DIY

71 Most Interesting & Unique Raffle Basket Ideas for 2024

Published on Jul 18th 2024
raffle basket ideas

Are you throwing a charity event and wondering what are the most interesting and unique raffle basket ideas that will get the crowd bidding? Here, you will discover some really great tips for creating the most biddable raffle baskets that will raise money for your cause. 

From raffle basket ideas for foodie and wine connoisseurs to sports fans and tech junkies, you'll find the right theme and items for your raffle baskets. Look out at the end for the tips to hosting a successful raffle party or event. 

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What Is a Raffle Basket?

A raffle basket is a collection of items arranged to draw bids for fundraising opportunities; showcasing them in an actual basket is optional.

Baskets generally cover a theme such as kitchen gadgets or home spa items, or target a specific bidder, like movie fans or lovers of gourmet dining. Depending on your budget, you can include high-end items or more affordable options for your gift basket ideas.

What Makes a Good Raffle Basket?

A good raffle basket gets bidders excited about winning what’s inside! This may come in the form of useful items, luxury products or unusual objects that pique the crowd’s curiosity.

What is the most popular raffle item? That depends on the event and the bidders. Taking your audience’s interests into consideration lets you arrange baskets that will appeal to your bidders. Raffle basket ideas for school fundraisers, for example, are likely to include different items than baskets used for office charity events.

Benefits of Raffle Baskets

Raffle baskets are a fun and exciting way to conduct fundraising for your cause, whether it’s a school carnival or an office charity.

The joy of choosing baskets to bid on is great for building community spirit and inspiring friendly competition among bidders. And with no limit on the bidding, baskets in a raffle can be a great way to exceed your initial fundraising goals.

Tips for Creating the Perfect Raffle Basket

Wondering how to build a raffle basket? It’s not difficult! Make sure your basket is eye-catching and aims for your intended audience. A clear description and an open view of the items inside will help generate buzz and draw bidders’ attention.

For the best results from bidders, try to create an eye-catching display that presents your basket contents as attractively as possible.

Unique Foodie Raffle Basket Ideas

Foodie Raffle Basket Ideas
Consider cookware and gourmet grilling items (via Canva)

1. Sauces and Spreads

A basket loaded with jars of fancy sauces, jams and barbecue rubs is just the thing to get food lovers excited about placing their bids.

2. Gourmet Grilling Goods

Attract the open-flame chefs in the crowd with a collection of grilling utensils and a sturdy apron to give their outdoor cooking life new sparkle. Consider branding the items with your logo to make them extra special. 

3. Cookbooks Galore

Arrange a stack of intriguing guides to new dishes like artisan pizza, homemade bread and professional-level baked treats for cooks looking to expand their repertoire. 

Fun Experiential Raffle Basket Ideas 

Experiential Raffle Basket Ideas
A Classpop! gift card is always a fun idea (via Classpop!)

4. A Classpop! Gift Card

Give your guests the chance to choose their own exciting activity by adding a Classpop! gift card to your basket arrangements. Art classes, cooking lessons, paint and sip parties—they’re all on the menu!

5. Museum Tickets

Package a pair of tickets to an upcoming art or history exhibit with a postcard announcing the details to lure museum fans.

6. Amusement Park Visits

Passes to a local amusement park make fun raffle basket ideas for families to enjoy together. A gift card to use in the park offers a lower-priced basket that can be just as enticing.

Best Raffle Basket Ideas for the Kitchen

Raffle Basket Ideas for the Kitchen
A bread-making kit is the gift that keeps on giving (via Canva)

7. Bread Making Kit

A few loaf pans, some packets of yeast, a bag of specialty flour and a cookbook make for a useful bread-making kit for bidders to sink their teeth into.

8. Pizzeria Paraphernalia

Home pizza makers will have stars in their eyes when they see a pizza paddle, a rocking slicer and a new cheese grater all wrapped up. 

9. Whimsical Gizmos

Assemble colorful spoon rests, potholders and kitchen timers for a helpful basket with loads of characterful gifts for foodies.

Calming Wellness & Self-Care Raffle Basket Ideas

Wellness & Self-Care Raffle Basket Ideas
Wellness raffle baskets are always a winner (via Canva)

10. A Facial Set

A few moisturizing masks, some under-eye patches, and an array of luscious creams become a rejuvenating basket worth bidding on. Make it extra special by including local artisans and brands for an authentic touch. 

