This post speak about thanksgiving table favor ideas for guests over Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one of those holidays where the food takes center stage, but the moments before dinner can feel like a waiting game. That’s where creative Thanksgiving table favors come in. Not only do they make your table look festive, but they also double as conversation starters, games, or little keepsakes your guests will love to take home!
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Where the Tradition for Table Favors Originated
You know those little trinkets or sweet treats people leave on your plate at special dinners? They didn’t start as a Pinterest idea. The tradition of giving table favors actually dates back centuries, long before Pinterest boards existed!
- European beginnings: Wealthy families in France and England used to give out “bonbonnières,” tiny ornate boxes filled with sugar cubes or candies, as a symbol of gratitude and good luck.
- Victorian twist: When sugar became more affordable, even middle-class hosts joined in, using small gifts or charms at holiday dinners to show thoughtfulness.
- American evolution: In the U.S., the tradition blended with Thanksgiving gatherings during the early 1900s, when homemakers started setting little handmade tokens – like crocheted sachets or wrapped nuts – at each place setting.
My mom always said table favors were “the dessert before dessert,” meaning something sweet or sentimental to thank guests for coming. Over time, the tradition has shifted from fancy to fun, but the heart behind it – gratitude – has stayed exactly the same.
How Much Should You Spend on Table Favors?
Here’s the truth: no one remembers the price tag on a favor, just how thoughtful or useful it felt. Still, it helps to have a rough idea before you end up spending more on favors than your actual meal (been there).
| Guest Count | Ideal Budget per Favor | What That Buys You |
|---|---|---|
| 4–8 Guests | $2–$3 each | Small candles, mini puzzles, or wrapped candies |
| 10–15 Guests | $1.50–$2.50 each | Bulk items like tiny succulents or stress balls |
| 20+ Guests | Under $1.50 each | Printables, joke cards, or handmade tags with candy |
I usually aim for around $2 per guest, just enough for something charming but not extravagant.
My friend Jen once splurged on $6-per-person hot cocoa kits, which looked adorable but she later admitted were “a little too fancy for family chaos.”
If you’re DIY-ing, set a total budget and stick to it. A tip that works for me: buy in bulk packs (like these mini candle sets) and then personalize them with ribbons or tags. It looks luxe, costs little, and guests never know the difference.
What Are the Most Popular Table Favors to Gift at Thanksgiving
People tend to love favors they can either eat, use, or display. Pretty much everything else ends up forgotten in a drawer by December. After years of hosting (and snooping on what guests genuinely love to take home), here are the clear winners:
Most-Loved Thanksgiving Table Favors:
- Edible treats: Hot cocoa bombs, cookies, or wrapped caramel squares always disappear first.
- Scented items: Tiny candles or cinnamon sachets will make your table smell like fall magic.
- Mini plants: Tiny succulents or herb pots add freshness and double as decor.
- Games & interactive gifts: Trivia cards, scratch-offs, or bingo sheets break the ice instantly.
- Personalized keepsakes: Small photo frames, name card holders, or notebooks with guests’ initials feel thoughtful without trying too hard.
Host Favorites (Because Easy Matters):
- Bulk sets of 12–24 pieces keep things affordable.
- Neutral colors like beige, gold, and sage green blend with any Thanksgiving palette.
- Reusable packaging (think kraft boxes or muslin bags) makes cleanup easier.
I once gave everyone mini gratitude journals for one year, and my uncle came back at Christmas with his completely filled out. That’s when I realized table favors aren’t just table decor, they’re tiny memory makers.
20 Thanksgiving Table Favor Ideas
Below I am sharing 20 of my favorite Thanksgiving table favor ideas for guests. They are simple, fun and perfect for adults and kids!
1 | Mini Puzzle Cube Favors
I once set out tiny puzzle cubes at each place setting, mostly because they were cheap and colorful.
Turns out, my uncle spent half the meal determined to solve his before dessert.
The best part was that the puzzles doubled as Thanksgiving table favors, so people could take them home.
If you’re thinking about trying this, go for smaller ones that don’t take up much space. I grabbed this bulk set of mini puzzle cubes that worked perfectly – budget-friendly and super fun.
