Quick Answer
A knock-knock joke is a call-and-response joke: one person says “Knock, knock,” the other asks “Who’s there?”, and a name or word sets up a pun on the second “who?”
This page has 90+ original knock-knock jokes, grouped by who they’re for: classic-style, funny, kids, clean jokes for adults, romantic and flirty ones by relationship stage, text-friendly ones, and work-friendly ones. Every joke is clean. You’ll also find how the format works and how to write your own.
How Knock Knock Jokes Work
Every knock knock joke follows the same four-line script:
- You: “Knock, knock.”
- Them: “Who’s there?”
- You: A name or word (the setup).
- Them: “[Name] who?” Then you deliver the punchline, which sounds like the setup plus a new phrase.
The humor comes from the pun. The setup word (like “Dozen”) sounds like the start of a phrase (“Dozen anybody want to open the door?”). The format has been popular in English-speaking countries since at least the 1930s, which may be why almost everyone knows the script.
Classic-Style Knock Knock Jokes
Format: Knock, knock. / Who’s there? / [Setup] / [Setup] who? / [Punchline]
- Alpaca. Alpaca who? Alpaca the suitcase, you grab the snacks.
- Howard. Howard who? Howard you like to open the door?
- Needle. Needle who? Needle little help getting in here.
- Juno. Juno who? Juno how long I’ve been out here?
- Sherwood. Sherwood who? Sherwood love to come in.
- Isabel. Isabel who? Isabel working, or do I have to keep knocking?
- Dozen. Dozen who? Dozen anybody want to let me in?
- Harry. Harry who? Harry up and open the door.
- Olive. Olive who? Olive you, so please open up.
- Ben. Ben who? Ben knocking for ten minutes.
- Justin. Justin who? Justin time for dinner.
- Annie. Annie who? Annie body home?
- Mikey. Mikey who? Mikey doesn’t fit in the lock.
- Canoe. Canoe who? Canoe help me with my homework?
- Tuna. Tuna who? Tuna piano and you’ll have a hit.
- Tennis. Tennis who? Tennis five plus five.
- Kanga. Kanga who? No, kangaroo.
- Hatch. Hatch who? Bless you!
- Who. Who who? Is there an owl in here?
- Ya. Ya who? Yahoo! I’m glad to see you too.
Funny Knock Knock Jokes (That Are Actually Funny)
- Figs. Figs who? Figs the doorbell. It’s broken.
- Police. Police who? Police let me in. It’s cold out here.
- Cow says. Cow says who? No, a cow says moo.
- Hawaii. Hawaii who? I’m fine. Hawaii you?
- Ken. Ken who? Ken I come in, or is it a bad time?
- Spell. Spell who? W-H-O.
- Butter. Butter who? Butter be quick. I’m freezing.
- Doughnut. Doughnut who? Doughnut ask, just open the door.
- Wanda. Wanda who? Wanda hang out later?
- Thermos. Thermos who? Thermos be a better way to get in.
- Aardvark. Aardvark who? Aardvark a hundred miles to see you.
- Vault. Vault who? Vault you like for dinner?
- Madam. Madam who? Madam foot is stuck in the door.
- Hal. Hal who? Halloo to you too.
- Beets. Beets who? Beets me why you’re not answering.
- Pecan. Pecan who? Pecan someone your own size.
Knock Knock Jokes for Kids
For more kid-friendly humor, see our jokes for kids.
- Moose. Moose who? Moose be the wrong house.
- Tomato. Tomato who? Tomato-ver again. I forgot my keys.
- Bingo. Bingo who? Bingo be a long night if you don’t let me in.
- Owl. Owl who? Owl be waiting right here.
- Cheese. Cheese who? Cheese a really good friend of mine.
- Peas. Peas who? Peas open the door.
- Soup. Soup who? Soup-er glad to see you!
- Honeydew. Honeydew who? Honeydew you want to come out and play?
- Pasta. Pasta who? Pasta the salt, please.
- Cattle. Cattle who? Cattle get you there faster than a donkey.
- Dewey. Dewey who? Dewey have to keep knocking?
- Abby. Abby who? Abby birthday! I brought cake.
- Wendy. Wendy who? Wendy door opens, the party starts.
- Bear. Bear who? Bear with me. I forgot my key.
- Lemon. Lemon who? Lemon in and I’ll tell you a story.
Clean Knock Knock Jokes for Adults
Wit for grown-ups, with nothing crude.
- Taxi. Taxi who? Taxi is due in April, so open up.
- Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi who? Wi-Fi-nally home. Open the door.
- Mortgage. Mortgage who? Mortgage you’ll never leave once you let me in.
