10 Best Gag Gifts

The moment we hear gag gifts, visions of fun, pain, or disgust immediately spring to mind. Gag gifts are generally defined as items or objects given with the intention of poking fun at the recipient. It’s more of a prank than a gift.

But why give gag gifts? The answer is simple – laughter is the best gift of all! Besides, gag gifts are as enjoyable to give as they are to receive. 

There are a wide variety of gag gifts to choose from. There are creative, disgusting, humorous gag gifts, and even those with overt or masked sexual undertones. This is where it gets complicated.

Ironically, getting a gag gift requires more thought than a traditional gift. Although it’s meant for fun and entertainment, we wouldn’t want the fun to last only for a few seconds, and more importantly, we wouldn’t want to offend anyone. 

Gag Gift Etiquette 

The key to giving a good gag gift is knowing your recipient and their personality. Make sure the gift won’t offend the receiver, or hurt their feelings, but cause only good-hearted embarrassment.

Gags meant to highlight shortcomings or faults will make a person feel bad, while gags targeting special talents are often a hit. Just remember that gag gifts can be offensive but in the right setting, are great fun. Also, if you intend to give the gift at a party, remember to consider who the attendees will be, as it might be construed as inappropriate by some guests. 

Types of Gag Gifts 

There are many different types of gag gifts that fall into three main categories, and each category may not be appropriate for all recipients. 

Personal Gag Gifts – These gag gifts generally reflect some feature of the recipient’s personal life, such as their hobbies, favorite things, or some personal story from their past. They’re designed to bring back memories of humorous situations or make the person reflect on some aspect of his or her life. If the gag gift is chosen correctly, as soon as the recipient sees it, they will laugh or smile, realizing what it signifies. 

Professional Gag Gifts – These relate to the person’s profession in some way, or to some professional experience they’ve had in their life. Some professions can be easily connected to hilarious gag gift ideas, such as doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, and bartenders. Other professions don’t have quite as many options, and in those instances, the giver will have to be very creative. 

Unique Gag Gifts – These are the ones that defy categorization. Such gag gifts are often chosen because the giver has never seen anything quite like it and would like to share it with the recipient. They’re often harder to select for a recipient because of their distinctive nature, but careful consideration will let you know whether it’s right for the person you’re giving it to or not.

Novelty items can also fall under this category. While they’re very similar to gag gifts, they’re not designed for any specific purpose. More importantly, they’re not intended to be a prank and are not even necessarily given to be funny.

One way to differentiate between gag gifts and novelty items is by thinking – could this be used by a business as a promotional item – as novelty items often are? Fart Spray? Unlikely. That would be a gag gift. 

When to Give What 

While there are three main categories, gag gifts also fall into three general categories: Kids/Teens, Adults, General. What gag is played should depend on the ages and tastes of the audience and gag target.

If there are children present, it would be wise to steer clear of adult gag gifts. Some gags that might cause embarrassment may not be suitable for young impressionable minds and may cause trauma when given to children or teenagers.

General gag gifts are good for all ages and are usually acceptable for major holidays such as Christmas and birthdays when celebrating in public. To help you decide which gag gifts are appropriate keep these things in mind: 

• Gag gifts can be chosen when the recipient is more of an acquaintance. So, if it’s an office or retirement party, even if you don’t know the person well, a gag gift can add a bit of joy to what might otherwise be a subdued occasion.  
• Gag gifts are very common and expected at birthday parties, especially 40th, 50th, and over-the-hill birthday parties.  
• If you want to spice up your love life, mixing gag gifts with romance can be an interesting way. 
• Giving gag gifts for graduation, especially for the college-bound, can lighten up the reality of leaving home for the first time. 
• Gag gifts can also be fun at bachelorette and stag parties, especially the naughty ones. Consider the bride or groom’s personality and if they would appreciate the humor. 

