If you’re looking for a fun way to lighten the mood at home, pranks can provide the perfect opportunity for laughter and harmless fun. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 pranks to do at home that are safe, clever, and entertaining for the whole family. Each of these pranks can be pulled off with items commonly found around the house, so you’re ready for mischief anytime!

1. The Classic Fake Bug Scare

Everyone has that one person in the family who’s terrified of bugs. This prank plays on those fears with a fake insect placed in an unexpected location. Whether it’s in a shower, under a pillow, or inside a cereal box, this prank guarantees a scream.

Materials:

• Realistic fake bug (plastic or rubber)
• Adhesive or string (if needed)

Place the bug in a spot where it will be easily seen but only upon closer inspection. The shower is an excellent location since people are usually caught off guard when they’re least expecting it. This prank works every time and is harmless yet effective.

2. Soap That Won’t Lather

A hilarious and simple prank is to coat a bar of soap with clear nail polish. This prank is subtle, but the victim will be puzzled as they try to get the soap to lather up.

Materials:

• Bar of soap
• Clear nail polish

Coat the soap entirely with the clear nail polish and let it dry. When the prankee tries to use the soap, it will not lather no matter how hard they try.

3. Mentos and Soda Surprise

This prank is a modern classic. Drop a Mentos candy into a bottle of soda and close it immediately before offering it to someone to open. The ensuing eruption will take everyone by surprise.

Materials:

• Mentos candies
• 2-liter soda bottle

Slightly unscrew the cap of the soda bottle and carefully place a Mentos under the cap, ensuring the candy doesn’t drop in just yet. When the victim opens the bottle, the Mentos will fall into the soda, causing a volcanic reaction.

4. Fake Spilled Drink

Create the illusion of a drink spill on furniture or the floor using fake liquid. This prank gives a momentary shock before the person realizes it’s not real.

Materials:

• Craft glue
• Food coloring

Mix the glue and food coloring together and let it harden on a surface, such as wax paper. Once dry, you can place the faux spill on a couch or table to mimic a real mess.

5. Airhorn Under the Chair

This is a classic prank that uses an airhorn and a chair to startle the unsuspecting victim. Attach the airhorn to the bottom of a chair in such a way that when someone sits down, the horn blares.

Materials:

• Airhorn
• Tape or Velcro

Secure the airhorn under the seat cushion of a chair using tape or Velcro. When the target sits down, the pressure will activate the horn, creating a startling noise that will send everyone into fits of laughter.

6. The Computer Screen Flip

Messing with someone’s computer can lead to great pranking opportunities. Flipping the screen upside down is one of the easiest and least harmful computer pranks.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Right-click on the desktop.
2. Select “Display Settings.”
3. Find the “Orientation” setting and change it to “Landscape (flipped).”

Instructions for Mac:

1. Go to “System Preferences.”
2. Click “Displays.”
3. Hold down Command + Option and click “Rotation.”

When the person returns to their computer, they will be confused as to why their screen is upside down. This prank is easy to reverse, making it harmless fun.

7. Toothpaste Oreos

This prank involves replacing the creamy center of an Oreo cookie with toothpaste. The unsuspecting victim bites into what they think is a delicious treat, only to be met with the minty surprise of toothpaste.

Materials:

• Oreo cookies
• Toothpaste

Twist apart the Oreo cookies, scrape off the cream filling, and replace it with toothpaste. Press the cookies back together and serve them as usual.

8. The Frozen Cereal

Imagine waking up for a bowl of cereal, only to find your spoon stuck in a frozen block of milk! This simple prank is both funny and surprising for anyone who pours a bowl of cereal in the morning.

Materials:

• Cereal
• Milk
• Spoon

Prepare a bowl of cereal with milk and place it in the freezer overnight. In the morning, leave it out for your target. When they try to dig into their breakfast, they’ll find their spoon frozen solid in the milk.

9. The Saran Wrap Doorway

Saran wrap is the perfect tool for an invisible barrier prank. Place it across a doorway at shoulder height and wait for someone to walk right into it.

Materials:

• Saran wrap

Stretch the Saran wrap across the doorway, pulling it tight so that it’s not easily seen. When someone walks through the doorway, they will run right into it, causing surprise and laughter.

10. Remote Control Swap

If your household has multiple remote controls, this prank is easy to pull off. Swap the batteries between remotes, ensuring that they don’t function properly. Watching the frustration unfold as someone tries to change the channel or adjust the volume can be hilarious.

Materials:

• Two or more remote controls

Remove the batteries from the remote you want to disable and place them in a different one. When your target tries to use their usual remote, nothing will happen, leading to confusion and possibly a frantic search for new batteries.

Conclusion

Pulling off these top 10 pranks to do at home will ensure plenty of laughs, and none of them will cause any harm. Just remember to keep things lighthearted and fun—no prank is worth hurt feelings. For more ideas on responsible pranking, check out guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services on maintaining positive family relationships here. These pranks provide an excellent way to bond with family, bringing joy and laughter into the home in a way that’s memorable for everyone involved.