Picture bingo at a glance
- Picture bingo uses pictures in each square instead of words or numbers, so non-readers can play.
- 292 built-in pictures in 14 themes, from animals and food to Halloween, Christmas, baby, and school.
- A 5 × 5 card needs at least 24 pictures; a 3 × 3 card for young children needs 8.
- Cards print in full color on US Letter or A4, up to 500 unique cards at a time.
- The free caller shows each picture large and reads its name aloud.
Picture themes
Open any theme in the card maker, then add or remove pictures. You can mix pictures from several themes on the same cards.
Food and drink (35 pictures)
Apple
Banana
Grapes
Strawberry
Watermelon
Orange
Pineapple
Cherries
Halloween (19 pictures)
Candy
Lollipop
Jack-o'-lantern
Ghost
Bat
Spider
Spider web
Skull
Fall and Thanksgiving (16 pictures)
- Apple
Corn
Turkey
Pie
Fallen leaf
Maple leaf
Mushroom
Chestnut
Christmas and winter (22 pictures)
Cookie
Hot drink
Scarf
Christmas tree
Santa
Mrs. Claus
Reindeer
Snowman
Party and celebration (24 pictures)
Birthday cake
Gift
Party popper
Confetti ball
Balloon
Party face
Crown
Music note
Wedding and love (20 pictures)
- Birthday cake
Clinking glasses
Wedding
Ring
Bouquet
Bride
Person in tuxedo
Couple with heart
Sports and games (20 pictures)
Football
Soccer ball
Basketball
Baseball
Tennis
Volleyball
Hockey
Ping pong
Nature and weather (20 pictures)
- Maple leaf
Star
Crescent moon
Sun
Cloud
Rain
Lightning
Rainbow
Travel and places (20 pictures)
Bus
Car
Taxi
Train
Airplane
Helicopter
Rocket
Ship
Everyday objects (24 pictures)
Teddy bear
Phone
Television
Light bulb
Key
Door
Chair
Couch
Faces and feelings (20 pictures)
- Party face
Grinning face
Tears of joy
Heart eyes
Sunglasses face
Thinking face
Sleeping face
Surprised face
How to make picture bingo cards
- Choose Pictures as the card type in the card maker.
- Pick a theme and tap pictures to add them, or choose Add all in this category.
- Choose a grid size. 3 × 3 for toddlers, 4 × 4 for early grades, 5 × 5 for everyone else.
- Pick a card theme and title, like "Farm Animal Bingo."
- Download the cards and caller sheet. The caller sheet shows every picture with its name.
Who picture bingo is for
Toddlers and preschoolers
Children who can't read yet can still find a dog or an apple. Use a 3 × 3 card, print one card per page so pictures are large, and name each picture as you call it. Say the name twice and point to the picture on screen.
Early readers and English learners
Picture bingo builds vocabulary: students hear a word and find its picture. For extra practice, have students say the word back before marking the square. See classroom bingo for more ideas.
Mixed ages and families
Grandparents, kids, and teens can all play together, since nobody needs to read small text. Holiday themes work well at Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Memory care and group activities
Large, familiar pictures are easy to see and recognize. Use one card per page, large grids of simple pictures, and a relaxed calling pace.
Calling picture bingo
- Caller sheet: every picture with its name and a checkbox. Add cut-apart call slips to draw from a hat.
- Free caller: after downloading, choose Host this game. Each call shows the picture large on the presentation screen, and read-aloud says its name.
- Phones: create a join link so players get their own picture card on their phone, with auto-mark if you turn it on.
- Checking winners: type a card number to see the card with called pictures highlighted.
Printing tips for picture cards
- Print in color. Pictures are the point; ink saver only removes the card's background colors, not the pictures.
- Go bigger for little hands: one or two cards per page.
- Use cardstock or sheet protectors so cards survive a class or a family game night.
- Big markers help: bingo daubers, pom-poms, or large counters work better than small beans for young children.
More printing details are in our printable bingo cards guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make picture bingo cards for free?
Open the card maker, choose Pictures as the card type, and tap pictures from 14 categories, or add a whole category at once. Pick a grid size and theme, then download a PDF. Every card is shuffled differently, and it's free with no sign-up.
How many pictures do I need for picture bingo?
A 5 × 5 card with a free space needs at least 24 pictures, a 4 × 4 card needs 16, and a 3 × 3 card with a free space needs 8. Using more pictures than the minimum makes cards more varied.
Can I upload my own photos for picture bingo?
Not at the moment. Picture bingo uses a built-in library of 292 pictures, so cards look the same on every device and print cleanly. You can still make word bingo cards with names or inside jokes.
Is picture bingo good for toddlers and preschoolers?
Yes. Picture bingo works for children who can't read yet. Use a 3 × 3 card with 8 pictures and a free space, print one card per page, and name each picture clearly as you call it.
How do you call picture bingo?
Read the picture's name aloud or hold up a call slip. The free bingo caller shows each picture large on a screen and can read the name aloud, and the caller sheet lists every picture with its name.
Where do the pictures come from?
The pictures are Noto Emoji graphics by Google, used under the Apache License, version 2.0. They print in full color and look the same on phones, computers, and paper.