31 engaging team building activities for better bonds at work

Whether you manage five people or 50, corporate team-building activities are a great way to help your employees build better relationships with one another. From happy hours to interactive classes, there are endless on- and off-site activities to foster connection and a positive work environment. All you need to start planning is a creative idea and a fun invitation.

For your next team-bonding activity, skip the calendar invite and send a theme-appropriate Flyer instead. Easily customizable with a photo, GIF, text effect, or animated sticker, Flyers are a great way to set the tone and get everyone excited. Even though our Flyers and card invitations come fully formatted, you can customize them with your own wording, fonts, and colors—and even your company or team logo. 

Before you create your invitation, though, first things first—decide on your game plan for the event. Here, we’ve rounded up our best team building activity ideas to inspire you, including in-house, off-site, and remote options. You’ll find activities for small and large groups, plus all of the info you need to choose the best one for your team, such as:

• How to play (if relevant)
• Team-building objectives
• Ideal group size
• Activity duration
• Activity cost ($ for low, $$ for moderate, and $$$ for higher price tags)

With such a wide range of options to choose from, you’re sure to find an event to get your team bonding and laughing together. 

 

 

Explore the great indoors

Whether it’s winter, way too hot out, or you don’t want to worry about a backup plan in case of rain, these indoor team-building activities for work offer weather-proof fun for the whole group.

 

Indoor team building activities for small teams

 

1. Bowling 

Equal parts active and social, bowling is one of our favorite indoor team-building activities for many reasons. There’s most likely a bowling alley close to your office, it’s easy to reserve a lane, and those who don’t like to bowl can still hang out and have a good time. It’s a low-impact activity, and most people have done it before, so they can skip the learning curve and focus on letting loose.

• Group size: 2–20 people (Ask the venue how many people you can fit per lane, and book multiples if needed.)
• Duration: 1–2 hours
• Budget: $$
  

 

2. Escape room

Escape rooms are an excellent team-building activity because they require strong communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills—plus they’re a ton of fun. 

• Group size: 2–10 people
• Duration: 45 minutes–1.5 hours
• Budget: $$
• Objective: Work as a team to find clues and solve riddles to escape from a locked room.

 

 

3. Cooking class

A cooking class gets coworkers chatting casually while they work as a team to whip up something tasty. Get the crew to vote on the cuisine, and if it’s in the budget, gift them with aprons bearing your company or department’s logo.

• Group size: 2–10 people
• Duration: 2–3 hours
• Budget: $$$

 

4. Murder mystery party

Take turns sniffing out clues and interrogating the suspects at a murder mystery party while nibbling on snacks and acting out characters. Get creative with the option to don a costume for the event. 

• Group size: 5–10 people
• Duration: 2 hours
• Budget: $
• Objective: Find common ground and consensus as you and your team work together to solve a murder mystery.

 

5. Icebreakers

Icebreakers are a classic question-and-answer activity designed to help team members get to know one another better. They cost nothing, and you can play them in the comfort of the conference room or, for remote teams, the living room. 

• Group size: 2–10 people
• Duration: 5 minutes–1 hour
• Budget: $
• Objective: Get your team laughing and bonding over shared experiences.
• How to play: Ask a question, then have each participant answer in turn. Topics could include ‘five fun facts about you,’ ‘the last thing you ate, and why,’ and ‘funniest thing that you saw this week.’ 

 

Indoor team activities for large groups

6. Vote-off

Simple, straightforward, and cost-effective, a vote-off is a no-brainer for a large team-building activity. Not only is a vote-off fun, but it also fosters spirited conversations (and sometimes fierce, friendly debates!)

• Group size: 10–50 people
• Duration: 15 minutes–1 hour
• Budget: $
• Objective: Engage in friendly, good-natured debate about personal preferences to understand different points of view—and get to know coworkers better.
• How to play: Choose two items to pit against each other—beach vacay or ski resort? Mac or PC? The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?—and have everyone vote for their preferred option and explain their reasoning. Tally the scores.

 

 

7. Book club

Employees can lean into their love of reading and get lost in a gripping story with a team building book club. Coworkers can take turns choosing the next read of the month, so everyone gets a chance to showcase the kind of books they like. 

