Funny 40th Birthday Wishes and Messages: 110+ Examples

I’ve sent a ton of birthday messages over the years as well helping many more craft their own. And funny birthday wishes are usually the best kind.

But some land with a laugh and others, well.. don’t.

So use these hilarious 40th birthday wishes and messages that are actually funny. Whoever it is turning 40 will love them.

Why Funny Works Better Than Sappy

The honest truth is that very few people want to be reminded they’re leaving their 30s behind. The mirror does that job just fine every morning. What they do want though is a good laugh about it.

Turning 40 is a big milestone. And one that that practically begs for humor. It’s that perfect age where you’re established enough to laugh at yourself but not so old that jokes feel mean.

My best tip? Match your humor to their personality. The accountant in your life might appreciate a different joke than your friend who still has festival wristbands from 2019.

People turning 40 today aren’t exactly rushing to join AARP. They’re running marathons, starting businesses and probably have better social lives than their kids. Your message should celebrate this weird, wonderful age where they’re both grown up and still trying to figure out what that actually means.

What Makes a Great Funny 40th Birthday Message?

• Relatable observations about aging (without getting too depressing)
• Personalized details that show you know them well
• The perfect balance of teasing and kindness
• Avoiding truly sensitive subjects (actual insecurities aren’t funny)
• Something they’ll want to share with others

General Funny 40th Birthday Wishes

These will work for practically anyone hitting the big 4-0.

1. 40 is when your body gives you a reality check your ego isn’t ready to cash.

2. Happy 40th! You’re not getting older, you’re just becoming vintage. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make you more valuable – just harder to return.

3. At 40, you’ve lived long enough to know better but still young enough to do it anyway. Happy birthday to someone who consistently chooses option B!

4. Remember when we thought people in their 40s had their lives together? Yeah, me neither. Happy birthday anyway!

5. Congratulations on reaching the age where ‘pulling an all-nighter’ means not getting up to pee.

6. Happy 40th! You’re now old enough that your parents have finally stopped asking when you’re going to grow up.

7. They say 40 is the new 30, which is just something 40-year-olds say to feel better. But hey, whatever works!

8. At 40, your back goes out more than you do. Happy birthday to someone who’s aging like a fine wine… that was left open overnight.

9. You know you’re 40 when your idea of a perfect night involves a comfortable chair and absolutely no plans.

10. 40 is nature’s way of telling you to slow down… by making everything hurt when you don’t.

11. Happy 40th! You’re not middle-aged until you start complaining about the music being too loud. Oh wait…

Funny 40th Birthday Messages for Her

12. 40 looks gorgeous on you! I mean, the Instagram filter helps, but still…

13. Happy 40th! Now you can finally blame your forgetfulness on age instead of being busy.

14. Congratulations on reaching the age where comfort trumps fashion and you don’t even feel bad about it.

15. At 40, you’re finally old enough to realize that all those anti-aging creams you’ve been buying are just expensive moisturizers.

16. Happy birthday to someone who still thinks she’s 25 until she tries to get up from sitting on the floor!

17. 40 is when ‘beauty sleep’ becomes less about beauty and more about actually needing sleep.

18. They say women get more confident with age. Or maybe we just care less what people think. Either way, happy 40th!

19. Welcome to 40, where ‘I need to rest my eyes for a minute’ turns into a two-hour nap.

20. Happy birthday! Now you can officially use ‘I’m too old for this’ as an excuse for basically anything.

21. At 40, your body might be showing signs of age, but your ability to justify wine on a Tuesday is stronger than ever.

Funny 40th Birthday Wishes for Him

22. Happy 40th birthday! Your warranty has expired, but most of your parts still work. Mostly.

23. Congratulations on reaching the age where you google health symptoms more than sports scores.

24. At 40, you’re just 10 years away from getting excited about new gardening tools. Happy birthday!

25. You’re not having a midlife crisis, you’re having a midlife awakening… that coincidentally requires a motorcycle purchase.

26. Happy 40th! You’ve now reached the age where you grunt when you bend over and don’t even realize it.

27. They say with age comes wisdom. I’m still waiting for evidence of this. Happy birthday anyway!

28. 40: When ‘getting lucky’ means finding your car in the parking lot on the first try.

