A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
When it comes to the best gag gifts, it's better to give than to receive. Most are super affordable, and you're sure to bring on some laughs to the occasion!
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Buying gifts for friends, family members or co-workers shouldn’t feel stressful, especially when hunting for the best gag gifts. Even if you struggle to select the perfect present for someone who’s impossible to shop for, a gift that’s aimed to make them laugh is bound to bring the chuckles. Whether you’re shopping for a specific loved one or an unknown recipient at a white elephant gift exchange, we’ve got you covered.
Our funny gifts start at just $5 and most are under $20—though we’ve got a few splurges as well. They’re all family-friendly with a focus on good-natured humor—nothing to offend here. Some of these gag gift ideas target the quirkier people on your list while others are just cute gift ideas. From the stressed-out boss to your grandma’s dog, there’s something to bring a smile to the most unsuspecting gift recipient.
Pet parents will howl with delight when they open this one-of-a-kind custom portrait of their beloved fur baby. Simply upload a picture of their pet, select the size and frame you want and an artist will take care of the rest. Choose a sleek, modern portrait or give them a good laugh with the brand’s best-selling renaissance portraits. Whatever you decide, this is sure to be the best personalized gift for pet lovers they’ve ever received.
Whether they’re recovering from surgery or have a particular fondness for a certain part of their body, give them a plush organ to cuddle while they’re on the mend. There are tons of organs to choose from, and each comes with a fact-filled hangtag, so they’ll learn a thing or two while they recuperate.
The best gag gifts aren’t usually a splurge item, but hear us out on this one. If you’re willing to go above and beyond, a very special someone will be dazzled by this custom-made puppet created to look like them. This unique personalized gift is guaranteed to impress them for their birthday or an anniversary. Reviewers say the attention to detail and puppet quality is impressive, and your giftee will agree.
Whether your friend is fascinated by aliens or has a certain dark sense of humor, they’ll love the Adventures in the Abyss Dystopian Activity Book. This may be a gag gift, but puzzles and coloring are fun for all ages, even adults. This activity book features 87 pages of word searches, math puzzles, coloring pages, crossword puzzles, word jumbles, mazes, cryptograms, trivia, logic puzzles, creative writing prompts, Rebus puzzles and much more, each with its own dark twist.
On days when work is especially crazy, this desk dumpster pencil holder is sure to lighten the mood. It includes over 100 flame note cards that are sure to add a few laughs during even the most stressful projects. Getting a few laughs with gag gifts for around $10 has never been easier.
If you have a coworker in the office who can’t help but play jokes on their colleagues throughout the day, they’ll love this Screaming Goat figurine. On the most stressful days when everyone is silent and working hard, hearing the goat scream will immediately break the tension and even cause a few chuckles. The figurine also comes with a book with fun facts and trivia about everyone’s favorite farm animal.
If they don’t handle stress well, then give them this basket of emotional support dumplings because, well, why not? Each dumpling fits in the palm of their hand and has an adorable expression that’s sure to ease their troubles. Not feeling dumplings? That’s OK. There are plenty of comfort foods you can send, including emotional support chicken nuggets, lattes, hot dogs and more.
Girls who are all about glam and style still like to get silly and laugh with their friends. Try this unicorn snot body glitter gel to get a few tee-hees for sure. With seven fun color choices, you can pick her favorite hue, and she’ll love that this is safe for her skin, from head to toe. Our favorite color is flamingo, and we love that this gel dries clear, so it meshes fine after putting on her makeup. Note: It’s also fun to lather onto the arm and neck areas.
Anyone with a shine for felines will enjoy one of the most purr-fect gag gifts: this cat hair craft book. The whimsical goal is to help cat lovers transform stray clumps of fur into soft and adorable handicrafts. Talk about upcycling and living sustainably! From finger puppets to tote bags, this book provides lots of creative ideas, whether they ever make it off the page or not.
This ice cream sundae hair clip, which was inspired by Ghirardelli’s famous sundaes from San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, looks good enough to eat. But the joke’s on them because they can’t! Each clip is handmade, hand-painted and sure to be the cherry on top of every outfit they wear.
They might take the hint with this natural brain fuel supplement that helps with memory, focus and productivity. Hopefully, they’ll laugh and find some relief if they forget appointments throughout the day or can’t remember where they parked the car. We love that this product is caffeine-free but loaded with adaptogens and antioxidants.
Gifts for brothers can be hard to find, but this Despicable Me 4 Ultimate Fart Blaster toy is a spot-on gag gift. It boasts over 15 hilarious sounds and blows real fog fart rings. Not only that, but it emits real scents. They can blast you with a fart smell or take it easy and load a sweet banana scent instead. Come to think of it, the gag might be on you with this one!
New parents are used to getting all sorts of thoughtful baby gifts, but odds are that this hilarious Prank-O gift box will leave them speechless—at least until they open it and find your real gift inside. There are dozens of funny boxes to choose from. And since they’re all under $10, you can pick up one of these gag gifts for everyone on your list.
There’s a Chia version of everything—from Baby Yoda to The Golden Girls and even poop emojis—to buy as funny gag gifts. This Bob Ross Chia Head is ideal if you’re shopping for an art lover or just someone who loves to add an artsy vibe to their home or office. Tell them it’s a new DIY twist on a happy little tree.
