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65 Best Office Pranks to Boost Morale And Spice Up the Workplace
Discover the best office pranks to keep up your sleeve or coat! From chair surprises to desk swaps, these light-hearted tricks will bring joy to your workplace.
Office pranks have long served as a delightful means to inject humor and levity into the sometimes mundane world of work. Channeling the spirit of Jim Halpert from the iconic series “The Office,” we often find ourselves yearning to recreate those moments of innocent mischief and camaraderie. Yet, executing the best office pranks with finesse requires more than just a mischievous spirit; it demands the perfect setup and timing.
To help you become the prankster extraordinaire of your workplace, we've curated a collection of the most uproarious, good-natured, and downright fun office pranks. From classics that never fail to modern twists that reflect the times, these pranks are guaranteed to bring smiles and laughter to your colleagues' faces.
Whether you're aiming to lift spirits on a gloomy Monday or just uplifting the mood after appraisals, or so with the right attitude and a touch of creativity, you'll soon be hailed as the prank master among your peers, with the below-mentioned ideas.
What is an Office Prank?
First and foremost, an office prank is a playful and often lighthearted trick or practical joke played on colleagues within a workplace setting. It's meant to elicit laughter, lighten the mood, and foster camaraderie among coworkers. From simple gags like swapping computer peripherals or decorating someone's cubicle with sticky notes to more elaborate setups involving fake emails or harmless surprises, office pranks are about injecting fun into the daily grind.
Importantly, we aim to keep things in good spirits and ensure pranks don't lead to misunderstandings or disrupt productivity, maintaining a positive and respectful work environment for all - the prankster and the pranked party.
What Are the Rules for Office Pranks?
The rules for office pranks revolve around ensuring they are fun, respectful, and appropriate for the workplace environment. Here are the key guidelines:
1. Humor And Harmlessness: Pranks should be light-hearted and enjoyable for everyone involved. They should never cause harm, physical discomfort, or emotional distress.
2. Respect Boundaries: Know your colleagues' limits and avoid pranks that could embarrass or offend someone. Personal jokes, sensitive topics, or pranks targeting specific insecurities are off-limits.
3. Timing And Context: Consider the timing of the prank and the atmosphere of the office. Avoid pranks during busy or stressful periods, meetings, or important deadlines.
4. Maintain Professionalism: Pranks should not disrupt productivity or professionalism in the workplace. Ensure that the prank does not interfere with work tasks or create a lasting distraction.
5. Know When to Stop: If someone expresses discomfort or asks you to stop, respect their wishes immediately. A good prankster knows when the joke has run its course and when to end it gracefully.
Following these rules ensures that office pranks contribute at fostering a fun atmosphere while maintaining respect and professionalism.
65 Best Office Pranks That Are Clever And Hilarious
Best Clever Office Pranks:
1. Desk Confetti Bomb: For this prank, carefully fill all of a colleague's desk drawers or cabinets with confetti or glitter packets. When they open a drawer, the hidden confetti will burst out, creating a festive and unexpected surprise. Ensure the packets are securely hidden to maximize the effect and enjoy their reaction as they discover the colorful chaos.
2. Keyboard Switcheroo: Swap the keys on a coworker's keyboard to spell out a funny message or rearrange them randomly.
3. Invisible Tape Mouse: To start off the prank games, try this trick. Cover the bottom sensor of a colleague's computer mouse with clear tape, making it unresponsive. Watch as they try troubleshooting their "malfunctioning" mouse, unaware of the harmless prank. It's a lighthearted way to bring laughter to the office.
4. Fake Desktop Screenshot: Take a screenshot of someone's desktop, set it as the wallpaper, and hide all the icons for confusion.
5. Sneaky Auto-correct: Adjust a colleague's auto-correct settings to replace common words with funny or quirky alternatives.
6. Balloon Avalanche: To create a balloon avalanche prank, inflate numerous balloons and carefully fill a colleague's office or cubicle overnight, covering the floor and desk surfaces.
For an added twist, replace their chair with a large bouncy ball. This colorful and whimsical surprise will greet them with laughter and a playful start to their day. For added fun, hide a few small prizes or notes inside some of the balloons.
7. Jelly Bean Mouse Trap: Place jelly beans inside a computer mouse to puzzle and amuse your coworker when they try to use it.
8. Airhorn Chair: Tape an airhorn under a colleague's chair so it honks when they sit down.
9. Fake Moldy Lunch: Create fake mold using paper and glue to put on top of a colleague's lunch in the breakroom fridge.
10. Reverse Mouse Control: Swap the mouse buttons on a computer so that left-click acts like right-click and vice versa. The person will be left bamboozeled, and for extra fun, try adding a funny mouse pad design to the overall set-up.
11. Endless Auto-correct Loop: Adjust a colleague's auto-correct to change a common word to another that auto-corrects back and forth endlessly.
Best Practical Joke Ideas for Office:
12. Post-it Note Overload: In this easy-to-do prank, one can just cover a coworker's entire desk, chair, or computer monitor with sticky notes. Use different colors for a more dramatic effect.
