30 Best April Fools Jokes – Best Friendly Pranks

Last Updated on March 15, 2023 by Andrew

Are you looking to bring some laughter and fun into your life this April 1st? 

If you are, look no further than the art of pranking! April Fools’ Day is the perfect opportunity to play jokes on your loved ones and colleagues, and we’ve got you covered with some of the best pranks to try out. 

From harmless and silly pranks to elaborate hoaxes that will leave everyone fooled, we’ve compiled a list of ideas to suit all tastes and levels of prankster experience. 

So get ready to unleash your creativity, grab some props, and let’s get to it!

What’s April Fools And When Did It Start? 

April Fools’ Day is a light-hearted holiday celebrated on the first of April every year. It’s a day when people play practical jokes and pull harmless pranks on their friends and family members. The origins of April Fools’ Day are unclear, but there are several theories about how the holiday started.

One theory suggests that April Fools’ Day originated in France during the reign of King Charles IX. In 1564, France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, which meant that the new year began on January 1st instead of April 1st. However, some people continued to celebrate the new year on April 1st, and they were ridiculed by those who followed the new calendar. This is believed to have led to the tradition of playing pranks on April 1st as a way of mocking those who still celebrated the new year on a wrong day.

Another theory links the origins of April Fools’ Day to the ancient Roman festival of Hilaria, which was celebrated at the end of March and involved people wearing masks and playing pranks on each other.

Regardless of its origins, April Fools’ Day has become a popular holiday around the world. People often plan elaborate pranks, such as fake lottery tickets or fake job promotions, to trick their friends and family members. In some countries, like the United Kingdom, newspapers and television stations have even been known to play elaborate pranks on their audiences.

While some people may find April Fools’ Day to be a silly and frivolous holiday, others see it as an opportunity to let loose and have some fun with the people they care about.

When Is April Fools Day? 

April Fools’ Day is celebrated annually on the 1st of April.

30 Best April Fool Jokes

Here are 30 April Fool’s Day jokes:

The Classic Fake Spider Prank

Place a fake spider in someone’s desk drawer or on their chair. When they see it, they’ll jump in surprise! To make this prank even more effective, use a realistic-looking fake spider that moves or jumps when activated.

The Fake Parking Ticket

Create a fake parking ticket and put it on someone’s windshield. They’ll be fooled into thinking they have a real parking violation! To make this prank more believable, use a realistic-looking ticket template and include details like the time and location of the supposed violation.

The Switcharoo

Switch the contents of two different cereal boxes or other food items in the pantry. When your target goes to make breakfast, they’ll be in for a surprise! For added fun, switch the labels on the boxes as well to really confuse them.

The Fake Lottery Ticket

Create a fake lottery ticket with matching numbers to a recent drawing. Give it to someone as a gift and watch their excitement turn to disappointment when they realize it’s a fake.

The Fake Job Promotion

Create a fake email or letter announcing a job promotion for your target. When they excitedly share the news with coworkers, reveal the prank.

The Fake Pregnancy Announcement

Announce a fake pregnancy on social media or in person. Watch as your target’s excitement turns to confusion when they realize it’s just a joke.

The Invisible Ink Message

Write a message in invisible ink and leave it for someone to find. They’ll have to decipher the message using a black light or another special tool.

The Fake News Story

Create a fake news story or article about something outrageous and share it on social media. Watch as people fall for the hoax and share the story with others.

The Fake Dog Poop

Place fake dog poop on someone’s shoe or in their yard. They’ll be grossed out until they realize it’s just a fake.

The Fake Spilled Drink

Create a fake spill on someone’s desk or table using glue or other materials. Watch as they try to clean it up before realizing it’s not real.

The Fake Phone Call

Pretend to receive a phone call and act out an outrageous conversation in front of your target. Watch as they try to figure out what’s going on.

The Fake Car Accident

Create a fake car accident scene using cardboard or other materials. Watch as people slow down to see what happened.

The Fake Parking Space

Create a fake parking space by painting lines on the ground in an unusual location. Watch as people try to park there before realizing it’s not a real space.

The Fake Fart

Use a whoopee cushion or another device to create fake fart sounds. Watch as people try to figure out where the smell is coming from.

