How to Prank Your Friends: The Ultimate Guide to Mischievous Fun
Messing with your mates is like a rite of passage. Me pranking you and you pranking me back shows that were more than just friendly–we are truly friends. For that, you deserve to be whoopee cushioned.
But landing that epic prank on your unsuspecting friend takes some skill. The best pranks create hilarious moments, leave no lasting harm, and get a good laugh out of everyone. We're here to help you put together the perfect practical joke for April Fools' Day, a birthday surprise, or just to annoy your friend (in a fun way).
You'll never need another guide for practical jokes because we've got you covered right here. From classic to the most out-of-the-box pranks, this is our everything-you-need guide to pulling the perfect prank on your friends.
Pulling Off the Perfect Harmless Prank
The last thing you want is to mess with your friend and end up messing up your relationship. It's just a joke. It's not worth your friendship. Before you go all-in with your mischievous plans, keep these golden rules in mind:
- Keep it harmless – Jokes are no fun when people get hurt. The goal is laughter, not shame, embarrassment, or harassment.
- Know your audience – Some friends love playful pranks. Others don't. Know where to draw the line with your jokes.
- Be ready for payback – If you prank all your friends, expect some hilarious revenge. A prank for a prank. Those are the rules. We don't make them but we love to see them unfold.
- Clean up after yourself – If your prank involves a mess, clean up afterward. It's the responsible thing to do.
Now that the house rules are out of the way, it's awesome prank time!
Classic Funny Pranks That Never Get Old
1. The Fake Milk Spill
This is a simple prank and reactions are immediate. You'll need clear glue, white paint, wax paper, and a plastic sheen spoon for this one. Combine equal parts glue and paint and let it dry for a day. It will dry to resemble spilled milk. You can place it on a laptop, a friend's phone, or a fancy table to cause momentary panic before you reveal the truth.
2. The Cracked Phone Screen Trick
Everyone hates to see a cracked or chipped screen. Download a cracked screen app on your friend's phone and then hand it to your friend and watch them freak out! A short and sweet but effective classic prank.
3. Tin Foil Office Desk
Covering a friend’s desk in aluminum foil looks kind of cool and it takes way too much time to remove (See where we're going with this?). Your friend will hate that they have to spend all that time taking it off. You can take your prank up a notch and wrap their chair, computer mouse, and keyboard too! Perfect prank for that work friend who gets you through your week.
4. The Door Frame Plastic Wrap Surprise
For this hilarious prank, you'll need clear plastic wrap. Stretch it across a door frame at head height. When your unsuspecting victim walks through, they’ll get tangled in a surprise they never saw coming.
Stay safe by placing the plastic wrap at the forehead or chest height to avoid tripping hazards. Also, avoid using areas with stairs or sharp furniture nearby.
5. The Classic Airhorn Under Chair
Tape an airhorn under your friend’s chair or couch. As soon as their bum lands, the sudden loud noise will give them an unexpected jolt!
6. The Fake Lottery Ticket
Give your friend a fake lottery ticket that guarantees big wins. It has to look super convincing though. Watch their excitement turn to confusion as they realize it’s a prank!
Food-Based Pranks for a Tasty Trick
7. Caramel Onions
Make someone’s day by handing them a "caramel apple." The joke is, the apple isn't really an apple. It's actually an onion. One bite and they’ll get the surprise of a lifetime!
8. Mayonnaise "Pudding"
Scoop some mayonnaise into a vanilla pudding cup and give it to your friend with a sweet tooth. Watch their reaction when they realize their "dessert" is definitely not what they expected.
9. Gravy Tea Bags
Empty a few tea bags and replace the tea with powdered gravy mix. Offer your friend a hot cup of "tea," and enjoy watching their confusion unfold as they take a sip.
10. Frozen Cereal Surprise
Put a bowl of cereal and milk in the freezer for a few hours or overnight. In the morning, serve an unexpected breakfast prank. Your friend will be so confused trying to take a spoonful of their cereal and failing.
11. Salted Coffee
This one is an oldie but a goodie. Replace the sugar with salt. Your friend will make their morning coffee, take one sip, and regret it!
12. Clear Soda Swap
You really can't go wrong with a switch a roo. Swap Sprite with water and vinegar. Your friend expecting a refreshing sip will get an acidic surprise instead!
Tech Pranks for the Digital Age
13. Changing Phone Icons
Swap out their app icons with hilarious meme pictures. It'll cause so much confusion.
14. Fake Typing Dots GIF
Send your friend a GIF of typing dots. They'll think you’re texting them and wait endlessly for a text that'll never arrive.
15. Prank Chrome Extension
You know that feeling of having your device hacked? If your friend doesn't, now they will. Install a prank extension on their browser. Get an extension that flips pages upside down or replaces images with silly memes. They'll think their computer has been compromised.
16. Auto-Correct Mayhem
Change auto-correct settings on your friend’s phone to replace common words with funny alternatives. Suddenly, "yes" becomes "YAAAASSS QUEEN!"
17. Desktop Backfire
Take a screenshot of their desktop, set it as the wallpaper, and hide all icons. It'll confuse them because they'll think nothing works.
18. Mouse Laser Blocker
All you need for this is a bit of tape. Put a tiny piece of tape over the bottom of their computer mouse sensor. Your friend will struggle to figure out why their mouse isn’t working!