11. Soothing Scents and Luxury Lighting

Collect several coordinated votive candles or choose a large multi-wick candle to give aroma lovers a fragrant, bid-worthy basket.

12. Home Relaxation Gear

Compile an ambient noise machine, a comfy blanket and a blackout eye mask to make a home relaxation basket that invites serenity.

Interesting Raffle Basket for Music Lovers

Bluetooth speaker
A Bluetooth speaker is a useful item to include (via Canva)

13. Tickets To the Show

Arrange a pair of tickets to an upcoming concert from a big-name band to create a basket that draws live music fans.

14. Streaming Service Gift Cards

Offering gift cards for Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify or Pandora gives streaming fans a few months’ coverage for their favorite tunes.

15. Bluetooth Speakers

Encourage the music fans to take out the earbuds with a set of Bluetooth speakers as part of your raffle swag.

Exciting Raffle Basket Ideas for Budding Mixologists

Mixologist tools
Budding mixologists will bid for bartender tools (via Canva)

16. Bartender Tools

What home cocktail crafter wouldn’t love bidding on a muddler-mixer-zester combo to adorn their bartop? They’re gifts for cocktail lovers that can get your bidding all shaken up!

17. Mixers and Syrups

Concoct a bespoke set of syrups, fizzes and tonics from the liquor store for unique raffle basket ideas that give cocktail artisans a helping hand.

18. Cocktail Guides

Books revealing the latest in mixology magic are sure to be appreciated by bidders with a taste for modern drinks.

Great Raffle Basket Ideas for Wine Lovers

Wine lover baskets
Aerators, fancy glasses and other gadgets for wine lovers (via Canva)

19. Varietal Samplers

Grab a few bottles of wine in different varieties or pick up some individual servings from the mini-bar section of BevMo! and make a mix-and-match wine rack in basket form. Or get a gift voucher to a local winery for a tasting or pairing. 

20. Vintner Gadgets

Whether it’s an automatic corkscrew, a wine aerator or a set of wine glass identifiers, gadgets for the wine set are a fun addition to your raffle. A subscription to or lesson at Wine Folly would also get the bids up. 

21. Fancy Glasses

Go stemless, square or smoked glass, just be sure to have a set of fine wine glasses among your raffle selections!

Imaginative Outdoorsy Raffle Basket Ideas

Hiking sticks
Put fun outdoor items in your basket, like collapsible walking sticks (via Canva)

22. Hiking Gear

Hikers at the raffle will appreciate finding a collection that includes sunscreen, new hip packs for carrying necessities and collapsible walking sticks to give their treks a thoughtful upgrade.

23. Camping Goods

Give campers a reason to make a bid by gathering a set of collapsible cups, a few packets of air-activated hand warmers and a mini-stove for an outdoor set with woodsy appeal.

24. Yard Games

A set of horseshoes, a few bags of water balloons, a cornhole board and some colorful frisbees will provide hours of fun for bidders with game-loving families. 

Clever Raffle Basket Ideas for Date Night

Date night jigsaw puzzle
Fun and games on date night (via Canva)

25. Escape Room Fun

Inspire an evening of collaborative interaction with a gift card to a local escape room paired with a book of brain teasers to make it even more interactive!

26. Restaurant Crawl

Pick up a set of gift cards for several restaurants in the area with suggestions for apps, dinner, drinks, and dessert at each destination.

27. Jigsaws and Snacks 

Create an at-home date night basket with a pretty jigsaw puzzle, a bottle of wine or bubbles and a few high-end treats that inspire nesting couples to bid big. This sort of basket is great for generating anniversary ideas at home

Useful Raffle Basket Ideas for the Beach

Beach basket
Fill the beach raffle basket with summer delights (via Canva)

28. Beach Reads

Tuck an array of themed novels in a basket, chosen from a specific genre like romance, sci-fi or crime thrillers and compose a portable library of gifts for beach lovers to rally for!

29. Seaside Toys

Bidders with little ones will adore placing bids for a variety of shovels and pails, sand castle molds and inflatable beach balls.

30. Picnic Goodies

Create an upscale collection of cheeses, cold cuts and jarred snacks for a lovely picnic basket filled with edible summer gifts.

Practical Techie Raffle Basket Ideas

31. Gadgets and Gizmos

Pile up an array of thumb drives and watch the gearheads come clamoring to your basket to place their bids! Smart plugs, tower surge protectors, solar power banks, travel chargers, tech pets like WowWee Dog-E, portable photo printers — the list of tech items to get the bids up is abundant. 

