One of the central elements of Jim Halpert's character as originally conceived is his devotion to playing pranks at the office to relieve boredom.

By far, his most common target is his overbearing desk mate, Dwight Schrute, though he later moves on to playing pranks on Stamford co-worker, Andy Bernard,when he transfers branches. He will sometimes prank another coworker, such as the unsuspecting Kevin, if thrown into an awkward situation or bored. More often than not, Pam Halpert collaborates with Jim on the pranks on Dwight.

On Jim's baseball card, it says that he has played 794 pranks on Dwight as of the release date of Work Bus, October 18, 2012.

Here are some of the more notable pranks Jim has played on Dwight, Andy, or any other unsuspecting co-worker. A few of them are Dwight's pranks too.

Season One

Season Two

Season Three

Held Dwight's bobblehead doll for $5 ransom (Third Season Primetime Preview).

(Third Season Primetime Preview). Encased Andy's calculator in Jell-O. This prank backfired when Andy reacted violently (Gay Witch Hunt).

This prank backfired when Andy reacted violently (Gay Witch Hunt). Convinced Dwight and Michael that gaydar was a genuine electronic device that can be purchased. Later sent "gaydar" to Dwight, which Dwight amusingly used and set off the sensor on himself (Gay Witch Hunt).

that gaydar was a genuine electronic device that can be purchased. Later sent "gaydar" to Dwight, which Dwight amusingly used and set off the sensor on himself (Gay Witch Hunt). Gained access to Dwight's hotel room at a paper convention in Philadelphia just to find a hooker in his room that is actually Angela, though he doesn't appear to recognize her (The Convention).

at a paper convention in Philadelphia just to find a hooker in his room that is actually Angela, though he doesn't appear to recognize her (The Convention). Made high-pitched noises with Pam, hoping Dwight would schedule an appointment with an ear doctor, called "pretendonitis" (The Coup).

with Pam, hoping Dwight would schedule an appointment with an ear doctor, called "pretendonitis" (The Coup). Switched his squeaky chair with Karen's chair, and then refused to get up all day to prevent her from taking it back (Initiation).

Season Four

Hired Elizabeth the Stripper by convincing Michael she was a "rabies nurse" (Fun Run).

by convincing Michael she was a "rabies nurse" (Fun Run). Sent IMs with Pam, convincing Dwight that the Dunder Mifflin website achieved self-awareness (Launch Party).

with Pam, convincing Dwight that the Dunder Mifflin website achieved self-awareness (Launch Party). Mocked Andy when Andy was trying to figure out what he should do when Dwight made a sale against the website (Launch Party).

Andy was trying to figure out what he should do when Dwight made a sale against the website (Launch Party). Encased the rocket launcher belonging to Dwight's avatar in Second Life (Local Ad, deleted scene).

belonging to Dwight's avatar in Second Life (Local Ad, deleted scene). Along with Michael and Dwight put on a fake mustache and infiltrated Karen's branch. This was admittedly against his will (Branch Wars).

put on a fake mustache and infiltrated Karen's branch. This was admittedly against his will (Branch Wars). Deliberately guessed the wrong names playing "Celebrity" when Michael was giving blatantly obvious clues (Dinner Party).

playing "Celebrity" when Michael was giving blatantly obvious clues (Dinner Party). Stole Jan's CD (Dinner Party).

(Dinner Party). "Proposed" to Pam by asking her if she would wait while he tied his shoe (Chair Model).

by asking her if she would wait while he tied his shoe (Chair Model). "Proposed" to Pam by asking her if she'd get him a cup of coffee (Did I Stutter).

by asking her if she'd get him a cup of coffee (Did I Stutter). Linked Dwight's cell phone to his Bluetooth headset and took his calls. Additionally forwarded Dwight's office phone to his own (Goodbye Toby).

Season Five

Season Six

Season Seven

Adds 5 keys to Dwight's key ring but the prank fails after Pam laughs. Jim's full plan was to slowly add an obscene amount of extra keys to Dwight's key ring just a few at a time. Eventually, he would cause Dwight's pants to fall down (Nepotism).

but the prank fails after Pam laughs. Jim's full plan was to slowly add an obscene amount of extra keys to Dwight's key ring just a few at a time. Eventually, he would cause Dwight's pants to fall down (Nepotism). Tricks Gabe in to listening to an audio recording of Jo Bennett's long, boring autobiography by editing samples of Jo Bennett's voice together (WUPHF.com).

by editing samples of Jo Bennett's voice together (WUPHF.com). Throws a snowball at Dwight's face (specifically the mouth) inside the office. This backfires after Dwight retaliates by terrorizing and scaring Jim in a series of surprise snowball attacks (Classy Christmas).

