Promotional giveaways don't have to be expensive to make a lasting impression. Whether you're planning a trade show, company event, school fundraiser, or marketing campaign, choosing cheap promotional items that people actually use can help you stretch your budget while keeping your brand visible.
From custom pens and reusable water bottles to drawstring bags and coffee mugs, there are plenty of affordable promotional products that offer everyday value.
The key is choosing giveaways that fit your audience, support your marketing goals, and provide enough room to showcase your company logo.
Here are 10 inexpensive promotional products worth considering for your next event.
What Are the Best Cheap Promotional Items?
The best inexpensive promotional products combine affordability, usefulness, and opportunities for custom branding.
Some giveaways work particularly well for large trade shows, while others are better suited for employee appreciation, school events, or customer promotions.
1. Custom Pens: Affordable Giveaways for Everyday Use
Custom pens are among the most recognizable promotional products because they're inexpensive, practical, and suitable for almost any audience.
Whether someone uses a pen at work, school, or home, a branded pen provides opportunities for repeated exposure to your company logo.
Promotional pens are particularly useful for businesses ordering large quantities for events and marketing campaigns.
Why Choose Promotional Pens?
- Budget-friendly options for bulk orders
- Wide selection of colors and styles
- Suitable for offices, schools, and events
- Easy to distribute at trade shows
- Customizable with company logos and contact information
Best for: Trade shows, conferences, office giveaways, and customer appreciation events.
For businesses looking to distribute hundreds or thousands of giveaways, promotional pens are a practical starting point.
2. Promotional Jotters: Practical Giveaways for Meetings and Events
Custom jotters are compact notebooks designed for quick notes, reminders, and everyday writing.
They're a useful option for organizations looking for affordable promotional products with a slightly higher perceived value than traditional pens.
Many promotional jotters include a matching pen, making them convenient giveaways for meetings, conferences, and educational events.
Why Choose Promotional Jotters?
- Useful for taking notes and recording ideas
- Compact and easy to carry
- Available in multiple colors and styles
- Customizable with company logos
- Suitable for professional and educational audiences
Best for: Business conferences, employee meetings, seminars, and school events.
3. Custom Hand Sanitizer: Convenient Promotional Giveaways
Branded hand sanitizer is a compact promotional product that works well for events, offices, and travel-related promotions.
Portable bottles can be customized with company logos or promotional messaging, making them easy additions to event bags and giveaway kits.
Some styles include carabiner clips that attach to backpacks, purses, and other personal belongings.
Why Choose Promotional Hand Sanitizer?
- Compact and portable
- Convenient for everyday use
- Available in different bottle styles
- Suitable for event giveaway bags
- Customizable with branded labels
Best for: Community events, travel promotions, office giveaways, and conferences.
4. Custom Lanyards: Affordable Giveaways for Conferences
Custom lanyards are especially useful for events where attendees, employees, or volunteers need to display identification badges.
They're commonly used at conferences, schools, corporate events, and trade shows.
Organizations can customize lanyards with company logos, event names, or sponsor branding.
Why Choose Promotional Lanyards?
- Practical for displaying identification
- Available in multiple colors
- Suitable for large events
- Customizable with logos and messaging
- Useful for staff and attendees
Best for: Conferences, trade shows, schools, and corporate events.
5. Custom Phone Wallets: Useful Promotional Accessories
Custom phone wallets offer a convenient way to keep frequently used cards close at hand.
Many styles attach to the back of compatible phone cases and provide storage for identification cards, access cards, or other small essentials.
For organizations looking for something different from traditional promotional giveaways, phone wallets can be an appealing option.
Why Choose Promotional Phone Wallets?
- Compact and lightweight
- Convenient for carrying cards
- Available in multiple colors
- Customizable with company logos
- Suitable for younger and professional audiences
Best for: College events, conferences, employee giveaways, and technology-related promotions.
6. Custom Lip Balm: Small Giveaways With Everyday Appeal
Promotional lip balm is a compact giveaway that can be distributed at outdoor events, trade shows, and customer appreciation programs.
Custom labels provide space for company logos, event artwork, and promotional messaging.
Because lip balm is easy to carry in a pocket, purse, or backpack, it's a convenient addition to giveaway kits.
Why Choose Promotional Lip Balm?
- Small and easy to distribute
- Available in different flavors and styles
- Customizable labels and packaging
- Suitable for large promotional campaigns
- Convenient for travel and outdoor events
Best for: Outdoor events, wellness promotions, trade shows, and customer giveaways.
7. Custom Coffee Mugs: Affordable Gifts With Lasting Value
Custom coffee mugs offer an opportunity to showcase company logos on a product recipients can use regularly.
Unlike smaller giveaways, coffee mugs often provide a larger imprint area for artwork, branding, and promotional messaging.