13. Inflatable Office: For a summer-tastic prank, try to fill a colleague's private cabin or cubicle with inflatable items like beach balls or pool floaties.
14. Disappearing Desktop Icons: Though it may feel confusing to do yourself, to start on this prank take a screenshot of a coworker's desktop. Take the same screenshot and set it as the wallpaper, then hide the real icons.
15. Broken Keyboard Prank: Replace a colleague's keyboard with a non-functional one or one with random keys removed for a hilarious broken keyboard prank. This simple yet effective joke will leave them puzzled and amused as they try to type.
16. Fake Fly Invasion: Scatter realistic fake flies, fake cockroaches, or bugs around a coworker's desk for a creepy surprise. Place them in unexpected spots like their keyboard, mouse, and coffee cup. The sudden sight of these lifelike insects will surely catch them off guard, providing a moment of fun and laughter in the office.
17. Desktop Flip: To execute the Desktop Flip prank, access the computer settings and rotate a coworker's desktop display upside-down. This harmless yet disorienting trick involves adjusting display settings or using keyboard shortcuts (like Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow on Windows) to flip everything, including icons and text, creating a confusing and amusing surprise.
Creative Office Pranks:
18. Stapler in Jell-O: Borrowing from "The Office," encase a colleague's stapler in a large block of Jell-O. Start by preparing a large container of Jell-O according to instructions. Submerge a colleague's stapler inside while the gelatin is still liquid, ensuring it sets around the stapler completely. Once solidified, present the amusingly encased stapler for a surprising and memorable office prank.
19. You're Not on Mute Prank: During a video call, send a chat message or note to a colleague saying "You're not on mute," even if they are. Watch as they frantically check their settings and their surroundings.
20: Who Am I? Prank: Print out pictures of celebrities or funny characters and tape them to colleagues' backs without them knowing. Encourage others to give clues so they can guess “Who Am I?”
21. Fake Spill Disaster: Strategically place a realistic-looking spill, such as fake coffee, nail polish, or soda, near a colleague's workspace. Use a spill prank mat or a spill kit that mimics the appearance of a messy accident. Ensure it's believable but harmless. Watch their initial shock turn into relief as they discover the spill isn't real, creating a moment of shared laughter.
22. Airhorn Door Prank: Tape an airhorn to the inside of a door so it goes off when someone opens or closes it.
23. The Seed Board: Replace a colleague's whiteboard markers with dry-erase markers that write in plant seed ink (available in prank shops). When they try to write, the ink will eventually sprout into tiny plants.
24. Voice-activated Printer: Put up a sign on the office printer saying it's now voice-activated, confusing everyone who tries to print.
25. Out-of-Order Signs: Place out-of-order signs on the bathroom stalls or urinals that are actually functioning. Watch as coworkers awkwardly navigate to find a usable facility, only to realize later that the signs were fake.
26. Fruit Keyboard: Replace a colleague's keyboard keys with pieces of fruit (like small grapes or cherries).
27. Rubber Band Mouse: Secure a rubber band around a colleague's computer mouse sensor for a non-functional mouse prank.
28. Fake Spider Surprise: Place a realistic-looking fake spider on a coworker's desk or chair for a brief scare.
Best Funny Office Pranks:
29. Alarm Clock Setback: Set an alarm clock or timer to go off at unexpected times in a colleague's office or cubicle.
30. Voice-activated Desk Drawers: Place labels on a colleague's desk drawers claiming they open with voice commands like "Open top drawer." Observe as they repeatedly try to command the drawers open before discovering they still need to pull them manually.
31. Moving Icons: Use a colleague's computer to subtly rearrange their desktop icons when they're away.
32. Invisible Office: Cover a colleague's entire workspace with clear plastic wrap or multiple sheets of bubble wrap for a see-through prank.
33. Phone Prank Call: Use a colleague's phone reciever to set up a harmless prank call or message. For example, record a funny voicemail greeting pretending to be from “The Department of Fun” or arrange for a friend to call with a humorous inquiry.
34. Anyone in the Washroom? Prank: Place a life-size cutout or mannequin in a bathroom stall to give colleagues a surprise when they open the door.
35. Shrinking Screen: Use computer settings to zoom in slightly on a colleague's screen, making everything appear larger.
36. Fake Email Autocomplete: Change a colleague's email settings to suggest funny or nonsensical words when they type. For example, set “best regards” to autocomplete to “fluffy unicorns” or “meeting” to “dancing llamas.” As they compose emails, they will encounter these unexpected phrases, creating moments of confusion and amusement before they realize it's a prank.
37. Voice-activated Light Switches: Place signs next to light switches indicating they are now voice-activated. Colleagues will try saying “Lights on” or “Lights off,” only to realize they still need to use the switch manually.
38. Costumed Visitor: Dress up in a bizarre costume, like a dinosaur or superhero, and stand casually in the bathroom. The sight of someone in a full costume washing their hands or using the facilities will leave coworkers amused and bewildered.
