35 Funny Gifts That Will Even Get Curmudgeons to Laugh

Puzzles have had a major comeback since the pandemic began, and now that folks have had plenty of time to develop a mastery of jigsaw puzzle completion, it’s time to kick it up a notch. The Puzzle Impossible: Extreme Clear Jigsaw Puzzle is sure to infuriate the most competitive puzzle-solvers out there. This holiday season, ruin someone’s life with this challenge and celebrate hard if they ever figure it out.

This gift is truly bonkers, and I can’t say enough good things about it. Does your friend need… a friend? Something fundamentally absurd to brighten their day? Send them a little amigo… a Moss Amigo. Customize the amigo’s habitat with different stones and even hats! Yes, the ball-of-moss friend can have its own wee hat! Have I lost my mind?! Have YOU?

As a dedicated fan of the groundbreaking artwork of Lisa Frank, but also sort of a fan of the occult, I appreciate this gift at the intersection of my interests. This notebook is designed to resemble the artistic styling of Lisa Frank’s staple 1990s school supplies, but has a devilish little twist: Baphomet, the devil-god of chaos.

Some friendships are so unique, they’re difficult to define. The peas to my carrots? The peanut butter to my jelly? No. The Bigfoot to my Yeti. Share this unexpected and eye-catching take on the classic BFF necklace with your BFF. Even the most elusive and misunderstood of mountain creatures deserves a best pal. Celebrate your friendship with yours!

Speaking of mythical creatures, who doesn’t love Nessie? Fun fact: I’ve been to Loch Ness, and I so desperately want to believe, but the local museum doesn’t even seem to have faith in its own monster. Major bummer! What we Scots do have faith in is our whisky. Keep those rocks glasses cool with Scotch Ness Monster whisky stones.

Take it from me, the owner of a corgi: everyone likes their butts. Even the meanest-looking tough dude cracks a smile when they see my small idiot strolling toward them. It’s wonderful. The Little Book of Big Corgi Butts pays homage to our little loaves and their hilarious, stupid booties. Activities, prompts, and pictures bring out the corgi-lover in all of us.

Retro-inspired holiday decorations are all the rage, as are fun twists on the old classics. Ceramic trees in particular are having a moment. This tiny Christmas Cactus from Urban Outfitters fits neatly on a styled shelf or in an office cubicle, spreading holiday cheer wherever it lands. Plus, this gift comes with a mini book detailing unique Christmas traditions from around the world. Wholesome and quirky!

Axe throwing has really blown up as a recreational activity the past few years. The only person to turn me down for a trip to the axe-throwing bar was Karl, who said that growing up in rural Georgia, he would just do this in the woods for free. Fair point! But for those whose youth didn’t involve whacking trees with sharp objects unsupervised, you can bring the axe-throwing lounge home with this foam option. Fun for everyone, and not nearly as dangerous!

Imagine the look on your pals’ faces when they think they’re logging onto your Wifi, only to get Rick Rolled. This classic Very Online bait and switch will never get old. The QR Code Wifi Prank is the ideal gift for your loved ones who want to convey, “you’re welcome in this home, but never ever safe.”

If you know a fan of pop-culture deep cuts, I’ve got a t-shirt for you. Yeah, it’s a t-shirt from the fictional pizza place beloved by the entire McCallister family of Home Alone fame. Honestly, Pizza Delivery Guy is the backbone of that film. Braving Chicago’s northern suburbs’ snowy streets to then survive what he thought was a mafia shoot-out but what was really just "Angels with Filthy Souls"? Local hero. Wear your Little Nero’s t-shirt proudly.

I need two hands to count the number of cross-country friends of mine who gave birth to babies during the pandemic. Now those kids are crawling, walking, some even talking! (Word alert: Crosby Kappmeyer is officially saying “bubbles!”) Until I have the opportunity to meet these kids, I’m going to send each of them a personalized memory game with tons of pictures of my face! They’ll develop motor skills and brain power while gazing at ME! What could be better?

Pyrex aficionados go hard. Their dedication to the beloved vintage pieces should be celebrated not just at garage sales, flea markets, and vintage fairs, but on the Christmas tree as well. Enter Etsy’s Twinkltoast, whose Pyrex and other vintage-inspired gifts are so niche and perfect and darling, it will delight your estate-sale shoppin’ pal. These are also the ideal gift for grandparents or great-aunts whose hand-me-down Pyrex have landed on your own shelves (thank you Grandma Ann!).

