20 funny Christmas card ideas to send to family and friends

The perfect Christmas card is heartwarming, inspirational, and uplifting—right? Not necessarily. If you and your loved ones tend to roll your eyes at all that mushy stuff, sentimental Christmas cards probably aren’t for you. That’s when it’s time to bring on the Christmas jokes and goofy pictures, please!

If the reaction you’re going for ranges anywhere from a smirk to a belly laugh, our selection of funny Christmas cards from Paperless Post and our design partners is the perfect place to start. Entertain your good-humored friends and rowdy relatives with these funny Christmas card ideas, which include trash-eating raccoons, decorated buffalo, and all the Christmas puns you can stand.

 

Tips for sending funny Christmas cards

Even though they’re often irreverent, funny Christmas cards still follow standard Christmas card etiquette. Follow these tips to get a laugh without breaking (too many) rules.

• Keep your audience in mind: You know your friends and family best. Gauge what level of humor you can get away with, and avoid sending anything over the line—unless you know that your loved ones will crack up.

• Choose between physical or digital cards: Both have their advantages. Physical cards get hung up on the wall, but mailing and postage—not to mention cost and printing time—are drawbacks. Digital Christmas cards are cheaper and more time-efficient. Plus, with Paperless Post’s vast array of online cards, you’re practically guaranteed to find the right fit for your needs.

• Customize your card: When you send digital Christmas cards via Paperless Post, you can upload your own design, stamp, liner, or backdrop. Customize them even more when you select your favorite Page Style, an easy way to make your holiday card feel even more like it came from you.

• Include photos—even in a funny card: Just because your friends have a sense of humor doesn’t mean they don’t want to see your family. Add a Photo Gallery Block to your Christmas card, or send a holiday photo card to let your funny Christmas card photos do the talking.
• Send them on time: Funny Christmas cards, like all Christmas cards, should go out at the beginning of December to ensure they arrive on time. For physical cards, this means designing, ordering, printing, and mailing dozens of cards, starting way back in November or even October. Digital holiday cards can go out later (even on Christmas Day itself—yep, our delivery system doesn’t take any days off!), or you can schedule a send date for a perfectly timed inbox appearance.

 

20 funny Christmas cards

If you want to send a funny Christmas card instead of a sentimental one this year, take a look at these beautiful—yet amusing—Christmas card ideas for the most pun-derful time of the year. Or if you’re extra crafty, you can choose to upload your own design and add all the final touches. 

 

1. Peas on Earth

And goodwill toward men! “A Peasful Chorus” by Hello!Lucky features a group of festive peas singing their little pea hearts out beneath a solid Christmas pun-slash-dad joke.

 

2. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal

 

Channel your inner Kevin McAllister with “Home Alone on Christmas” by Paperless Post. Its simple yet unmistakable message reminds us what Christmas is all about: defending your home from inept invaders. Micromachines and cheese pizza sadly not included.

 

3. Hope your Xmas sleighs

Sleigh, queen! “Santa’s Pit Crew” by Hello!Lucky includes a rare combination of clever and cringe-worthy wording—at least if a teen gets a look at it. 

Send this card to anyone in your group who still feels like they’re young and cool, but maybe avoid anyone who is actually young and cool.

 

4. Have yourself a trashy little Christmas

 

Is it even Christmas without a festive opossum family emerging from a garbage can? Send “Family Time” to anyone who has a heart for urban wildlife—or opt for “Christmas Compost” if you’ve got raccoon aficionados on your recipient list.

 

5. Out of this world

“Starry Santa” by Hello!Lucky takes a giant leap for Santakind with its spacey theme, sparkling text, and sassy unicorn astronaut—yeah, that’s right. It’s the right card for literally anyone on your list.

 

6. Don’t stop believin’!

Remove any Santa deniers’ doubts this holiday season with “He’s Real” by Hello!Lucky. It’s Journey-inspired caption and rockin’ Santa will get the party started when it shows up in your friends’ inboxes.

 

7. Our nutty family

If your family’s a little nuts around the holidays, embrace it! Send funny family Christmas cards with the “Bunch of Nuts” card by Paperless Post. Include photos of the last year, enshrined in nutty frames for all the world to see.

 

8. Meowy and bright

 

There’s a big overlap between cat people and Christmas people, and we’re right there with them. “Bright Cats” by Hello!Lucky wishes recipients a “meowy and bright” holiday like only cats wearing Santa hats can.

