Gag gifts are a fun way to surprise friends, co-workers, and family members. Whether serving as a fun prank or contributing to part of a larger gift, they’re a win-win. They encourage smiles while letting people you care about know just how much you appreciate them and adore their sense of humor. However, picking the right gag gift can be tough. To help, we’ve created a list of fun gag gift ideas that are guaranteed to give you a case of the giggles!
Creating Great Memories With Adventures From Scratch
We believe strongly in the importance of relationships and the benefits of keeping your relationships exciting and fresh. These gag gift ideas will give you the boost you need. But we’ve also created three scratch-off adventure books for you! With more than 50 adventures focused on fun and intentional quality time for friends, families, and romantic partners, our books are specially designed to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. All you need to do is grab your copy, consult the key, scratch off your adventure for the day, and let the fun begin!
The Best Gag Gifts for Friends and Family
Below, you will find some of the best gift ideas. They’re sure to have your loved ones busting their guts! You can order many of these gag gift ideas on websites like Amazon and Etsy. However, if you’re in a pinch and need to get some last-minute gifts, you can always try local gift stores or Walmart to buy something straight off the shelf.
1. Personalized Mugs
Don’t you hate it when your favorite mug goes missing? You know the one—the one that fits the perfect amount of coffee or tea, has the perfect handle for your fingers, and has a cute design to boot. Drinking out of another mug just isn’t the same!
Well, this is where you can help a friend or colleague keep this from happening ever again! Personalized coffee mugs are a great gift idea for all the hot-beverage lovers in your life. You can find one at your closest gift shop. Or browse websites like Etsy, where you can order mugs for all the favorite people in your life. When choosing a design, make sure to pick one that reflects their personality in a fun or even a (tiny) bit of an embarrassing way!
2. A Unique Portrait
Just a few centuries ago, portraits were relegated to the wealthy and prestigious. Used frequently in the days before photography, portraits were able to reflect what a person looked like, at least in theory. In reality, it seems like artists took some liberties to show off certain physical characteristics that the model may or may not have actually had. Today, you can roam the halls of any art history museum and see dozens of portraits of notable men and women hanging on the walls.
Or, you can hire an artist or designer to create one that someone near and dear to you can hang proudly on their own wall. You can have their likeness put on a variety of bodies set in different backgrounds. For the cat and dog lovers out there, you can even take it one step further and have their favorite pet reimagined as a famous war hero or dignitary!
3. Let’s Roam Scratch-off Adventure Books
Let’s Roam loves to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Our series of fun-filled scratch-off books helps you build your own adventure—from scratch! All you need to get the laughs rolling is the book and the included scratcher so that you can uncover new adventures every day. We have specially designed books for families, couples, and friends. They’re guaranteed to put the fun in funny as you accomplish one zany activity after another. Check out the Let’s Roam Adventures From Scratch website to learn more!
4. Whoopee Cushions
It doesn’t matter how old you get—farts are always kind of funny. The human body is weird when you think about it. So rather than being embarrassed by it, why not just lean into it and laugh about it? Whoopee cushions are a fun way to get everyone chuckling. These circular-shaped cushions can easily be filled with air, and when squeezed, they sound a lot like an enormous fart. That is definitely one way to break the silence in a room!
5. Fun Magnets
Magnets are a great way to add some personality to a kitchen. Not only are they usually pretty inexpensive, but you can buy them almost everywhere around the world! You can pick them up while you’re traveling if you see something that reminds you of someone. Otherwise, you can go to a local gift store and find one that is absolutely perfect for your giftee.
6. Flip-Flops
Basic rubber flip-flops are a surprisingly useful addition to anyone’s travel, beach, or gym bag. They can be worn while you’re lounging around at home or running errands. They even serve as a pair of normal shoes in a pinch! Best of all, flip-flops come in a variety of colors and prints. From flip-flops that have bottle openers in the soles to cabbage-shaped slides, they can make a fun and useful gag gift.
7. Can Koozies
There are very few marketing ploys that were more useful on a hot summer day than the can koozie. These little pieces of foam slip around cans and bottles, keeping your drink nice and cool even on the hottest of days. Lightweight, compact, and easy to personalize for an event or celebration, these are a great gag gift for anyone you know who likes to throw back a can or two.
8. Rubber Ducky
Rubber ducky, you’re the one! You make gift time so much fun (or however the song goes… just kidding!). Rubber duckies have evolved since their debut in the late 1800s. Originally designed as chew toys made of solid rubber, by the 1940s, they transformed into the iconic yellow bath toys that we know and love today.
Rubber duckies are a fun gag gift that you can give to everyone, from the tiniest of tots to the grumpiest of grown-ups. They’re sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face. Your options range from the standard yellow duck to the ones wearing tiny vinyl wedding gowns.
