A lot of dads are hard to shop for and even harder to write to. A few honest lines in a birthday card often mean more to him than the gift.
Here are birthday wishes for Dad, sorted by style and by who is writing, from short notes to funny lines to milestone birthdays.
Article contents
- How to Write a Birthday Card for Your Dad
- Short Birthday Wishes for Dad
- Heartfelt Birthday Wishes for Dad
- Birthday Wishes for Dad From a Daughter
- Birthday Wishes for Dad From a Son
- Funny Birthday Wishes for Dad
- Milestone Birthday Wishes for Dad
- Birthday Wishes for Dad When You Live Far Away
- Religious Birthday Wishes for Dad
- Birthday Wishes for a Stepdad or Father-in-Law
- How to Sign a Birthday Card to Your Dad
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Write a Birthday Card for Your Dad
- Start with a greeting. "Happy birthday, Dad!"
- Name one thing he taught you or did for you. Dads often remember the specifics.
- Add a line of humor or a line of thanks. Whatever sounds most like the two of you.
- Close with love. Even if you do not say it often.
Example: "Happy birthday, Dad! Thanks for spending your Saturday fixing my brakes. I still cannot believe you did it in an hour. Love you, Mike"
Short Birthday Wishes for Dad
- Happy birthday, Dad. Thanks for everything.
- Happy birthday to the best dad around.
- Happy birthday, Dad. I hope your day is as great as you are.
- Happy birthday to my hero.
- Cheers to you, Dad. Happy birthday!
- Happy birthday, Dad. Love you.
- Wishing you a relaxing birthday, Dad. You earned it.
- Happy birthday to the man who taught me everything.
Heartfelt Birthday Wishes for Dad
- Happy birthday, Dad. Everything I know about hard work, I learned from you.
- Thank you for always showing up: every game, every recital, every move. Happy birthday.
- The older I get, the more I realize how much you gave up for us. Thank you, Dad.
- You never needed to say much. I always knew you were proud of me. Happy birthday.
- Happy birthday to the steadiest person I know. You make everyone around you feel safe.
- I hope I am the kind of parent you were to me. Happy birthday, Dad.
- Thank you for your patience, your advice and your terrible jokes. Happy birthday.
Birthday Wishes for Dad From a Daughter
- Happy birthday to the first man who ever loved me.
- Dad, you taught me to ride a bike, change a tire and stand up for myself. Happy birthday.
- No matter how old I get, I will always be your little girl. Happy birthday, Dad.
- Happy birthday to my dad, my coach and my biggest fan.
- Thanks for walking me through every hard thing, Dad. Happy birthday.
Birthday Wishes for Dad From a Son
- Happy birthday, Dad. You showed me what a good man looks like.
- Happy birthday to the guy who taught me how to throw a ball and how to take a loss.
- Dad, I am proud to be your son. Happy birthday.
- Happy birthday to my dad and my best fishing buddy.
- Every year I understand you a little better. Happy birthday, Dad.
Funny Birthday Wishes for Dad
- Happy birthday, Dad! Don't worry, you are still younger than your jokes.
- Happy birthday to the man who has never once gotten lost. Just ask him.
- Happy birthday, Dad. I got you a card instead of socks this year. You're welcome.
- Happy birthday to the thermostat's best friend.
- Dad, you are not old. You are vintage. Happy birthday.
- Happy birthday! Thanks for teaching me that every car noise is "probably nothing."
- Happy birthday to my dad, who still says "ask your mother."
Milestone Birthday Wishes for Dad
For a Dad turning 50, see our 50th birthday wishes.
- Happy 50th birthday, Dad. Half a century of great advice and bad puns.
- Happy 60th, Dad! Still the smartest guy in the room.
- Happy 70th birthday to the best dad and grandpa we know.
- Happy 80th birthday, Dad. Thank you for 80 years of hard work and love.
- Happy 90th birthday, Dad. What a life, and we are grateful to be part of it.
Birthday Wishes for Dad When You Live Far Away
- Wish I could be there to light the candles. Happy birthday, Dad. Call you tonight.
- Happy birthday from a few states away. Save me a slice.
- Miles apart, but you are always with me. Happy birthday, Dad.
Religious Birthday Wishes for Dad
The verses are from the New International Version (NIV). For more, see our Christian birthday wishes for Dad.
- Happy birthday, Dad. I thank God for giving me a father like you.
- May the Lord bless you and keep you this year and always.
- Thank you for leading our family in faith. Happy birthday.
- "The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them." (Proverbs 20:7) Thank you, Dad.
- "Parents are the pride of their children." (Proverbs 17:6) Happy birthday.
- "The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad." (Psalm 118:24)
Birthday Wishes for a Stepdad or Father-in-Law
- Happy birthday to the man who chose to be my dad.
- Thank you for stepping in and never stepping back. Happy birthday.
- Happy birthday to my father-in-law. Thank you for welcoming me into the family.
- Thank you for raising the person I love. Happy birthday.
How to Sign a Birthday Card to Your Dad
"Love you, Dad," "Your favorite kid," "Proud to be your son" or "Love always" all work. Add the grandkids' names or let them draw something.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I write in my dad's birthday card?
Wish him a happy birthday, name one thing he taught you or did for you, and tell him you love him. A little humor is fine if that is how you two talk.
What is a short birthday message for Dad?
"Happy birthday, Dad. Thanks for everything" or "Happy birthday to the man who taught me everything."
What do you write in a card for a dad who is hard to write to?
Keep it simple and specific. Thank him for one thing he did, such as teaching you to drive, and close with "Love you, Dad."
For more ideas, see our guide to what to write in a birthday card or use the Message Finder. Also in this series: birthday wishes for Mom, for your husband and for your wife. For a dad who loves the outdoors, our American Wilderness National Park Cards and Vintage National Park Cards are blank inside.
Birthday wishes by who you are writing to: Mom, your husband, your wife, your sister, your brother, your son, your daughter, a cousin, an aunt or uncle, a niece or nephew, in-laws, Grandma, Grandpa, grandchildren and a friend.
