Best April Fool Pranks

As April first approaches, check out the best April Fool pranks to help you plan your own humorous attacks on friends and family. Prank them before they prank you!

1.

 Some of the best April Fool pranks have come from businesses with the money to pull off an impressive joke. For instance, in 1996 Taco Bell took out an ad in the April 1 edition of the New York Times claiming the restaurant had purchased the Liberty Bell as part of its corporate branding strategy. Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block has taken advantage of the day to replace the regularly-scheduled programming with cheesy 70s cartoons, add inappropriate sound effects to shows, and draw mustaches and top hats on characters. When April 1 rolls around, keep an eye out for the next corporate prank. You may not be able to participate, but you can certainly enjoy it.

2.

 This is an easy and effective prank to play in an office setting. If it's an optical mouse, place a piece of electrical tape over the sensor. If it's a roller-ball mouse, remove the ball and keep it in a safe place. However, you may want to keep an eye on your victim and stop him before he actually calls tech support.

3.

 While the victim is sleeping, set her clocks ahead one or two hours. The more clocks you can change throughout the house, the more effective the prank will be. This prank is easy to accomplish because most people are not at their most observant when they wake up early in the morning.

4.

 Sometimes the best April Fool pranks are as close as your computer printer. They're fast, fun, and practically free. For kids, FamilyFun offers a selection of printable April Fool pranks, including a maze with no solution and a word search that only contains the words "April Fools". Other possible pranks include creating fake parking tickets for friends, family, and coworkers or printing a fake memo to distribute at work.

5.

 Drop hints that you're planning a great April Fool's prank and then do absolutely nothing. Watch the victim peer carefully around corners, test every chair before sitting down, and not let his lunch out of his sight. The better your acting skills, the more you can watch the paranoia grow.

6.

 Select a small area and wrap everything, from chairs and computer monitors to pencils and notepads, in aluminum foil. The foil-covered objects create an impressive visual spectacle. It's also a nuisance to the person who has to unwrap everything without causing any permanent damage to his or her possessions. This prank is best used at the office, but it could also work at home by covering a computer desk or dresser.

7.

 A small prop can be all you need to create a quick and easy April Fool prank. You can find fake spills featuring everything from spilled nail polish to melting ice cream bars. While you won't win any creativity points with whoopee cushions, plastic bugs, or fake vomit, the moment of shock they provide can still be worth it.

8.

 Food pranks can really make an impact. Put salt in the sugar container, or add an unexpected dash of jalapeño to a sandwich. The reaction will be priceless. You do need to be careful of food allergies when making substitutions, so some food pranks aren't always appropriate.