Most employees are usually overworked. And they need a dose of humor from time to time.

Have you been on the lookout for some of the best prank ideas that will make your colleagues happy without harming them?

We have prepared a list of 16 pranks that can make work fun and as a result, more enjoyable.

However, before we get into the prank staff, let’s discuss the importance, benefits, and limitations.

  • Benefits And Importance Of Office Pranks
  • How To Prank Your Coworkers
  • 16 Office Pranks Guaranteed To Generate Laughs
  • Important disclosure: we're proud affiliates of some tools mentioned in this guide. If you click an affiliate link and subsequently make a purchase, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (you pay nothing extra).

    Benefits And Importance Of Office Pranks

    Using non-offensive and healthy humor at work can brighten up a dull workday. 😏

    Successful fun office pranks will put a smile on most peoples’ faces, which can help boost productivity and performance in the long run.

    Practical jokes used by co-workers and managers can help in the formation of strong teams and increase functionality.

    If you manage a team, pranks and jokes are a great way to connect with peers and boost motivation.

    Scientific research has shown that employees who have fun while working tend to be more productive, creative, and better decision-makers.

    Improved productivity means fewer late, absentee, and sick days. 💪

    Office pranks can help with:

    • Increasing employee engagement
    • Boosting positivity and eradicating toxicity
    • Decreasing stress and burnout
    • Promoting a fantastic company culture
    • Allowing rejuvenation and relaxation
    • Decreasing absenteeism

    Jokes and pranks can help organizations and employees function better to increase their chances of success.

    While toxicity, stress, and work pressure tend to burden employees, the fun elements that we are about to discuss will help them have moments of joy and relief.

    Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and ADHD are quite common among professionals.

    Most people have a hard time maintaining a balanced relationship in the workplace and home.

    Therefore, using humor in the workplace will help in creating a cheerful and comfortable environment. 🤣

    How To Prank Your Coworkers

    In this section, we’ll talk about the rules that you should follow when pranking your colleagues.

    Office pranks can put you and your job at risk if done in an unwarranted manner.

    Therefore, keep these few pranking rules in mind to avoid offending your colleagues. ❗

    No Anger Involved 😇

    The main aim of office pranks is having fun and sharing laughter. They should not be vindictive; your pranks shouldn’t involve a sense of revenge or anger.

    Pranks should be a happy exercise. If your jokes tend to make your peers angry, you should avoid them or risk facing the consequences. Nobody wants angry coworkers.

    Don't Destroy Property 🙌🏽

    Destruction of property is the one thing you should avoid while pranking your colleagues.

    The last thing you want is getting slapped by huge bills after sharing laughter with your employees. As a prankster, your number one goal should be to protect office property.

    Work Must Continue 👩🏾‍💻

    As you have fun with your coworkers, you need to ensure that work disruption is minimal.

    You don’t want to lose a potential client just because you were having fun at the office.

    The office prank aims to boost productivity and performance, not to have it affected adversely.

    Avoid Illegal Stuff 🙅🏽‍♀️

    In simple words, your prank shouldn't involve discrimination, drugs, or personalized jokes on color, gender, race, and sexuality, to name a few.

    You should also avoid pranks that are linked to physical, sexual, and mental harassment.

    Do Not Cross Boundaries ❌

    Our final rule is a summation of all the rules that we’ve discussed. You should not cross any line that may harm an individual’s sentiments in the name of pranking.

    The last thing you want to do is make enemies in the name of pranking.

    It doesn’t have only to be April Fools or Halloween to have some fun at work. When you execute simple pranks respectfully, you’ll end up having an inclusive and diverse workplace, without producing some angry coworkers.

    Now let’s get to the fun part of this article! Here are our favorite pranks that will bring smiles and laughs to the entire office.

