Bingo Calls: A Bingo Calling Numbers Guide

If you’re playing online bingo, it’s easy to see instantly at a glance what the next number is. However, good bingo calls can make all the difference to the experience, especially during live games or when you play bingo in a physical location.

Whether you’re looking for some tips about how to be better at bingo calling, or what to look for in a bingo caller, we’ve got you covered with this essential guide.

Decent bingo calls can really make or break a game, but what should you look for in a caller?

The obvious attributes are a clear and distinct voice and knowledge of the game. A caller who is confident and easy to understand will make the game flow much better.

Ideally, a bingo caller should be able to vary their tone; a flat, monotonous voice can make a game seem dreary, even if the numbers can be clearly understood. A sense of fun and the ability to inject a bit of humour can transform the bingo experience!

The bingo calling speed should be consistent to allow players to get into a rhythm. It's also imperative for the caller to regularly remind people of what they're playing before each round starts. For example, "we're looking for one line" or "we're looking for the complete card" etc.

The use of bingo sayings has waned in popularity in recent years as it slows the pace of the game down a little. But although you won’t find bingo phrases everywhere, they still are used in some games, especially at social clubs or charity galas.

The use of bingo sayings were originally introduced to make it easier for everyone in the room to understand what had been said. Hearing the difference between 17 and 70 can be tricky if you're a distance from the caller, but knowing the difference between "dancing queen" and "three score and ten" solves the problem instantly.

You’ll still find bingo number names in some places, so here are the most common phrases you should know:

• Number 1 - Kelly's eye | Blind one
• Number 2 - Me and you | One little duck
• Number 3 - You and me
• Number 4 - Knock at the door
• Number 5 - Man alive
• Number 6 - Tom’s tricks
• Number 7 - God’s in heaven
• Number 8 - One fat lady | Garden gate
• Number 9 - Doctor’s orders
• Number 10 - one oh, number 10 | <insert current Prime Minister’s name> den
• Number 11 - legs eleven, all the ones
• Number 12 - one dozen, a monkey’s cousin
• Number 13 - Unlucky for some
• Number 14 - Valentine’s Day
• Number 15 - Rugby team | Young and keen
• Number 16 - Sweet sixteen | Never been kissed
• Number 17 - Often been kissed | Dancing queen
• Number 18 - Coming of age | Key of the door
• Number 19 - Goodbye teens
• Number 20 - Getting plenty | Blind 20
• Number 21 - Key of the door | Royal salute
• Number 22 - Two little ducks
• Number 23 - Thee and me
• Number 24 - Two dozen
• Number 25 - Duck and dive
• Number 26 - Bed and breakfast | Pick and mix | Half a crown
• Number 27 - Gateway to heaven | Little duck with a crutch
• Number 28 - Overweight | In a state
• Number 29 - You’re doing fine | Rise and shine
• Number 30 - Dirty Gertie | Burlington Bertie | Flirty Thirty | Speed limit | Blind 30
• Number 31 - Get up and run
• Number 32 - Buckle my shoe
• Number 33 - Two little fleas | All the feathers | Sherwood Forest | Dirty knees
• Number 34 - Ask for more
• Number 35 - Jump and jive
• Number 36 - Three dozen
• Number 37 - A flea in heaven
• Number 38 - Christmas cake
• Number 39 - Those famous steps
• Number 40 - Naughty forty | life begins
• Number 41 - Time for fun
• Number 42 - Winny the Pooh
• Number 43 - Down on your knees
• Number 44 - Droopy drawers
• Number 45 - Halfway there | Halfway house
• Number 46 - Up to tricks
• Number 47 - Four and seven
• Number 48 - Four dozen
• Number 49 - Nick nick | Copper | PC
• Number 50 - Blind 50 | Bulls eye | Half a century
• Number 51 - Tweak of the thumb
• Number 52 - Danny La Rue | Weeks in a year
• Number 53 - Stuck in the tree | Here comes Herbie
• Number 54 - Clean the floor
• Number 55 - Snakes alive
• Number 56 - Was she worth it?
• Number 57 - Heinz varieties
• Number 58 - Make them wait | Choo Choo Thomas
• Number 59 - Brighton line
• Number 60 - Five dozen | Blind 60 | Three score
• Number 61 - Bakers bun
• Number 62 - Turn on the screw | Tickety boo
• Number 63 - Des Eerie | Tickle me
• Number 64 - The Beatles number | Red raw | Almost retired
• Number 65 - Old age pension
• Number 66 - Clickety click
• Number 67 - Made in heaven
• Number 68 - Saving grace
• Number 69 - Your place or mine | The same both ways | Meal for two | Either way up
• Number 70 - Blind 70 | Three score and ten
• Number 71 - Bang on the drum
• Number 72 - A crutch and a duck
• Number 73 - A crutch and a flea | Queen bee
• Number 74 - Hit the floor | Candy store
• Number 75 - Strive and strive
• Number 76 - Trombones
• Number 77 - Two little crutches | Sunset strip
• Number 78 - Heaven’s gate
• Number 79 - One more time
• Number 80 - Blind 80 | Gandhi’s breakfast | Eight and blank
• Number 81 - Fat lady and a little wee | Stop and run
• Number 82 - Fat lady with a duck | Straight on through
• Number 83 - Time for tea | Fat lady with a flea
• Number 84 - Seven dozen
• Number 85 - Staying alive
• Number 86 - Between the sticks
• Number 87 - Torquay in Devon
• Number 88 - Two fat ladies
• Number 89 - All but one | Nearly there
• Number 90 - Top of the house | Top of the shop | End of the line | Blind 90

As you might have noticed, some of the bingo phrases are a little risqué - especially for numbers like 69 - so some might have to be tailored to be more appropriate for the audience, depending on the setting.

We love a good bingo phrase here at Gala - they’re a fun bingo tradition that lots of players love. If you’re getting ready to play one of our bingo games online, why not check out our other bingo guides before you dive in?