Free bingo cards, callers and printables

Classroom Bingo Card Generator

Turn any word list into classroom bingo games – vocabulary, pictures or icebreakers – with a different card for every student.

Classroom bingo is a game where each student gets a printed card of words, numbers or pictures and covers squares as the teacher calls them. This page has a free bingo card generator that makes classroom bingo cards in your web browser. It needs no sign-up, and nothing is uploaded, because the cards are made on your own device.

The page starts with a preset Classroom list of 50 school words, such as Pencil, Recess and Show and tell. You can replace it with your own vocabulary, spelling words, dates or facts. You can print cards for a whole class, print a call list for the person reading the calls, and save a link that opens the same cards again. The tool works for bingo for kids from preschool picture games to upper-grade review.

How to make classroom bingo cards

  1. Open the page. It starts in My words mode with the Classroom list and the title CLASSROOM BINGO already loaded.
  2. Change the card title if you want a different name for the game.
  3. Edit the word list box. Write one item per line, and add or delete items as needed.
  4. Choose a grid size: 3 × 3, 4 × 4 or 5 × 5. For 3 × 3 or 5 × 5, switch on the free space and change its text from FREE if you want.
  5. Check the item count. If the list is too short, the tool tells you how many more items you need.
  6. Set the number of cards, from 1 to 500. The default is 10.
  7. Use Previous and Next to look through the cards in the preview.
  8. Choose print options: 1, 2 or 4 cards per page, US Letter or A4 paper, a colour, an optional letters row, and an optional card number.
  9. Click Print cards. Then click Print call list to get a shuffled calling order with tick boxes, plus the full list in order for checking a winner.

New set creates new random cards with a new game code. Copy link keeps your exact cards and word list. To save a PDF, choose Save as PDF in the print dialog and set the scale to 100%, not fit to page, so the cards print at full size.

How to play bingo in the classroom

Each student gets a card and something to mark squares with. The teacher reads calls from the shuffled call list, and students cover any matching square on their card. The first player with a full row, column or diagonal line calls out bingo. The teacher then checks the winner against the full list in order.

For a review game, type the content one item per line using the format ‘card | call’. The call list holds the clue, and the card holds the answer. For example, ‘photosynthesis | How plants make food from sunlight’ or ‘56 | 7 × 8’ lets the teacher read the question while students search their cards for the answer.

How many words does each card need?

Each card uses a different selection of squares from your list, so the list must hold at least as many items as a card has squares, and more items give more variety. A 5 × 5 card with a free space needs 24 different items, a 4 × 4 card needs 16, and a 3 × 3 card with a free space needs 8. Every card in a set is different, so no two students share the same layout. With 50 words and a 5 × 5 card with a free space, there are about 121 trillion possible sets of 24 squares.

For pre-readers, use pictures instead of words. Turn on the section for your own pictures and choose up to 120 image files, such as photos, clip art or drawings. Each file becomes one item, and its name comes from the file name, so red_apple.jpg becomes ‘Red apple’. You can then rename the items in the word list. The pictures stay on your device and are not saved in the link. A 3 × 3 card with a free space needs only 8 pictures, which suits toddlers and preschoolers. Words without a picture still print as text, so you can mix the two.

Frequently asked questions

How many cards do I need for a class of 30?

Set the number of cards to 30, or a few more for spares. Every card is different, so no two students will have the same card. Print 2 or 4 cards per page to save paper.

Can students play bingo on tablets?

Yes, through the virtual bingo page. It gives each student a card in their own browser by link. The online caller can show the called items on a board for the whole class.

Is there a human bingo for kids printable version?

Yes. Choose the Getting to know you preset, which has 36 “find someone who” traits such as Has a pet dog, Speaks two languages and Can whistle. Students walk around, find a classmate who matches a square, and write that name in it. The first full line wins. There is no caller, so it works well in the first week of school.

What subjects can bingo review?

Any subject that has short items you can type one per line. That includes vocabulary, spelling words, dates, terms, math facts and sight words. Use the ‘card | call’ format when the call should be a clue and the card should hold the answer.

Can I make free printable picture bingo for kids?

Yes. Use your own pictures, or start with the School pictures preset, which has 36 emoji with words such as ✏️ Pencil and 🚌 School bus for pre-readers. If the children are not reading yet, delete the word after each emoji so only the picture prints; with your own pictures, untick ‘Show the name under each picture’.