2 | Scratch-Off Gratitude Cards
My friend Katie brought scratch-off cards to dinner last year, and it completely stole the show.
She found these cute ones that revealed “gratitude prompts” when scratched.
The kids loved it because, well, it felt like lottery tickets. Adults loved it because it got everyone talking.
She put them under the plates like a surprise. Simple, cheap, and everyone got a keepsake.
You can snag a pack of Thanksgiving scratch-off cards online, and they instantly become both decor and a favor.
3 | Tiny Succulent Pots
One year my mom put these tiny succulents in little clay pots at each seat.
They weren’t perfect – some pots still had faint price stickers on the bottom from the thrift store – but it worked.
Guests were delighted to take them home. It also gave the table a fresh, green touch against all the orange and brown decor.
The funny part was that she accidentally bought too many and ended up with a windowsill jungle afterward.
If you don’t want to DIY, there’s a set of mini potted succulents that looks adorable on a Thanksgiving table and doubles as a gift.
4 | Joke Napkin Rings
I saw this at a roadside diner (of all places).
Instead of fancy napkin rings, they had slips of paper with silly Thanksgiving-themed jokes wrapped around the napkins.
People actually read them out loud, which got the whole table laughing. Imagine the classic dad jokes but turkey edition.
The trick is to print them on colored paper so they look intentional, not last-minute.
Or, if you’d rather save time, these Thanksgiving joke napkin bands are ready-made and super cheap. Pair them with small candy favors for an extra treat.
5 | Mini Board Games at the Table
Okay, confession time – one year I got a little carried away and bought these teeny versions of classic board games.
Think chess, Connect 4, even tiny UNO card packs. Everyone was supposed to “trade games” during the meal, but instead, my cousin just hoarded the mini Jenga and played alone.
Still, it kept people entertained while waiting for the turkey.
These small games double as quirky Thanksgiving table favors and people usually end up playing with them again at home.
You can grab this set of mini travel board games that comes with a variety, so no one feels left out.
6 | DIY Cookie Decorating Kits
My friend Jen swears by this one.
She sets out little cookie kits with plain sugar cookies, tiny piping bags, and sprinkles.
Everyone gets one at their seat, and by the time dessert rolls around, half the table is comparing frosting disasters.
The kits double as a table favor since people can wrap their cookie to take home if they don’t eat it.
She once joked that her piping bag “exploded like a frosting volcano” mid-meal, and somehow that became the highlight of the night.
You can find ready-to-go cookie decorating kits that make this setup so much easier.
7 | Mini Candles with Funny Labels
My mom once gave everyone little candles with labels like “Turkey Coma” and “Stuffing Memories.”
She printed the labels herself with a template she found online, but the wicks were slightly crooked because she tried DIY pouring.
Still, everyone loved them.
They made the whole dining room smell like cinnamon and apple pie before the food even hit the table.
Guests tucked them into purses and pockets like souvenirs.
If DIY feels daunting, you can buy a set of mini fall candles and just add your own funny tags.
8 | Trivia Card Packs
I saw this trick at a roadside rest stop café, where they had trivia cards on every table.
People flipped through them while waiting for coffee. It worked surprisingly well, so I tried it at Thanksgiving.
Everyone grabbed a card and quizzed their neighbors. It broke up the small talk and got people laughing over the strangest facts.
You can pick up these Thanksgiving trivia cards in a small deck, and they instantly double as table favors guests will keep.
9 | Pumpkin-Shaped Stress Balls
My friend Mark once brought little pumpkin stress balls as a joke, but they were an unexpected hit.
Everyone ended up squeezing them during the meal, especially when the turkey was taking longer than expected.
Kids tossed them back and forth like mini footballs. Adults just quietly squished them while sipping wine.
They also looked cute scattered across the table. You can find pumpkin stress balls in bulk that are cheap but surprisingly durable.
10 | Personalized Place Card Holders
My mom did this one year by hand-painting tiny wood blocks with everyone’s names.
They were wobbly and uneven, but no one cared.
People took them home and used them as paperweights or fridge decorations.
It made the table feel personal without being fussy.
I’ve since found these pre-made personalized place card holders that look polished but are still affordable. Pair them with small candies tucked into a favor bag for extra charm.