• Group size: 10–30 people
• Duration: 30 minutes–2 hours
• Budget: $
• Objective: Promote lively discussions that provide valuable insights about team members and how they think.

 

8. Ping pong tournament

Pair up and face off for a heart-racing ping pong game against colleagues. Host it at the office after hours if you have a table, or head to a local bar that offers ping pong. Play singles or doubles—and make it extra-competitive with a prize for the winners.

• Group size: 10 + people
• Duration: 30 minutes–3 hours
• Budget: $$
• Objective: Promote healthy competition, good sportsmanship, and teamwork.

 

9. Museum or gallery crawl

Whether your team is an artsy crew or not, a little culture never hurts anyone. Head out as a group for a local art crawl, or visit a museum with a buzzworthy exhibit. See what employees think at the end with a Q&A session.

• Group size: 10–100 people
• Duration: 1 hour–3 hours
• Budget: $$$
• Objective: Encourage thoughtful discussion and friendly debate.

 

10. Mixology class

Shake things up with a mixology class. Make a toast to everyone’s hard work while learning a thing or two about beverages—and one another. Work together to follow instructions and have fun at the end with a blind taste test. While there may be only one winner, every employee will come out on top and with a new appreciation for their teammates’ cocktail-making prowess.

• Group size: 10–20 people
• Duration: 1 hour
• Budget: $$–$$$

 

 

Outdoor team-building activities

Since your team likely spends most of the day inside at their desks, outdoor team-building activities give everyone a chance to have some fresh-air fun.

Outdoor team activities for small groups

11. Head to a ballgame

Knock your next team get-together out of the park at a baseball game with hot dogs (or Crackerjacks!) all around. It’s a sporty team-building activity that anyone can get on board with. Blocks of seats are easy to find, but if you have a little extra cash in your team budget, spring for a box—it’s the perfect environment for casual conversations. Pass out matching company t-shirts, and see if your crew can make it to the jumbotron!

• Group size: 5–10 people
• Duration: 3–4 hours
• Budget: $$$

 

12. Human knot

After untangling work problems all day, why not conquer one more? The human knot is a fun game that’ll get people moving—but it’s not physically demanding, so everyone can easily participate. 

• Group size: 4–10 people
• Duration: 15 minutes
• Budget: $
• Objective: Communicate and cooperate as a group to unravel your knot.
• How to play: Stand in a circle facing each other. Have participants reach out across the circle and grab someone else’s hand—right hands with right hands, left hands with left hands. Now, slowly unravel the knot by twisting, turning, and passing under clasped hands until you’ve got a full circle.

 

13. Mini golf

A professional putt-putt party is a timeless team-building activity that’s easy enough for everyone to enjoy. Book a local mini-golf course, or create your own course in the office parking lot with obstacles. Split into teams of two—or slay the course as singles—and have a celebratory awards ceremony at the end. 

• Group size: 10 people
• Duration: 1 hour
• Budget: $$
• Objective: Foster healthy competition and sportsmanship.

 

14. Create a communal company garden

Get colleagues working as a team while sprucing up the outdoor office space with a communal garden. Grow herbs, local wildflowers, or veggies for the break room—make it a monthly activity, and provide snacks and cold drinks while the team weeds, mulches, and harvests the plot.

• Group size: 5–10 people
• Duration: 1–3 hours
• Budget: $–$$$
• Objective: Cultivate positive interactions and an atmosphere of teamwork as you work toward a common, long-term goal—and enjoy the fruits of your labor together!

 

 

15. Volunteer

Connect with the local community while getting to know your colleagues better. A charity-based outing benefits everyone—clean up a park or beach, help out at the local animal shelter, or pair up with a group of school kids to touch up the paint on the playground.

• Group size: 5–10 people
• Duration: 2–3 hours
• Budget: $
• Objective: Create a memorable bonding experience while giving back to the community.

 

16. Survivor-style sports day

Rent out a field or set up at a local park, and break into teams for games of tug-of-war, capture the flag, foot races, and other physical activities. Choose the games based on the general skill level, age, and physical health of the team. A sports day encourages teamwork, and it’s easy to set up and execute. Have medals or other prizes for the winners, and serve snacks and drinks after the award ceremony.

