Plan giveaways in three tiers. A low cost item for everyone who stops, a useful item for real conversations, and a premium gift for booked meetings and top prospects. Pick items people use after the show: bags, drinkware and power banks are kept the longest, and headwear makes many impressions.
Tier 1: walk-by items for everyone
Low cost items that people grab without a long conversation.
- Pens
- Stickers
- Lip balm
- Mints in a branded tin
- Bottle openers
- Phone stands
- Cable ties
Order these in the largest quantity. Keep them at the front of the booth.
Tier 2: conversation items
Useful items for visitors who stop and talk.
- Tote bags
- Insulated tumblers
- Power banks
- Charging cables
- Notebooks
- Socks
- Beanies and caps
Keep these behind the table and hand them out after a scan or a real conversation.
Tier 3: premium gifts for meetings
For booked meetings, key prospects and clients who visit.
- Quarter zips
- Backpacks
- Premium drinkware sets
- Wireless speakers
- A small gift box
Ship these to the booth in a separate, marked box, or send them after the show with a note.
What attendees keep
In ASI's 2026 study, 85% of people keep power banks at least a year, 84% keep bags at least a year and 80% keep drinkware more than a year. Headwear makes about 4,000 impressions per item and bags about 4,900.
Promotional products people keep
Ideas by show type
| Show | Items that fit |
|---|---|
| Construction and trades | Beanies, work gloves, tape measures, insulated coolers, hi-vis items |
| Healthcare | Badge reels, insulated tumblers, pens, compression socks |
| Technology | Power banks, cables, laptop sleeves, stickers |
| Professional services | Notebooks, premium pens, umbrellas, tumblers |
| Retail and franchise | Tote bags, caps, drinkware |
Make giveaways bring leads
- Put a QR code on the item card or bag tag that goes to a page made for the show.
- Hand out tier 2 and 3 items after a badge scan.
- Dress your booth staff in matching apparel so visitors know who to talk to.
- Ship to the show's advance warehouse before its deadline, and confirm the date with the show.
How many to bring
Base quantities on attendance, the share of attendees in your target audience and how many conversations your staff can hold.
Trade show giveaway calculator
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best trade show giveaways in 2026?
- Useful items people keep: tote bags, insulated tumblers, power banks and caps for most visitors, with a premium item such as a quarter zip for booked meetings.
- What is a good cheap trade show giveaway?
- Pens, stickers, lip balm, mints in a branded tin and phone stands cost little and still get picked up.
- How many giveaways should I bring to a trade show?
- It depends on attendance, your target share of attendees and booth staffing. The trade show giveaway calculator estimates each tier.
- Should every visitor get the same giveaway?
- No. A low cost item for everyone and better items for real conversations and meetings stretches the budget further.
Related tools
- Trade show giveaway calculatorWork out how many walk-by, conversation and premium giveaways to bring, and how many conversations your booth can handle.
- Order deadline plannerEnter your in-hands date and see when to send your brief, approve the proof and ship.
- Cost per impression calculatorSee the impressions and cost per impression of a merchandise program, compared with other media.