Quick answer
The witch's hat bingo pattern is a tall pointed hat: a tip running down the N column (N1 and N2), a cone made of the middle three squares of rows 3 and 4, and a brim along the whole bottom row. It covers 13 squares, and the free space is in the cone, so you need 12 numbers. One card has a 5.4% chance by call 60, and with 500 cards in play the first hat usually comes around call 47.
Which squares make the witch’s hat?
A pointed hat standing on its brim:
- Point: N1, N2
- Cone: I3, free space, G3, I4, N4, G4
- Brim: B5, I5, N5, G5, O5
13 squares, 12 numbers. Every N number on your card is in the hat, so the N column (31–45) is the spine of this game. B and O contribute just one square each, the ends of the brim.
It’s the pyramid with an extra row of cone (I3 and G3) and a two-square point on top.
Witch’s hat odds by call
Exact single-card figures:
| Calls made | Regular hat | Crazy hat (any direction) |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| 50 | 0.46% | 1.8% |
| 60 | 5.4% | 17% |
| 70 | 41% | 70% |
Half of single cards finish a regular witch’s hat by call 72 and a crazy one by call 67. In a room, our simulation puts the first hat at about call 55 with 50 cards and call 47 with 500 cards; a crazy hat comes near call 50 and call 42.
Witch’s hat vs. pyramid
The hat is built on the pyramid, which needs 8 numbers: the bottom row, I4, N4, G4 and the free space. The hat adds four more: I3 and G3 to widen the cone, and N1 and N2 for the tall point. That stretches the game by about ten calls in a busy room: around call 36 for the first pyramid with 500 cards in play, against call 47 for the hat.
Tips for players
- N is the spine. You need all four N numbers on your card.
- The brim is a full line. Finishing the bottom row gets you 5 of your 12 numbers.
- Rows 1 and 2 are just the point. Only N1 and N2 matter up there.
Tips for callers and hosts
The witch’s hat is a Halloween staple, ideal for October sessions, costume nights and school fall festivals. At 12 numbers it’s a medium game that works well as the opener to a Halloween run, before the bigger pumpkin and a final blackout.
Pair it with our Halloween bingo cards for parties and classrooms.
Variations
- Crazy witch’s hat: the point aimed at any edge.
- Top hat: a square-crowned hat. See the top hat.
Frequently asked questions
What squares make a witch's hat in bingo?
N1 and N2 for the point, I3, the free space and G3, then I4, N4 and G4 for the cone, and the whole bottom row for the brim.
How many numbers do you need for a witch's hat?
Twelve. The hat covers 13 squares, and the free space sits in the middle of the cone.
Is the witch's hat the same as the top hat?
No. The top hat has a square crown and no point; the witch's hat has a tall pointed tip up the N column. The top hat needs 13 numbers, the witch's hat 12.
Keep reading
Pumpkin Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The pumpkin bingo pattern is a round, solid pumpkin with a stem: 17 squares including the free space, so 16 numbers. See the layout and exact odds.
Top Hat Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The top hat bingo pattern is a 3x3 crown over a full-width brim on the bottom row: 14 squares, 13 numbers. See the exact layout, odds by call and tips.
Pyramid Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The pyramid bingo pattern is a 5-3-1 triangle on the bottom three rows, topped by the free space: 9 squares, 8 numbers. See the layout and exact odds.
Free Printable Halloween Bingo Cards for Kids, Classrooms and Parties
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