What to give for an inexpensive conference gift: 5 ideas for affordable, unique swag items

By Samantha O'Rourke

Inexpensive conference gifts are best when they serve a purpose and are small enough to carry easily. It’s one thing to spend money on low-cost conference giveaways, but it’s another to find conference gifts for attendees that, despite how little they cost, are still favorites. The best promotional swag will fit the interests of people coming to the conference, all the while serving their purpose of aiding your marketing efforts.

Wondering what to give out at events that won’t cost a fortune? You’ve come to the right place! At 4imprint, we specialize in providing all types of swag items, and that includes low-cost conference gifts for attendees. Not everything you give away at a conference needs to break the bank, and in fact some of the most impactful items can sometimes also be the cheapest. Discover more about conference swag items, good giveaways for events and even how much swag to bring to a conference.

5 inexpensive swag bag ideas for a conference

Here are five of our top picks for cheap-but-quality swag items for a conference:

1. Pens: What conference swag bag would be complete without a good pen? There’s a reason these are common conference swag: they’re budget-friendly, easy to carry around and are always useful. After all, think about how many times someone asks “Does anyone have a pen?” at conferences. There's data behind the humble pen's staying power: in ASI research opens in new window, 69% of consumers said they keep promotional pens because of their quality, followed by utility (41%).

2. Highlighters: While pens are a mainstay for conference swag, highlighters offer a great alternative. Not only do they subvert the norm of getting plenty of pens at a conference, but also highlighters have the added usefulness of…well, highlighting important things—be it in a program, on an event map or on any other informational materials.

3. Coasters: Yet another item that’s often needed but rarely there when you need one, coasters offer both utility and branding in one small package. Easy to fit in a swag bag (and even easier to fit a logo on), these can be a good add-in for any swag bag.

4. Stickers: While stickers may seem to lack practicality, don’t be fooled by their simplicity. People love customizing their personal items with stickers, often collecting them from various places, and stickers are an easy way to make your brand really stick!

5. Webcam covers: Rather than ordering what people always give out at conferences, why not try something new? If that sounds interesting to you, consider webcam covers: an item very few people think to get but will be thankful to have. These are useful and portable with great opportunities for unique branding. Without a doubt, this is one of the most unique conference giveaways you can add. Plus, chances are the covers will end up on a computer that person uses every day! You'll find webcam privacy covers ready for your logo at 4imprint, alongside plenty of other under-the-radar giveaway ideas that won't stretch the budget.

These five items are all great choices for an inexpensive swag bag, but by no means are they the only options. You might be surprised at how affordable promo products can be as swag bag items. If you want to see more possibilities for budget swag, check out our full catalog of items at 4imprint. Not only do we stock inexpensive swag, but also we often have sales on certain items—take advantage of them while you can!

Budget items punch far above their weight. ASI's 2026 Global Ad Impressions Study opens in new window found a $6 tote bag generates about 5,000 impressions over its lifetime—a cost-per-impression of just one-tenth of a cent.

How much swag should you get for a conference?

You should typically plan to have enough swag for roughly 75% of the attendees. Depending on how you’re choosing to give away items and what you plan to give to each person, this may alter what items to choose and what quantities of each item you should order.

Being strategic with your swag is important for success, which means not just buying a bunch of stuff to give away but also considering your goals with giving away swag. Many inexpensive items—like the five we mentioned above—are excellent choices for marketing awareness and initial contacts. That’s not to say that you need more expensive items for closing deals, but rather to understand that there’s no need to spend a ton of money on marketing materials to make a big impact. Oftentimes, it’s more about spending money in the right places—and for swag, that means getting the right items for the occasion that will also fulfill your marketing goals, be they awareness, sales, networking meetings and so on.

The draw is real too. Cvent opens in new window reports that 52% of trade show attendees are more likely to visit a booth that offers giveaways—so stocking enough swag directly affects your booth traffic.

Plan your next swag bag with 4imprint

4imprint helps you plan an affordable conference swag bag with quality items, expert support and complimentary art assistance—whatever your budget. Our team is focused on providing you with the items you need and the expertise to help every step of the way. Whether you’re looking to stock a conference tote bag with goodies or crafting an employee welcome kit, we’re here to help you make it happen!

To see some of the many products we offer, visit our website, which includes a full catalog of our offerings. We’re ready to support your success in conference marketing, no matter your budget.

Samantha O'Rourke

Samantha O’Rourke is an experienced SEO digital analyst and copywriter with a decade of expertise in the promotional products industry. With a strong foundation in marketing and a keen eye for emerging e-commerce trends, she stays on top of what’s new and noteworthy in 4imprint’s product offerings. As a regular contributor to 4imprint’s blog, Samantha offers insights on how businesses can use promotional products to stand out, connect with their audiences and succeed in a crowded marketplace.

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