The Fake Broken Screen

Create a fake cracked screen on someone’s phone or computer. Watch as they try to figure out what happened to their device.

The Fake Tattoo

Create a fake tattoo using a temporary tattoo or other materials. Watch as your target tries to figure out how you got the tattoo or why you chose that design.

The Fake Injury

Use makeup or other materials to create a fake injury or wound. Watch as people try to figure out what happened and if you need medical attention.

The Fake Ghost

Create a fake ghost or paranormal activity using props or other materials. Watch as people try to figure out if the place is really haunted.

The Fake Weather Report

Create a fake weather report predicting unusual or extreme weather conditions. Watch as people prepare for the weather that never comes.

The Fake Winning Ticket

Create a fake winning lottery ticket and give it to someone as a gift. Watch as they get excited before realizing it’s not real.

The Fake Snake

Use a fake snake or other creepy creature to scare someone. Watch as they jump in fright before realizing it’s not real.

The Fake Broken Item

Use a broken item and glue it back together in a way that looks like it’s been fixed. Watch as someone tries to use the item before realizing it’s still broken.

The Fake Birthday Cake

Make a fake birthday cake out of materials like cardboard and frosting. Watch as someone tries to cut into it before realizing it’s not real.

The Fake Language

Use a made-up language or pretend to speak in a different language. Watch as people try to understand what you’re saying.

The Fake Haircut

Pretend to cut someone’s hair without actually cutting it. Watch as they try to figure out if you’re a skilled hairstylist or just pulling a prank.

The Fake Job Interview

Pretend to be a job interviewer and ask outrageous or strange questions. Watch as the interviewee tries to figure out what’s going on.

The Fake Radio Show

Pretend to host a radio show with outrageous topics and fake callers. Watch as people try to call in and participate.

The Fake Restaurant Menu

Create a fake menu for a restaurant with outrageous items like “deep-fried water.” Watch as people try to figure out if it’s a joke or a real restaurant.

The Fake Customer

Pretend to be a customer with outrageous demands or complaints. Watch as employees try to figure out how to handle the situation.

The Fake Wedding

Pretend to get married in a fake ceremony with outrageous outfits and decorations. Watch as people try to figure out if it’s a real wedding or just a prank.

20 Best April Fool Ideas For Students 

Here are some of the best April fool ideas for students so they can prank their teachers or headmasters in a polite and fun way: 

The Upside-Down Classroom

Turn the classroom upside down by placing desks, chairs, and other classroom items on the ceiling. You can use tape or string to hang them from the ceiling. This prank requires a bit of planning and execution, but it can be a memorable one.

The Fake Test

Create a fake test with ridiculous questions or answers and hand it out to the class. Watch as the teacher tries to figure out what’s going on.

The Disappearing Desk

Remove one of the teacher’s desks and leave a note saying it’s been confiscated. Watch as they try to figure out what’s going on.

The Name Swap

Swap the name tags on the teacher’s desk and another teacher’s desk. Watch as they try to figure out why their names have been switched.

The Switcheroo

Switch the content of two different classes. For example, switch the math teacher’s lesson plan with the history teacher’s lesson plan. Watch as the teachers try to figure out what’s going on.

The Spelling Mistake

Make a spelling mistake on the board or in a handout and see if the teacher catches it. This prank is simple but effective.

The Fake Announcement

Create a fake school announcement and have it read out loud during class. Watch as the teacher tries to figure out what’s going on.

The Locked Out

Have a student dress up as a security guard and “lock out” the teacher from their own classroom. Watch as they try to figure out how to get back in.

The Talking Desk

Set up a small Bluetooth speaker on the teacher’s desk and have a student speak through it at unexpected times. Watch as the teacher tries to figure out where the voice is coming from.

The Superfan

Have a student dress up as the teacher’s biggest fan and follow them around all day. Watch as the teacher tries to figure out what’s going on.

The Disappearing Chalk

Replace the teacher’s chalk with disappearing chalk that fades away as they write on the board.

The Mirror Image

Replace the teacher’s computer background with a mirrored image of their original background. Watch as they try to figure out why everything looks reversed.

