Plan Ahead and Show off Your Inner-Jokester With These 60 Outrageous April Fools' Day Pranks!
Surprise your loved ones on April 1st with these creative April Fools' pranks.
iStock
There are plenty of hilarious people out there who thrive on their sense of humor—especially when it comes to April Fools' pranks! Yep, every single year, a certain day comes around that provides everyone the opportunity to live out their comedic dreams—and that's April 1, also known as April Fools' Day. To make sure you have time to prep, we've got 60 easy April Fools' pranks to give you plenty of great gag ideas!
We've all heard of putting a whoopee cushion on a chair, or prank calling your friends—but those antics are somewhat anticipated when this day rolls around (well, except for those of us who are known for being incredibly unsuspecting and gullible!). Since everyone knows that April 1st could be filled with various high jinks, it's more rewarding to get extra creative and startle someone in truly unexpected ways.
So, whether you're looking to prank your sibs, roommates, kids, spouse or best buds, we've got options for them all. Between trickery with technology, fooling them with food, and just plain, classic scares, you'll be sure to feel inspired by checking out our 60 outrageous April Fools' Day pranks!
Here at Parade.com, we're all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
60 Best April Fools' Pranks:
1. Create Brussels sprout cake pops that look super-appetizing, but become quite the surprise at first-bite!
2. Fill up a doughnut box (think something obvious, like Krispy Kreme or Dunkin' Donuts) with veggies inside, and listen for the reactions near the break room at work!
iStock
3. Many of us have certain shows that we have to watch with our spouse or roommate, without jumping ahead. So, go through the episode list and start playing the show a few episodes further, so they think you've gone further without them. When you sit down together later to watch, try to keep a straight face as they realize something's not right!
4. Send automatic, fun cat facts to your friends' phones through the Cat Facts app, and LOL as you can view their replies as well!
Related: April Fools' Memes
5. There are plenty of apps that you can download to a friend's phone, but one that they might legitimately get a kick out of is "Pun of the Day"—you can keep those jokes coming throughout the whole year!
6. Find a GIF of the infamous typing dots, and text it to different members of your fam, who will be so curious about what you could be writing to them for such a long time!
7. At the office, put tape under a coworker's computer mouse, and watch them try to figure out why it's not working!
8. You'll hear plenty of sss-screams after hiding rubber snakes in the dressers of your kids and/or spouse!
Homdipoo Realistic Fake Rubber Snake Toys Black Fake Snakes That Look Real Prank Stuff Cobra Snake 49 Inch Long
9. Bring "chocolate chip" cookies into the office that are actually filled with raisins!
10. Go for the classic April Fools' prank—jump out and scare someone who least expects it!
Related: April Fools' Pranks for Parents
Related: Yay April Fools' Day! 7 of Bart Simpson's Best Pranks
11. After placing coffee grounds inside the toilet tank and flushing a few times, the brown water is going to make it awkward between all of your housemates, to say the least!
12. If you have access to a friend's FB (someone who's a serious social media fan), change their posts' visibility to private for the day and see how long they'll last before inquiring about their lack of likes!
13. Fill a doughnut up with mayo and expect plenty of cringe-worthy reactions!
14. Stick a straw into a yellow mustard packet, put the packet in an unsuspecting pal's can of soda or sparkling water, and wait for hilarity to ensue!
15. Freeze a bowl of cereal and milk overnight, and your child will wonder why on earth they can't spoon it out the next morning!
Related: 60 Easy April Fools' Day Pranks to Try at Home and Work
16. Place a "Please honk and wave—April Fools' prank!" sign on the back of your car to either confuse your spouse or roommate on the way to work, or your children going to school!
17. Tape fake roaches inside a lampshade with the light on—talk about making everyone immediately feel creepy-crawly!
Ksquares Prank Fake Roaches, Favorite Trick Joke Toys Look Real, Scary Insects Realistic Plastic Bugs, Novelty Cockroach for Party, Christmas, Halloween
18. On a Windows computer, press the Ctrl, Alt, and downward arrow keys to flip the display screen upside down. You can turn it back by pushing Ctrl, Alt, and the upward arrow key together!
19. Make a mashed potato and gravy sundae that looks just like ice cream and caramel sauce, but is definitely more dinner than dessert!
20. Sorry in advance to whoever is on the receiving end of this prank, but one way to really shock someone is by leaving fake poop out somewhere in your home, car, or workplace!
HOHAJIU Fake Poop Novelty Mischief Toys Realistic Prank Poop Toys for Joke Trick April Fools' Day Party, Pack of 2
21. Stuff toilet paper in the toe of your kids' or roommates' shoes, and see how long it takes for them to figure out the prank!
22. Switch out two (or more) bags of cereal from their boxes for the ultimate "gotcha!" moment in the morning!
23. Stick clear plastic wrap over the toilet, but be prepared for a clean-up that's slightly less funny!
24. Place a jolly rancher or two in the showerhead so that the water comes out sticky (and potentially a little colorful)!