11 | Mini Paint Sets
I saw these at a roadside craft fair – tiny watercolor palettes with just six colors.
They looked like toys, but people loved the idea of doodling after dinner.
I set them out once with little paper cards, and the adults got way more into it than the kids.
My aunt painted a very dramatic turkey that we ended up framing.
These mini paint sets are inexpensive in bulk, and they make a quirky favor no one sees coming.
12 | Conversation Starter Dice
My friend Laura used conversation dice at her table, and it made Thanksgiving dinner fly by.
Each side had a prompt like “favorite holiday memory” or “worst kitchen disaster.”
You rolled and answered, and the stories just kept coming. It helped mix family members who didn’t always chat much.
The dice doubled as table favors so everyone could take one home. You can get conversation starter dice sets that are perfect for dinner tables.
13 | Harvest Scent Sachets
My mom tucked little cinnamon-scented sachets under the napkins one year.
At first, people didn’t notice them, but as soon as the food cooled down, the scent drifted up.
It made the whole table smell cozy even before dessert. Guests loved slipping them into purses and coat pockets.
Some still mentioned months later that their bags smelled like cinnamon.
For an easy version, you can grab a pack of fall-scented sachets and just wrap them with twine.
14 | Build-Your-Own Turkey Craft Kits
I saw this idea at a roadside holiday bazaar – kits with googly eyes, feathers, and felt shapes to make turkeys.
It was supposed to be for kids, but the adults ended up competing to see whose turkey looked the silliest.
By the end of the meal, everyone had one propped up next to their plate. The table looked like a turkey army.
You can find bulk turkey craft kits that are cheap and adorable.
15 | Tiny Notebooks for Gratitude Lists
My friend Amber once handed out mini notebooks and pens, asking people to jot down a quick gratitude list.
It sounds cheesy, but it was actually really sweet. After dinner, a few people shared theirs, and it got emotional in the best way.
The notebooks also became table favors people actually used later for shopping lists or doodles.
You can grab packs of mini gratitude journals that look classy without costing much.
16 | Mini Flashlights for Kids
I spotted this at a roadside pumpkin patch, where kids were running around with glow sticks and tiny flashlights.
Lightbulb moment – give them out at Thanksgiving to keep kids busy after dark.
They raced around the yard playing tag with flashlights while adults lingered at the table.
Bonus: the flashlights doubled as favors parents appreciated because they’re practical.
These sets of mini LED flashlights are cheap and surprisingly sturdy.
17 | Tea Sampler Bags
My mom once tucked little tea bags in organza pouches as Thanksgiving table favors.
They were labeled with things like “after-dinner calm” and “pumpkin spice pick-me-up.”
Guests tucked them into pockets and used them that week, which made it feel like the holiday lingered a little longer.
She swore by making them herself, but I’ve since found pre-made tea sampler favor packs that look just as thoughtful.
Add a tiny thank-you tag and you’re done.
18 | Mini Bingo Cards
I saw this one on the roadside marquee of a community hall – Thanksgiving Bingo Night.
So I made my own smaller version with mini cards at the table.
People marked squares for things like “grandma’s pie compliment” or “someone asks when the turkey will be ready.”
It was silly but surprisingly fun.
The winner got bragging rights and a bigger slice of pie. You can skip the DIY and grab printable Thanksgiving bingo cards ready to go.
19 | Hot Cocoa Bombs
My friend Sophie gave everyone hot cocoa bombs one year, and we ended up making them after dessert.
Dropping them into mugs of milk felt like a little magic trick.
The kids went nuts, and even adults were snapping photos of their drinks swirling.
They doubled as a sweet favor for later, too. You can grab fall-themed hot cocoa bombs that look festive on the table.
20 | Mini Photo Frames
I saw these at a roadside flea market – tiny wooden frames painted in fall colors.
The seller said people used them as name cards, which sparked my idea.
I printed tiny family photos and tucked them inside at each place.
Everyone got a personalized favor, and it made the table feel so warm. The frames were cheap but looked special.
If you don’t have a flea market nearby, you can buy bulk packs of mini photo frames and do the same thing.
