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The Saran Wrap Ball gGame is the most fun and entertaining holiday game out there. Guests get to unwrap a Saran Wrap ball filled with prizes!
The Saran Wrap Ball Game is one of our FAVORITE Christmas party games! Players race to unwrap a giant ball of plastic wrap filled with candy, gift cards, cash, and other prizes while the next person rolls the dice trying to get doubles.
It’s easy to make, hilarious to play, and perfect for kids, teens, adults, and large family Christmas parties.
We first played this game years ago and it quickly became a holiday tradition. Everyone can play, everyone has a chance to win something, and it always gets a little competitive.
Pair it with some of our other favorite party game ideas: White Elephant Game and Christmas Trivia.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Everyone can play. It works for kids, teens, and adults.
- It’s easy to customize. Fill the ball with inexpensive candy or add bigger prizes like gift cards and cash.
- It’s perfect for groups. We’ve played it at family parties and holiday gatherings with lots of people.
- It gets everyone laughing. Trying to unwrap plastic wrap while wearing oven mitts is harder than it sounds!
- It’s become a tradition. This is one Christmas game our family looks forward to playing again and again, which has made it a yearly tradition!
What Is the Saran Wrap Ball Game?
The Saran Wrap Ball Game, sometimes called the plastic wrap ball game or Christmas ball game, is a party game made from a giant ball of plastic wrap filled with prizes.
One person unwraps the ball while wearing oven mitts. At the same time, the person next to them quickly rolls two dice.
As soon as the dice roller gets doubles, the ball is passed to them and the next person begins rolling.
Any prizes that fall out while you are unwrapping are yours to keep!
The game continues until the entire ball has been unwrapped and the final prize in the center has been won.
What You Need
You only need a few supplies to make and play the game:
- 1-2 large rolls plastic wrap
- Candy and prizes
- 2 dice
- 2 oven mitts
- A shallow pan or tray for rolling the dice
- Broom handle, optional
TIP: The broom handle is our favorite trick for making the ball. Slide the roll of plastic wrap onto the handle and rest each end between two chairs. It makes wrapping SO much easier, especially if you are making the ball by yourself.
How to Make a Saran Wrap Ball
- Gather the Prizes: Start by collecting everything you want to put inside the ball. I like to use a combination of candy, inexpensive little prizes, and a few more exciting items. Save one of your best prizes for the very center!
- Start the Center: Begin with a round-ish or slightly larger prize in the middle. Wrap several layers of plastic wrap around it to create the center of your ball.
- Add More Prizes: Continue wrapping and add another prize every few layers. Turn the ball about 90 degrees every so often as you wrap. Changing directions keeps the ball round instead of creating one long bundle. Larger items like fuzzy socks, small toys, drinks, or lotions also help make the ball bigger.
- Make It Easy or Hard: There are two ways you can wrap the ball. For our family, I like using a combination of both. It keeps the game moving but makes certain sections more challenging.
- EASIER: Use one long continuous piece of plastic wrap.
- HARDER: Stop the plastic wrap occasionally and begin again in a different spot or direction. Players then have to find the new end before they can continue unwrapping.
- Finish the Ball: Continue adding prizes and wrapping until everything has been added. When finished, mark the outside end of the plastic wrap with a small piece of tape or sticker so the first player can easily find where to begin.
How Big Should a Saran Wrap Ball Be?
There is no exact size, but the number of players should determine how big you make the ball.
For a smaller group, one roll of plastic wrap may be plenty.
For a large Christmas party, use two rolls and include several dozen small prizes so the ball has a better chance of making it around the entire circle.
OUR TIP: Plan on at least 2-3 small prizes per player, especially when playing with kids. Add extra layers of plastic wrap between prizes at the beginning when the ball is largest because those layers tend to unwrap more quickly.
How to Play the Saran Wrap Ball Game
Once the ball is made, the game is EASY!
- Have everyone sit in a circle.
- Give the Saran Wrap ball and oven mitts to the first player.
- Give the person to their left two dice in a shallow pan or tray.
- Say GO!
- The first player puts on the oven mitts and begins unwrapping the ball as quickly as possible.
- At the same time, the next player continuously rolls the dice.
- As soon as they roll doubles, they yell “DOUBLES!”
- The person unwrapping immediately stops.
- The ball and oven mitts are passed to the person who just rolled doubles.
- The dice are passed to the next person.
- Continue around the circle until the entire ball is unwrapped.
Anything that falls out of the ball during your turn is yours to keep. The person who unwraps the very center gets the final prize!
Our Saran Wrap Ball Game Rules
Every family seems to play this game a little differently, so decide on the rules before you begin.
These are the rules we recommend:
- Players must wear both oven mitts while unwrapping.
