9 Fun Office Scavenger Hunt Ideas & Templates for 2023 (2024)

Here is our list of the best office scavenger hunt ideas and templates.

Office scavenger hunt ideas are lists of items for team members to find at or near their office space. For example, a Desk Scavenger Hunt, a Duo Scavenger Hunt, or an Active Scavenger Hunt. These activities aim to build relationships and practice essential skills like communication and thinking outside the box.

These hunts are examples of scavenger hunts for adults, team building games and office challenges, and are in-person versions of virtual scavenger hunts. You can use treasure hunt ideas, scavenger hunt riddles and scavenger hunt apps to make and complete these games.

This list includes:

• office scavenger hunt list for adults
• office scavenger hunt riddles
• office team scavenger hunt ideas for adults
• Christmas office scavenger hunts

Let’s get to it!

List of office scavenger hunt ideas

We have compiled the ultimate office scavenger hunt lists for adults. These lists will entertain team members while building relationships. While coworkers find the items, they will practice essential skills, like communication and problem-solving.

For most of these activities, encourage participants to take a camera and take pictures of items or team members completing tasks.

Here is our list of office scavenger hunt ideas.

1. Everyday Scavenger Hunt

There are many office team scavenger hunt ideas for adults that utilize everyday items in an office. From exit signs to boxes of paper clips, anything can be part of a scavenger hunt.

Here is a template:

• Find a sign with the number 6 on it.
• What is the oldest video you have on your phone?
• How many steps does it take you to get to the bathroom?
• Find the employee with the most kids and ask how much they sleep at night.
• Take a picture on or near the company sign.
• Take a photo when a digital clock near you makes a mathematical equation. For example, 12:36 is 1+2+3=6.
• Take a selfie with the CEO or nearest highest-ranking supervisor.
• Share the craziest picture on your cell phone.
• Take a photo with three different exit signs.
• Find a picture with four children in it.
• Find a team member wearing their college logo.
• Find three different colored staplers in the office.
• Find a coworker wearing the company logo and take a picture of them.
• Take a snapshot of how many open windows you have on your computer.

2. Office Desk Scavenger Hunt

You can plan a quick 15 to 30-minute scavenger hunt for team members to complete at their desks. The items on the list should all be in or on a desk. The beauty of this hunt is that it can serve as a great distraction or brain break during a long work week and can inspire employees to clean up their workspaces!

Here are example ideas:

• Staple two different colored pieces of paper together.
• Cut letters out of paper to create a message.
• Take a screenshot of your desktop loaded to your favorite vacation destination.
• Build a tower using only post-it notes, paper clips, and tape.
• Leave only black and white items on your desk.
• Find four different snacks.
• Replace pictures with hand-drawn replicas of the previous photo.
• Create a rubber band ball.
• Find two different colored highlighters
• Find four different colored pens.
• Use a hole punch and scissors to create a snowflake.
• Fill your coffee mug with something other than coffee.
• Use a calculator to spell a word.

3. Special Office Scavenger Hunt Items

If you want to challenge team members, then add some specialty items to your scavenger hunt list. These objects and ideas will make participants think outside the box and find out-of-the-ordinary items.

Here is a sample guide:

• Find a coin with your birth year on it.
• Find a flip cell phone, if possible.
• What is the fourth item on the menu for the company website?
• Take a picture with the oldest and youngest members of the team.
• Find a coin with the year of the the company’s founding.
• Find a computer that is running an extremely outdated version of Windows. The older, the better.
• Find foreign currency.
• How many computers are in the office? See who can find the number first.
• Find the first person who has worked in your office the longest, not including the boss.
• Find the person with the closest birthday to you.
• Find a mouse with a rollerball.
• Find five people to act out the Friends opening with you. Bonus points if you can include a couch or fountain.

4. Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Planning a scavenger hunt around a holiday is the perfect time to add themed list items. Christmas office scavenger hunts are a great way to build holiday spirit and encourage fun among team members.

