Dad Jokes

Wholesome, groan-worthy dad jokes made to be delivered with a perfectly straight face.

A dad joke is a short, clean joke that is funny precisely because it is a little bit bad. It usually rests on an obvious pun or a too-literal answer, and it is told with total confidence. The real punchline is often the eye-roll it gets from the audience, which the teller then treats as applause.

The term caught on in the 1980s, and by now dad jokes have a fan base far beyond actual dads. Teachers open classes with them, coworkers drop them into meetings, and parents trade them in lunchbox notes. They work because they are harmless: nobody is the target, the wordplay is easy to follow, and even a groan means the joke landed.

Most dad jokes follow a question-and-answer shape, like “Why did the toaster get a raise? It always pops up with good ideas.” The question sets a tiny trap and the answer springs it. Below are our favorite original dad jokes. To make a new one about any subject, pick Dad Joke in the generator and type in a topic.

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Best Dad Jokes

  1. My daughter asked why I keep a ladder in the car. I told her I like to take things to the next level.
  2. I installed a smart thermostat. It’s the first thing in this house that agrees with me.
  3. Why did the lettuce win the race? It was a head.
  4. Why did the spider get a job in tech? It was great with the web.
  5. Why did the toaster get a raise? It always pops up with good ideas.
  6. Why did the pencil apply to art school? It wanted to sharpen its skills.
  7. Why is the stapler so confident? It knows how to hold things together.
  8. Why was the soup so popular at the party? It knew how to stir things up.
  9. Why did the lamp get straight A’s? It was very bright and always switched on.
  10. Why did the sock go to the lost and found? It was looking for its sole mate.
  11. Why did the pancake become a comedian? It knew how to flip the script.
  12. I bought the fanciest broom in the store. Reviewers say it’s sweeping the nation.
  13. Why did the cupcake go to the hair salon? It wanted frosted tips.
  14. Why did the snowman call his doctor? He was feeling a bit flaky.
  15. Why did the GPS break up with the car? They were heading in different directions.
  16. Why don’t eggs tell secrets at breakfast? They’re worried someone might crack.
  17. My son asked if I’d seen the new cereal ad. I said not yet, but I hear it’s grain-breaking.
  18. Why did the vacuum get promoted? It really picked up the slack.
  19. Why did the hammer join the band? It could always nail the beat.
  20. Why did the trash can apologize? It was feeling down in the dumps.
  21. Why did the garden throw a party? Everything was coming up roses.

How to write dad jokes

What makes a dad joke different from other jokes?

A dad joke is deliberately simple and a little corny, and it is told as if it were brilliant. The contrast between the obvious pun and the proud delivery is the joke. “Why did the lettuce win the race? It was a head” is funnier said with a grin and a pause than whispered apologetically.

How do I write the question in a dad joke?

Give an everyday object a human problem, then ask why it happened. A toaster getting a raise or a snowman calling a doctor sounds odd enough to make people listen, and the object’s own features, like popping up or flaking, supply the answer.

How do I find the punchline?

List the words and phrases tied to your object, then look for one that also describes a person. For a vacuum cleaner you might list suction, dust, cord and “pick up,” and “picked up the slack” turns the last one into a reason for a promotion.

How should I deliver a dad joke?

Ask the question, wait a beat so people can guess, then give the answer flatly and enjoy the groan. If someone says “that was terrible,” reply with another one right away; persistence is part of the format.

More jokes

  • Puns: Clean puns that hinge on one word with two meanings, about bakers, bankers and plumbers.
  • Knock-Knock Jokes: Classic call-and-response knock-knock jokes for kids, classrooms and family road trips.
  • General Jokes: Everyday observational jokes about phones, chores, pets and the chaos of ordinary life.
  • Birthday Jokes: Original birthday jokes and dad-joke puns about cake, candles, and presents, perfect for cards and toasts.
  • All joke categories