• Group size: 10–100 people
• Duration: 1–4 hours
• Budget: $–$$
• Objective: Promote teamwork, cooperation, and sportsmanship.

 

17. Scavenger hunt

A scavenger hunt is a blast, especially if it involves solving riddles to find the objects, which can be something they take a picture of (like a street sign or billboard) or something they bring back (like an acorn or perfectly round rock.) 

• Group size: 10 + people
• Duration: 1–2 hours
• Budget: $
• Objective: Small groups work together toward a common goal—and get a little exercise doing it!
• How to play: Divide the team into pairs or small groups. Provide a list of items participants need to collect or photograph—use local landmarks, shops, and things found in nature for inspiration. Set a time limit and a meet-up destination, and send them off to hunt.

 

 

18. Happy hour

Enjoy the afternoon sunshine with an al fresco barbecue or happy hour—host it at a local park, a rooftop bar, or someone’s backyard patio. Live in a big city? We’ve got outdoor happy hour ideas for major metropolises, so get the crew together to sip, snack, and converse.

• Group size: 10+ people
• Duration: 2–3 hours
• Budget: $$
• Objective: Improve morale and promote a happy and relaxed work environment. 

 

19. Check out a local carnival

Carnivals are fun and nostalgic, with their arcade games, rides, and funnel cakes. See who’s brave enough for the Ferris wheel or funhouse—and who’s the best at target practice, whack-a-mole, or the ring toss.

• Group size: 15+ people
• Duration: 2 hours
• Budget: $$–$$$
• Objective: Bond over an adventure that elicits lots of laughter, good-natured challenges, and feel-good vibes.

 

20. Boat cruise

No need to head to international waters to build work relationships—a harbor-based boat cruise with food and drinks is a team-building activity everyone can get behind. Whether it’s a sunset cruise, an afternoon sail, or a ferry ride, you can’t go wrong with offsite activities on the water.

• Group size: 10–50 people
• Duration: 2–3 hours
• Budget: $$$
• Objective: Relax, have fun, and get to know your teammates in a casual, pressure-free environment.

 

 

Unite remotely with virtual team-building activities

Just because colleagues are spread far and wide doesn’t mean team bonding activities are off the table—and they help boost morale and help employees make personal connections. Read up on how to host a virtual event, and make yours one they’ll want to repeat. Try one of these virtual event ideas for an online activity everyone will enjoy.

 

21. Two truths and a lie

As a team-building activity, it’s a really fun way to get a more intimate look into employees’ lives. You can also see who’s a master at telling tall tales and who could use a brush-up on their fibbing skills.

• Group size: 5+ people
• Duration: 5 minutes–30 minutes
• Budget: $
• Objective: Get to know quirky details about your coworkers to build empathy and camaraderie.
• How to play: Have participants take turns telling the group three things about themselves: Two truths and one lie. The rest of the group guesses which statement isn’t true. 

 

22. Virtual scavenger hunt

Challenge participants to quickly grab specific items from around the house: something that starts with the letter B, four yellow objects, something that has hinges. Whatever it is, strive for common items easily found in anyone’s home. 

• Group size: 5+ people
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Budget: $

 

23. Shouts outs

With a shout-out team building activity, management can take the lead and list an outstanding trait for each employee, then have employees do the same. Alternatively, team members can go around and “shout out” to themselves, sharing a recent accomplishment. 

• Group size: 2+ people
• Duration: 5 minutes–30 minutes
• Budget: $
• Objective: Build trust, foster a culture of encouragement, and strengthen relationships.
• How to play: Have the first team member give a shout-out to the person whose last name follows theirs alphabetically, and follow suit for the rest of the activity. Alternatively, randomly assign each employee a team member ahead of time to give a shout-out to. You can make it more fun and interesting by having employees write haikus or limericks about their assigned teammate. 

 

24. Virtual happy hour

Create a tropical backdrop on Zoom, and go to town (while comfortably seated at your desk) with a virtual happy hour. Ensure everyone knows to bring their own beverages and get settled for online games or swapping stories over a question-and-answer period.