    16 Office Pranks Guaranteed To Generate Laughs

    1. Body Spray Bomb 🪑

    2. Family Photo Swap 👨‍👩‍👦

    3. Monitor Mayhem 💻

    4. Fake Computer Update 🔧

    5. Hidden Box Trick 🎁

    6. Forecast Calls For Packing Peanuts 🥜

    7. Bats 🦇

    8. Sleeping Beauty 😴

    9. Head In A Jar 👹

    10. Phantom Paper Clip 📎

    11. TP Spider 🧻

    12. Bugs In The Lamp 💡

    13. Wrapping Paper 🎀

    14. Sticky Notes 😁

    15. Freeze The Desktop 🤭

    16. Balloon Surprise 🎈

    1. Body Spray Bomb 🪑

    This one was developed by Jessie Montz, the queen of pranksters. The body spray bomb involves rigging up a body spray bottle underneath the victim’s chair so that when he or she sits, the bottle spray gets triggered. You’ll need:

    • A bottle of foul-smelling body spray
    • Office Chair
    • Duct tape
    • Clothespin

    Step 1: Adjust the chair slightly so that it barely gives when the victim sits on it.

    Step 2: Duct tape the body spray bottle directly under the seat so that when the chair goes down, it depresses the bottle

    Step 3: Use a clothespin to plug your nose. The last thing you want is to smell that stuff directly in close range.

    Step 4: Everyone laughs, including the victim

    2. Family Photo Swap 👨‍👩‍👦

    Video Source: YouTube

    Do co-workers keep a photo of a loved one on their desk? Well, it’s time to appreciate some of the greatest actors in Hollywood.

    You should replace family pictures with photos of their favorite but weird celebrity.

    3. Monitor Mayhem 💻

    Monitor mayhem is one of the best tricks that will have your colleagues thinking and scratching their heads. You’ll need a computer screen, 15 seconds and some fingers.

    Step 1: When the victim isn’t looking, sneak into his or her computer.

    Step 2: Flip the screen. Key in alt and ctrl to facilitate screen rotation.

    If it’s a Mac, you should visit the preferences section and click the Display tab. From there, you can choose a rotation of 180 degrees on the menu.

    Remember that this only works with external displays. When you’re done, close the system preferences.

    Step 3: Return to your desk and try not to smile as your colleague tries to figure out how to make take things back to normal.

    4. Fake Computer Update 🔧

    Image Source: fakeupdate.net

    The site fakeupdate.net has created a realistic update animation to make coworkers think their computer is in the middle of an important slow system update.

    The funny thing is the update will never finish.

    Status bars creep forward and backward. And when your colleague hits the enter key, a blue screen and other funny but frightening messages will appear.

    Step 1: Sneak your colleague’s computer and visit the site fakeupdate.net.

    Step 2: Select the operating system. (For maximum confusion, select a Windows PC for a Mac OS and vice versa.)

    Step 3: Click on the ‘maximize’ to the full-screen button.

    Step 4: Move away to avoid getting caught in the act

    5. Hidden Box Trick 🎁

    For this trick to work, there are certain things that you’ll need:

    • Packing tape
    • 5-6 moving boxes of different sizes, including a large container.
    • A co-conspirator
    • Patience

    Step 1: Put together the boxes with packing tape and place them in the cubicle of your colleague or their office. It should look like facilities set several moving boxes in the wrong section.

    Step 2: Hide the largest box. And have your co-conspirator tape up the box. However, cut the tape to make it easy to breakthrough.

    Step 3: Sit down and wait.

    Step 4: Wait for the victim to return. As soon as you hear them complaining about facilities and their boxes, jump out of the box and yell something funny like “Jumanji!”

    Step 5: Laugh like a crazy person.

    6. Forecast Calls For Packing Peanuts 🥜

    We’ve probably seen the trick version of “fill the cubicle of your colleague with peanuts.”

    And while it’s amazing, it’s probably been done before. It’s time for someone to elevate this trick to a greater height.

    Go slow and create a wonderland any time of the year by filling the overhead shelves of your co-worker’s cubicle with peanuts. You’ll need:

    • A strip of cardboard
    • Three packs of peanuts
    • A cubicle with overhead cabinets

    Step 1: When your colleague is away, fill the cabinets with peanuts. Use the cardboard strip to store the peanuts in place as you close the cabinet. And slide it out when the cabinet gets shut.

    Step 2: Make a mental note of the items your colleague keeps in the cabinet, for example, a stapler, ruler, or book. Pick up stray packing peanuts to avoid tipping your hand.

    Step 3: Once they are back at the desk, come and ask for an item that they store in the cabinet.

    Step 4: Laugh as packed peanuts rain on his head.

    Step 5: Getaway

    7. Bats 🦇

    You have to know your co-worker’s greatest fear to get this right.

    Step 1: Find a colleague with a phobia. There has to be someone afraid of snakes, bats, or rats in the office.