(specifically the mouth) inside the office. This backfires after Dwight retaliates by terrorizing and scaring Jim in a series of surprise snowball attacks (Classy Christmas). Tricks Todd Packer into leaving Dunder Mifflin for a non-existent job in Florida, with Dwight's help. Michael learned of the ruse, but decided not to warn Packer after he insulted Holly (Todd Packer).

Michael learned of the ruse, but decided not to warn Packer after he insulted Holly (Todd Packer). Jammed Dwight's desk drawers after Dwight said that doing so would not be a good prank (Todd Packer).

after Dwight said that doing so would not be a good prank (Todd Packer). Sells Dwight magic beans at a garage sale. Jim convinces Dwight to trade a telescope marked at $150 for "Professor Copperfield's Miracle Legumes". Jim later replaces the beans Dwight had just planted with fully grown ones. (Garage Sale).

at a garage sale. Jim convinces Dwight to trade a telescope marked at $150 for "Professor Copperfield's Miracle Legumes". Jim later replaces the beans Dwight had just planted with fully grown ones. (Garage Sale). Tricked Dwight into thinking the office was mounting an insurrection against him, after he became acting manager, by putting up notices for a group called the FIST and talking about a mission called "Operation Overthrow" (Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager).

Season Eight

Season Nine

Convinced Dwight that Clark is a better Dwight than he is, Jim tried to convince Dwight that Clark has a belt higher than a black belt (New Guys).

Jim tried to convince Dwight that Clark has a belt higher than a black belt (New Guys). A man dressed like Jim, claiming to be Jim and everyone else believes is Jim takes Jim's place. Jim and Pam's actor friend, Steve, pretends to be Jim while Jim is at the dentist. Steve is Asian and pretends that he has been this whole time and Dwight just never noticed. Steve knew everything Jim knew including his sales history and his password to access his messages. He also replaced his own family photos with ones of Pam, Steve, and two Asian children (Andy's Ancestry).

Jim and Pam's actor friend, Steve, pretends to be Jim while Jim is at the dentist. Steve is Asian and pretends that he has been this whole time and Dwight just never noticed. Steve knew everything Jim knew including his sales history and his password to access his messages. He also replaced his own family photos with ones of Pam, Steve, and two Asian children (Andy's Ancestry). Convinced Dwight that electromagnetic radiation causes infertility. Jim placed a bag of popcorn with only one kernel popped under Dwight's chair hoping that Dwight will believe the poorly insulated wiring is what caused it. He convinces Dwight to shut down the building (Work Bus).

Jim placed a bag of popcorn with only one kernel popped under Dwight's chair hoping that Dwight will believe the poorly insulated wiring is what caused it. He convinces Dwight to shut down the building (Work Bus). Tricked Dwight into believing he was on a radio talk show. Jim, Pam, Nellie, and Darryl tricked Dwight into believing he was on a radio talk show to talk about Dunder-Miflin. Dwight seems confident and tells them that he is basically the CEO as David Wallace is very "hands off" and lets Dwight run the company. They trick him into taking off his shirt and pants by telling him the buttons on his clothes are making noise that is interfering with the audio on the “radio show”. The four then play different "experts" and make Dwight believe that the paper is dangerous and the stocks are plummeting. Dwight, unable to answer to all these troubles, starts blaming poop brain David Wallace. The four then make Dwight believe that David Wallace has become insane and kidnapped a mailman and is holding him hostage. The prank nearly backfires when Dwight actually calls David. David however ignores Dwight and hangs up (The Boat).

Jim, Pam, Nellie, and Darryl tricked Dwight into believing he was on a radio talk show to talk about Dunder-Miflin. Dwight seems confident and tells them that he is basically the CEO as David Wallace is very "hands off" and lets Dwight run the company. They trick him into taking off his shirt and pants by telling him the buttons on his clothes are making noise that is interfering with the audio on the “radio show”. The four then play different "experts" and make Dwight believe that the paper is dangerous and the stocks are plummeting. Dwight, unable to answer to all these troubles, starts blaming poop brain David Wallace. The four then make Dwight believe that David Wallace has become insane and kidnapped a mailman and is holding him hostage. The prank nearly backfires when Dwight actually calls David. David however ignores Dwight and hangs up (The Boat). Sent Dwight (and unwittingly the entire office, except Pam) on a quest for "the Holy Grail", using a series of clues called "The Dunder Code" which Robert Dunder had supposedly left in the office years ago. The prank had been laid by Jim around 2005–2006, who subsequently forgot about it. By the time Dwight found the clues, years later, with the staff joining in, the grail had been found by warehouse worker Glenn, who was using it as a coffee mug (Customer Loyalty).

which Robert Dunder had supposedly left in the office years ago. The prank had been laid by Jim around 2005–2006, who subsequently forgot about it. By the time Dwight found the clues, years later, with the staff joining in, the grail had been found by warehouse worker Glenn, who was using it as a coffee mug (Customer Loyalty). Told Dwight that he couldn't be his bestest mensch because he had to be older than him. He reveals that he called Michael to come in from Colorado to be his true bestest mensch. Simply the "Best Prank Ever" (Also, the last) (Finale).