The Sticky Classroom

Cover the teacher’s desk, chairs, and other classroom items with sticky notes. Watch as they try to remove them all.

The Student for a Day

Have a student dress up as the teacher and teach the class for a short period of time. Watch as the real teacher tries to figure out what’s going on.

The Fake Quiz

Create a fake quiz that looks real but has ridiculous answers. Watch as the teacher tries to grade it.

The Switched Supplies

Switch the contents of the teacher’s supply drawers with other items, like toys or snacks. Watch as they try to find their pens and markers.

The Mixed Up Posters

Rearrange the posters and decorations in the classroom, like turning all the motivational posters upside down. Watch as the teacher tries to figure out why everything looks different.

The Disappearing Books

Remove a few books from the teacher’s bookshelf and replace them with fake book covers. Watch as they try to figure out what happened to their missing books.

The Voice Changer

Use a voice changer app to alter the student’s voices during class participation. Watch as the teacher tries to figure out who is speaking.

The Sneaky Student

Have a student “sneak” into the classroom and hide somewhere during class. Watch as the teacher tries to figure out who is missing and where they went.

While pranking teachers on April Fool’s Day can be fun, it’s important to remember to be respectful and not cross any boundaries. Also, make sure to clean up after your prank and apologize if you go too far.

20 Best April Fools Pranks On Teachers 

Here are some ideas for teacher-friendly pranks:

The Fake Substitute

Dress up as a substitute teacher and walk into the classroom. Watch as the real teacher tries to figure out who you are.

The Grade Swap

Create fake report cards or grade sheets with ridiculous grades for the teacher. Watch as they try to figure out what’s going on.

The Good News, Bad News

Give the teacher a fake good news/bad news scenario. For example, “The good news is you’re getting a raise. The bad news is you have to move to Antarctica to get it.” Watch as the teacher reacts to the news.

The Sticky Note

Cover the teacher’s desk, chair, and other classroom items with sticky notes. Watch as they try to remove them all.

The Invisible Ink

Write on the board with invisible ink that only appears when you turn on the black light. Watch as the teacher tries to figure out what’s going on.

The Broken Pencil Sharpener

Glue the blades of the pencil sharpener together so it won’t work. Watch as the teacher tries to sharpen their pencil.

The Fake Quiz

Create a fake quiz with ridiculous questions or answers. Watch as the teacher tries to grade it.

The Misplaced Items

Move the teacher’s belongings, like their coffee mug or favorite pen, to a different spot. Watch as they try to find them.

The “Accidental” Spill

“Accidentally” spill water or juice on the teacher’s shirt or pants. Offer to help them clean up, but watch as they realize it’s just a prank.

The Swap

Switch the teacher’s chair with a different one. Watch as they try to figure out why their chair feels different.

The Mysterious Message

Leave a mysterious message on the teacher’s board, like “I know what you did last summer.” Watch as the teacher tries to figure out who left the message and what it means.

The Switched Schedule

Switch the teacher’s schedule with another teacher’s schedule. Watch as they show up to the wrong class.

The Silent Class

Have everyone in the class be completely silent for the entire class period. Watch as the teacher tries to get the class to participate.

The Musical Chairs

Play musical chairs with the desks while the teacher is out of the room. Watch as the teacher tries to figure out what happened to their organized classroom.

The Hidden Supplies

Hide the teacher’s supplies, like staplers or paper clips, in different places around the classroom. Watch as the teacher tries to find them.

The Disguised Students

Have a few students dress up in disguises and pretend to be new students. Watch as the teacher tries to figure out who they really are.

The Prank Calls

Call the teacher’s phone and pretend to be someone else. Watch as the teacher tries to figure out who is calling and what they want.

The Food Swap

Switch the teacher’s lunch with someone else’s lunch. Watch as they try to figure out why their sandwich tastes different.

The Altered Lesson Plan

Change the lesson plan for the day to something completely ridiculous, like learning how to speak dolphin. Watch as the teacher tries to adapt to the new plan.

The Overload

Flood the teacher’s inbox with fake emails, like a thousand copies of the same message. Watch as they try to sift through the messages to find the important ones.

Do you think we missed out any good pranks in the article that we made above? Let us know if we did by leaving a comment in the comments section that we have down below!