25 Fun Team-Building Ideas Your Workplace Will Love

Thinking about introducing some team-building activities to spice up the workweek and give your workplace culture a bit of a boost? There’s no doubt that having friends at work makes people happier, more productive, and more engaged—and team building can bring people together. Gallup has also found a clear correlation between engaged employees and better business outcomes. Do it right, and team-building activities in the workplace can result in 18% higher productivity and 23% higher profitability.

Any activity that involves multiple coworkers—from an online coffee chat to‌ working together on a project as a team—can be considered a team-building activity, and a valuable opportunity to build those interpersonal bonds.

Our list of team-building activities offers a mix of off-site adventures and in-the-trenches, work-focused activities catering to a variety of team-building preferences. Read on to find the perfect activity for your team!

What makes a work team-building idea fun and inclusive?

Team-building ideas should bring people together to work towards a common goal or to solve a problem together. One of the most important things to consider when designing your own team-building activity is making it accessible to every person on your team. While all of these ideas we’ve shared can be great, they do need to take your specific team into account.

For example, a ropes course isn’t going to work as a workplace team-building exercise if your team members are afraid of heights.

You can either choose an already inclusive activity or modify your chosen activity to make it more inclusive and accessible for everyone. If you’re using an external vendor, they likely already have ideas and procedures in place to include most people where possible, so don’t be afraid to ask.

And before booking anything with a non-refundable deposit, ask team members confidentially about their boundaries to ensure no one feels left out or pressured to participate.

6 easy team-building activities for work

You may not always have the time or resources to plan a big day out or spend a day on team building. Sometimes quick and easy activities can be just what your company needs. Whether you use these when onboarding a cohort, or as a break from the routine, explore our selection of simple team building activities.

1. Minefield

Supplies:  Colored paper cut into circles for the “mines,” blindfolds
Number of people:  8–40 people

Est. time:  20–30 minutes

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Help each other navigate a room full of “mines” (colored paper dots on the floor) while blindfolded to bond and increase your communication. Full rules here!

2. Trivia

Supplies:  Trivia questions, pens and paper
Number of people:  5–50 people

Est. time:  60–90 minutes

Cost:  Free, unless you opt for a facilitated session

Basic instructions:  Draw up your list of trivia questions (bonus points if they’re themed or company related) and assign everyone to teams. It’s just like your local trivia night, except with your colleagues (and people can do it online, too).

3. Nature walk and reflection

Supplies:  None
Number of people:  2+ people

Est. time:  15–30 minutes, or as long as you’d like

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Get outside and engage your senses! Take a nature walk and observe your surroundings as a group. What sights, sounds, smells, and textures do you notice? Ask each team member to jot down a few of their observations. When the time’s up, compare your notes. What do different team members notice that other group members may have missed?

4. Potluck with favorite recipes

Supplies:  Plates, utensils, etc.
Number of people:  2+ people

Est. time:  30–60 minutes

Cost:  Minimal

Basic instructions:  Ask your team members to bring in a favorite food, or one according to a theme, to share with everyone. You can rotate around food duties, so everyone gets a chance to show off and enjoy equally.

5. Lunch and learn

Supplies:  Lunch!
Number of people:  4–25 people

Est. time:  60–90 minutes

Cost:  The cost of lunch

Basic instructions:  Everyone has a special skill, so let them share and teach everyone else while you break for lunch. This could be a work-related skill or something unrelated but interesting and accessible to everyone, like knitting.

6. Role-play work situation

Supplies:  None
Number of people:  5–10 people

Est. time:  45–60 minutes

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Get out of a rut by asking your team members to solve a problem as if they were a famous person or business leader, and to present their solution role-playing as that person. It’s not just humorous, but it can also uncover new solutions with some creative thinking.

7 virtual team-building ideas for work

Connecting your remote and hybrid teams can be tough, but it’s absolutely critical for fostering loyalty and a strong company culture. This is where virtual team-building comes in. But don’t be fooled by the "virtual" label—these activities are just as fun and effective in person, too.

Another bonus: almost all of these activities are free!

1. Two truths and a lie

Supplies:  None
Number of people:  3–20

Est. time:  2–3 minutes per person

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Each person participating tells the group three things about themselves: one is a lie, but two are true. The group guesses which one is the lie, and everyone learns more about their colleagues along the way.

2. PowerPoint presentation

Supplies:  Access to a presentation software, like Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint
Number of people:  4–20

Est. time:  10 minutes per person

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  One person is selected to present a PowerPoint deck with slides they have never seen before, usually on a random, silly topic. It’s great for improvisation, and it always makes the whole team laugh.

3. Common thread

Supplies:  None
Number of people:  10+ people

Est. time:  30 minutes

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Divide your participants into groups of 3–5 people and ask each group to find things that everyone in the group has in common. These could be a favorite food, a hobby, a TV show, or anything you can dream of. Then get everyone back together in the larger group to share what you found (and‌ find more connections!).

4. Virtual scavenger hunt

Supplies:  None
Number of people:  4–10 people

Est. time:  45–60 minutes

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Come up with a list ahead of time that includes common or unusual objects people probably have at home. Once you’re all on the call, ask employees to find each object in their own homes and show them on camera once they’re found. It’s fun and free and gets everyone up from their desk, too!

5. Who’s that baby?

Supplies:  A willingness to share baby pictures!
Number of people:  4–20 people

Est. time:  10–15 minutes

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Ask each team member to share a cute baby picture of themselves before the meeting, and pop them into PowerPoint. In the meeting, ask everyone to guess who the baby is in each photo (it’s super cute!).

