What to put in swag bags for events: 9 fillers under $5

When planning swag bags for events, marketing teams tend to focus most of their energy on the hero item, whether that's a premium tumbler or a branded tee. After all, the hero item is what people remember (and what justifies the swag bag's existence in the first place). But a swag bag with one nice item rattling around at the bottom can feel anticlimactic – especially when your tote bag is on the larger side – leaving attendees wondering if the person packing the bag missed something.

Here’s where fillers come in. These smaller, lower-cost items round out swag bags for events and give them that satisfying "ooh, what else is in here?" factor. The catch is that fillers have to pull their weight; a bag stuffed with junk no one wants is worse than a bag with less in it.

The best swag bag fillers are cheap to source but don't feel cheap to receive. Whether you're putting together welcome bags for a conference, goodie bags for a team off-site, or giveaway kits for a trade show, here are 10 fillers under $5 that check all the boxes.

1. Pens and pencils

Yes, pens are the oldest trick in the promotional products book. But there's a reason they're still around: people actually use them. The key is choosing one that doesn't look like a bulk-bin afterthought.

At Wayo, some of our favorite picks include the minimalist retractable ink pen, which has a sleek, modern look that feels more stationery store than conference table. For a planet-friendly angle, there's the cork and wheat straw ballpoint pen. And if you're working with a tighter budget, the Nash ballpoint pen starts at just $0.23 per unit. 

2. Lanyards

Lanyards are event essentials – everyone needs one, and they’re going to be it all day. That's serious brand visibility for a low per-unit cost. The trick is going beyond the standard one-color logo print and creating something that actually looks designed. 

Full-color printing opens up options like bold patterns, gradients, or artwork that wraps around the entire strap. Our all-over print lanyard with bulldog clip, for example, lets you customize the entire surface, while the bulldog clip makes badge swapping easy at multi-day conferences. 

3. Charging cords

If you’ve ever seen a conference crowd cluster around outlet strips, you know that phone anxiety is real. A compact charging cord solves the universal problem of dead batteries without taking up much space in the bag.

Look for cords with multiple port options (Lightning, USB-C, Micro-USB), so they work for everyone, and retractable designs that stay tangle-free in a pocket or laptop bag. Our favorites include the 3-port retractable charging cord, which covers all three ports and coils up neatly, and the 3-in-1 charging cable with light-up logo, which illuminates your branding when plugged in. 

4. Mints

After a morning of networking and coffee breath, mints are a quietly clutch addition to swag bags for events. A branded mint tin feels more premium than a plastic-wrapped roll, and the tin itself often gets repurposed for earbuds, pills, or small office supplies long after the mints are gone.

Note: These products are currently only available for delivery to US addresses.

5. Lip balms

Conference centers and hotel ballrooms have one thing in common: aggressively dry air. Lip balms are the kind of small, thoughtful addition that attendees don't realize they need until they really need them. It's also one of those items that lives in pockets, bags, and desk drawers for months afterward.

Lip balm might seem straightforward, but there's more variety than you'd expect. Some options come with SPF for outdoor events or conferences with rooftop networking. Others lean into natural formulas with ingredients like beeswax and aloe. And if sustainability is part of your brand message, there are versions in recycled plastic tubes as well.

6. Hand sanitizers

Events mean shaking a lot of hands, touching shared surfaces, and eating finger food, making portable hand sanitizers practical and a sign that you're paying attention to attendee comfort. 

When browsing different hand sanitizer options, choose one that clips easily to keychains, lanyards, or bag straps. This keeps the sanitizer visible and accessible instead of buried at the bottom of a bag.

7. Playing cards

A deck of playing cards is a low-cost promotional item with high perceived value. Unlike most swag, they're inherently social – someone pulls out a deck, and suddenly there's an impromptu poker game in the hotel lobby or a round of cards on a delayed flight. 

The card backs are prime real estate for logo placement, but you can also go fully custom with the box design or even the card faces if you want to go the extra mile. 

8. Socks

People love receiving socks in swag bags for events – they're practical, wearable, and unlike most promotional items, they don't end up collecting dust in a drawer. 

When choosing socks for your swag bags, you've got more options than you might think. Cotton blend styles are the comfortable, everyday classics. Jacquard knit means your design is woven into the fabric (not just printed on top), which looks sharper and holds up better wash after

9. Stickers

Stickers might be the highest-ROI swag item that exists. They're cheap to produce, easy to distribute, and people genuinely love them for their laptops, water bottles, notebooks, and phone cases. 

Wayo offers a range of finishes and sizes to match your aesthetic, such as matte vinyl die-cuts for a subtle, premium look; pearl gloss for a bit of shine; holographic rainbow for that iridescent effect; linen textured paper for an organic feel; and 3D epoxy dome stickers for a raised, glossy finish that really stands out. 

Most options start around $0.13 to $0.25 per sticker,  making them easy to throw into swag bags without blowing your budget.

Stop wasting money on forgettable freebies

The best event swag bags aren't about cramming in as many items as possible. Instead, choose a handful of things that feel intentional. A mix of practical (charging cables, sanitizer, lip balm), fun (playing cards, stickers), and wearable (socks, lanyards) items gives attendees variety without overwhelming them.

Explore Wayo's full catalog to build your next event swag bags for events, or use our AI sourcing assistant, Nory, to bring something fully custom to life.