Harmless And Hilarious Halloween Pranks To Scare Your Friends Silly

Emily IzsakLifestyle31 Oct 2018

People spend a lot of their time and energy on the treat part of trick-or-treating. We as a country aren't doing a very good job of upholding the trick part. This list is full of pranks that you can pull on your unsuspecting friends.

If you give them a treat after you scare them, they'll probably forgive you. Keep reading to learn how you can send your whole office into a state of panic, and how you can make it look like your dog has eaten you.

An Unwelcome Surprise

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Imagine biting into a delicious chocolate bonbon (who calls them bonbons anymore?) only to discover that you've actually just eaten a chocolate covered Brussels sprout?

I actually love Brussels sprouts, and I love chocolate, but I don't love those two foods together. I guess this is one way to get your kids to eat their vegetables.

Creepy Crawly Toilet Paper

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Nobody wants to see a spider when they go to unroll some toilet paper. I don't ever want to see a spider, if I'm being honest.

I know they eat pests and they help support some delicate ecosystems, but I think "out of sight, out of mind" is the best spider policy.

Take A Note From Jimmy Kimmel

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Every year after Halloween, Jimmy Kimmel invites parents everywhere to prank their kids and catch the whole thing on video. Apparently, if you tell your kid that you ate all of their Halloween candy, they're going to have a pretty hilarious reaction.

This is a little bit mean, but it's all in good fun.

Cockaroach Doughnuts

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You know what's better than cockroaches? Everything. Everything is better than cockroaches. You know what's better than doughnuts? Almost nothing. What happens when you combine the worst thing and the best thing? You've got a pretty good Halloween prank.

You have to be pretty good at baking to pull this one off, though.

You Failed The Test

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Speaking of doughnuts, how about pranking your co-workers with an empty doughnut box and a healthy vegetable platter?

This prank is as harmless as it gets. Except that people will probably be pretty angry when they find out that you didn't bring them any doughnuts.

So Simple, Yet So Scary

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Here's a prank that your dog will absolutely love. Step 1: get your doggo a giant bone. Step 2: put an old shoe on the end of that bone. Step 3: give the bone to your dog and let him out in the yard.

Wait until your neighbors catch a glimpse of this!

Like A Moth To A Lamp

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It's no secret that bugs love lamps. Something about the heat and the warm glow just lights them up inside. That's why this Halloween prank is totally believable.

Just printout some silhouettes of spooky bugs, cut them out, and tape them to the inside of a lampshade.

I Wouldn't Open That If I Were You

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Obviously, you shouldn't put a bunch of bees in a box and mail them to your friends. That's a really bad idea. You can pretend that you mailed a bunch of bees to your friends, though.

Fill a box like this with some Halloween treats, but make your friends super nervous about opening it.

I'm Actually Terrified

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This Halloween prank is next level genius. If I saw a cup like this in my office, I think I'd have a heart attack.

The little hole is a nice touch. It adds an element of realism that's just way too spooky for me. Try this prank out in your workplace— if you dare.

A Cheeto Cheat

Photo Credit: Strange Beaver / Pinterest

We all like the feeling of getting a bag of Cheetos in our trick-or-treat bags. They're a nice, crunchy snack that we can all appreciate.

Imagine opening a bag of Cheetos and finding baby carrots inside? Now that would be pretty scary. I like carrots as much as the next guy, but when I'm promised Cheetos, I want Cheetos.

This One Is Just Plain Mean

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I can think of very few things scarier than a broken mouse. I definitely think that this prank is Halloween appropriate. I just never want anybody to do this to me.

Don't mess with my ability to access funny pictures on the internet. That's just not cool.

An Infestation

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And we thought one spider on your toilet paper was bad...

This might not be so scary in the daytime, but when you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and you're not fully conscious yet, this would scare the you-know-what out of you.

A Fidget Spinner Disaster

Photo Credit: @hellomaphie / Twitter

I think the scariest thing about this picture is that this person still thinks Fidget Spinners are relevant. It's not 2017 anymore, Karen. It's time to put the annoying toys away.

Still, this prank might make a few people squirm. It's worth a try if you have a spare Fidget Spinner lying around.