• Group size: 4+ people
• Duration: 1 hour
• Budget: $
• Objective: Relax with colleagues and get to know them outside of work meetings.

 

 

25. Blind drawing

There’s no art degree required for a blind drawing exercise, and it makes a lively team-building activity by encouraging coworkers to communicate clearly. The only elements required are a piece of paper, a pen, and a can-do attitude.

• Group size: 6+ people
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Budget: $
• Objective: Promote clear, concise communication and seeing things from other people’s perspectives.
• How to play: Pair up in teams of two. Set a timer, and give Player One in each group a concept or object to describe to Player Two, who draws the idea based solely on their partner’s description. When time’s up, the artists show their drawings to the group. For a little extra fun, have everyone vote on the best, funniest, or least accurate drawing.

 

26. Create a magazine cover

Calling all creative minds—and yes, your graphic designers have an edge. Employees create a mock magazine cover with catchy headlines that highlight their key strengths or achievements. while they use their creative skills to design an eye-catching cover.

• Group size: 10+ people
• Duration: 1–2 hours
• Budget: $
• Objective: Get employees to think about their most positive traits and see firsthand what they value about themselves.
• How to play: Provide participants with an online magazine cover template—or give them a few to choose from. Set a time limit, and as employees work, encourage brainstorming and conversations among the team. When time’s up, each team member can share their screen to show off their magazine cover.

 

27. Photo guessing game

This game can be played in a variety of ways, but no matter how you slice it, it’s a fun way for remote coworkers to get a little glimpse into their colleagues’ lives at home.

• Group size: 10+ people
• Duration: 30 minutes–1 hour
• Budget: $
• Objective: Hone reasoning and detective skills, and see how well employees know each other.=
• How to play: Each participant takes a picture—of a room in their home, their pet, their spouse, or something they made—and sends it to the leader, who posts the photos anonymously on a platform everybody can see. Colleagues take turns guessing who the photo belongs to—and why.

 

 

Party at the office

In-office team parties are more casual than planned team bonding activities, but they still fulfill the objectives of helping coworkers build relationships and find common ground. Office parties are a great opportunity for employees to let down their hair and get to know each other better outside of a work context. These in-office team-building ideas can work for any group size. Want to make it extra-festive? Visit the Paperless Post Party Shop for all the decorations and supplies you need.

 

28. Team lunch

Whether you’re kicking off the quarter, celebrating a teammate’s birthday, or just because, host a team lunch in the conference room. Make it a catered event or a potluck. Write fun, work-appropriate “would you rather” prompts on an index card to put at each place setting to spark new conversations.

• Duration: 1 hour
• Budget: $–$$

 

29. Themed happy hour

You’ve probably already hosted a team happy hour, so this time give it a twist with a theme. Make it an Italian wine tasting, sample local microbrews, or hire a bartender to craft specialty cocktails. If you have a large group, use our food and drink calculator to make sure you don’t run out of libations—or order too many.

• Duration: 1–2 hours
• Budget: $$

 

30. Karaoke

Have an old-fashioned sing-off—rent a karaoke machine, or download a karaoke app on your laptop, and display it with a projector. Karaoke is a surefire way to get employees connected, whether they’re belting out their favorite ballad or laughing at the CEO’s rendition of an iconic classic.

• Duration: 1–2 hours
• Budget: $

 

31. Casino night

Transform the office into a casino—set up game tables and a drink station, and hire a few professional card dealers. Bet for fun, or donate all the winnings to charity. Dress code: Ocean’s Eleven.

• Duration: 2–3 hours
• Budget: $$

 

Bring your team closer together with Paperless Post

Whatever team-building activities you decide to present to the crew, Paperless Post makes it easy to create professional party invitations that’ll get everyone in the mood to have fun—and build better relationships with their work family. Import your guest list from your contacts, or copy and paste or upload the guest list. Send invites via text, email, or a shareable link you can post in Teams or Slack—or attach to a calendar invite. Track RSVPs in real time to make planning your team event a breeze, and use Paperless Pro‘s Advanced Analytics to view charts with data about invitation delivery, responses, and event page views.

Hero image via Robert Bye.