- Players cannot tear through the plastic wrap.
- The ball must stay in the player’s lap.
- Players may only keep prizes that completely fall out during their turn.
- The dice roller continues rolling until they get doubles.
- As soon as doubles are rolled, unwrapping stops immediately.
- Play continues until the final prize is uncovered.
Going over the rules before playing helps avoid any arguments once things get competitive.
How to Make Sure Everyone Gets a Turn
This is one of the questions we hear most, especially with larger groups.
The easiest way is to make a larger ball and use plenty of plastic wrap between prizes.
You can also:
- Use shorter sections of plastic wrap so players have to find new ends.
- Require adults to wear bulky oven mitts.
- Include more layers toward the outside of the ball.
- Plan on 2-3 prizes per player.
- Limit players to a certain number of prizes before they are finished playing.
Remember that rolling doubles is random, so there is no way to guarantee everyone gets the exact same amount of time unless you modify the rules.
For younger kids, we especially like setting a prize limit so everyone has a better chance to win something.
FREE PRINTABLE
For our free print that includes the supply list and rules, click HERE.
Saran Wrap Ball Prize Ideas
One of the best parts of this game is choosing what goes inside!
You can make the prizes as inexpensive or as exciting as you would like.
Prize Ideas for Kids
- Candy
- Candy canes
- Stickers
- Temporary tattoos
- Small toys
- Party favors
- Mini games
- Chapstick
- Coins
- Dollar bills
- Fidget toys
- Small craft supplies
- Hair accessories
Dollar stores and inexpensive party-favor sections are great places to shop.
Prize Ideas for Teens
- Candy
- Gum and mints
- Fast-food gift cards
- Cash
- Lip balm
- Phone accessories
- Fuzzy Socks
- Mini beauty products
- Sports drinks
- Jerky + Snack-size treats
- Small card games
- Prize Ideas for Adults
- Gift cards
- Cash
- Lottery tickets, where appropriate
- Lotion
- Coffee shop gift cards
- Fast Food gift cards
What Should Go in the Center?
We usually make the middle prize one of the best!
Some ideas include:
- $10-$25 gift card
- Cash
- Movie tickets
- Favorite candy
- Small game
- Special Christmas gift
It gives everyone something fun to work toward as the ball gets smaller.
Don’t Break the Bank
The prizes can add up quickly, especially when playing with a large group.
One thing that has worked well for our family is asking everyone participating to contribute a few small prizes.
We gather everything about a week before the party and then make the ball.
You can also spread out the cost by picking up inexpensive gift cards or prizes throughout the year. This is what I do and every time I get a $5 Target gift card, I have a bin I put it in to grab from at Christmas time.
Fun Game Variations
Go over the rules of the plastic wrap game before playing, even if guests say they have played before. Sometimes different families have different house rules and other ways to play the plastic wrap ball game. Some rule variations that I have come across include:
- Covered hands. If you have a mix of older players and younger players, have older players wear oven mitts and younger players wear mittens with fingers.
- Keep the ball in your lap. The ball tends to go in all different directions and can unroll very quickly along the floor. If the ball leaves your lap you must pause and place it back in their lap before resuming.
- Dice variation. Roll the dice with one hand. Change up what stops the unwrapping. We use when doubles are rolled but you can choose a certain number, or if the numbers on the dice add to an odd number.
- Take on musical chairs. Instead of a dice roller, have someone play music. When the music stops the person holding the ball gets to unwrap a gift. This is a great variation for younger children who tend to whine when they don’t unwrap as many prizes as the other players when playing the original way.
- More prizes. Another kid-friendly variation is to include 2-3 prizes per player. Once a player collects their allotted amount they are out of the game.
- Incorporate some UNO rules. Add slips of paper into the wrapping that say “Steal”, “Reverse”, “Go Again”, “Skip” and so forth.
- Mini addition. Make a smaller or mini saran wrap ball, and wrap it, along with a second pair of dice, into the large ball. During the gameplay, when the smaller ball is unwrapped it becomes part of the game. The larger ball continues being passed as usual, while the smaller ball is passed and played in the opposite direction.
- Bartering. Give time at the end for the bartering of prizes. Don’t like your restaurant gift card or candy bar? Barter with another player and trade for something else.
Tips for the BEST Saran Wrap Ball Game
After playing and making these over the years, these little things make a big difference.
- USE GOOD PLASTIC WRAP. You want plastic wrap that clings together well enough to create a sturdy ball.
- CHANGE DIRECTIONS. Rotate the ball while wrapping to keep it round.
- SPACE PRIZES OUT. Don’t put every prize right next to another. Add several layers between some of them.
- MIX PRIZE SIZES. Larger prizes help build the ball while smaller prizes are easy to tuck between layers.