Related: Do You Know the Murky Origins of April Fools' Day?
25. Take a screenshot of your coworker or friend's computer (or phone desktop), and leave the picture up so that they can't figure out why nothing on their desktop is opening!
26. Put the corner of a dollar bill outside of a book so that it's poking out, but attach that small sample to a larger note that says, "April Fools!"
27. So many of Jim's best moments on The Office come from his pranks on Dwight. In honor of the ultimate prankster, stick a stapler in jello and leave it on the desk of one of your own officemates!
28. Mix together M&M's, Skittles, and Reese's Pieces all in one bowl. Whether it's displayed at home or at work, those who grab a couple of handfuls will be in for a shocking "treat!"
29. Get crafty by adding googly eyes to everything in your kids' or spouse's packed lunch!
30. By putting jelly beans in the ice dispenser, anyone who preps for a cold glass of water will get another cool surprise spilling into their cup instead!
31. Another classic prank idea? Strategically pat someone on the back while leaving behind a sticky note!
32. Put fake broken glass decals on the windows of a friend's home or car and watch them lose their minds before realizing it's a joke!
Flynn Flamm Broken Glass Effect TM - Joke - Prank - April Fools
33. Switch out the wrappers of small chocolate eggs and place them over grapes instead—a much healthier snack than anyone would expect!
34. Make a statement on social media that's totally outrageous, yet kind of believable? Just be prepared to remind your followers about what day it is afterward!
35. Send your friend a glitter bomb envelope in the mail that has "April Fools!" written inside!
36. Replace the inside of your roommate's deodorant with cream cheese!
37. Give out fake scratch-offs that will claim they won $50,000!
38. Get a cardboard cutout of an actor or singer and put it in the shower to really startle your family!
39. Purchase a sterile cup, fill it with apple juice, and drink out of it throughout the day!
SNL Quality Sterile Specimen Cups, Screw-on Cap with Tamper Evident Seal, 3oz, Blue Cover - Pack of 3
40. Cram your coworker's office full of boy band photos to really give them a laugh!
Related: 13 Recipes for April Fools' Day Pranks
41. Use "iPhoneception" on your bestie's phone to make all of their apps look like cats (there are also "Zombie," "Explosion," and "Gravity" options)!
42. Replace the TP with a roll of packing tape on your bathroom's toilet paper holder!
43. Set out this "Snake in a Can" gag which looks like a potato chip can, but actually contains a four-foot snake that springs out when the top is opened!
44. Put a "For Sale" sign out in your yard before the kids go to school!
45. It will take time and dedication, but by covering a buddy's car in cling wrap, you'll be sure to give them an April Fools' Day they'll never forget!
46. Play with a remote control spider toy around the house or office to really freak people out!
ArtCreativity Remote Control Spider, Includes 1 Tarantula and 1 Controller, Spooky RC Spider Prank Toy with 8 Individually Moving Legs, Furry Texture, and Light Up Eyes, Great Prank Toy for Kids
47. Rub some food dye onto the bottom of your faucet to make the tap water colorful and startling at the same time!
48. Leave a bag of french fry soap in the shower to really confuse anyone who sees it!
49. Change the keyboard shortcuts in a bud's phone to drive them crazy with incorrect grammar or a completely different word choice popping up instead!
50. Wake up early on April Fools' Day and turn everything that you can think of upside down in the house!
51. Have fun putting fake parking tickets on the windshield of one of your teens, or your BFF, and watch them sweat!
Patriot Web Design Fake Parking Tickets - Pack of 10
52. Switch out the sock drawers of every member of your family. They’ll be so confused as they get ready for school or work!
53. Open up boxes of snacks that you have at home (like Cheez-Its, granola bars, etc.) and remove the individually-wrapped items or the bags that hold the actual treats, so that all of the boxes are empty in the pantry!
54. Order takeout, and when you receive the meal, hide whatever your significant other ordered. Then, try to keep a poker face while they assume their food is missing!
55. During a video chat with your BFF, pretend you’re telling an exciting story with your lips moving and giving animated expressions/gestures, without actually saying a word!
56. In the morning, hide all of your K-Cups or ground coffee and see how long it takes before panic ensues in your household!
57. Go live on Instagram with your phone pointed at something beyond-boring, leave it there for a while, and see what people have commented!
58. Tell your neighbor you saw a dog in their yard at the side of their house. Before they look out, place an “April Fools!” sign in the grass!
59. While making dinner, ask a loved one to taste-test what’s on the spoon… Only mix up some crazy ingredients from your fridge ahead of time and place that on the spoon instead of what you’re cooking!
60. Put your own spin on the viral “poop challenge” prank that’s been going around while everyone has been social-distancing: Put peanut butter on your bathroom’s toilet paper roll to confuse and disgust your family member(s)!
Looking for even more inspiration? Here are the best pranks from companies like Google, Amazon, and other brands!