32. Apple Items

Apple fans will go gaga for a basket bearing items ranging from AirPods and AirTags to gift cards, Apple watch straps and phone accessories.

Opulent Beauty Therapy & Spa Day Raffle Basket Ideas

Premium cosmetics
Full your basket with premium cosmetics (via Canva)

34. Spa Excursion

Select a gift card to a local spa and tuck it into a basket with a menu of services and a fluffy new robe to bring spa lovers at your raffle running!

35. Salon Styling

Set your guests up for some added glamour with a gift certificate to a deluxe local salon, with a few premium cosmetics tossed in to sweeten the deal.

Elegant Luxe Raffle Basket Ideas

High-class perfume
Place a luxury scent in the basket (via Canva)

37. High-End Confections

No raffle bidder could refuse to drop their tickets for a selection of expensive candies. Chocolates from Godiva and See’s or handmade goodies from a local confectioner are perfect choices.

38. Bedtime Comfort

Bundle a new terry cloth robe with silk pillowcases and some high-end aromatic essential oil room sprays for a cozy basket that makes bedtime a special ritual. Throw in a world-class perfume for an olfactory morning spritz. 

Helpful Raffle Basket Ideas for Travelers

Tour in Europe
Place a guided tour in your next raffle basket (via Canva)

39. Language App Subscription    

World wanderers can practice the languages of their choice with a gift card to one of the popular language-learning apps. Choose between a Super Duolingo subscription, one from Babbel or maybe create a a Preply account on their behalf to get polyglots to the raffle table.

40. Tourist Guides

Books often beat apps for helping tourists plan their excursions. Combine a few guides from the US and abroad to inspire your bidders’ great adventures.

41. Airbnb Gift Card

A gift card inviting an Airbnb stay could be just the raffle basket that gets the wayward traveler back out on the road!

Original Raffle Basket Ideas for Kids 

Fidget spinners
Fidget spinners always get the little ones bidding (via Canva)

42. Art Supplies

Encourage creativity with a collection of sketch pads, colored pencils and markers, popular raffle basket ideas that are sure to get young bidders fired up.

43. Science Kits

Check Amazon or a big-box retailer for bug collectors, mini-microscopes and basic chemistry sets to pique the interests of science-minded guests.

44. Clickers and Spinners

For youngsters with busy hands, a collection of soothing gadgets that click, spin and flip can bring big bids on the raffle set.

Special Raffle Basket for School

School backpacks
Slip in a few new backpacks for the raffle (via Canva)

45. Middle-Grade Books

Check the best-sellers list or preteen classics and round up a selection of the latest titles to entice readers to the raffle table.

46. Backpacks

A brand-new backpack is just the sort of raffle basket idea for schools that can get students and parents pitching their tickets. Just make sure that they're the backpacks in-vogue — Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie has a great selection for all ages and in various styles. 

47. School Supplies

Parents hoping to defray new semester costs will be thrilled to find crayons, notebooks, pencils and loose-leaf paper among your raffle collection.

Creative Raffle Basket Ideas for Teens

Journals are great for teens
Journals and a few pens are great for expressive teens (via Canva)

48. Fast Food Gift Cards

No teen in the world would say no to a raffle set featuring gift cards to McDonald’s, Burger King, Baskin-Robbins and Taco Bell. While healthy options exist at these fast food joints, try slipping in some gift cards to Sweetgreen or Cava's Mediterranean-inspired cuisine for health-conscious teens (and parents).

49. Journals

Teens who find comfort in writing down their feelings will be drawn to a raffle basket filled with new journals and jazzy pens, perfect sweet 16 gift ideas for the aspiring writers in the crowd.

50. Snacker’s Survival Kit    

Shop for soft drinks, bagged treats, nuts and snack bars for a stash of nourishment designed to get teens into the bidding mood.

Top Raffle Basket Ideas for Fundraisers & NGOs

51. Local Goods and Services

Compile a mix of yard, home and personal services in gift card form from nearby businesses and throw in a few artisan-made treats for a fantastic community-minded basket.

52. Lessons and Sessions

Find nearby specialty shops and request a donation for a lesson, session or personalized showcase to add to your raffle list.

Athletic Health & Fitness Raffle Basket Ideas 

Home exercise equipment
Fill the basket with some home exercise equipment (via Canva)

53. Recovery Collection

Sore muscles are a thing of the past when your raffle includes a collection of foam rollers and recovery drink mixes for workout fiends to bid on.

