80+ Fun Sleepover Party Ideas For Kids That Won't Break The Budget

Planning your first sleepover party for your kiddo? Don't panic (Been there, done that, lived to tell the tale!).

This guide has everything you need: 80+ activities that work, snack ideas kids love, budget sleeping setups, and honest hosting tips.

Plus all the tricky stuff nobody mentions. (Like it's pretty much guaranteed that someone always gets homesick at 10pm.)

Your Power Guide To Sleepover Success!!

Here's what you need to nail down first:

The non-negotiables:

• How many kids fit comfortably in your space
• Where everyone sleeps (hint: it doesn't need to be fancy)
• Snacks for the "midnight" feast that happens at 9pm
• Three activities for when excitement levels hit the roof
• One movie to wind everyone down
• Simple breakfast that won't stress you out

Top tip: Don't overthink it. Kids want to 'feel' freedom, eat yummy snacks, and hang out with their besties. Everything else is bonus points.

Sleeping Setups That Won't Break the Bank

There are loads of ways to tackle sleeping arrangements without spending a fortune. It's lovely to create a super cool space for the kids to hang out, but you don't need to go crazy.

Budget-Friendly Options

• Ask everyone to bring sleeping bags and you provide cushions, airbeds and mattresses from around your home
• Give the kids a big stack of cushions, blankets and assorted other bits and get them to make their own sleep fort
• Hire teepees from a local sleepover party company
• Buy a couple of big teepees if you'll get the use out of them

Sleepover Accessories and Decorations

• Cushions
• Fairy lights
• Snack trays
• Snuggly blankets and throws
• Night lights
• Retro glass bottles with straws
• Bunting
• Paper pompoms
• Dreamcatchers

Sleepover Activities & Games

The highlight of every sleepover is the midnight feast – though I have yet to know of any child who waits until midnight to start snacking away. But there are loads of other things you can do to make your child's sleepover party the most fun ever.

Easy Crowd-Pleasers

• Karaoke: Hire a karaoke machine or buy a karaoke machine
• Mini spa: Hire a hottub if you really want to go for it, face masks, manicures, facial steamer
• DIY mani pedi: Including homemade foot spa – scatter rose petals and add bubble bath
• Pizza making
• Cupcake icing
• Make smores
• DIY photo booth
• Design your own pillowcase
• Make friendship bracelets
• Build your own sleepover fort: Provide blankets and stuff kids can use to create their own fort
• Hair braiding

Also read:14 Mega Fun Sleepover Games That Will Have Kids Giggling All Night

Active Games for Energy Bursts

• Donut bobbing: Hang donuts from string and each guest has to try eating one without their hands
• Face cookie: Place small cookie on forehead and try and get it into mouth using only facial muscles
• Murder in the dark
• Charades
• Scavenger hunt around your home or garden
• Talent show
• Minute to win it games
• Would You Rather game
• Two truths and a lie game: Each guest takes a turn to share three things about themselves, only two are true. Everyone has to guess which is the lie
• Twister
• Write and star in their own movie

Quieter Wind-Down Activities

• Provide a stack of board games
• Themed movie night – choose a movie then theme the party around it
• Movie marathon – great idea for older kids to binge-watch a movie series or movies on a theme

Also read: 30 Super-Fun Activities for Sleepovers Kids Will Talk About for Days

Great Sleepover Movies for Kids

Clearly, the movie or movies you choose will be age-dependent. So here's a list of classic sleepover movies great for kids across a range of ages. I've put the recommended age in brackets, but you know the kids you'll be inviting and what is appropriate.

I think the joy of having a movie at a sleepover is to go for something more classic that isn't currently on at the local cinema.

Ages 5-8

• My Neighbour Totoro (Age 5+)
• Toy Story (Age 5+)
• Despicable Me (Age 6+)
• E.T: The Extra Terrestrial (Age 7+)
• The Last Unicorn (Age 8+)

Ages 9-11

• Harry Potter (Age 8+)
• Matilda (Age 9+)
• Back To The Future (Age 10+)
• Turning Red (Age 10+)
• The Karate Kid (Age 11+)
• Napoleon Dynamite (Age 11+)
• School of Rock (Age 11+)
• The Goonies (Age 11+)

Ages 12-13

• Lord of the Rings (Age 12+)
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Age 12+)
• Pitch Perfect (Age 12+)
• Jurassic Park (Age 12+)
• Clueless (Age 13+)
• Legally Blonde (Age 13+)
• Jaws (Age 13+)
• Ten Things I Hate About You (Age 13+)

Sleepover Party Snacks and Drinks

Make sleepover party food and drink fun. Treat the kids to party food specially created for the party, allow them to put the food together themselves or serve the food in a novel way – donut wall, french toast kebabs, popcorn bar… the more interactive the more fun it is.

