Lowkey Halloween Pranks to Trick Your Roommates

Harmless Halloween Pranks That Are Actually Hilarious (Not Horrifying)

Halloween isn't just for spooky costumes and pumpkin spice everything. It's also the perfect time to bring out your inner prankster. But here’s the deal: nobody wants to be the person who ruins the vibe with a prank that crosses the line. That’s where harmless, funny, and totally Instagrammable Halloween pranks come in.

So if you're looking to stir up some light chaos without scarring your roommates for life, I’ve got you covered. These pranks are playful, easy to pull off, and guaranteed to get laughs, not lawsuits.

1. The Classic "Eyes Everywhere" Trick

What You Need: Googly eyes, tape, and five spare minutes.

Slap googly eyes on everything in your fridge, and I mean everything. The milk carton? Eyeballs. The ketchup bottle? Eyeballs. That leftover sushi? Definitely eyeballs. When your roommate opens the fridge to see their snacks staring back at them, it’s peak prank magic. It’s simple, it’s weird, and it’ll leave them speechless.

I once did this to my brother before school. He opened the fridge half-asleep and screamed, “Why is the cheese judging me?” Worth it.

2. Spooky Playlist Hijack

What You Need: A Bluetooth speaker and a good hiding spot.

Hide a speaker under a couch or behind a plant and randomly play ghostly whispers, chains rattling, or soft, creepy giggles. Do it when they least expect it — like during a serious group Zoom or while they’re deep into scrolling TikTok. Watch them go full ghost hunter mode while you sit back and pretend to be just as spooked.

Bonus: Toss in an old-school “Ring around the Rosie” for that extra chill factor.

3. The Creepy Mirror Message

What You Need: Bar of soap or your finger and some steam.

Write a spooky message on the bathroom mirror, like “I SEE YOU” or “BEHIND YOU.” It won't show up until someone takes a steamy shower. When they’re wrapping up their hot girl shower routine and see that message appear out of nowhere, panic will set in — and it’s glorious.

This one always hits harder if you play innocent afterward. “You saw WHAT? Weird…”

4. Candy Bowl Trickery

What You Need: A big bowl, a clean glove, and a hoodie.

Fill a bowl with candy but stick your hand through a hole in the table or box underneath, disguised as part of the setup. When someone reaches for candy, grab their hand. Old-school? Yes. Still works? Every time.

Extra points if you do it with a totally serious face. Gen Z has trust issues already, and now they’ll question every candy bowl forever.

5. Remote Control Mayhem

What You Need: A universal remote and access to their TV.

This one works best when someone’s mid-binge of their favorite spooky series. Sit nearby and randomly pause, mute, or change the volume using your hidden remote. The first time, they’ll think it’s a glitch. The second time, they’ll start questioning everything. By the fifth time, they’ll be ready to call an exorcist.

I once did this during a Stranger Things marathon. My friend was fully convinced her apartment was haunted by Eleven.

6. Toilet Paper Ghosts

What You Need: Toilet paper, a marker, and some string.

Wrap little wads of toilet paper into ghost shapes, draw on tiny faces, and hang them from your ceiling fan or doorways. They’ll flutter around every time the fan's on or the door opens. It’s equal parts adorable and eerie, like if Casper had a crafting channel.

Perfect for roommates who “don’t like scary stuff” but still wanna be part of the Halloween vibe.

7. The Unholy Switch-Up

What You Need: Labels, tape, and a mild disregard for order.

Swap the labels on canned food or spice jars in the kitchen. Cinnamon becomes paprika. Soup becomes dog food. No permanent damage done, but the confusion on someone’s face when they sprinkle “cinnamon” on their oatmeal and get a mouthful of cayenne? Iconic.

Just don’t mess with peanut butter. We respect peanut butter in this house.

8. Haunted Voice Texts

What You Need: Their unlocked phone and Siri/Google Assistant.

Change their voice assistant’s name if you can, or set an alarm titled “You can’t run from me.” When it goes off in the middle of the night? Pure chaos. Especially if their phone says it in the creepiest voice available.

This works great if you live with a tech-savvy friend who swears they’d never fall for that kinda stuff. News flash: they will.

9. Costume "Twinning" Gone Wrong

What You Need: A matching outfit or full costume copy.

Secretly replicate your roommate’s Halloween costume and show up to the party before them. Not only is it confusing, it’s hilarious watching them try to explain to others who copied who. Bonus points if you start dramatically whispering, “I’m the real one” all night long.

I did this to my roommate when she dressed as Harley Quinn. The battle of the Quinns was legendary.

10. Motion-Activated Mayhem

What You Need: Motion sensors and some budget Halloween props.

Hide a motion-activated ghost, skeleton, or fake cat scream under their bed or in the closet. The first time it goes off, they’ll scream. The second time, they’ll accuse you. The third time? Well, they’ll probably start planning revenge, so maybe retire the prank after two rounds.

But hey, Halloween’s all about a little fear, right?

Keep It Chill, Keep It Fun

The golden rule of pranking: If it isn’t fun for both sides once the scare fades, it’s not a good prank. No damage, no cruelty, no real trauma. Think more Scooby-Doo, less Saw.

Halloween should be about laughs and candy, not actual stress. Keep your tricks playful and your treats ready, because you will need to bribe your victims with chocolate afterward.

So, whether you’re haunting your dorm, your group chat, or your parents’ house for fall break, just remember: the best Halloween pranks don’t require a horror movie budget. Just some creativity, a little mischief, and a deep love for spooky season chaos.

Stay wicked with more tricks, treats, and Gen Z-approved chaos at Woke Waves Magazine.

#HalloweenPranks #GenZHalloween #SpookySeason #RoommateChaos #HarmlessScares

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