54. At-Home Workout Gear

Assemble a few resistance bands, a pair of gloves and a set of grip squeezers to give the home fitness fans a basket full of useful equipment.

Fresh Raffle Basket Ideas for Coffee Lovers

55. Local Roasters Sampler

Find a few artisan coffee roasters in your area and gather some sample-sized bags of various roasts for a coffee connoisseur’s dream collection.

56. French Press Starter Kit

Introduce the raffle crowd to French press coffee with a press and a bag of grounds to get their new favorite coffee format brewing. Or place some well-known coffee equipment and accessory brands like Hario, Kalita and Miir. 

57. Cold Brew Collection

Shop for bottles of craft cold brew in your local grocer or specialty shops and arrange a chilled-out café selection java fans will adore.

Handy Raffle Basket Ideas for Pet Lovers 

Raffle Basket Ideas for Pet Lovers
Put some treats and grooming goodies in the raffle basket for pets (via Canva)

58. Treats Galore

A variety of deluxe dog or cat treats is the perfect basket-filler for popular raffle basket ideas to attract bidders who love spoiling their fur babies.

59. A Trove of Toys

There’s no such thing as having too much fun with a trove of new toys for the furbabies to get the crowd excited about dropping in their tickets.

60. Grooming Tools

For home groomers, a simple kit of shears, a few combs and some lush shampoos is like finding a goldmine among the baskets on the table.

Neat Raffle Basket Ideas for Work & the Office

61. Desktop Gadgets

USB-powered fans, mug warmers and speakers will get desk jockeys into the groove of bidding on a basket to trick out their workspace. Place some wireless charging stations and power banks in the mix for the digital nomads among the crowd. A digital picture frame would make for a heartful item. 

62. Snack Cache

Choose a variety of movie-box candies, bags of nuts and canisters of chips to make a goodie basket that fits perfectly in a desk drawer or filing cabinet for when the hungries hit. 

Original Raffle Basket Ideas for Sports

Tickets to the game
Tickets to the game will get the bidders bidding (via Canva)

63. Stadium Passes

Wondering what to put in a sports themed raffle basket? Line up a pair of tickets to an upcoming game and watch the raffle crowd go wild as they toss in their bids!

64. Autographed Swag

If you can hook an autographed photo, ball or jersey from a local superstar, you may have a line on the most popular basket at the raffle.

65. Top-Level Collector Cards

Holographic collector cards are all the rage with die-hard sports fans. Round up a few packs and make a basket they’ll come running to bid on.

Cute Raffle Basket Ideas for Baby Showers

Baby shower gift basket
Make a cute baby shower gift basket (via Canva)

66. Onesies and Diapers

Bundle onesies in several sizes with a package of newborn diapers as raffle basket ideas for families with little ones sure to grow by leaps and bounds!

67. Board Books

It’s never too early to introduce babies to reading, and a basket of board books is the perfect baby shower treat for bidders to aim for.

Unbeatable Raffle Basket Ideas for Adults

68. Home Electronics

A Roku or Fire Stick, an Amazon Echo, a Ring video doorbell — all of these top-line items will make raffle possibilities that no adult can resist. 

69. Hot Air Balloon Ride

Adventurous adults in the crowd will race to enter their bid for an exciting cruise through the sky in a hot air balloon! 

Amazing Inexpensive Raffle Basket Ideas 

Create some homemade treats
Create some homemade treats for inexpensive raffle basket ideas (via Canva)

70. Movie Candy

Movie-sized boxes of candy from the discount shop or grocery store bound with decorative ribbons can create cost-effective prizes that raffle-goers will know and love.

Or can get someone to volunteer to bake a cake, muffins or cookies — or a hamper of all three — for the raffle. 

71. Volunteer Services

Recruiting volunteers to offer their services pro-bono provides DIY gift ideas to create baskets that generate 100% return.

Tips for Hosting a Successful Raffle 

The best answer to the question “What to make for a raffle?” is, of course, fun baskets that generate excitement and draw bids.

Be sure to advertise your raffle well in advance and include details such as date, time, location, basket photos if possible, and the cost of tickets or bids.

Create organized tables that let you track the bids easily while allowing bidders to see everything available at a glance. And having an outgoing emcee onsite to hype the baskets will infuse your raffle with fun energy that encourages guests to get in on the bidding action!

For even more experiential raffle basket ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!