Father's Day card reading "Best Dad Ever" with a sweet photo of a dad and his child.

Father’s Day is almost upon us, and now is the perfect time to start thinking about the holiday — a day to honor and celebrate the many fathers in our lives. Whether that’s your father, your children’s father, or a father figure you’ve always looked up to, you can make their day special by writing them hilarious or heartfelt Father’s Day cards.

While Mother’s Day was established in the 1860s, Father’s Day wasn’t formally founded until 1910. The celebration is meant to honor all fathers and recognize the importance of fatherhood. Father’s Day is now a staple in our yearly calendar alongside events like Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and New Year’s. While the date changes every year, it’s always held on the third Sunday of June in the United States. So, mark your calendars!

To help you make the most of the holiday this year, here’s our guide on what to write in your Father’s Day cards, as well as some ideas to help you celebrate with loved ones.

What to Write in Your Father’s Day Cards

Father’s Day only comes around once a year, but that doesn’t make it any easier to find the perfect words for your greeting cards or ecards. Whether you’re looking for something simple and sweet, or a message that’ll make your dad laugh, here are some of our favorite Father’s Day card ideas.

Simple Father’s Day Words

Bring a smile to your dad’s face with these simple Father’s Day greetings.

  • “Dad, you’re the best! Happy Father’s Day”
  • “Thanks for being an awesome father.”
  • “Happy Father’s Day to the greatest dad anyone could wish for!”
  • “Three cheers for super dad!”
  • “Happy Father’s Day wishes to the most amazing father.”
  • “Thank you for everything, Dad.”
  • “You’re the best dad in the whole world. Thank you for your love and support.”
  • “Happy Father’s Day, Papa Bear, from your baby bear.”
  • “Hope you have a great Father’s Day, Dad!”
  • “Dad, you’re my hero.”
  • “Happy Father’s Day to the best dad ever.”

These simple greetings work especially well with handmade or DIY Father’s Day cards from the little ones. Plan a crafty morning and use this as an opportunity to get creative with the kids.

Heartfelt Father’s Day Messages

When you want to write something a little longer or share a moment of gratitude with your dad, these Father’s Day messages are ideal.

  • “Thank you for your everlasting love, understanding, and help. I’ll never forget all the times you’ve guided me through life.”
  • “You’re the greatest person I know. You’re my hero, Dad. Happy Father’s Day!”
  • “You’ve given so much to me throughout the years. Today is an opportunity to pay back some of that love and kindness.”
  • “You’re the reason I’m alive. Knowing you is such a gift, and I’m grateful for every moment with you. Happy Father’s Day!”
  • “Anyone can be a father, but a good dad becomes a superhero.”
  • “Dad, you’re my favorite person. Happy Father’s Day!”
  • “Thank you for always being there for me, Dad.”
  • “You’re the greatest role model anyone could ever have.”
  • “Some people have a good father, but I have the best!”
  • “You’re the strongest person I know. You’re also the sweetest, the wisest, and the brightest part of every day. Thank you, Dad.”
  • “Dad, you’re my idol. Every day I’m grateful to have you around. Happy Father’s Day!”
  • “Thank you for being such a positive influence in my life.”
  • “I love you more than you can ever know. Happy Father’s Day to the greatest dad there is and ever will be.”
  • “There’s no bond like ours. Thank you for everything, Dad.”
  • “Nobody could possibly compare to you. You’re the strongest, wisest, most caring person I’ve ever known. Thank you.”
  • “Happy Father’s Day to the greatest of all the great dads”
  • “If you wrote a book about fatherhood it’d be one of the best sellers.”

Another way to add a heartfelt touch to your Father’s Day card is with a poem. You could find a poem about fatherhood or create your own handmade version. There’s no need to be a master poet — it’s the thought that counts!

Funny Father’s Day Greetings

If your dad has an amazing sense of humor, these funny Father’s Day card messages will have him laughing.

  • “Happy Father’s Day to the best dad in the whole world, from the best kids in the whole world.”
  • “It’s Father’s Day, so I’ll let you be right about something.”
  • “Happy Father’s Day to the most reliable taxi driver I know.”
  • “Sorry for all the embarrassing moments I’ve put you through over the years!”
  • “Wherever life takes you, at least you know you’ve got the best kid by your side.”
  • “Life doesn’t come with a manual, but if it did, you’d still toss it aside and try the DIY route. Happy Father’s Day!”
  • “I’m the reason you get a card today. Happy Father’s Day!”
  • “Sorry about all the gray hairs!”
  • “This is the best part of being a dad — Father’s Day!”
  • “You always pop up with advice just when I don’t need it. But, I’ll admit that it’s come in handy a few times. Happy Father’s Day!”

