It comes down to the set-up, or more accurately, the lack of set-up. The best dad jokes don’t rely on audience participation, unlike the regular funny jokes we’re used to. Instead, the teller should be able to give you the whole orientation, complication and resolution in one sentence, otherwise known as a ‘one-liner’. The reason one-liners make the best dad jokes is that it doesn’t matter if the audience is listening. Apparently, the height of parental comedy is roasting your kids before they even realise what’s happening. The optimal ratio for the best dad joke is two parts funny: one part groan. The 2:1 scale is necessary to nail this unique style of humour, but you can judge for yourself how effective your timing is.

Whether you are a fan of dad jokes or not, there’s something to be said for a well-timed pun. In fact, the science behind great joke-telling can reveal a lot about human behaviour, according to research from the University of Windsor in Canada. The data suggested that puns may actually be of benefit to kids and adults as they have a bilateral effect on the brain, however, crossword creator David Astle believes the secret to a good corny joke was taking a visual idea and “twisting it”.

Maybe you are soon to become a father and want to brush up on your dad joke of the day skills, or maybe your just love watching your friends cringe at your poor attempt at humour. Either way, we’ve got you covered, and with Father’s Day just around the corner, the timing couldn’t be better.

Not all dad jokes are created equal. Some are actually funny, which may be a surprise to some. Below, you’ll find a long list of dad jokes that always hit, ensuring a slight chuckle from the audience, irrespective of their age and maturity.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, corny dad jokes are less about humour and more about repetition. These are the unfunny instalments that don’t really garner a great response, cultivated over years of practice and delivered with unassuming ease. Hi hungry, I’m dad!

Everyone loves a good un and that’s what dad jokes are built on. Ask any newspaper headline writer and they’ll tell you, the secret to drawing readership is all about a snappy title that makes you giggle Here are the best puns for dads.

Keeping things clean isn’t always easy, but we’ve put together a list of dad jokes for kids to enjoy, so there’s no swearing, no adult themes and presumably, no laughter either. Enjoy!

Rounding out the list in the worst possible way, we’ve got dumb jokes. Don’t expect any nuance or intellect here, just straight-up nostalgia delivered with a hearty chuckle and the look of a man who knows he’s not as funny as he thinks.