40 prize wheel ideas: what to put on a branded wheel

A promotional prize wheel works because of two things: the act of spinning it and what you might win. The wheel draws people in from the aisle, but it is the segments that decide whether someone stays to play, smiles at the result and remembers your brand the next day. If you are planning yours and wondering what to put on a prize wheel, here are 40 ideas for prizes and segments that suit trade shows, shops and corporate events, grouped by type, plus a few simple rules for combining them so you do not run out of gifts by mid-afternoon.

Before you choose: what do you want to achieve?

Prizes for a stand are not the same as prizes for a party. Before you fill in the segments, decide on the wheel's main goal:

• Draw people in to the stand or shop: small, frequent prizes that almost everyone wants.
• Collect contacts: one big, visible prize that makes it worth leaving your details, and small prizes so nobody leaves empty-handed.
• Sell more: discounts and gifts that only pay off with a purchase.
• Introduce a product: samples, trials and questions about the brand.
• Liven up a dinner or a convention: challenges, questions and token prizes.

Once the goal is clear, pick the ideas from each group that fit.

Discounts and purchase perks

1. A discount on the next purchase, with an expiry date.
2. A bigger discount valid only on the day of the event.
3. Free delivery from the online shop.
4. Two for one on a specific product.
5. A voucher with a unique code, so you can see how many are redeemed later.
6. Early access to the sale or to a launch.

Branded merchandise

7. T-shirt.
8. Cap.
9. Tote bag, which then advertises your brand all round the venue.
10. Reusable water bottle.
11. Notebook and pen.
12. Phone cable or charger.
13. Keyring.
14. Pin badge or stickers.

Your own products and services

15. A sample or travel-size product.
16. The flagship product in its normal size.
17. The new product you are launching.
18. Something from the menu: a tapa, a drink, a coffee or a dessert, if you run a restaurant or bar.
19. A free service: a check-up, a free trial month, a session.
20. Personalising the gift on the spot with the winner's name.

Experiences

21. Tickets to a match, a concert or one of your own events.
22. Dinner for two.
23. A guided tour of the factory, kitchen or workshop.
24. A class or workshop.
25. A photo with the guest character or sports star.
26. An entry into a final draw among everyone who played.

Game segments

Not every segment has to be a prize. These keep the pace up and get people laughing:

27. Spin again. More suspense at no cost.
28. So close. An empty segment with a funny line. One or two at most.
29. Wild card: choose your prize from the small ones.
30. Mystery prize: a sealed envelope or box.
31. For your friend: the prize goes to whoever came with you.
32. Double prize: two small gifts.

Challenges and questions

33. A question about the brand or product. Answer correctly and win.
34. Guess what is inside the box.
35. Say the brand's slogan in five seconds.
36. Take a photo at the stand and share it.
37. A general knowledge question about the industry.
38. A team challenge, for conventions and company dinners.

Special segments

39. The golden segment: just one, with the top prize, visible from a distance.
40. A good cause: every time it lands there, the brand makes a donation to a charity.

How to share out the segments

On a physical wheel, every segment of the same size has the same chance of coming up. If the wheel has 12 equal segments, each one comes up, on average, once every 12 spins. That helps with two things: balancing the wheel and working out how many prizes you need.

A mix that usually works:

• One or two segments with the top prize.
• More than half with small prizes: merchandise, samples, discounts.
• One or two “spin again” or challenge segments.
• At most one or two segments with no prize. Too many and people walk away disappointed.

If you want a prize to come up more often, do not hide it: repeat the segment in several places on the wheel. Two “T-shirt” segments on a 12-segment wheel means it comes up once every six spins. It is transparent and anyone can see it.

How many prizes you need

The sum is simple: expected spins × segments for that prize ÷ total segments. If you expect 400 spins at a trade show and the tote bag takes up 4 of 12 segments, you will need around 133 bags. Add a 15 to 20 % margin, because lucky streaks happen.

The top prize is where the sums usually go wrong: with one segment in 12 and 400 spins, it would come up around 33 times. If you only have three, there are two common fixes. One is for the golden segment to give an entry into a final draw rather than the prize itself. The other is to limit the top prize per day or per time slot and say so from the start. Either way, if prizes are limited, make it clear (“while stocks last”) and, if you are running a prize promotion open to the public, check whether you need formal terms and conditions.

How to word the segments

If it cannot be read from two metres away, it does not exist. One or two words per segment, ideally with an icon, and no long sentences. If a prize needs explaining, put it on a sign next to the wheel. We go into letter sizes and contrast in how to design a custom prize wheel.

On our wheels you can choose as many segments as you like without changing the price, and if you do not have a design, our team will prepare one with your logo and your list of prizes. We explain it all on the custom prize wheel page, and for stands, on trade show prize wheel.

Frequently asked questions

How many segments should a prize wheel have?

Between 8 and 16 is the most common on a floor-standing wheel. Fewer segments are easier to read; more segments fit more prizes. On ours, the number is up to you.

Can I include segments with no prize?

Yes, and they add some fun, but go easy: one or two at most, with a cheerful line rather than a blunt “nothing”.

Can you help me choose the prizes?

Yes. Tell us your goal and your audience and we will suggest how to share out the segments. You can request a quote here.