Here is a template:

• Find an ugly Christmas sweater with an animal other than a reindeer.
• Find an outfit that lights up.
• Find Christmas earrings.
• Find a Christmas countdown.
• Eat some candy a teammate left out.
• Find something peppermint flavored.
• Find something green and red.
• Find something with Santa winking.
• Find an ornament that has pink on it.
• Do something creative with tinsel.
• Recreate a child sitting on Santa’s lap.
• Wrap office supplies and leave them as a gift for your boss.
• Have the team recreate an awkward Christmas family photo.
• Go caroling to neighbor offices.

Check out more holiday scavenger hunt templates.

5. Duo Scavenger Hunt

A duo scavenger hunt is one of the best ways to build teams and develop relationships. For this challenge, team members must work in pairs to solve various tasks. You can ask participants to film these activities to share with the rest of the team.

Here are some examples:

• Artist and Muse: One team member acts out an artist creating a masterpiece inspired by their muse, the other teammate.
• Mimes: In this activity, the pair must be as creative as possible as mimes. No words allowed!
• Sporting event: The pair must complete a variety of athletic feats. For example, a quarterback throwing to a receiver, a basketball player defending a layup, or a soccer player shooting against a goalie.
• TikTok: Perform a TikTok challenge together somewhere in the office building.
• Singers: Encourage the team to write and perform a song about something related to the company. This song can be about the organization’s history or a person involved, for example, a founder or a supervisor.
• Cooking show: The duo must pretend to be in a cooking show. For this activity, the more outlandish the dish, the better!
• Translator: This entertaining event requires one team member to “translate” for the other.
• Interview: Have one team member interview the other for a job. The interviewee should give the worst answers possible.
• Press conference: One team member answers questions posed by the other during a press conference. The topic can be political or sports-related.

6. Riddled Office Scavenger Hunt

Office scavenger hunt riddles are incredible ways to encourage team members to use their heads. If you do not outright give a list of items to find, then participants have to work harder. However, it is best to keep these lists short as they might take time. You can ask participants to take a picture of each of these items as they figure them out.

Here is a sample:

• I’m over you on a rainy day, close me, or I might blow away. (Answer, umbrella.)
• I’m here when you are tired and need a seat. You will get a rest and get off your feet. (Answer, chair.)
• If you do not know where to look, then check for me on a hook. (Answer, keys.)
• Whether you use one sheet or four, someone might use less, and someone might use more. (Answer, toilet paper.)
• If you push me, then I’ll release suds. This is especially important when you’ve been in the mud. (Answer, soap.)
• To go up, you step on me, but I sometimes hurt your knee. (Answer, stairs.)
• I light up and tell you how to leave. (Answer, exit sign.)
• What has a face but no mouth or nose? It also has hands but no fingers or toes. (Answer, a clock.)
• I’m usually on top, and if you peek, you just might find a super cold treat. (Answer, freezer.)
• I have a flat top and hold all your things. (Answer, a desk.)
• I am red, white, and blue. When it is windy, I wave to you. (Answer, a flag.)
• Check your reflection in me to see your complexion. (Answer, mirror.)
• I’m here and there and all-around. I don’t actually exist but can be found. (Answer, your shadow.)
• I go on your back, and I keep things secure in my pack. (Answer, backpack.)
• My first letter is an “e,” just like my last. But I only contain one letter. (Answer, envelope.)

7. Active Office Scavenger Hunt

Sometimes, team members need to get out of their chairs and move around. These office team scavenger hunt ideas for adults require teammates to work together out of their chairs.