9. Sarongs or Beach Towels
While we’re on the subject of gifts that are useful and fun, sarongs or beach towels can be great gifts for people who love to have a laugh but prefer gifts that they can use in the future. Funky, colorful designs or fun-filled prints featuring everything from cartoon hourglass figures to fun-filled caricatures are great options for people who love to hang outside. It also makes them stand out in a crowd of identical beach towels when you’re at the beach or swimming pool!
10. Printed Toilet Paper
Toilet paper is likely to be one of the most commonly used paper products in any American or European household. Why not make this necessary product a little more fun by buying your loved one printed toilet paper? TP can be personalized with the name of the recipient alongside a pithy slogan alluding to bathroom behaviors. It can also be printed with pictures of families, pets, celebrities, and more. The options here truly are endless (unlike the roll of toilet paper itself!), which makes this one of the best prank gifts out there.
11. Stickers
Do you remember your childhood days when stickers were practically their own currency? Sparkly, smelly, or puffy, the value of a sticker could easily be seen simply by how fancy it appeared. While for most adults stickers may not be as popular as they were when we were kids, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t still just as much fun as they used to be!
Since by default stickers are generally small, compact, and lightweight, these make great stocking stuffers. Or they can easily be included with a fun greeting card before you close up the envelope. There are tons of different designs out there to choose from. But if you can’t find one that is perfect for the giftee, you can always have some specially made to match their unique style and flair. As an added bonus, if the giftee has kids, the stickers can be repurposed in their next art project. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!
12. Wine Glass Charms
There’s nothing worse than being at a party and always struggling to figure out which wine glass is yours. You definitely don’t want to be THAT person who keeps grabbing the wrong one. But having to remember exactly where you set it down can also be a little tricky when you’re looking at a sea of identical wine glasses with slightly foggy vision.
Rather than playing wine glass roulette, pick up a pack of wine glass charms. Much like what you see on old-school charm bracelets, these charms can be hung from the base of your wine glass, making it easy to figure out which one is yours at a glance.
13. A Book of Dad Jokes
No matter how old you get, dad jokes will always be funny. These funny one-liners may not be sophisticated. But they can certainly bring out a chuckle from even the toughest of critics. If the men in your life seem like they need a little inspiration when it comes to cracking some corny jokes this Christmas or Father’s Day, why not give them a book of dad jokes? Available on websites like Amazon, joke books can basically give your favorite dad or uncle a plethora of material that is perfect for people of all ages!
14. Miniature Inflatable Tube Guys
Have you ever seen the wacky inflatable flailing guys as you’re driving down the street? Beloved by businesses all over the world, these funny little inflatable tubes are used to entice people to visit everything from car showrooms to restaurants. While buying a full-sized one for your favorite co-worker may not be the easiest option for a gag gift, you can buy smaller 17-inch ones that can sit on a desktop. They’ll come to life with the touch of a button.
15. Chia Pets
Ch-ch-ch-chia! Chia Pets were all the rage in the 1980s. And they seem to be making quite the comeback! Made out of terracotta figurines that sprout chia seeds, Chia Pets are a funny gag gift to give anyone with a love of kitsch. The great thing is that you don’t even need a green thumb or a nurturing soul for your Chia Pet to thrive. Some of the options to choose from include the original sheep version as well as Willie Nelson, Bob Ross, Indiana Jones, Pee-Wee Herman, and Yoda.
16. Colorful Socks
Wearing the same old socks can get pretty boring. Use this year’s Christmas gift as an opportunity to buy your loved ones a unique pair of socks that showcases their awesome personalities and sense of humor. You can choose from face socks, socks covered with animal prints, or even palm trees. This is the perfect way to add a burst of color to a dull winter day and remind everyone that there are brighter days ahead.
17. Handy Household Gadgets
People can be amazingly creative when it comes to problem-solving. This is clearly reflected in the number of different culinary and bathroom gadgets on the market. From special tools to squeeze lemons or store bananas to automatic hand soap dispensers, these nifty little gadgets can make life a tiny bit easier for the right person. They also make great gag gifts in white elephant gift exchanges! You never know who will be vying for that strange little gadget that you picked up at the mall or got during a previous gift exchange.
18. Adult Coloring Books
Who says coloring books are only for kids? Adult coloring books started popping up everywhere a few years ago. These artistic delights gave everyone the chance to unleash their inner artists and ranged from full-on Van Gogh type to designs to paint-by-number Picasso prints. If you’re looking for a great gift for someone who loves to paint or draw or even someone who has no artistic abilities at all, these are a surefire bet!