29. Happy birthday to someone who still thinks he’s cool! (Don’t worry, we won’t tell your kids.)

30. Welcome to 40! You’re now officially too old to die young.

31. At 40, your body is basically a walking notification center for rainy weather. Happy birthday, human barometer!

Funny 40th Birthday Wishes for a Friend

32. Remember when we were young and thought 40 was ancient? We were right. Happy birthday, old timer!

33. Happy 40th! Now we can blame our bad decisions on mid-life crises instead of poor judgment.

34. 40 years of friendship means I know where all the bodies are buried. Happy birthday to someone who should really keep me on their good side!

35. They say 40 is the old age of youth. Just be glad I didn’t bring enough candles to set off the smoke alarm!

36. Happy birthday to my forever friend! You may be 40, but you still laugh at the same dumb jokes you did at 14.

37. At 40, we’ve officially known each other longer than many marriages last. I’m still not returning that sweater I borrowed in 2009 though.

38. Turning 40 means you’re old enough to know better but still young enough to get away with it. Let’s lean into the second part this weekend!

39. Happy 40th to someone who gets better with age! I mean, you couldn’t get much worse, so that tracks.

40. 40 years of being awesome (and about 35 years of being a pain in my butt). Wouldn’t trade you for anyone else!

41. You know you’re 40 when ‘going out’ means leaving the house, not clubbing until 2AM. Happy birthday to my favorite homebody!

Funny 40th Birthday Messages for a Husband

42. Happy 40th birthday to the only man I’d still date even though you’re practically ancient.

43. Congratulations on turning 40! I got you anti-aging cream, but I think we’re a few years too late.

44. To my favorite 40-year-old: I promise to help you find your glasses, remember people’s names, and pretend I don’t notice when you grunt standing up.

45. Happy birthday to a man who’s aging like fine wine… if fine wine complained about its back pain.

46. At 40, you still have it! Whatever ‘it’ is, I’m not entirely sure, but you definitely haven’t lost it yet.

47. Happy 40th to my husband who insists he’s still ‘in his prime’ while using heat packs and taking naps.

48. They say women prefer older men. Thanks for helping me test that theory by aging before my eyes!

49. Happy birthday to the man who still thinks he’s 25… until he tries to prove it.

50. 40 looks good on you! And by ‘good’ I mean ‘exactly how it’s supposed to look on someone your age.’

51. Congratulations on being 40! Now we can be the boring couple that leaves parties early and feels no shame about it.

Funny 40th Birthday Messages for a Wife

52. Happy 40th birthday to my wife, who’s like a fine wine – gets more expensive with age!

53. Congratulations on turning 40! Now we can both pretend we don’t know how to work new technology.

54. To my beautiful wife: You don’t look a day over 39 and 364 days.

55. Happy birthday to the woman who somehow looks better at 40 than she did when I met her! (I’m contractually obligated to say this, but we both know it’s true.)

56. 40 years of awesome and only just getting started. Though maybe start a little slower tomorrow morning after all that cake.

57. They say behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes. Happy 40th to the eye-roller-in-chief!

58. Happy birthday to someone who’s aging so gracefully I’m starting to get suspicious. What potions are you brewing in the bathroom?

59. At 40, you’ve officially earned the right to forget anniversaries too. Happy birthday!

60. To my wife at 40: Still hot enough to make me look twice, still scary enough to keep me in line.

61. Happy 40th! Remember when we said we’d be the cool older couple? Well, one of us is nailing it.

Funny 40th Birthday Messages for Sister

62. Happy 40th birthday to my sister! I’d tell you to act your age, but I’ve always enjoyed your immaturity.

63. To my favorite sister (don’t fact-check this with our other siblings): 40 is just a number. A big, scary, you’re-definitely-getting-old number.

64. Happy birthday to the sister who’s now officially too old to borrow my clothes. Not that it ever stopped you before.

65. They say with age comes wisdom. I’m still waiting to see evidence of this in you, but happy 40th anyway!

66. 40 looks amazing on you! Must be all those genes you stole from me before birth.

67. Happy birthday to my sister who’s proving that 40 is the new 30… if 30-year-olds complained about back pain this much.

68. To my sister at 40: You’re not getting older, you’re just becoming more entitled to your naps.

69. Congratulations on turning 40! Remember when we thought people our age had their lives figured out? Hilarious, right?

70. Happy 40th to my sister who still calls me for tech support despite having the same phone as me.

71. At 40, you’ve finally earned the right to call yourself my ‘older’ sister without me disputing it. Enjoy your crowning achievement!

