrive, while the snacks are being served, and the room will be loud and friendly for the rest of the afternoon.
Purse game variations
- Timed purse game: give five minutes, and the guest with the most marked squares wins.
- Team purse game: two guests share a card and a bag, and one searches while the other marks.
- Show and tell: every guest tells the story of one unusual item in her bag.
- Mystery item: the host adds a square such as “something yellow” or “something older than 10 years”.
Kitty party games for ladies to play after handbag bingo
Kitty party games for ladies work best as a series. After the handbag bingo, move to kitty party tambola for a seated game, then to one minute games for some action. If you need an icebreaker for new members, see kitty party icebreaker games.
Run handbag bingo in six steps
- Edit the squares: add a few items that fit your group, such as “visiting card” or “betel nut”, and delete any items that are too private.
- Print: print one card for each guest, with the rules page for the host.
- Explain: tell the guests they must show each item, not just say it.
- Start: set a timer for five minutes and say go.
- Check: when a guest shouts bingo, ask her to show the items in the line.
- Reward: give a prize to the first line and to the guest with the strangest item.
Prize ideas for handbag bingo
- A small organizer pouch for the first line
- A lip balm or a hand cream for the four corners
- A key chain or a charm for the full card
- A funny “bag lady” badge for the guest with the most items
- A mini notebook and pen for the strangest item
Tips for the host
- Choose items that are easy to find in most bags, and avoid anything personal such as medicines.
- Keep the game short, five minutes is enough.
- Ask guests to put the items back in their bags before the next game.
- Take a group photo with everyone holding up their favorite item.
Wikipedia’s handbag article describes the history of the handbag and the many styles of bag that exist.
Play handbag bingo online
Press Create game and share one link on WhatsApp. Every guest gets a different card on their phone, and you check winners by card number on your screen. You can personalize the squares before you start, and Download these cards (PDF) prints the same cards for guests who prefer paper. On video calls, each guest can hold up the item to her camera, which makes the online version a lot of fun.
Handbag bingo: frequently asked questions
How do you play handbag bingo?
Every guest gets a card with 24 everyday items. She searches her own handbag, and marks an item only if she can show it. The first guest with a full line wins.
Can we play handbag bingo on a video call?
Yes. Use the online game or the printed cards, and ask each guest to hold up the item to the camera. The host can check the items on the screen.
What if a guest does not have a handbag?
Any bag will do: a backpack, a clutch or a pocket. You can also let guests search a shared bag or a table of items that the host prepares.
Can I change the squares?
Yes. Every square is editable in the generator: add names, inside jokes or your own list, and the cards, the caller list and the online game all use your version.
Is it free to download and play?
Yes. Printable cards, the PDF download and the online game are all free, with no app and no sign-up.