Best Office Pranks with Office Supplies:
39. Broken Office Chair: Remove or loosen a wheel on a colleague's office chair to make it wobble or unstable. You can also find an old office chair with faulty parts and swap it with their current one. The unexpected instability will surprise them, creating a light-hearted moment of confusion and laughter in the office.
40. Fake Desktop Icons: Create fake icons on a colleague's desktop that lead to funny or quirky websites or programs.
41. Mystery Keyboard Letters: Use a colleague's keyboard to randomly rearrange a few keys for a typing challenge.
42. Fake Virus Warning: Use a colleague's computer to set up a harmless fake virus warning or pop-up message.
43. Freeze the Desktop: Take a screenshot of a colleague's desktop and set it as their wallpaper, hiding all real icons.
44. Paperclip Disaster: Swap a colleague's staples with paperclips to create a small but noticeable desk surprise. Carefully remove all the staples from their stapler and fill it with paperclips. When they attempt to staple something, they'll be puzzled by the unexpected supply switch, leading to a moment of lighthearted confusion.
Office Pranks for Coworkers on Vacation:
45. Cubicle Garden: While a coworker is on vacation, turn their cubicle into a mini garden. Fill it with potted plants and fake grass, giving it a jungle look.
46. Missing Desk: Temporarily relocate all of their desk items to a different part of the office or even to the break room. Leave a funny note on the desk fan which will be on the explaining their "new office location."
47. Tape Over Sensors: Cover sensors on a colleague's mouse or keyboard with tape to make them temporarily non-functional.
48. Switch Desktop Backgrounds: Swap a colleague's desktop background image with something humorous or unexpected.
49. Airhorn Mailbox Surprise: Place an airhorn inside a colleague's mailbox or inbox for a startling discovery.
Easy Office Pranks for Coworkers:
50. Phone Alarm Surprise: Set an alarm on a colleague's phone calls to go off at an inconvenient time during their workday.
51. Chrome Extension Office Joke: Install a harmless but funny Chrome extension on a colleague's browser. Examples include extensions that change all images to cat pictures or swap certain words with funny alternatives.
52. Fake Technical Glitch: Set up a harmless technical glitch on their computer, like a screensaver of a humorous image or a desktop icon that leads to a funny webpage.
53. Googly Eyes Office Prank: Stick googly eyes on items around the office — computer monitors, staplers, coffee machines, and more. The googly eyes will add a humorous touch to everyday objects.
54. Swap the Family Picture: Secretly replace a colleague’s family photo on their desk with a funny or absurd image. Watch how long it takes them to notice the switch and see their reaction when they do.
55. Supplies Switcheroo: Swap items in the office fridge with harmless alternatives for a refrigerator surprise. Also, swap the labels on coffee creamer or sugar containers to confuse colleagues during their morning brew.
56. Fake Security Alert: Post a harmless fake security alert or notice on a colleague's desk or computer screen.
57. Workstation Switcheroo: Swap the contents of two coworkers’ desks. They’ll be confused when they find their belongings at someone else’s workstation.
58. Presentation Mix-up: Before a presentation, secretly rearrange the slides to create a humorous or unexpected sequence, catching the presenter off guard.
Funny Office Pranks for April Fools' Day:
59. Fake Firing Frenzy: Arrange a mock termination letter on a piece of paper or email for a colleague, revealing the joke before any real concern sets in.
60. Office Party Switcheroo: Replace regular snacks with fun and unusual treats — like chocolate-covered vegetables or salty cupcakes — for a surprising twist at the office party.
61. Fake Meeting Reminder: Send out a calendar invite for a non-existent, absurdly-titled meeting like the “Annual Unicorn Strategy Session.” Watch as colleagues prepare for the unexpected event. This could be a funny office prank for April Fools' Day for the office gang.
62. Office Ghost: Use a fishing line to subtly move objects on a coworker’s desk when they’re not looking, creating the illusion of a haunted office.
63. Screen Flip: Use computer settings to rotate a colleague's screen display sideways for a brief visual twist.
64. Have an Oreo: Replace the filling of Oreos with toothpaste or another unexpected but safe substance. Offer them to colleagues and watch their reactions when they take a bite.
65. Glued Mouse Button: Apply a small amount of glue to a colleague's mouse button to temporarily disable it. Consider doing this with an old, broken mouse in the office storage rather than damaging the office’s usable devices.
These office pranks are designed to be harmless, and fun, and foster a positive atmosphere among coworkers. Also, ensure it's received in the spirit of humor and camaraderie.
In conclusion, while the best office pranks can add humor and camaraderie to the workplace, it's crucial to approach them with sensitivity and respect. Consider your colleagues' preferences and boundaries to ensure the prank is enjoyable for everyone involved.
Seek permission when necessary and avoid pranks that could cause embarrassment or disruption. Keep it light-hearted and ensure it doesn't interfere with productivity or office decorum. Ultimately, the best pranks bring laughter lines to your face without crossing any lines.
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