This Is Not Okay

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Candy apples are the best Halloween food. I might even say that they're the best fall food. I love a good Pumpkin Spice Latte, but there's something about a candy apple that just reminds me of my childhood.

That's why this prank is so evil. A candy onion just shouldn't be a thing.

The Scariest Baby Face

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This Halloween DIY involves starching some sheets of gauze over a doll head until you have this ghostly creation. Hang this up in somebody's room to give them a real fright.

Babies are pretty scary on their own, but a floating baby head is a whole new level of terrifying.

Ruin Your Yard For A Prank

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If you feel like digging a hole in your backyard for the sole purpose of freaking out a few of your friends, then this prank is for you.

If you're a responsible homeowner with real responsibilities you might want to just keep scrolling. I love a good prank, but I love my yard just a little bit more.

Soap Fingers

Photo Credit: etsy / Pinterest

A couple of these by your bathroom sink will really freak out the guests at your next Halloween party. You can buy these on Etsy, or you can get a finger mold (or make a mold of your own fingers) and make them yourself.

Halloween is all about getting creative.

This Shouldn't Be Allowed

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If you really want to make people angry this year, you can put a whole bunch of similarly shaped candies into one bowl. Halloween isn't just about the candy. It's about working for your candy. That's what trick-or-treating is all about.

Adults should have to work for their candy too.

The Spookiest Shower

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Ok, I'm not sure how harmless this prank is. I'd be pretty mad if someone put powdered Kool-Aid in my shower head. That's what this is, by the way. It isn't blood. It's Kool-Aid.

I feel like it would make my hair all sticky and I would have to waste so much water getting the Kool-Aid powder out of the shower system.

A DIY Ghost

Photo Credit: 5-Minute Crafts / YouTube

To make this super spooky ghost, all you have to do is wrap individual parts of your body in cellophane, pull the shaped cellophane off of your body, tape it shut, and then tape all the body parts together.

Obviously, don't wrap your head in cellophane. Use a balloon or a doll's head to make the head part.

A holiday is only as good as its interior and exterior decor, and fewer holidays have decor that rivals the best day of fall—Halloween. Here is a compilation of our favorite decor items that transformed ordinary houses into frightening haunted houses.

Creepy Crochets

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For people who love to crochet or knit, the time when they truly shine is in cooler months when we want something cozy to snuggle up with. This Redditor decided to turn their skills into a spooky piece of Halloween decor.

With a lantern and candle setting the mood and clutching a witch hat and a bat purse, this jack-o'-lantern girl is ready to make a spooky splash.

Skeletons Just Wanna Have Fun

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"Wife won't let me decorate outside yet. These guys will just have to chill here for the next two weeks."

Now here is a true Halloween crusader. This husband’s wife isn’t quite ready to decorate for October 31, but that isn’t stopping him from getting ready, and this undead bunch already look right at home. God, skeletons, have you ever heard of social distancing before?

Wonderful, Witch Wall Art

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This Redditor explains that she saw a similar print at a home decor store and decided to replicate it herself with a canvas, some paint, and her own talents. I think it's fair to say she did a pretty spectacular job.

Forget just Halloween, that painting is so beautiful it should be hung up all year round.

A Bouquet Of Nightmares

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What woman doesn't love a bouquet of flowers? But whether she loves roses, tulips, or sunflowers, this probably wasn’t the kind of bouquet she had in mind and she is most certainly having nightmares tonight.

"Oh, what a lovely bouquet of sunflowers—holy crap they’re skulls!"

Deliciously Devilish Donuts

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Just in time for autumn, this Redditor made apple cider donuts that were shaped like—what else?—human skulls. They look absolutely delicious, and yet I'm still unsettled by the fact that some demented baking supplies store out there sells molds shaped like skulls.

This is both fascinating and horrifying!

Spooky Pillows

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"Halloween—It's just around the corner!! I’m crazy about this festivity, I am [an] illustrator and designer and I would like to show you these plush pillows I created."

This is probably the only time in my life where I won’t run away screaming after seeing a spider. Look how cute she is!