- Carrie. Carrie who? Carrie my bags and I’ll cook tonight.
- Invoice. Invoice who? Invoice not done knocking.
- Spreadsheet. Spreadsheet who? Spreadsheet on the table and let’s talk.
- Coffee. Coffee who? Coffee-ver you want. I’m buying.
- Meetings. Meetings who? Meetings over. Open the door.
- Tupper. Tupper who? Tupperware I left my lunch. Open up.
- Alexa. Alexa who? Alexa you to open the door.
- Nana. Nana who? Nana your business who I am.
- Lunch. Lunch who? Lunch hour just started, so open up.
Romantic and Flirty Knock Knock Jokes
Sweet and clean. Great for a boyfriend, girlfriend, partner or crush. For more romantic texts, see our love messages.
When You First Meet
- Aida. Aida who? Aida lot of thinking about you today.
- Ida. Ida who? Ida love to take you to dinner.
- Waiter. Waiter who? Waiter I get you alone.
- Tess. Tess who? Tess a coin. I’ll call dinner.
- Hugh. Hugh who? Hugh wanna grab coffee?
- Ketchup. Ketchup who? Ketchup with me later?
For New Couples
- Amanda. Amanda who? Amanda-ing to spend the weekend with you.
- Lena. Lena who? Lena little closer. I won’t bite.
- Ima. Ima who? Ima big fan of you.
- Candice. Candice who? Candice be the start of something sweet?
- Marry. Marry who? Marry me? (Okay, just dinner for now.)
- Isabelle. Isabelle who? Isabelle working? I’ve been waiting to hear from you.
For Long-Term Couples
- Honey. Honey who? Honey, you still make my day.
- Tire. Tire who? Tire-d of waiting. Please open up, love.
- Amy. Amy who? Amy-ssing you already.
- Jeff. Jeff who? Jeff-ectionately, I still adore you.
For Married Couples
- Ewe. Ewe who? Ewe still make my heart race.
- Anna. Anna who? Anna-versary! Happy anniversary.
- Candy. Candy who? Candy-ou believe it’s been ten years?
- Cook. Cook who? Cook-ing tonight, or is it takeout?
Knock Knock Jokes Over Text
Short and easy to send in a chat.
- Hi. Hi who? Hi, miss you.
- Missy. Missy who? Missy-ing you.
- Kenya. Kenya who? Kenya send me a smile?
- Luke. Luke who? Luke who’s back in town.
- Jess. Jess who? Jess checking in.
- Ewan. Ewan who? Ewan I should grab snacks tonight.
Work-Friendly Knock Knock Jokes (HR, Nurse and Office)
- Nurse. Nurse who? Nurse-ery rhymes are fine, but your shift has started.
- Aitch-Arr. Aitch-Arr who? H-R you ready for the meeting?
- Resume. Resume who? Resume-ber me? We met at the job fair.
- Doctor. Doctor who? Doctor-ing the report again?
How to Write Your Own Knock Knock Joke?
- Pick a name or word. For example, “Atlas.”
- Find a phrase that starts with the same sound. “At last.”
- Finish the phrase. “At last, you opened the door!”
- Test it out loud. If the sound match works, it’ll get a groan and a laugh.
- Personalize it. Use a friend’s name for extra punch.
Tips for Telling Knock Knock Jokes
- Commit to the script. Say each line clearly and wait for the response.
- Pause before the punchline. A one-second beat makes it land.
- Use a funny voice for the setup word.
- Keep a few in your pocket. Different crowds like different jokes.
- Let the other person tell one back. Knock knock jokes are best traded.
For a different flavor of silly humor, see our stupid jokes, bad jokes and punny jokes.
FAQs
What is a knock knock joke?
A call-and-response joke where one person says “Knock, knock,” the other asks “Who’s there?”, and a pun is built on the setup word.
What are some funny knock knock jokes?
“Knock, knock. Who’s there? Police. Police who? Police let me in. It’s cold out here.” See the funny section for 15 more.
What are good knock knock jokes for kids?
“Knock, knock. Who’s there? Moose. Moose who? Moose be the wrong house.” See the kids section.
What are clean knock knock jokes for adults?
Jokes that play on grown-up life, like taxes and meetings: “Taxi who? Taxi is due in April, so open up.”
What are romantic knock knock jokes?
Sweet, clean ones like “Honey who? Honey, you still make my day.” See the romantic section, sorted by relationship stage.
What are knock knock jokes over text?
Short ones like “Hi who? Hi, miss you.”
How do you write a knock knock joke?
Pick a name, find a phrase that starts with the same sound and finish it with a punchline.