Ramp up the funny factor even further by referencing a dad joke or a clumsy moment from your childhood. Maybe you did something really embarrassing or made your dad’s life difficult as a toddler. Amplify this effect by choosing a photo card that you can customize with a funny pic.

Quotes About Fatherhood

The topic of fatherhood is emotive, with plenty of famous people and celebrities chiming in on the subject. Here’s a collection of quotes about fatherhood to feature in your Father’s Day cards.

  • “No man stands taller than when he stoops to help a child.” – Abraham Lincoln
  • “Having a kid is like falling in love for the first time when you’re twelve, but every single day.” – Mike Myers
  • “Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.” – Anne Geddes
  • “One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” – George Herbert
  • “I’m not ashamed to say that no man I ever met was my father’s equal, and I never loved any man as much.” – Hedy Lamarr
  • “Having children is like living in a frat house. Nobody sleeps, everything is broken, and there’s a lot of throwing up.” – Ray Romano
  • “Children are a poor man’s riches.” – English proverb
  • “To a father growing old, nothing is dearer than a daughter.” – Euripedes
  • “It is a wise father that knows his own child.” – William Shakespeare
  • “My mother gave me my drive, but my father gave me my dreams. Thanks to him I could see a future.” – Liza Minelli

These heartfelt quotes are especially perfect if you’re celebrating a first Father’s Day. If you don’t see a quote that resonates with you, feel free to create your own timeless piece of wisdom. Think of what you admire most about your father and turn it into a statement that comes straight from the heart.

Fun Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day

Father’s Day is one of the most celebrated holidays and a great way to bring people together. As it’s celebrated in June, Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to take the family outdoors for some summer weather. There are also fun things you can do at home to mark this special day, like watching a game together.

Alongside these Father’s Day card ideas, here are some of our favorite ways to mark the occasion that are sure to pair perfectly with your Father’s Day gift ideas.

Plan a Family Picnic

Family picnic Father's Day cards from Greenvelope

Design: Jen Montgomery

Sometimes the simplest celebrations are the most memorable. Life is so busy that family time can be hard to find, so why not use Father’s Day as an opportunity to take time out together by inviting loved ones to family picnic.

Order in or make your favorite picnic foods with plenty of refreshing drinks. Pack up the car with your blankets and games, or walk down to a nearby park or beach.

Settle down for an afternoon outside your loved ones and make time to recount memories from childhood, laugh, and think of all the good things to come. You could even weave in some fun Father’s Day crafts for the kids with printable activities and DIY projects for the little ones.

Host a Friends and Family BBQ

Brews & BBQ Father's Day cards from Greenvelope

Design: Signature Greenvelope

While most of us invite close family for Father’s Day, there’s no reason not to extend an invite to your close friends and their families as well. This time of year is perfect for an outdoor gathering, with plenty of grilled food and iced drinks to share.

The beauty of a backyard BBQ party is that you can personalize it. Go gourmet and prepare a feast for your guests, or ask everyone to bring along their favorite dish for a potluck dinner. Bring out the yard games or set up something special, like an outdoor cinema experience.

Celebrate with Sports

Let's Partee golf-themed Father's Day cards from Greenvelope

Design: Clementine Creative

For all the sports-loving dads out there, a themed sports afternoon or evening can be the perfect way to bring friends together. The dads in your life get to enjoy something they love with the people they care about most.

Plan a family and friends golf day out on the course, or stay in and host a get-together with drinks to watch Dad’s favorite sports on TV. If you’d like to get more people involved, you could even think about hosting a neighborhood family fun day with lots of sports-related activities.

All You Need to Celebrate Father’s Day

We hope this guide has given you plenty of Father’s Day card ideas to think about. The design, wording, and delivery of your card is all up to you. You can hand deliver your card or send digital invitations ahead of your Father’s Day celebration.

Fathers are true heroes, so however you choose to celebrate the day, they’ll appreciate the gesture and your words. Whether you stay at home and have a family dinner together or invite the whole neighborhood to a BBQ or street party, we hope you have the best holiday.