What Is the Ding Dong Ditch Prank & How Do You Play?

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A guide to playing the childhood game (and avoiding trouble)

Co-authored by Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: September 23, 2025 Fact Checked

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Getting Ready

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Ringing the Doorbell

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Variations & Tips

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Is it illegal?

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History

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Q&A

Ding-dong ditch is a classic childhood prank game to play with friends. Just ring somebody's doorbell, run away, and hide before they open the door. When the person opens the door, expecting to see a visitor, they’ll be puzzled to find the porch empty. Keep reading to learn how to play ding dong ditch, from preparation to ringing the doorbell and running away, along with tips and variations.

Warning: Ding-dong ditching can be considered illegal, and may be dangerous if you accidentally aggravate a stranger who overreacts.

How to Play the Ding Dong Ditch Game

Gather a crew and pick a mutual friend as your target.
Choose a time to ring their doorbell when they’ll be home and awake.
Creep up to their door and ring the doorbell (or knock on the door).
Take off to hide and watch their reaction.
For added effect, hit the same house 2-3 times to really drive your friends crazy.

Section 1 of 5:

Preparing to Play Ding Dong Ditch

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1
Gather a few friends to play. The fewer people you play with, the easier it will be to run away and hide without getting caught. However, playing with big groups can be fun, too. Prepare to go on foot or bring bicycles for a quick getaway. You can all travel in a car, if you have access to one, but make sure that you don't park it right in front of the target's house. With a group, you’ll knock, run, and hide together.^{[1]
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- Don’t peer pressure anyone to play ding dong ditch with you.
- Playing ding dong ditch is one of many fun things to do at a sleepover with just one friend. If they’re not comfortable playing, stick to other fun games like What Are the Odds.
2
Pick a friend’s house to ding-dong ditch. Target someone that you know won’t take this the wrong way. Ideally, choose a friend who enjoys a good prank and whose family you also know well. Make sure that they’re home. Pick a house that's easily accessible.^{[2]
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- Strangers may overreact to this, so never ding-dong ditch random homes.
- Be aware that your friend's parents might open the door instead of your friend. If you want to be sure that your friend answers the door, pick a time when your friend is home alone without their parents.
- If the house doesn’t have a doorbell, you can knock on the door instead.
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3
Plan an easy escape route. The most important part of the game is arguably the “ditch” part. Scope out the house from a distance and decide which way you're going to run after ringing the bell or knocking. The exact route will depend on the house, the time of day, and the number of people. If you don't plan it out, there's a higher chance that someone will get caught. When your getaway is free and clear, you can text your friend later to reveal your prank!^{[3]
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- You can use a car or a bike to get away faster. It will almost always be easier to get away at night, but don’t do this so late that you’re going to wake anybody up.
- If you're playing with only 1-2 other people, it’s more effective to all run in the same direction. This way, you can stick together and hide in a secure space.
- If you have a lot of people in your crew and don't want your friend to catch everyone, then you might want to scatter after each ding-dong ditch.
Scout out a secretive spot where you’ll still be able to see the reaction of your friend after you ding-dong ditch. Pick a space that’s far enough away to avoid detection, but not so far that you can't clearly see your friend’s reaction. Hide in the bushes, a tree, or behind a parked car.^{[4]
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Those who have Ring doorbells often have doorbell cameras that can record each doorbell ring well before the ringer pushes the button to ring it. They track movement, much like motion sensors or motion-activated lights, but Ring doorbells also record once motion is detected nearby.