6. Collaborative playlist

Supplies:  Access to a music streaming platform, like Spotify or Apple Music
Number of people:  2+ people

Est. time:  5–10 minutes

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Everyone on the team can pick a favorite song and add it to the team’s collaborative playlist on the platform of your choice. Alternatively, everyone can use the same platform, just ask them to email you their pick so you can add it in for them.

7. Compliment circle

Supplies:  None
Number of people:  4–20

Est. time:  2 minutes per person

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Gather in a (virtual) circle and give the person next to you on the gallery view a thoughtful compliment. They accept it, and pass on a compliment to the next person until everyone has received a compliment and is glowing.

6 free team-building ideas for work

While most of those virtual activities happen to be free, there are free in-person team-building activities you can do too if your budget is tight. Free doesn’t mean they’re any less fun!

1. Icebreakers

Supplies:  None, depending on the chosen icebreaker
Number of people:  4+ people

Est. time:  5–15 minutes

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  There are hundreds of potential icebreakers you can choose from (we love this very comprehensive list from Asana), so you can find the one that fits your team’s vibe and size the best. Open your next meeting with one and watch the team’s connections form!

2. Volunteer days

Supplies:  Depends on the activity
Number of people:  2+ people

Est. time:  Depends on the activity

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Giving back doesn’t cost anything but time, and it’s a great way to bond with teammates while contributing to your local community, too. Find a local organization that needs help and pitch in together.

3. Charades

Supplies:  Small pieces of paper and pens
Number of people:  4–20 people

Est. time:  30–60 minutes

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Another childhood classic: everyone writes an object or person on a slip of paper and puts it into a bowl. Divide the group into two teams. Each person picks one and silently acts it out while the other team tries to guess within the designated time.

4. Rock, paper, scissors tournament

Supplies:  None
Number of people:  8+ people

Est. time:  30–45 minutes

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  It’s rocks paper scissors until the last person standing wins! This one is super easy and really fun for bigger teams—you might need a whiteboard or paper to keep track of groups over 20 people.

5. Order yourselves by...

Supplies:  None
Number of people:  5+ people

Est. time:  5–15 minutes

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  Set a timer and ask everyone to line up—silently—in that order (by height, by company tenure, by birthday, or anything else you can think of). You’ll all learn something new about each other without exchanging a word.

6. Celebrity party

Supplies:  Name tags and pens
Number of people:  4–25 people

Est. time:  30–60 minutes

Cost:  Free

Basic instructions:  This is a game that never goes out of style: everyone picks a celebrity and writes the name on a name tag and sticks it to someone else’s back/forehead. Ask your teammates questions to figure out who exactly you are.

6 fun team-building ideas for work for a bigger budget

Many companies have money put aside for social events and team-building days. If you’re lucky enough to be given a budget, our list of ideas can give you a feel for activities that are both fun and rewarding.

1. Host an event

Supplies:  Depends on the event theme, but you’ll likely need some funds put aside for catering, decorations and even a venue
Number of people:  4+ people

Est. time:  30 minutes to a full day

Cost:  Depends on the event

Basic instructions:  The only limits here are your imagination and budget: you could have a team event at a sporting event, a play, a show, a conference, a convention, or a local community event.

2. Sign your team up for a class

Supplies:  Depends on the class
Number of people:  Depends on the class

Est. time:  1hr to 1 day

Cost:  Depends on the specialisms being covered

Basic instructions:  Learning something new together is a great bonding experience: you could all join to attend an improv class, public speaking class, language class, or even a cooking class if you just want to have fun.

3. Organize a company retreat

Supplies:  Depends on the retreat
Number of people:  4+ people

Est. time:  1–3 days

Cost:  Depends on the retreat

Basic instructions:  This is a great option when you have big changes on the horizon or an exciting new project ahead to gather and think creatively about the big picture together. You could fly across the country or choose a retreat in the same town as your headquarters. If you’re in a different space so you can change the flow of the usual office routine.

4. Team lunch

Supplies:  Lunch!
Number of people:  2+ people

Est. time:  1–2 hours

Cost:  Depends on your choice of lunch

Basic instructions:  Pick a cuisine and venue that your team will love. You could order in and lay out a buffet, book a table at a local restaurant, or opt for something in between. What really matters is spending time together, as well as making sure everyone has a full stomach by the time they return to work in the afternoon. And be sure to check for allergies and restrictions ahead of time!

5. Plan a company social

Supplies:  Depends on the venue
Number of people:  The entire company or office

Est. time:  A day or evening

Cost:  Depends on the activities

Basic instructions: Company socials are a way of celebrating your employees and letting off some steam. Think of it as a work-friendly party, an event where everyone can get together to have some fun. The best thing about company socials is that they’re easy to tailor to your business, budget, and team.

6. Escape an escape room

Supplies:  A physical or online escape room
Number of people:  3–20 people

Est. time:  1–3 hours

Cost:  $30–$50 per person

Basic instructions:  Escape rooms are great for group problem-solving. These not only promote teamwork but can help identify strengths in logical and mathematical thinking within teams.

Benefits of team-building activities

Team-building activities bring a wealth of benefits to a business. They’re not just a bit of fun away from the usual grind, they’re also great ways to bring your team closer, build trust, and create a more positive place to work.

If your team is lacking cohesion or isn’t working as well as they could, bringing everyone together as part of a team-building exercise could be just the thing your company needs. After all, who doesn’t want to see a drop in absenteeism and turnover while boosting productivity?

If you want to introduce some easy team-building into your workplace, determine your budget, identify team needs and establish what, if anything, needs working on. From there, choose from our wide range of fun activities, but don’t be afraid to adapt or alter them for your workplace.