Gifts for Kids – When choosing gag gifts for kids always pick something that the children would find amusing and funny. They should be harmless and not lead to any embarrassing moments or situations. Such gag gifts as Fake Poop made out of Raisinets or Malted Milk Balls, Rubber Poos, a Booger Box filled with bits of dried cement or glue, or a Fart Machine or Dill Pickle Lip Balm for your pre-teen would surely elicit both laughter and disgust. 

Gifts for Adults – Gag gifts for adults can range from cute and funny to obnoxious or risqué. Some fun gag gifts for adults are farting whoopee cushions that leave temporary stains. The racier gag gifts usually involve lewd t-shirts, cards, or other gifts that have a great deal of sexual innuendo. 

General Gag Gifts – These are easy and great for all ages. They can include giving someone a pack of batteries along with a note saying “Gift Not Included” or objects that can be set to pop out of boxes. It can also be tiny versions of a particular item that the recipient wants, or a bottle of pills filled with candies with the label saying they’re a magical fix for something. That’s always a fun birthday gag.  

Finding a fun, age-appropriate gift will guarantee that your gag gifts receive a laugh. 

When NOT to Give Gag Gifts 

Obviously, gag gifts are not the best gifts for anniversaries, weddings, or any other special occasions, unless they come with an ‘actual’ gift. If it’s your anniversary, and you’re giving it to your partner, take note of the bullet point above about spicing up your love life.

Particularly important for husbands, it should come with a ‘real’ gift… or hell hath no fury as a woman scorned! The same goes if you’re giving it to someone who’s not a close friend. Consider giving a small gift to go along with the gag gift to show your not-so-close friend that you enjoy having fun with them. 

For the more serious-minded, expect that your gag gift will not be appreciated. Some feel gag gifts are given for selfish motives because when it’s well thought out, it’s the giver that becomes the center of attention and the hit of the party. Others feel the play on people’s vulnerabilities is in bad taste, so they see gag gifts as overrated and a waste of money.

Again, the key is knowing the recipient and their personality. You’ll know when it’s best to stick with a traditional gift and leave well enough alone. 

Gag Gifts to Avoid 

Everyone loves a laugh – but no one wants to get hurt. Bear in mind that gag gifts can get you into trouble because there’s always the chance that your mark, the recipient of the ‘gift’, will get physically hurt. So, any gag gifts involving parts becoming airborne should be scratched off your list. Having your mark toss the gag gift at you doesn’t count as “becoming airborne”. 

Avoid gag gifts intended to deliver a harmless jolt or shock, as some people can overreact and actually punch you. Moreover, a slight “buzz” can be misconstrued as a signal that they’re being attacked; and no one reacts well in situations where they believe they’re under attack. 

Another thing that you should try to avoid is gag gifts that have to be eaten. The only time gag gifts involving ingestion should be considered is when you know your recipient’s medical history and ALL of their food allergies. 

Fun Facts 

Gag gifts go back a long time, from the infamous whoopee cushion to fake vomit and poop. 

Some people argue that the whoopee cushion goes as far back as medieval courts when jesters would turn pig’s bladders into fart devices. Whoopee cushions broke into pop culture in the 1930s, thanks to Canadian company JEM.

They were originally called the “poo-poo cushion” or the “boop-boop a doop”, but the company decided on “whoopee” in 1932. The science (if you can call it that) behind the cushion is that when you sit on it, air rushes inside a valve with flaps, and shuts. As the air comes back out, the valve flaps pulsate, causing the ever-so recognizable “fart” noise. And the gag has been a hit ever since. 

The fake excrement is another one of the good ol’ pranks. Fake vomit came about in the 1950s. It was invented by an employee at Marvin Glass and Associates, the company that also brought us Chattery Teeth. Unfortunately, there’s no record of who created, invented, or manufactured the first-ever fake poo. 

To Gag or Not to Gag 

When it comes to gifts, sincerity can be wonderful. But sometimes stupid wins the day.

The gag gift is a stubborn tradition in many families and small circles of long-term friends. They can cause bafflement, or alarm, or disgust. But whether given or received, gag gifts create some of the fondest and most memorable stories in life. Giving the gift of laughter is priceless, so lighten up and go for it!