What you need for an escape room competition

An escape room competition needs more than puzzles and locks. You will need matching supplies for each room, timing and power equipment, team identification, printed schedules, and a simple registration and drinks setup. The list below covers the materials to buy or bring for a competition where several teams play under the same rules. Check quantities against the number of rooms, teams, supervisors, and participants before shopping.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 60
Buffet tablesqty 2
Coat racksqty 2
Waste binsqty 4

Equipment

Laptopsqty 4
Tabletsqty 4
Stopwatchesqty 8
Bluetooth speakersqty 4
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6
Power banksqty 6
Printers

Game materials

Combination locksqty 16
Padlocksqty 12
Crates with locksqty 8
UV lampsqty 8
UV markersqty 8
Puzzle cardsqty 80
Envelopesqty 80
Notepadsqty 16
Pensqty 40
Calculatorsqty 8
Magnetic lettersqty 8
Puzzle accessoriesqty 8

Decorations

Themed decorationsqty 8
Directional signsqty 12
Team color cardsqty 60
Race number cardsqty 8

Lighting

LED lightsqty 12
Battery lanternsqty 8

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 80
Platesqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 40

Kitchen

Coffee makerqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Serving traysqty 8
Scissorsqty 8
Rolls of tapeqty 8
Table runnersqty 8

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Mints - 1 box
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Iced tea - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salted peanuts - 2 bags
- Cheese cubes - 2 kilos
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Grapes - 2 kilos
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Mini carrots - 2 bags
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Garlic sauce - 3 bottles
- Honey mustard sauce - 3 bottles
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Mini wraps - 48 pieces
- Herb cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Hummus wraps - 24 pieces
- Cheese - 2 kilos
- Ham - 1 kilo
- Vegetarian falafel - 2 kilo
- Chicken satay - 2 kilo
- Satay sauce - 3 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Vegetarian bitterballen - 3 boxes
- Bitterballen - 3 boxes
- Mini quiches - 4 boxes
- Brownies - 48 pieces
- Cookies - 4 packs
- Napkins - 150 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 pack
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Cleaning sponges - 2 packs
- Toilet paper - 2 packs
- Hand soap - 2 bottles

Tips

Prepare one complete puzzle kit per room, including locks, puzzle cards, envelopes, notepads, pens, and any themed accessories. Add a small reserve of consumables so one missing card or damaged envelope does not stop a round.
Bring at least one stopwatch or timer for every active room, plus a spare. Test all laptops, tablets, speakers, printers, extension cords, and power strips before the competition rather than discovering a battery or connection problem during briefing.
Use team colour cards and race number cards to prevent mix-ups at registration and when teams move between rooms. Print the match schedule and directional signs at least one day ahead, with a few spare copies.
Pack each room separately after testing its puzzles and locks. Label the boxes by room and round, and keep UV lamps, UV markers, magnetic letters, calculators, and other special items together instead of loose in a general supply bag.
Plan the drinks and buffet supplies around the arrival time, not the final round. Set out waste bins, coat racks, tables, chairs, and a separate registration table before participants arrive, leaving supervisors free to handle the briefing.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to buy for an escape room competition?: Buy or bring the puzzle materials for every room, including combination locks, padlocks, puzzle cards, envelopes, notepads, pens, and any special accessories. You also need timers, team cards, printed schedules, signs, lighting, and supplies for the buffet and drinks station.
How many locks and puzzle sets do I need?: Plan one complete set of locks and puzzles for each room or simultaneous team route. Count the exact number after testing every room, then add at least one spare lock and a small reserve of paper materials so a failure does not delay the competition.
How many timers are needed for an escape room competition?: Use one stopwatch or timer per active room, plus at least one spare. Test them on the day before and again during setup, especially if timing is shared between supervisors, laptops, tablets, or speakers.
When should I prepare the escape room shopping list?: Check the list after the competition format, rooms, themes, and puzzle tests are confirmed, ideally at least one week before the event. Do the shopping several days ahead and pack each tested room set no later than the day before.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.