Funny 40th Birthday Messages for Brother

72. Happy 40th birthday! Now you’re old enough that people will assume your bad decisions are a midlife crisis, not just poor judgment.

73. To my brother who’s now officially ancient: I’d make an ‘over the hill’ joke, but you’d probably pull something trying to climb it.

74. Congratulations on turning 40! Mom said I have to be nice to you today, so I’ll wait until tomorrow to remind you how old you are.

75. Happy birthday to my brother who still thinks he’s cool! (Your children strongly disagree.)

76. 40 years of being my brother and you still haven’t figured out how amazing it is. Some people are slow learners.

77. To my brother at 40: You’re not losing your hair, it’s just making a strategic retreat from your increasingly strange opinions.

78. Happy 40th to someone who’s still playing video games but now calls it ‘stress relief’ instead of ‘procrastination.’

79. They say men get better with age. Let’s hope that kicks in soon! Happy birthday anyway!

80. At 40, you’re finally old enough to admit I was right all along about everything. Happy birthday!

81. Happy birthday to my brother who’s no longer cool enough to know what’s cool, but still cool enough not to care.

Funny 40th Birthday Messages For Mom

82. Happy 40th Birthday, Mom! You’ve always taught us to keep our standards high, so enjoy your day – you’ve set the bar for aging gracefully.

83. To the woman who stays young at heart, may your 40th birthday be filled with as much joy as you bring to our lives.

84. Mom, even on your 40th, you’re still the coolest mom on the block. Keep rocking and have a fabulous birthday!

85. Happy birthday, Mom! 40 is just a number, and the way you’re managing it, it might just become the new 20!

86. Congratulations, Mom! You’re not only 40 and fabulous but also a favorite of everyone who knows you.

87. Happy 40th Birthday, Mom! Remember, calories don’t count today, so let’s eat cake.

88. Here’s to a mom who’s forever young! May your 40th birthday be as bright and sparkly as your personality.

89. Mom, your 40th is just another 10th anniversary of your 30th Birthday. Keep celebrating and stay young!

90. Cheers to you, Mom! On your 40th, let’s toast to more shopping sprees and girl’s days out.

91. Happy 40th Birthday, Mom! May your day be filled with laughter and your wine glass never empty.

Funny 40th Birthday Wishes For Dad

92. Happy 40th Birthday, Dad! May your grilling skills remain sharp and your jokes (slightly) improve with age.

93. To the dad who can fix anything: even though you’re turning 40, remember, you’re still in your prime maintenance years

94. Dad, you’re not 40, you’re 18 with 22 years of life lessons. Thanks for being an awesome role model. Happy Birthday!

95. Cheers to a dad who’s been a hero for 40 years! May your day be as amazing as you are.

96. Happy Birthday, Dad! You may be 40, but you party like you’re 21.

97. Happy 40th, Dad! Don’t worry, I won’t make any old jokes. I’ll let your hair do the talking.

98. Here’s to you, Dad! 40 years of adventure and still so many more to go. Have a fantastic birthday!

99. Happy 40th Birthday to the man who’s still living life in the fast lane, but only until 9 PM.

100. Dad, on your 40th, remember: it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years. Keep rocking!

101. To the coolest 40-year-old dad: may your day be filled with endless fun and zero chores.

Funny 40th Birthday Quotes for Daughter

102. Happy 40th Birthday to our beautiful daughter! May your day sparkle as much as you do.

103. To our daughter on her 40th: You make every day brighter with your smile. Here’s to more years of happiness.

104. Happy Birthday, dear daughter! At 40, your spirit is as youthful as ever. Keep that energy alive!

105. Cheers to our daughter, who brings joy wherever she goes. May your 40th year be filled with all the things you love.

106. Happy 40th Birthday! You’re not just growing older, you’re growing better. We’re so proud of you.

107. To our daughter on her special day: you’ve turned 40, but in our hearts, you’ll always be our little girl.

108. Wishing a fabulous 40th to our daughter who keeps getting wiser, kinder, and more amazing every year!

109. Happy 40th, sweetheart! Remember, age is just a number, and you make 40 look fierce!

110. To our daughter: May your 40th be as memorable and wonderful as the first day we met you.

111. Here’s to you, daughter! May your 40th Birthday be as sweet and lovely as you are.