The Nightmare Before Christmas

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This Redditor explains that her dog Princess Oppie "isn't so sure about our new friends." In what’s probably one of the best Halloween (and Christmas) films of all time, her new friends are life-size replicas of Jack and Sally from the film The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Princess Oppie definitely knows that something is up, but the poor little pup just can’t quite put her paw on it.

Full Of Boos

Photo Credit: Dudecalion / Reddit

This person asked Reddit, "You guys think I got enough boos to last me through the spooky season?"

I handed out shots of Bailey's and Fireball to the parents of trick-or-treating kids last Halloween, and yes, my home was the coolest one on the block.

Even More Boos!

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This Redditor calls their wine gadget their "best purchase ever," and we can definitely see why. Screwed onto the top of a wine bottle, this gadget makes it look like wine is flowing out of the mouth of this screaming (and probably possessed) man.

It's sure to make a big splash during their next Halloween costume party.

The Greatest Halloween Decoration Of All

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You may remember from last year that Home Depot unveiled a new Halloween decoration that sold out almost instantly; fast-forward to 2021 and once again, the product is sold out in countless stores.

What decoration am I referring to? How about this 12-foot-tall skeleton with glowing LED eyes?

Hallo-Christmas

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An interior design genius is a person who can use the decor from one holiday and transform it into decor for another. This person broke out the family Christmas tree a few months early and gave their holly jolly tree a dark makeover.

Filled with Jack Skellington figurines, pumpkins, a witch hat, and cobwebs, it's probably fair to say that this multi-holiday tree was their best purchase ever.

"The Old Taylor"

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Every part of the home needs a touch of decor, and the mudroom should be no exception. This person explains that this is their mudroom "when you love Halloween almost as much as you love Taylor Swift."

Seems like this Redditor will forever miss “the old Taylor,” but it sounds like they just need to shake it off.

Comfy Quilts

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"I heard you guys like Halloween stuff! Just finished my first king-size quilt'.

Sure, anyone can go to Michaels or Urban Outfitters and purchase home decor, but this Redditor decided to make their own. Depicting skeletons, witches, crescent moons, and ghoulish monsters, Jack Skellington himself would be proud.

Festive Fireplace

Photo Credit: Chelelea / Reddit

Fireplace mantels are truly the centerpiece of homes. Whether supporting festive stockings at Christmas or beloved family photos throughout the year, they are a statement feature.

But going in an unconventional route, this homeowner decided to get a little freaky with their fireplace decor and it looks ready for the big day.

"Is It Time?"

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Well, I just found someone who spent their entire paycheque at Michaels—and as someone who loves Michaels (much to the dismay of my boyfriend)—I fully support this decision! It's a good thing they have a giant dining room table because they definitely need the space.

You’re damn right it’s time. Spooky season is upon us.

A House Within A House

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This Redditor's favorite piece of decor is a small home figurine that looks like it itself is ready for Halloween. It even lights up giving it extra spooky vibes.

In today’s housing market that tiny house is probably worth a fortune.

Witches In The Kitchen

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Filled with witch-and-potion-themed signs and cutting boards, this Redditor explains that the corner of her kitchen is dead-icated to all things Halloween.

She says she's so happy with how the display turned out that she’s considering keeping it up all year round.

Skeletons In The Drawer

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Sometimes decor doesn't need to be big and flashy, but small and practical.

This Redditor ordered their spooky silverware ahead of time so it’d be in their cutlery drawer just in time for the big day. I guess you could say this person doesn’t have skeletons in their closet but in their drawers. Dad jokes, anybody? Anybody?

The Color Of Halloween

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"And so it begins, this orange glow warms my heart as much as it warms our living room! Happy September 1, Officially Halloween Season."

Contrary to Starbucks breaking out the pumpkin spice lattes in late August, this person felt that the perfect start to spooky season is actually September 1, and we fully applaud their extravagant interior design choices.

It Technically Still Counts

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The decor and lighting that make this front window look like a giant jack-o'-lantern are inside/on the home, so technically we’re going to classify this as indoor Halloween decor.

Halloween will be here before you know it—so get decorating!