19. A Burrito Blanket
With a long list of delectable dishes like burritos, tacos, guacamole, and mole, it probably comes as no surprise that you can find Mexican restaurants all over the world. Burrito blankets are an interesting prank gift that lets people make their own Mexican food at home—they get to be the main ingredient!
You can buy a ready-made burrito blanket that basically looks like a giant tortilla. Otherwise, you can get a little creative and DIY one using a beige blanket and a few splashes of orange, red, brown, yellow, and green to look like your favorite burrito toppings!
20. Fake Poop
Any way you look at it, poop is pretty gross no matter where it came from. If you want to give your favorite prankster a little extra ammunition, fake poo may just be the perfect gag gift. As you can probably imagine, there are many different degrees of fake poop, starting from teeny-tiny Chihuahua-sized poos to Great Dane-sized piles of excrement. As you can imagine, this is a gift for a very special person, so make sure to choose wisely!
21. Slime
In the late ’80s and early ’90s, slime was a best seller, and half of school recess seemed to be spent playing with slime or picking it off of your fingers and clothes. Slime has made a bit of a comeback as kids all around the world are experiencing the joy of feeling it ooze through their fingers. Luckily for us adults, slime isn’t just for kids. Not only is it fun to play with, but it’s also a great stress relief. If that isn’t enough of a reason to buy slime for your always-frazzled co-worker, we don’t know what is!
22. Fanny Pack
Another ’80s gem, fanny packs were worn by everyone from A-list celebs to preteen kids. They provided a great way to carry all your goodies without having to worry about hurting your back or getting them stolen. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the many benefits of using a fanny pack, they are back on the shelves.
If you want to buy a fanny pack as a prank gift, you may want to search for one that is extra flashy and contains a ton of different colors. If you want to turn this into a hilarious gag gift that is sure to bring out a good laugh, you can even buy a beer belly fanny pack complete with stomach hair and a belly button! Otherwise, you can buy a more monotone one with lots of pockets that may—just may—end up being your loved one’s new favorite travel bag!
23. Personalized Candles
Many people enjoy getting a really nice candle. Even more people enjoy getting a personalized candle that will have them LOLing every time they light it. There are many different companies that will allow you to pick your own scent and candle holder or jar and are more than happy to slap a label on it that alludes to the person’s character or even a funny inside joke. There are tons of great options out there, so make sure to shop around a bit to find one that is perfect for the giftee!
24. Novelty Slippers
Although they aren’t always practical, novelty slippers have been making kids and grandmas chuckle for decades. Things have gotten even more interesting in recent years as more and more adult-sized novelty slippers have become available. From baguettes to toilet bowls, it seems like the world truly is your oyster when it comes to slipper choices. If your house or the office you work in tends to get a little chilly in the winter, this could be the perfect gag gift for your colleagues or family members. Not only will they keep their toes nice and toasty, but they’ll also amuse everyone else at the same time!
25. Microwave Popcorn Maker
There are few people in the world who can resist the allure of freshly popped popcorn. Light, (relatively) healthy, and oh-so-delicious, popcorn is a fantastic snack when you’re on the move, watching a movie at home, or having some good old-fashioned family bonding time. Microwave popcorn makers are a good way to make popping your own healthy popcorn as easy as one, two, three! You simply need to put popcorn kernels and a little bit of oil into the special popcorn maker bowl and throw it into the microwave. A few minutes later, you’ll have piping hot popcorn that couldn’t be more fresh if it tried!
So, Ready to Roam?
We hope this list of the best gag gift ideas has left you inspired to pick out some amazing gifts this holiday season. If you need some more help picking out the perfect gift, check out our other gift guides. We’re sure they’ll make you the best Secret Santa out there!
If you want to read more awesome articles focusing on friendships and family as well as all of the great things you can do together, make sure to take a look at our blog. Here, you’ll find hundreds of articles covering everything from camping safety to questions to ask potential roommates to how to prank your friends!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re looking for great gag gifts for colleagues for the next Secret Santa, some fun options could include personalized coffee mugs, novelty slippers, fridge magnets, or wacky arm guys.
Kids are usually pretty easy to buy gag gifts for. Everything from slime to Chia Pets and scratch-off adventure books can be good options depending on their ages and personalities!
If you need inspiration for the perfect gag gift this Father’s Day, how about a beer belly fanny pack, printed toilet paper, or even a book of Dad jokes for the special men in your life?
Some of the best gag gifts for Secret Santa are humorous but also useful. Things like household gadgets, printed toilet paper, adventure books, and wine glass charms are all great gifts!
If you’re looking for a funny gag gift for a loved one, try to get one that matches their personality. If they love to unleash their inner child, slime and stickers could be fun gift ideas!