 

9. Warm wishes

When you travel somewhere tropical for the holidays, it’s best not to boast about it to friends stuck in the snow. Wrong! “Warm Wishes” by kate spade new york rubs your warm fortune right in their faces—in the kindest way possible.

 

10. Merry matriarchy

If you don’t have “destroy the patriarchy” on your Christmas list, now’s the time to share your wishes. “Merry Matriarchy” by Party of One includes a proper list of priorities—books, socks, the rise of the matriarchy—for like-minded revolutionaries in your circle. Check out Party of One’s “Boy Bye” card for additional Girl Power vibes.

 

11. Naughty or nice

 

Santa’s still deciding, but you know exactly which list your family and friends belong on. Send out the “Naughty Naughty” card by Paperless Post to remove all doubt—and to foreshadow the lump of coal coming in the future.

 

12. NYC in the holidays

In a city full of busy taxicabs, be the car with the Christmas tree on top. “I Love NYC in the Holidays” by Mr. Boddington’s Studio sets a funny—and accurate—scene of a busy New York City day set against the classic NYC cityscape, dotted with a single note of Christmas cheer.

 

13. Feliz naughty dog

 

If there’s a dog out there who hasn’t gotten itself tangled in Christmas lights, we haven’t met them. Celebrate this doggie holiday milestone with “Feliz Naughty Dog” by Hello!Lucky, perfect for the puppy lovers on your list.

 

14. Jolly buffalo

Forget reindeer. This year, Santa’s coming by buffalo with the “Jolly Buffalo” card by Coral & Tusk. It’s a great idea for those Grinchy-but-secretly-festive folks on your Christmas card list.

 

15. Time for the bar cart

If you’re tired from the hustle of the holiday season, imagine how Santa feels! “Workshop Champ” by Mr. Boddington’s Studio puts us up in the North Pole as Santa decides enough is enough—it’s time for drinks.

 

16. Happy Howlidays

Has your year been a little “ruff?” Funny dog Christmas cards like “Happy Howlidays” by Hello!Lucky can put a smile on anyone’s face, especially those who love a good canine carol.

 

17. Little Saint Nick

 

Sure, your kid’s cute—but are they mini-Santa Claus cute? Add their—or your—picture to funny family Christmas cards, such as “Little Saint Nick” by Merrilee Liddiard, or use two-photo and three-photo options to highlight all the photogenic members of your family.

 

18. We fish you a Merry Christmas

For all those loved ones who’d rather spend Christmas day fishing for trout than fishing for gifts, “Holiday Fishes” by Hello!Lucky is sure to put a smile “this big” on their faces.

 

19. Sending merry vibes

This card is high-key goals. The “Merry Vibes” card by Paperless Post combines Gen Z energy with festive Christmas colors and swirls. Just facts—no printer.

 

20. Have your-elf a merry Christmas

Treat your “elf” this holiday season with a candy cane or two, a second cup of eggnog, and the “Helpful Elves” card by Hello!Lucky. Its adorable illustrations and sweet message are a punny way to say “Merry Christmas!”

 

What to write in a funny Christmas card

Now that you’ve picked out your Christmas card design, consider these options to personalize it with funny Christmas card sayings and jokes. If none of these strike the right chord, you can find even more messages in this guide on things to write in your Christmas card.

• Yule laugh, but being your friend puts me in a holi-daze.
• I may be on the naughty list, but you’re right there with me.
• Forgive me for being Santa-mental, but it’s snow joke: You’re a great friend.
• Cheers to the crazy family stories we’ll exchange a week after Christmas.
• When the presents are unwrapped, the tree is down, and the lights stop twinkling, there’s one thing we’ll remember forever: How expensive it all was.

 

Rock around the Christmas tree with Paperless Post

 

When you choose a Christmas card template from Paperless Post, half the job is done already. We’ve got you covered when it comes to designing, organizing, and sending your holiday cards—not even Santa and his elves can work that fast.

Looking for Christmas cards with more heartfelt options? Check out our guide to holiday card ideas, where you’ll find suggestions for every type of recipient and occasion throughout the holiday season. Afterward, head to the Paperless Post Party Shop, your one-stop shop for Christmas decorating and entertaining. Happy holidays from Paperless Post!

 

Hero image: “Holiday Fishes” by Hello!Lucky for Paperless Post.