Anecdote Candles have a way of taking a precise feeling and capturing it in candle wax. Since pretty much every millennial I know right now is enduring a quarter-life crisis, I’ll be buying these in bulk for all my anxiety-ridden comrades. Per Anecdote, this scent emits the familiar aroma of “all panic and no disco.” Give your flustered friends the gift of empathy and self-care.

I love a good personalized gift. I’ve given custom calendars filled with photos of a favorite pet, a personalized fanny pack covered in photos of my friend’s face. (I have yet to see her wear it. Weird.) But with the amount of items available to customize, you might as well get creative, which is why I am enthusiastically advocating for gifting personalized wind chimes. You can design them with an image of the recipient’s face, or add a favorite movie quote, inside joke, or a phrase like, um, “I <3 The Wind.”

I love stumbling upon really specific gifts, like this “Best Commercial Pilot and even Better Grandfather” travel mug. I have so many questions. How many people buy these? What if you know a good commercial pilot who’s only a mediocre grandpa? RedBubble is full of these items, which are actually perfect to buy for people who check none of the specified boxes, but can nonetheless appreciate a good joke (and a nice travel mug).

For the minion lover in your life who already has a slow cooker, these bath bombs are the ticket. You can choose between two scents: lemon/jelly donut or lemon/vanilla. Each mini bomb comes with a Kevin or Bob figurine inside. They're perfect.

It’s the gift of choice for someone you used to drink with in college: a 3.5 liter box of Fireball. While they might not actually enjoy the taste of Fireball, receiving this boxed wine-style gift is sure to give them a laugh and bring back some good, bad, and gross memories. And every sip of the 3.5 liters will bring back even more gross memories. You’re such a good friend!

Who said tarot readings had to be serious? This cat tarot deck can predict your death in the most adorable way possible. It’s a complete, 78-card tarot deck, but the hermit card is a cat hiding in a paper bag, and all the cups in the cups suit are water bowls. It's the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, and it even comes with a guidebook for those who are new to tarot (or at least new to cat tarot).

Ah, a plant. A tried-and-true gift choice for housewarmings and people you don’t know that well. But what if the gift was CARNIVOROUS? A bug-eating plant like a Venus Flytrap is a funny, bizarre twist on a classic present. My favorite thing about these plants is how they essentially have teeth. Unfortunately, this Etsy seller recommends not feeding it people food, so definitely, absolutely don’t try giving it Hot Cheetos.

Is Tom Petty really a heartbreaker? What can’t Kevin Jonas live without? The answers to these questions and so much more can be found in old issues of teen magazines. Trust me, anyone you give an old issue of Tiger Beat to will love skimming through its dated pages. You can find tons of old issues on eBay, and you can even personalize your gift by buying an issue with your giftee’s crush on the cover.

TikTok has cranked up the dial on our ‘90s nostalgia/obsession, and I’m here for it. For the groovy pharmacist, wannabe-raver, or highly-medicated-and-proud (me) pal in your life, these resin coasters are sure to make a statement on a coffee table. Honestly, I’m trying to verbalize why I am so entranced by these dang coasters, and all I can come up with is that they’re just… super cool? Tight? Da bomb? What did we say back then? Take a chill pill and put in an order for this gift!

This upcycled basketball planter adds a pop of wonder to a houseplant collection. If you have a loved one with a green thumb or some serious skills on the court, this oddball vessel might be the trick for catching their curiosity. Plus, everyone loves an unusual statement piece in a house, and this planter’s sure to conjure some conversations — or at least result in the reporting of some bygone era’s b-ball stats. Hopefully it’s the former!

Did you know that in the UK, mug means “an easily cheated person”? So if someone at a gift swap stole this "Ted Lasso" vessel from you, you’d be a gullible mug for getting mugged for your mug. (Jason Sudeikis, please hire me for your writer’s room!) This coffee mug is perfect for your daily meetings with the boss, the Friday "Ted Lasso" episode drop, or simply for dunking your biscuit.

For the friend who’s found themself longing for the early days of the pandemic, hunkering down all alone in their one-bedroom apartment catching up on life (OK, the friend is me), this JOMO Journal is just the ticket. While pals are out socializing, stay inside and enjoy a Me Party. Make some lists! Do an activity! Follow the prompt! Perfect for your pal who craves a night in.