They're particularly useful for businesses looking for affordable employee gifts or customer appreciation products.
Why Choose Promotional Coffee Mugs?
- Practical for everyday use
- Large imprint areas for branding
- Available in different styles and colors
- Suitable for office and home use
- Useful for employee and customer gifts
Best for: Employee appreciation, office giveaways, customer gifts, and corporate events.
8. Reusable Water Bottles: Budget-Friendly Promotional Drinkware
Custom water bottles are a practical option for organizations hosting outdoor events, school activities, fitness programs, and community fundraisers.
Reusable bottles can feature company logos, school mascots, or event artwork.
With different styles and price points available, organizations can choose bottles that fit their promotional budget.
Why Choose Promotional Water Bottles?
- Practical for outdoor activities
- Reusable for everyday hydration
- Available in multiple colors and styles
- Customizable with logos and artwork
- Suitable for schools and community events
Best for: Charity walks, school events, fitness promotions, and outdoor giveaways.
9. Custom Drawstring Bags: Affordable Giveaways for Events
Custom drawstring bags are a popular choice for organizations looking for inexpensive promotional products that offer everyday functionality.
Their lightweight design makes them convenient for carrying event materials, gym clothes, personal belongings, and other essentials.
Drawstring bags also provide a larger imprint area than many smaller promotional products.
Why Choose Promotional Drawstring Bags?
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Practical for schools and events
- Reusable for everyday activities
- Available in different colors and materials
- Large imprint areas for company logos
Best for: School events, charity walks, sports programs, college orientations, and community giveaways.
10. Custom Stress Balls: Fun Promotional Giveaways
Custom stress balls offer a fun alternative to traditional promotional giveaways.
Their compact size makes them easy to distribute at trade shows, conferences, and workplace events.
Organizations can customize stress balls with logos, promotional messages, and brand colors.
Why Choose Promotional Stress Balls?
- Fun and interactive
- Compact and easy to distribute
- Available in different colors and shapes
- Suitable for office environments
- Customizable with company logos
Best for: Trade shows, office giveaways, employee events, and customer appreciation programs.
How to Choose Cheap Promotional Items for Your Event
Finding affordable promotional products involves more than selecting the lowest-priced item.
The most effective giveaways are products that match your audience and provide practical value.
Consider Your Audience
Think about who will receive your promotional products.
Students may appreciate drawstring bags and water bottles, while office employees may prefer pens, notebooks, or coffee mugs.
Choosing products that fit your audience increases the likelihood they'll continue using them.
Compare Bulk Pricing
Many promotional products offer quantity-based pricing, meaning the cost per item may decrease as order quantities increase.
Before ordering, consider your expected attendance, promotional budget, and minimum order requirements.
Choose Useful Products
Practical giveaways are more likely to remain in use.
Everyday items such as pens, drinkware, and bags provide opportunities for recipients to interact with your branding after the event.
Consider Your Logo and Imprint Options
Not every promotional product offers the same customization options.
Some items accommodate simple one-color logos, while others support larger artwork or full-color printing.
Consider your logo design, imprint size, and available decoration methods when selecting products.
Plan for Additional Costs
When comparing promotional products, remember that unit pricing may not reflect the complete order cost.
Setup charges, imprint options, shipping, and other production requirements can affect the final price.
Reviewing these details before placing an order can help you stay within your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Promotional Items
What are the cheapest promotional items to buy in bulk?
Promotional pens, lip balm, stress balls, and certain lanyards are commonly available at budget-friendly price points.
Actual pricing depends on the product, order quantity, customization requirements, and supplier.
What inexpensive promotional products are best for trade shows?
Pens, lanyards, phone wallets, and drawstring bags are practical options for trade shows.
The best choice depends on your target audience, budget, and the type of impression you want to make.
Are cheap promotional products effective for marketing?
Affordable promotional products can support marketing campaigns when they're useful, relevant, and appropriately branded.
Products recipients continue using may provide repeated opportunities for brand exposure.
How can I save money when ordering promotional giveaways?
Compare quantity pricing, select products that fit your budget, and review imprint options before placing an order.
Planning ahead may also provide more flexibility with product availability and production timelines.
Find Affordable Promotional Products at Bagmasters
Cheap promotional items can help businesses, schools, nonprofits, and organizations connect with their audiences without requiring a large marketing budget.
From custom pens and coffee mugs to reusable water bottles and drawstring bags, there are plenty of affordable options for events, giveaways, and promotional campaigns.
At Bagmasters, we offer a variety of customizable promotional products designed to help businesses showcase their logos and connect with customers.
Ready to find affordable giveaways for your next event? Explore our selection of promotional products or contact the Bagmasters team for assistance with product recommendations, bulk pricing, and imprint options.