He reveals that he called Michael to come in from Colorado to be his true bestest mensch. Simply the "Best Prank Ever" (Also, the last) (Finale). Called Dwight as a concerned citizen to complain about how "loud" Dunder Mifflin paper is (Where Are They Now?)

List of Pranks Pulled by Others

In a few cases, others have pulled or attempted pranks.

Pam, Ryan, and Kevin mocked Michael's efforts to talk about the death of loved ones, by recalling scenes from the movies Million Dollar Baby , The Lion King , and Weekend at Bernie's , and passing them off as memories (Grief Counseling).

by recalling scenes from the movies , , and , and passing them off as memories (Grief Counseling). Karen programmed the "9" button on Jim's phone to speed-dial a number in Hong Kong. (Josh Porter explained the prank to Jim, suggesting he was in on it, or that Karen had pulled the same prank before) (Gay Witch Hunt, deleted scene).

(Josh Porter explained the prank to Jim, suggesting he was in on it, or that Karen had pulled the same prank before) (Gay Witch Hunt, deleted scene). Pam tricked Dwight into running laps around the building to see if he could beat Toby (who was not participating), using a digital thermometer as a stopwatch, then leaving him outside (The Merger).

to see if he could beat Toby (who was not participating), using a digital thermometer as a stopwatch, then leaving him outside (The Merger). Karen tricked Jim into believing she dated most of the guys at David Wallace's cocktail party, including David Wallace. She told Jim he was her first, also a lie (Cocktails).

She told Jim he was her first, also a lie (Cocktails). Pam drew of a sketch of a local flasher to look exactly like Dwight, except with a small mustache and no glasses, which Dwight, who did not recognize himself, then papered all over the neighborhood (Women's Appreciation).

except with a small mustache and no glasses, which Dwight, who did not recognize himself, then papered all over the neighborhood (Women's Appreciation). Dwight paid Erin to announce she'd won an art contest, thus mocking Pam's art aspirations (Café Disco).

thus mocking Pam's art aspirations (Café Disco). Darryl tricked Andy into thinking Sabre was covering up that their printers were a possible fire hazard. (This was retaliation for Andy blaming the warehouse two years earlier for a late shipment he'd forgotten to process). This backfired when they filmed a printer catching fire, proving Andy right. An unsettled Daryl decided to quit pranking for good (The Cover-Up).

(This was retaliation for Andy blaming the warehouse two years earlier for a late shipment he'd forgotten to process). This backfired when they filmed a printer catching fire, proving Andy right. An unsettled Daryl decided to quit pranking for good (The Cover-Up). Pam, with Kevin's help, rearranged the elevator buttons to prank Dwight, to make up for accidentally ruining Jim's key prank (see above). This backfired when they both became stuck in the elevator and Dwight (who had been drinking excessive amounts of water) began urinating in the corner (Nepotism).

to make up for accidentally ruining Jim's key prank (see above). This backfired when they both became stuck in the elevator and Dwight (who had been drinking excessive amounts of water) began urinating in the corner (Nepotism). Dwight placed a live porcupine in his own desk drawer , in an attempt to frame Jim. This backfired when Jim tricked Dwight into revealing the porcupine's name (Christmas Wishes).

, in an attempt to frame Jim. This backfired when Jim tricked Dwight into revealing the porcupine's name (Christmas Wishes). Dwight defaced his own car, writing "JIM IS AWESOME" in an attempt to frame Jim and get his Christmas bonus (see above). This backfired as Andy had decided not to withhold anyone's bonus (Christmas Wishes).

writing "JIM IS AWESOME" in an attempt to frame Jim and get his Christmas bonus (see above). This backfired as Andy had decided not to withhold anyone's bonus (Christmas Wishes). Dwight filled a bucket (taken from Jim's garage) with various disgusting ingredients and placed it above the door to the break room, intending to drop it on himself and blame Jim. This failed when the bucket fell on Kathy instead (Christmas Wishes, deleted scene).

intending to drop it on himself and blame Jim. This failed when the bucket fell on Kathy instead (Christmas Wishes, deleted scene). Dwight put a Jack-o-Lantern over his head and scared Erin. This backfired when he was unable to remove it afterwards (Here Comes Treble (Episode)). ​​​

This backfired when he was unable to remove it afterwards (Here Comes Treble (Episode)). ​​​ Dwight tricks Michael into eating a bull testicle after not recommending Dwight to replace Michael. (Goodbye, Michael).

Notes