Check out these ideas:

• Mini-me: For this activity, choose one team member to recreate. You can use any items in the office to make a mini version of that coworker. Consider using one specific feature, for example, a nametag or glasses, to make the recreation recognizable.
• Keep your distance: Have the team take a picture best representing how to safely keep your distance from each other.
• Abby Road: Have four team members recreate the famous Beatles image on a crosswalk.
• Parking lot: In this challenge, team members must go to the parking lot with a camera. Then, participants must take pictures of letters on license plates to make a word. The word can be a name or something related to the company.
• Ministry of Silly Walks: For this activity, ask team members to film themselves walking in creative and distinct ways in different office areas.
• Reflection: Ask team members to get a picture of their reflection in something other than a mirror.
• Clown car: Fit as many team members as possible in the smallest car available.
• Stick words: This task requires many sticks, either coffee stirrers or popsicle sticks. You can either give teams a few specific words or ask them to come up with a couple representing your office or company. Then, participants should spell out the words with the sticks.
• Emojis: Have everyone on the team make a different emoji face. Get a picture of the whole group.
• Dramatic reading: Perform a dramatic reading of the company manual.
• Mummies: Using only toilet paper, have teams make mummies. You can encourage participants to cover every inch of one member, including hands and feet.
• Three-way: Though this might sound risque, it is not. For this challenge, a group of three teammates must complete a list of tasks together, for example, tie their shoes, walk through a doorway, or make a cup of coffee. The catch is that the participants must stay attached at the hip.
• Singing objects: First, team members must find three to five items in the office. Then, the group must find a song that mentions that item. Be sure to video the team singing the song while displaying the object.

8. Mall Scavenger Hunt

If your office is near a mall, then take a quick trip there and see how many of these tasks team members can complete in a certain amount of time. You do not need to spend any money to have fun. It would be best to encourage team members to be considerate of those working or shopping at the mall.

Here are some ideas to get started:

• Try on a shirt that is three sizes too big.
• Buy a pretzel.
• Find a kid’s store and take a picture of a toy you would have loved as a kid.
• Find a furniture store and sit in a red recliner.
• Try out three different beds.
• Put on high heels and do a quick catwalk in the shoe department.
• Find a jersey for a team you always root against.
• Spell out your company name with letters from different stores.
• Do a sorority pose in front of a fountain.
• Ride the elevator from the top floor to the bottom floor.
• Find a store with the letter K in the name.
• Find an area in the mall that echoes.

9. Outdoor Office Scavenger Hunt

If you have a smaller office space, then consider sending team members outside with this office scavenger hunt list for adults. You can include street signs, buildings, and even wildlife in an outdoor hunt. Plus, participants get some fresh air and a change of scenery.

Here is a template to follow:

• Find an exotic or ethnic cuisine within walking distance.
• Buy a cup of coffee and ask the barista to make their favorite.
• Go to a bookstore and find a specific title, for example, Moby Dick.
• Find the oldest building in your neighborhood.
• Find a sports store nearby. Have two team members try on hats of rival teams.
• Act out a picnic outside.
• Find the funniest street sign you can.
• Find as many different colored flowers as possible.
• Find the coolest muscle car you can find.
• Find the most famous landmark nearby and get a picture with the team in front of it.
• Play at a playground in a nearby park.
• Take a picture with the tallest tree you can find.
• Go to a store that sells clothes and find a purple shirt.
• Find a bird with blue in it.
• Have everyone in the group get a temporary tattoo.
• Find something in nature and act it out, for example, a tree or flower.
• See who can find the best thing for $5.00 either at a store or thrift shop.
• Take a picture of something that rhymes with dog.
• Find a street sign with the letter F in it.
• Go to a school and act out a teacher presenting a lesson in front of it.
• Find a store with the most unique name.
• Feed a squirrel a snack.
• Find statues near your office and mimic them.

Check out more outdoor team building ideas.

Conclusion

Scavenger hunts are fun and creative ways to build relationships among team members. As coworkers complete these tasks, they must communicate and work together. This office scavenger hunt list for adults is an excellent way to get team members up and doing things when work is intense and time-consuming.

For more fun with officemates, consider photo scavenger hunts, field day games for adults, or Amazing Race events.