Interactive Food Stations

• Popcorn bar
• Donut wall
• Pizza delivery: What kid doesn't love the novelty of takeout pizza? Or make it at home and give the kids a selection of toppings to add themselves
• Hotdog board: Take a look at this hotdog board guide for inspiration
• Nachos or tortilla chips and dips
• Smores
• Chocolate fountain
• Fondue: Cheese fondue followed by chocolate fondue
• Create a signature sleepover mocktail and serve in fancy cocktail cups
• Fancy hot chocolate: Make a big batch in your slowcooker and provide marshmallows, syrups and squirty cream

Easy Finger Foods

• Packs of super delicious flavoured popcorn
• Movie-style snack trays
• Marshmallow pops
• French toast kebabs
• Cheese and fruit plate
• Pretzels
• Vegetable batons and dips
• Big bowl of M&Ms
• Big bowl of cookies
• Bubble tea with popping boba
• Japanese snack boxes
• Japanese Kit Kat selection
• Pocky chocolate family sharing pack

Sleepover Party Bags/Favours

It is a lovely idea to give each child a party favour or party bag with things they can use during the sleepover. Think of it as pre-party favours!

If you really want to go for it you can tie everything in the sleepover party bags into the party theme if you have one.

Practical Hits

• Matching pyjamas
• Sleep masks
• Face masks
• Fun toothbrush
• Hair scrunchie
• Spa headband
• Slippers or slides
• Temporary tattoos
• Fun cushion
• Personalised or fun mug to use at breakfast
• Retro style bottle with straw
• Buy personalised sleepover kits
• Sleepover squad T-shirts
• Design-your-own pillowcases with washable pens

Sleepover Breakfast Ideas

• Pancake stacks
• Breakfast smoothies
• Waffles – serve with a choice of berries, banana slices, squirty cream, syrups, chocolate, sprinkles
• Selection of mini boxes of cereal
• Breakfast pizza – with selection of toppings including chocolate spread, sliced fruit, cream, syrup
• French toast
• Breakfast muffins

Top Sleepover Party Tips

I thought I'd share some tips gleaned from hosting sleepover parties and from friends who have hosted sleepovers.

By far the most important tip I can give you to ensure that every child enjoys the sleepover is to set some boundaries within which the fun can be had.

This is the best way to avoid mischief that turns sour and kids dissolving into tears. It's also a great way to reassure parents that you will be doing a good job of looking after their kids.

Before the Party

• Speak to the kids' parents to establish if there are likely to be any issues – scared of the dark, sleepwalking, nervous about sleeping over
• Set out tech rules to both kids and parents. It is fine to base these rules on your house rules for mobiles and screens, it's your home. Make it clear that taking mean or nasty photos is banned. Consider a no tech rule for kids under 12. Consider a cut-off point for older kids and make it clear what the social media posting rules are
• Set out sleepover rules – no mean pranks, make sure everyone is involved, listen when you are speaking and do as you ask
• Brief your own child on being a good host, having a bunch of friends stay over is very different to having friends round to play or one friend sleeping over, so emphasis kindness and making sure everyone feels included

During the Party

• Don't hover – once you've established the rules it's best to step back and give the kids their space, your role is as facilitator and provider of food, part of the fun for kids on a sleepover is the autonomy it gives them for a night
• Plan activities and games for the first part of the sleepover when the kids are just together and super excited. You don't need to go crazy with a bunch of activities, but having something to focus on does help get the party going
• Stick on a movie to help the kids settle down into relaxation mode. Don't go for a scary movie unless you're confident all the kids can cope
• Leave a night light on in case a child wakes in the night
• Let the kids know where you sleep and what to do if they need you in the night
• Leave a light on in the bathroom

Managing the Tricky Stuff

Even the best-planned sleepovers hit bumps. Here's how to handle them:

The Homesick Child

Keep parents' numbers handy and don't panic if someone wants to go home at 10pm. Sometimes a quick phone call to mum helps. Other times, involving them in the next activity works better than dwelling on their feelings.

The Early Riser

One kid always wakes up at 6am while others sleep until 10. Set up a quiet activity box the night before: colouring books, puzzles, or tablets with headphones. Put it somewhere they can find it without waking others.

Dietary Restrictions

When you've planned pizza night but someone can't eat gluten, have backup options ready. Keep simple alternatives on hand: rice cakes, fruit, or pre-made gluten-free snacks.

The Non-Sleeper

Some kids genuinely can't fall asleep in new places. Give them a book with a small torch or let them listen to music with headphones. Don't stress about actual sleep – quiet rest time counts too.

Safety Considerations You Can't Skip

Allergy Awareness

Go beyond food allergies. Ask about:

• Scented products (some kids react to air fresheners)
• Pet allergies
• Fabric softeners or washing powders
• Any medications they need access to

Emergency Information

Get from each parent:

• Mobile numbers for both parents
• One backup contact (grandparent or family friend)
• Any medical conditions you should know about
• Bedtime routines that might prevent meltdowns

House Rules and Boundaries

Be clear about:

• Which rooms are off-limits
• Pool or garden safety rules
• What to do if they need you during the night
• Kitchen access (or lack thereof)

I hope that you find this list of ideas and tips eally useful and that you pull off the most brilliant sleepover party ever for your kiddo!