Guess How Many Sweets in the Jar – How to Play  

In This Article

1. What you’ll need
2. How to prep the ultimate sweet challenge
3. Guess on: how to play the game
4. How to actually guess (with a bit of maths)
5. Make it your own
6. Let the sweet guessing begin! 

Guess How Many Sweets in the Jar: The Ultimate Party Game Guide

Let’s be honest: not all party games are created equal. Some are too messy. Some are too noisy. But ‘Guess How Many Sweets in the Jar’ is a classic that always works. It’s easy, it gets everyone involved (kids and adults alike), and best of all, it ends with sweets. 

The idea is simple: fill a clear jar with sweets, seal it and let your party guests try to guess how many are inside. Whoever gets the closest wins!  
 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from supplies and sweets to the ideal set-up – and fun tips for making smarter guesses. It’s a perfect mix of light competition, your favourite Rowntree’s® sweets, and good old-fashioned fun. 
 

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What you’ll need 

Grab your sweets and supplies. 

1. Pick a see-through jar or container – the bigger and more dramatic, the better! (Bonus points for sparkles or fun decorations!) Players need to see the sweet treasure inside to make their best guess.
2. A rainbow of Rowntree’s® goodies, such as:
   • Fruit Pastilles
   • Jelly Tots®
   • Randoms®
   • Fruit Gums
3. Paper and pens for players to write their guesses (or download a guessing slip template).
4. A decorated box, bowl or even a mini treasure chest where players can drop in their guesses.
5. A game sign that pops. Create an eye-catching label or sign and add a fun message like ‘No peeking, no shaking!’
6. A prize! The winner gets a prize worthy of their candy-calculating genius. It could be the whole sweet jar, a gift card or cinema tickets. 
    

How to prep the ultimate sweet challenge 

Ready to launch your ‘Guess How Many Sweets in the Jar’ game? Here’s how to set it up like a pro, with maximum candy appeal and a dash of drama.

1. Pick the perfect Jar 

Choose a large, clear glass jar so the sweets are front and centre, sparkling in all their glory! Clean it, dry it, and get it ready to become the star of the show.

Pro tip: The bigger and more mysterious, the better!

2. Count like a sweet scientist 

Time to fill it up! Pour in a colourful mix of Rowntree’s® favourites: Jelly Tots®, Randoms®, Fruit Pastilles, or Pick & Mix®. The more variety, the more head-scratching the guesses! As you add the sweets, count carefully! Go one by one or group them in tens, whatever works for you. Just be sure to record the final number somewhere safe (and we mean very safe — a note on your phone is a good idea!) 

 

Pro tip: Want extra style points? Try layering colours for a rainbow effect.

 

 

3. Seal it and make it official

Lid on tight? Good! Now add a bold, eye-catching sign like: "Guess How Many Sweets in the Jar!" or "Closest Guess Wins the Jar!"

Pro tip: Decorate the jar with ribbons, glitter or even googly eyes to throw players off! 

Guess on: how to play the game 

This game is super easy to run and always draws a crowd. Set it up wherever people naturally gather, like a party table, office break room, Christmas fair or even your front porch on Halloween. For more fun party game ideas, check out our Children's Party Games article. 

Set out some slips of paper and pens so everyone can jot down their name and their best guess. Place a box, bowl or even a funky envelope next to the jar to collect the entries. 

Don’t forget the golden rules:

• No shaking the jar – tempting, but nope!
• No touching or tipping.
• One guess per person, unless you’re fundraising and charging for extra guesses.  

The big reveal 

Once everyone’s had their go, it’s time for the big reveal! A drumroll is optional but always encouraged. The winner is the person whose guess is closest to the actual number of sweets in the jar. 

In case of a tie, you’ve got options: 

•  Let them share the prize.
•  Do a quick tiebreaker, like a second mini jar to guess from, a trivia question, or even a coin toss for suspense

 

Sweet, sweet victory 

As for the prize? That’s your call. Some people go classic and let the winner take the entire jar, but you could also level it up with:

• A sweet hamper full of goodies to share: think all your Rowntree’s® favourites, plus a selection of other Nestlé confectionery favourites such as Smarties®, Quality Street® and more (lip-smacking guaranteed).
• For the two runners-up, make them small sweet cones for getting so close to the loot!
• A fun toy or party bag.
• A school or office-friendly treat like a voucher, sticker certificate or mini trophy.

Whether you're keeping it simple or going full candy-celebration, this game is always a crowd-pleaser. 

How to actually guess (with a bit of maths) 

Here’s where it gets interesting! There’s a bit of logic involved in how you guess how many sweets are in the jar. First, try estimating how many sweets cover the bottom of the jar in a single layer. Then, count roughly how many layers of sweets are stacked from top to bottom. Multiply those two numbers, and you’ve got yourself a great guesstimate.

Of course, sweets aren’t perfect shapes, and there’s a lot of empty space between them. So whatever total you come up with, consider knocking off 10 to 15 percent to account for the gaps. It’s not an exact science, but it’s more reliable than just shouting out the first number that pops into your head.  

If you’re curious about the maths behind guessing, the Institute of Mathematics actually wrote a fascinating piece about counting sweets in a jar. But don’t worry, you don’t need a degree to pull this off. 
 

Make it your own 

There are loads of ways to put your own spin on this game. You can decorate the jar to match your vibe or event theme. Think reds and greens for Christmas, bunny ears for Easter, or spooky stickers and cobwebs for Halloween.  

Want to make it educational? Turn it into a sneaky classroom maths activity. Let the kids estimate, count, calculate… then guess! It’s fun and secretly full of learning.

Running a fundraiser? Easy! Charge a small entry fee for each guess and donate the proceeds to a good cause. People love playing when it’s for something meaningful (and for a chance at winning sweets!). 
 

Let the sweet guessing begin! 

‘Guess How Many Sweets in the Jar’ is one of those magical games that never gets old. It’s easy to set up, a blast to play and almost guaranteed to spark a little friendly competition. Plus, someone walks away with a smile and a sweet stash! So, grab a jar, load it up with Rowntree’s® sweets, and let the wild guessing begin.