Section 2 of 5:

When You Ring the Doorbell

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1
Decide who is going to ring the doorbell. Usually, someone will step up to do it. Switch off at every house to make sure that it's fair. The person who actually rings the doorbell is taking on the most risk, but can potentially have the most fun! Everyone else can wait by the car or at the hiding spot.^{[5]
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- Warm up beforehand if you’re running. Some stretches or a little jogging can help the person feel ready to run away quickly.
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Ring the doorbell. Have the ringer creep up to the door and ring the doorbell once for a subtle ding-dong ditch. Keep in mind that the prank may be more effective if the person actually thinks that there is someone at the door.^{[6]
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- Knock if there is no doorbell, but avoid hammering obnoxiously on the door. Knock like you're a visitor or a delivery person so that the owners of the doorbell think there's actually someone there.
Start running as soon as you ring the bell. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to get caught by your friend. Regroup at the hiding spot if you want to see the person's reaction. If you're worried about getting caught, then just run to safety.^{[7]
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Section 3 of 5:

Ding Dong Ditch Variations and Tips

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1
Ring the same doorbell multiple times for added effect. If you want to really seriously prank someone, wait until the friend you’re pranking closes the door to go back inside. Then, sneak back up to the door and ring the bell again—even more obnoxiously this time!^{[8]
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- Do not be malicious. At some point, your friend could definitely get tired of your tricks, and your prank will be more harmful than funny—remember, you're disturbing everyone in the house, not just your friend.
2
Choose more houses to prank. Once you're satisfied with your ding-dong ditch at the first house, move to a different street and locate your next target. Pick another friend or another person you know. Bike, walk, or drive to the next location and repeat your procedure. Have fun, but don't be careless! If you let your guard down, then you might get caught by your friend.^{[9]
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- On one hand, it's easier to get from house to house if you stay within a single neighborhood or a few blocks. However, if you hop around a wider area, you and your friends will be harder to track down.
3
Don't harass anyone, and know where the line is. Remember that this game is all in good fun. Ding-dong ditch can bring you and your friends together, but it also impacts the lives of the people whose doorbells you ring. Have a good time, but don't get too carried away.^{[10]
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- If you take it too far, then you might damage friendships. And if you choose a stranger or a poor target, you could get into big trouble, get the police called on you, or even risk your own safety.
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Make a plan for if you get caught. If you’re careful about who you choose to ding-dong ditch, none of your targets should be mad about your prank. However, if you play a prank on a stranger, be sure to apologize if you get caught. It’s almost always easier to say sorry and beg for forgiveness than it is to try to make excuses to avoid consequences. This way, you'll be much less likely to get into big trouble.^{[11]
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- If you get caught in the act by your friend's parents or annoy a neighbor, apologize by saying, "We were just trying to play a dumb prank. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

Section 4 of 5:

Is ding dong ditching illegal?

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Yes, it's illegal if there's trespassing, harassment, or property damage. Laws vary by location, but most states and countries treat ding dong ditch as trespassing since you aren’t ringing the bell for a good reason. You could also be charged with disturbing the peace if you’re caught. Even if you think it’s funny, a lot of adults won’t. Only play this prank on a friend when you know they’re home.^{[12]
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- In addition, the gag where you leave a “burning bag of poop” on a neighbor’s front porch may be funny on TV or in a movie, but it’s not safe to do IRL. You could end up damaging someone’s house or burning the person trying to put it out. Skip this idea—there are many other ways to pull funny pranks that aren’t harmful.^{[13]
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Section 5 of 5:

What is the history of ding dong ditch?

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Ding dong ditch originated as a 19th-century children’s game. It’s associated with the Cornish holiday of Nickanan Night, where kids would knock on doors and run away. Ding dong ditch has seen a recent rise in popularity as a social media challenge, similar to the Viral Spider Filter prank. Many participants these days prefer to film their experience and post it online.
- The game has also been known as Nicky Nicky Nine Doors, Knock Knock Ginger, Runaway Knock, and Knock Door Run.

Community Q&A

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Question

What if the doorbell has a camera?

Community Answer

Do not ring that doorbell, or pretend to be a "visitor." To be on the safe side, stay away from camera doorbells.

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What should I do if I'm hiding and person begins to scan the area?

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Stay where you are, and wait until they leave. If you are close to your escape route, then wait until the person's back is turned before running for it.

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What should I do if I'm caught by the police when playing Ding Dong Ditch?

Community Answer

Just be honest and explain that you were playing a game. It would be a good idea to offer a sincere apology too.

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