It’s no secret that many men take an extremely long time in the bathroom. You might as well give them an activity while they’re in there with the toilet fishing game! It includes a mat, fish, rod, bowl and a “Do Not Disturb” sign—all the essentials for a visit to the loo.
With two color options, they can pick between black and pink for this hot and cold therapy hat. While migraines, aches and pains are no joke, this relief cap also helps to reduce tension and stress. It really works to block out the light and offers immediate relief from headaches and puffy eyes. Just leave it in the freezer for two hours between uses. It might look funny when they wear it over their whole face, but it can also be worn above the eyes (for when they’re at work). They’ll love the quick relief from one of the most thoughtful gag gifts.
There’s no better way to tell your main squeeze she’s hot than with Truff’s black truffle hot sauce using ingredients from Northern Italy and Mexico. Especially if she’s already shown you some of her culinary passions, let her know you care with this six-ounce bottle of romance that mixes heat and sweetness together, made from chili peppers, olive oil infused with black truffle essence, and organic agave nectar.
For that person in your life who always shares the next factoid about anything and everything—or for a fun coffee table book as a thoughtful housewarming gift—they’ll love The Book of Useless Information. This gag gift idea contains 704 pages of random trivia to enjoy in a marathon reading session, or they can keep it in the bathroom to make every moment a learning one.
You might be wondering why anyone needs a yodeling pickle (or why such a thing exists). Our best guess: It makes an ideal gift for a friend who already has everything—except for, well, a pickle that yodels. It comes with batteries for hours of mindless entertainment right out of the gift wrap. Talk about a fun Secret Santa gift!
The Fancy Sprinkles edible glitter adds colorful sparkle to foods and drinks, especially the ones a picky eater might refuse to eat. With no taste, odor or texture, this edible glitter won’t change the flavor, so it’s on you to convince your giftee that fairy-dusted broccoli is extra-delicious. Available in 14 different colors, you can also add these to fun drinks—our favorite is Moonstone Iridescent.
Ask anyone under the age of 18: Boogers are funny. To make that point, give ’em this quirky nose pencil sharpener, designed so the pencil goes in one nostril and the shavings come out the other. According to the manufacturer’s specifications, it’s “life-sized and lifelike”—assuming you know someone who snots out sawdust. Earn major cool-factor points by getting one as a back-to-school item that’s both fun and functional (if a little gross).
This trivia game for millennials and boomers will put the pressure on. It’s ideal for game night—or as a gag gift for an upcoming holiday party. Bring it out whenever someone needs to settle the score: Which generation is actually the smartest? It’s pretty basic—just divide into teams and start the quizzing. Good times are ahead with this game added to their collection, and hopefully, a Gen Xer will be there as a tie-breaker, if needed.
You love stopping by to see Grandma, but you’re not as excited about her little dog jumping up on your new pair of favorite jeans with a dirty bum. With a big smile and lots of good intentions, this practical gag gift will help her dog smell better, and you feel more hygienic when you visit. These hypoallergenic, fragrance-free pet wipes from Wipemate are ideal for dogs’ paws and bums—or for their face. You can expect them to remove dander, drool and discharge, as well as those cling-ons that just show up from around the house.
You know your coworker is the hero of their own story, but now you can make it official. With this personalized action figure box, you can turn them into the star of their own toy packaging—cape, catchphrase and all. It’s a hilarious gag gift that looks like it came straight off the toy aisle, only it’s completely customized with their face and name. Whether they’re battling deadlines, slaying spreadsheets or conquering the office coffee machine, this one-of-a-kind present will have the whole team cracking up.
Remember that the value of a gag gift is in how much joy it brings, usually upon opening it. That means these aren’t typically gifts with any kind of long-term value. As such, it doesn’t really make a lot of sense to spend too much on a gag gift. Luckily, plenty of gag gifts—including the ones on our list above—are around or under $50.
There’s not really a hard rule for when a gag gift is appropriate, but you should consider the occasion ahead of time. For instance, if it’s a dress-up event, like a nice family dinner, chances are a gag gift will not be well-received. However, a relaxed event with games and perhaps a few libations would be ideal. A white elephant party, where silliness is to be expected, is an even better occasion. As always, it’s also good to consider your audience, as some people don’t like gag gifts, regardless of the occasion.
Many gag gifts involve sensitive subjects, like stereotypes or sexuality. What makes one gag gift appropriate and another not has much more to do with the audience than the gifts themselves. For instance, gag gifts concerning drinking are probably not suitable for a younger crowd. Similarly, anything that touches on more serious subjects (like religion or politics) might be something you’ll want to avoid to prevent sparking any fights. If you’re unsure, you can always ask the host of the gift exchange what the limits are and whether a gift you’re considering is inappropriate.
Marisa Hillman is a seasoned writer with bylines in WE TV, PopSugar, U.S. News & World Report and Gourmet Insider. A certified literacy specialist and former teacher, she brings a keen eye for clarity and practicality to her work. Marisa covers personal finance, travel and retail with a focus on helping readers make smarter decisions—whether that’s finding budget-friendly solutions, planning a family trip or choosing the perfect gift.
Paul Rankin, Content Updates Editor at Reader’s Digest, updated and contributed research to this article. Paul also writes for Family Handyman, Bob Vila and Taste of Home and has written shopping guides since 2021.