- MAKE THE OUTSIDE HARDER. The ball is easiest to unravel when it is large, so add extra layers toward the outside.
- USE A DICE TRAY. A pie plate, cake pan, or shallow tray keeps dice from flying across the room.
- MARK THE END. Make the starting edge easy to find so you aren’t spending five minutes searching for it before the game begins.
Game FAQ
We typically use 1-2 large rolls, depending on the number of players and how big we want the ball. For a large family Christmas party, two rolls give you more flexibility.
A good starting point is 2-3 small prizes per player, plus a few larger prizes and one special prize for the center. You can always add more for a large group.
One continuous piece makes the game easier and faster. Using separate sections makes it harder because players have to find the beginning of each new piece. We like using a combination of both.
No, but they make the game much more entertaining!
For younger children, skip the mitts or let them wear regular gloves.
The person holding the ball immediately stops unwrapping. They keep any prizes that fell out during their turn, then pass the ball to the person who rolled doubles.
We like putting one of the most exciting prizes in the middle, such as cash, a gift card, movie tickets, or another small gift everyone would want.
More Christmas Party Fun
Turn the game into a full Christmas party with some of our favorite holiday recipes and activities. Serve up:
Favorite Christmas Collections
Then keep the games going with:
More Christmas Games
A Family-Favorite Christmas Game
This Saran Wrap Ball Game has become one of those Christmas traditions our family looks forward to every year.
It’s simple, everyone can participate, and watching someone desperately try to find the end of the plastic wrap while the person next to them is rolling doubles as fast as possible never gets old.
Fill it with your family’s favorite treats and prizes, decide on your house rules, and get ready for LOTS of laughs!
Saran Wrap Ball Game
Equipment
- 1-2 rolls Saran Wrap (generic brands not recommended)
- various prizes (gift cards, candy, cash, etc.)
- 1 broom handle
- 2 oven mitts or gloves
- 2 dice
Video
Instructions
How to Make the Saran Wrap Ball
- PRIZES. Begin by gathering all your supplies and prizes.
- EASY SETUP. This next step is not necessary but makes it quicker and easier to do all by yourself. Put the broom handle through the saran wrap roll. Place the broom handle behind something on both ends (we used two chairs – see #1 pic). Start pulling saran wrap out and wrap your first object. It helps to use something that is round-ish and larger for the first prize which will be at the very center of the ball.
- WRAP. Begin rolling up prizes, adding a prize or candy every few rolls. Using larger prizes is really the only way to get a larger ball since everything is compact when you wrap it this way. That's why we like to throw in larger random objects like small toys, drinks, lotions, fuzzy socks, etc.In order to keep it a more round ball (and to make it more fun unrolling while playing), turn the ball 90 degrees while rolling, to wrap in different directions as you go.
- SECOND ROLL. When you run out of one roll, you have the option of tying the first roll to the next roll of saran wrap so that the play doesn't stop (see pic #4) OR if you want to make it more difficult, just start wrapping the second roll on top. This makes it harder for the person to find the end while they are playing.
- MARK THE START. When you are done wrapping up the ball, one helpful tip is to mark the edge of the saran wrap, otherwise, it may be hard finding the end when you start playing (see pic #4).
How to Play the Saran Wrap Ball Game
- Have guests sit on the ground in a circle. One person will begin with the ball, while the person to their left has a pan with two dice in it.
- Once the game begins, the person with the ball puts on oven mitts and tries to unwrap as many layers of plastic wrap as they can, while the person to the left tries to roll doubles.
- When that person rolls doubles, it's their turn. The pan with dice gets passed to the left, and the saran wrap ball goes to the person who rolled doubles. They put on the oven mitts and try to unroll while the next person tries to roll doubles – and so on.
- Everything that falls out during that person's turn, is theirs. The game ends when the last prize falls out. Be prepared for loads of laughs and fun the entire time!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Bret pape
I’d like to try this for our large family Christmas Eve celebration, but have never played it before. How do I ensure that all of the gifts dont get unwrapped before it gets to the end of the circle so that everyone gets a turn? How do I gage how many prizes/how big to make the ball?
Great questions. The easiest way to make sure the ball lasts is to use lots of layers of wrap and cut the wrap into shorter pieces so people can’t unravel big sections at once. This forces people to have to search for the beginning of the next section. I also mix in small prizes often and save a few fun ones for deeper in the ball. As for size, there’s no exact rule, but for a large group I usually plan on several dozen small prizes so the ball makes it around the circle at least once. It does not have to be perfect, and it is always a blast.
I am not understanding. Do you just keep rolling in one continuous roll or do you cut off pieces?
