Funny Dad Shirts: 40 Ideas He'll Actually Wear (Grill Dad, Girl Dad, Hobby Dad, New Dad)

A funny dad shirt has to pass one test: he wears it on a Saturday without being asked. Generic dad jokes fail that test. Shirts about his specific hobby, his specific catchphrase and his specific children pass it. Here are 40 ideas by dad type, then the hoodie alternative and the sizing rule for men who never tell you their size.

The dad-type table

Dad type	What he'll wear
Grill dad	Anything with a spatula on it
Hobby dad	His hobby as a vintage club badge
Girl dad / boy dad	The kids' names, in varsity type
Dad who hates shirts with words	A small chest icon of his car, boat or dog

40 funny dad shirt ideas

Classic dad

1. "Dad jokes: it's how eye roll"
2. "I'm not sleeping, I'm resting my eyes"
3. "Who turned on all the lights?"
4. "Ask your mother"
5. "Hi Hungry, I'm Dad"
6. "Dad: the original influencer (of the thermostat)"
7. "Do I look like an ATM?"
8. "We're not lost, we're taking the scenic route"
9. "Dad. Est. 2017." in varsity letters
10. "Man of the house (pending approval)"

Grill dad

11. "Grill sergeant"
12. "Licensed to grill"
13. A cartoon of him at the grill, tongs raised, kids fleeing the smoke
14. "The grill is my happy place" as a national-park badge
15. "Smoke show"

Girl dad and boy dad

16. "Girl dad" with the daughters' names as a roster
17. "Boy dad: outnumbered, out-loud"
18. "Dad of [names]" in vintage badge style
19. "Security" on the girl dad
20. "Coach, chauffeur, cash machine"

Hobby dad

21. Fishing: "Reel dads fish"; see fishing shirts
22. Golf: "Fore! Kids and a handicap"
23. Cycling: "N+1" (the number of bikes he needs)
24. Woodworking: "Measure twice, cut once, buy more wood"
25. Cars: a line drawing of his actual car, small on the chest
26. Gaming: "Player 1 (retired)"
27. Gardening: "Plant dad" with a cartoon tomato
28. Running: "Dad bod in training"

New dad

29. "Dad loading... 3%"
30. "Promoted to Dad, 2027"
31. "Sleep is for the childless"
32. "Nappy changing champion, regional level"

Grandad

33. "Grandpa: like a dad but cooler"
34. "Papa's garage" as a vintage sign with the grandkids as the crew
35. "Promoted to Grandpa"

Actually nice

36. The kids' birth dates in small serif on the chest
37. His hometown as a retro travel badge
38. A tiny line drawing of the family dog
39. His initials in a monogram
40. The family surname as a college crest with "Est." and the wedding year

The hoodie alternative

Dads wear hoodies more than tees. A small chest print looks like a brand rather than a joke and gets worn all winter. See custom hoodies.

Sizing a man who won't tell you his size

Look at a shirt in the wash. Measure it flat armpit to armpit and match it to the size chart. When in doubt, go one size up; men return tight shirts, not loose ones.

Order dates

Occasion	Date	Order by
Christmas	25 December	27 November (US), 20 November (UK, AU)
Father's Day (US, UK)	20 June 2027	23 May
Father's Day (Australia)	5 September 2027	6 August
His birthday	Yours to know	4 weeks before

More Father's Day specific ideas in Father's Day shirts.

Making it

One sentence: "a vintage national-park style badge that says The Grill Is My Happy Place with a cartoon barbecue and pine trees, forest green and cream, no background". The Wearlie designer makes it; order on a tee, hoodie or cap.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a custom dad shirt?

About $36 for a tee, $48 for a hoodie and $29 for a cap, shipping included, no minimum.

Can I include the kids' names?

Yes, at no extra cost.

How long does delivery take?

Two to four weeks.