Office and Home Pranks
19. Balloons in a Friend’s Room
Fill a friend’s room or office with balloons. This is a fun prank for a celebration like a birthday, promotion, or bachelorette party because it also works as decoration. Two birds, one stone.
20. Sticky Note Bomb
Cover a friend’s laptop, desk, or even their car in sticky notes. It's a harmless yet time-consuming prank idea.
21. Spider Attack
This prank is even better if your friend can't stand spiders. Stick a fake spider inside a lamp, under a pillow, or on the toilet seat. When the victim wakes up and sees it, their reaction is going to be priceless.
22. Hand Sanitizer "Glue"
Replace the contents of a hand sanitizer bottle with non-hazardous glue. They'll be rubbing, and rubbing and rubbing for a while before they realize that something’s not quite right with the hand sanitizer.
Pranking by Mail: The Anonymous Surprise
If you're friends in another city or even another country, they're still not safe! Pull a hilarious prank from a distance, with What Prank. We offer the funniest anonymous mail pranks.
You can send unexpected items to friends, family, or even coworkers without them knowing who sent them. Inside they'll find a "You've Been Pranked!" card along with an add-on of your choosing. Check out our selection of great pranks for friends for prank ideas.

Ultimate Mail Prank
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are these pranks safe?
Yes! Each and every one of these pranks can be done safely. They're not meant to cause any harm, just good old fun.
What’s a good prank for April Fool’s Day?
Some of the best April Fools' pranks include fake email messages, fake milk spills, and cracked phone screen tricks. You can also check out our funny mail pranks or gag gifts for hilarious surprises.
What’s the most creative prank I can try?
The tin foil office desk prank and door frame plastic wrap prank are great pranks. They take little effort but get big laughs. You can also prank your friend, coworker, or family member. They're creative pranks that get a spectacular reaction.
Holiday-Specific Prank Ideas
Here are a few prank ideas that will get a good laugh on special occasions.
April Fools’ Classics
Don't know what to do for the official day of pranks? Here are some ideas to add a fun twist to April 1st:
Backward Day – Rearrange furniture, wear clothes backward, and flip everything upside down for a day of good fun and confusion. This one is also super fun for parents or teachers to pull on kids.
Fake Updates – Tell your coworkers that the office is implementing a bizarre new rule. You can make up something random but believable like mandatory karaoke breaks. Get others involved in the prank to make it even more convincing.
Halloween Haunts
Get spooky with these hilarious pranks:
Ghostly Messages – Write eerie messages on mirrors. When your friend takes a shower and the room gets steamy, the words will appear.
Spooky Sound Effects – Hide a motion-activated sound device that plays eerie whispers or footsteps. This is even spookier when the sun goes down.
Christmas Pranks
The day for family, photos, food, and fun. Take inspiration from these practical jokes to lighten the mood:
Gift Box Deception – Wrap a tiny gift inside multiple layers of large boxes like a Russian doll. Your victim will be unwrapping over and over again before getting to the actual gift.
Christmas Tree Swap – Replace all the ornaments on the tree with funny or weird items like socks or office supplies.
Valentine’s Day Mischief
Get a good laugh from your special person or friend on the day of love and romance with these hilarious pranks:
Secret Admirer Overload – Flood your victim's desk or inbox with dozens of anonymous love notes and sweet sweet compliments.
Heart-Shaped Food Prank – Serve heart-shaped meatloaf or fake chocolate-filled Brussels sprouts. It's completely unexpected and that's what makes it funny.
Birthday Bash Trickery
Here are some funny pranks to pull to make sure it a truly a happy birthday:
Balloon Avalanche – Tape a trash bag full of balloons over a door. When the birthday person walks in, they get showered with balloons. They won't know what hit them but it's also very sweet.
Fake Cake Surprise – Take inspiration from the "Is it cake?" trend. Offer a cake that’s actually a beautifully decorated sponge or Styrofoam block.
Pranking Dos and Don'ts
✅ Do: Keep It Harmless
Pranks should be fun for everyone involved. Avoid anything that could cause physical harm, extreme embarrassment, or unnecessary stress.
✅ Do: Capture the Moment (If Appropriate)
Recording a harmless prank can make the moment even funnier and let others in on the joke. Just make sure the person being pranked is okay with it afterward.
✅ Do: Be Ready for Payback
If you prank someone, expect them to return the favor. Be a good sport when the tables turn! z
❌ Don't: Take It Too Far
If a prank leaves someone genuinely upset, scared, or ashamed, it’s gone too far. Always keep it lighthearted. We want jokes, not panic.
❌ Don't: Involve Personal Belongings Without Permission
Messing with someone’s personal items (especially phones, wallets, or important documents) can have serious consequences. Keep your pranks limited to things that are easily reversible.
❌ Don't: Prank at the Wrong Time
Surprising someone mid-work presentation, while driving, or when they’re dealing with a serious issue is not cool. Pick your moment wisely! The right timing also means getting the laughs instead of the "read the room" looks.
❌ Don't: Forget the Reveal
Leaving someone stressed for too long isn’t fun. Reveal the prank and let the victim in on the joke sooner rather than later.
The Final Word: Have Fun, Stay Harmless
Pranks are about creating fun, laughter, and memorable moments. Whether you go for a cracked screen trick, a frozen cereal surprise, or a fake birthday message, just remember – it’s all in the name of mischief and playfulness.
If you're looking to pull a fast one on an unsuspecting friend, browse our collection of prank mails or hilarious gifts for friends collection. Happy pranking!