Cut pieces. We’ve done Saran Ball game the last three years, and the family loves it. I’ve ended up with balls the size of basketballs. use Saran wrap pieces of varying sizes, generally 1-3 feet long. Have fun. We use a pair of dice, and no gloves. This year I’m adding UNO cards and the players have to follow the cards (Reverse, Skip, Plus 2-extra turn)
That Saran Wrap is not going to help the environment. All that plastic in a plastic overloaded world.
Every party needs a pooper, Diane.
Saran wrap is a recyclable item, same as the bags you use to bring your items home from the store.
Under tips I found a link to recycling places. Unfortunately the link no longer exists. I will ask everyone one playing to bring the left over wrap to me. It should be a simple matter to look up recycling locations. I can bring the leftover wrap home with me and put it in my recycling can. I have learned that many problems can be solved when someone volunteers to “Let it begin with me”. I may ask someone from each game group to volunteer to recycle the leftover wrap. I hope this helps! Enjoy the game!
Thanks for letting me know I’ll make a note to remove the link. I’m happy that you are taking the initiative with your friend group.
This was a fun game to play at our Christmas Potluck lunch at work! Now going to make it for our family Christmas day and involve all the grand kids 🙂
The saran wrap game seems like the perfect game for Christmas Parties.
This would be awesome to do for Halloween. Maybe draw some Halloween stuff on the layers of wrap or something?
Oh absolutely!!
My plastic ball is not round. Ugh maybe my wrapping is funky. I just started so maybe the ball shape will show up latet
Fingers crossed! The items inside can affect the shape a little but it should round out. Hope you enjoy the game!
What a colossal waste of a non recyclable material.
I love this concept. My ball has candy, McDonald’s gift cards, Christmas beads, small hot sauce bottles, Christmas socks, lube, and ornaments. It’s going to be a blast!
We played this game last Christmas Eve, and my grown boys, wives and grand daughter had a blast. I just sat back and watched the fun expressions, competitiveness, etc. I ordered a bunch of items from TEMU; Christmas earrings, back scratcher, key chain, socks, tool pen. I also bought $1.00 scratch off tickets. This year I may add a few $1.00 bills and snack candy. Well worth the effort🤗🤗🤗TOO MUCH FUN!!
Oh how fun!! I love all the ideas of things you put in the saran wrap ball. It’s such a fun game, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing how your experience went. I’m glad it was a blast!!
My family plays this and its mostly teenage boys. I buy lots of “gag” gifts, such as freckle pens, under eye masks, etc, which always makes for an Aunt Jen, what the heck comment!! I remind them the prizes can’t all be winners!!! It makes for lots of laughs. Also look for clearance items after each holiday and throw it in a tote. No need to pay full price. you can find tons of cute small prize ideas at Dollar tree, or stores like that. I make them all wear gloves with fingers (a pair for each so they don’t have to waste time swapping them out) This makes it a little more difficult to unwrap and makes the game last a bit longer. I cut the wrap every so often and start a new piece which also makes it harder to unwrap. Try it out, have fun and be prepared to be the saran wrap ball bringer for years to come.
This sounds like such a fun tradition! I love your idea of using gag gifts and clearance finds, and the gloves trick is genius for keeping the game going. Thanks for sharing your great tips!
I cannot wait to make this ball game and play the unwrapping at our holiday family gathering.
Thank you for the great idea
You’re welcome! It’s such a fun game. Hope you all enjoy it!
I am thinking about doing this for my grown children instead of buying individual gifts as some are flying in for Xmas. What kind of ideas are there for bigger gifts to put in the ball since there won’t be individual gifts. I’ve already thought of cash and gift cards but is there any other ideas of what to put in it?
I have done this for our adult children…….I buy them socks, some candy. Bought Pez containers and instead of adding the candy, I put money inside of container. I also bought the real small boxes at the Dollar tree to put the gift cards in and wrapped them. I am doing the same thing this year and trying to come up with more ideas too!
Those are great gift ideas!! So fun!
We have also done card games, bath/body products, socks, chapsticks, favorite drinks/snacks. We have more ideas in the post as well!
We like to add lottery tickets!
Sounds like fun. My beastie says it’s fun.
I would definitely agree. My family loves this game!
Great idea! Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome!
Can you explain the Saran vs cling wrap? Thanks!
They are essentially the same thing. Saran is just a brand name for that type of plastic wrap, so it can be called either.
What an interesting idea and seems so much fun. This would be a great activity for the entire family to enjoy. Gonna dsave this post for later, thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!! We seriously have a blast playing this game. Hope you enjoy it too!
You are a creative genius. You have made the holiday in spite of covid extra special. Thank you sooo much. God bless you!
Awe, you are too nice! Thank you so much for saying that!