    Step 2: Exploit the fear by filling their desk with rubber versions of the things they fear most. The more realistic they look, the better.

    Step 3: This is one of the moments that you should catch on video. Therefore, ensure that you have a recording device that ready to go.

    This is an excellent prank because your colleague will appreciate that you took the time to learn something unique about them. Or they’ll hate you forever.

    8. Sleeping Beauty 😴

    Do you have a colleague who can't keep their eyes open at some point during the day? It’s time for them to stay awake.

    Step 1: Wait for your colleague to sleep.

    Step 2: Gather your team. It’s essential to have as many people as you can next to the victim.

    Step 3: Visit the local print shop and have a big poster printed.

    Step 4: Hang the poster in the hallway for everyone to see.

    Who knows, this might ensure that this coworker never doses off during work hours again. They will surely remember this scary, yet funny office experience.

    9. Head In A Jar 👹

    Video Source: YouTube

    This great prank will need some photo editing skills. However, it’s worth it. You’ll need:

    • A good camera
    • A color printer that can print legal size paper
    • Lamination machine
    • A wig
    • A gallon jar
    • Yellow food coloring

    Step 1: Have someone take three photos: one straight and two side profiles.

    Step 2: Use photoshop to blend these photos to make a single continuous image. Ensure that the resolution is enough to print 11x17” paper

    Step 3: Print and laminate the photo

    Step 4: Place the photo in a jar and wrap the edges

    Step 5: Fill the water and add drops to the yellow food coloring

    Step 6: Place the wig in the jar to make it look realistic

    Step 7: Place your creation in the company’s fridge, and watch the madness unfold with your unsuspecting coworker!

    10. Phantom Paper Clip 📎

    The phantom paper clip is a simple prank that can be pulled off with the use of office supplies.

    Step 1: Place your paperclip in the left-hand upside corner of the company’s copier scanning bed. Ensure that you position it exactly where the paper clip should be placed.

    Step 2: Create around 200 copies or more if you can

    Step 3: Insert the copies back to the tray of the printer.

    Step 4: Watch your colleagues getting confused as they try to do away with non-existent clips.

    11. TP Spider 🧻

    Image Source: Crafty Morning

    This is another simple yet effective prank. All you’ll need is a black fountain pen.

    Step 1: Visit the bathroom and unroll some tissue paper.

    Step 2: Draw a black widow spider on the roll’s top. The black outline that contrasts against the paper will catch the victim’s eyes and cause some panic.

    Step 3: Laugh at the victim.

    This prank works really well if the spider looks as realistic as possible!

    12. Bugs In The Lamp 💡

    Like the prank that we’ve discussed earlier, bugs in the lamp will make your victim think that creepy insects are attacking them. You’ll need:

    • Scissors
    • Black paper
    • A desk lamp
    • Tape

    Step 1: Use paper and scissors to cut out the nastiest bugs that you can think of. These include spiders, cockroaches, and black bees.

    Step 2: Place your cutouts in a lampshade and fix them. They’ll remain invisible until the victim decides to turn on the lights.

    Step 3: Get ready for screams.

    Classics That’ll Simply Never Fade:

    13. Wrapping Paper 🎀

    Image Source: Insider

    This funny office prank is relatively easy. All you need to do is wrap the chair, desk, and computer with shiny wrapping paper.

    When your co-worker walks into their working area or office, you’ll be amazed by their reaction.

    14. Sticky Notes 😁

    Decorate the victim’s desk or car with sticky notes. For someone who doesn’t use sticky notes a lot, this is a good prank.

    15. Freeze the Desktop 🤭

    This is one of those office prank ideas that never get old. Take a screenshot of the computer screen of your victim and set it as the wallpaper desktop.

    Don’t forget to hide shortcuts, folders, and other files on the desktop. Sit back and laugh with your friends.

    16. Balloon Surprise 🎈

    Most people celebrate birthdays at work. And some humor is always encouraged during this day. Instead of icing the cake, ice the balloon.

    Let the victim cut the cake for it to burst.

    Got Some Ideas?

    Office pranks can boost everyone's mood, even the coworker being pranked will have a smile on their face in the end.

    Hopefully these funny office prank ideas get the ideas flowing and lead you to making that unsuspecting coworker's day a little more fun.

    Get pranking!