
38 Best Gifts for Teens
Feeling stumped when faced with selecting holiday, birthday or graduation gifts for the teens in your life? It can be hard to find fun and cool gifts that they will love, but don't already have.
You could always stuff some money into an envelope and call it a day (it does go over well!), but if you're looking for something a little more thoughtful and personal, we're rounding up ideas from parents who know what teenage kids want.
Discover the best gifts for teens & add your recommendations below!
Cadbury Great British Treats Gift Box
Vanessa M. said: Teens will get a kick out of trying British candy bars, delivered to them directly from the UK! The Cadbury Great British Treats Gift Box offers a selection of 10 full sized candy bars in Britain's favorite varieties. With fun names like Wispa, Curly Wurly, and Double Decker, this box makes a yummy gift teens would be thrilled to receive.
Grid Wire Photo Hanger
Kristy Pepping said: This product we purchased for our two older children. They wanted to display photos of friends and art projects they have created. The nice part about the hanger is a child can easily add or remove photos or other treasures often. We bought some clothespins to use as hangers off these boards.
Spikeball
Vanessa M. said: Have you seen teens and young adults playing Spikeball at the park lately? I have! It looks like a lot of fun! Spikeball is a 4 player game with rules similar to volleyball. Great for playing outside, inside, at the beach, wherever!
Shashibo Cube Magnet Fidget Toy
Alexandra F. said: This combination fidget toy and puzzle cube is addicting for all ages, and would be an awesome gift for teens or older kids who love puzzles and brainteasers. Be aware that it's made out of 36 rare-earth magnets, and as with all magnets, should be kept away from children who might put them in their mouths.
Knit Bluetooth Beanie Hat
Vanessa M. said: This stylish winter hat will do more than keep teen's ears warm; it also incorporates the latest Bluetooth technology so they can listen to music with the built in wireless speakers! It's perfect for waiting at the bus stop, jogging in the cold, or being out and about. The built in Bluetooth microphone allows users to make phone calls as well. Unisex hat is washable (just remove the speakers first).
SoundBot Waterproof Shower Speaker
Carly Follett said: This wireless speaker is multi-functional and super versatile. It is bluetooth-enabled and compatible with any smart device. The speaker offers a handsfree talk feature and remote for long distance use and can be used in the shower, pool, on the beach, in the car and basically anywhere!
Apples to Apples
Tim Ponisciak said: This is a great board game for teens to play with their friends. The object of the game is make the best match between an adjective card and a noun card. Depending on the friends you are playing with the game will either be taken very seriously, or will make everyone laugh out loud!
Oculus Quest 2 — Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset — 256 GB
Tracy Snyder Molina said: My teen and tween boys pooled their money together to purchase the new Oculus Quest 2. It's an amazing VR headset that truly immerses you in the VR experience or game you've chosen. I was a bit of a skeptic but after trying it out for myself I have to admit that the technology is pretty amazing and really makes you feel like you are truly part of the action instead of just standing in your living room. Who couldn't use a bit of that with all the time we are spending at home these days? It does require creating a Facebook account, but my 14-year-old was able to do that with minimal information required.
Crayola Color Escapes Colored Pencils
These premium colored pencils are sleek and color nicely for the teen who appreciates the art of coloring. Don't forget to pair with a nice adult coloring book for a relaxing activity you can never really outgrow!
SYMA Remote Control Helicopter
Gina I. said: Easy to fly and great for beginners, this helicopter flies in 3 directions for smooth, stable hovering. It's small and lightweight for indoor use only.
Personalized Starbucks Cups
Vanessa M. said: Teens love Starbucks! Give the teen in your life a personalized, reusable Starbucks cup with his or her name and favorite drink on it. Maybe tuck a Starbucks gift card inside, and you have a great gift any teen would love.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Camera
Vanessa M. said: The Fujifilm Instax Mini is a camera that allows you to shoot and print pictures instantly! Teens will love to take photos of their friends, then have actual photos on hand to pass around, hang in their lockers, or decorate their rooms. The selfie mirror takes great selfies! This camera comes in a variety of fun colors. Don't forget the extra film!
Chillbo Shwaggins Inflatable Couch
Vanessa M. said: The Chillbo Shwaggins Inflatable Couch is perfect for a teen's bedroom or hangout and comes in a variety of fun colors and prints. It also floats on water so it makes a great pool accessory! Teens can bring it camping, to festivals, backyard bbq's, or just keep it in their room as a place to chill with friends.
LED Bike Wheel Lights
Vanessa M. said: Bike Wheel Lights look cool, and also help bike riders stay safe at night. Each battery powered string of LED lights is made of waterproof tubing, and comes in a variety of colors.
Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer
Alexandra F. said: Make it easy for your teen to print pictures straight from their phone with this mobile photo mini printer.
Bombas Socks
Teens' socks endure some major wear and tear, so why not give them new socks from a clothing company that gives back? Charitable giving is important to many of today's teens, and Bombas gives one pair of socks to a homeless person for every pair of socks sold. Additionally, Bombas are durable and come in many styles, from sport socks to dressier versions.
Kuretake Watercolor Set
Alexandra F. said: Has your teen adopted an artistic new hobby since the pandemic? Help them up their watercolor game with a set of gorgeous, professional-quality paints. Be sure to pair it with plenty of canvas or a watercolor pad for their artistic creations.
Wireless Earbuds
Katie G. said: Let's be honest, kids lose things all the time, so spending money on expensive wireless earbuds is out of the question. These less expensive buds are comfortable and functional with a long-lasting battery life. Your teen will be thrilled to zone out in their phone or tablet with these wireless earbuds.
Reversible Sequin Decorative Throw Pillow
Shila said: This stylish decor is hip and playful. Known by many names (e.g., Flip Sequin, Reversible Sequin, Two-Toned Sequin, etc.), teens love to own and decorate their bedrooms with sequin sparkle decor. What's especially unique is the touch factor. You rub your fingers in either direction to reveal a different color. Kids can write or draw pictures on it. Many kids and teens actually find it to be quite relaxing. This one is extra special because you can personalize it with the gift recipient's name!
Ipsy
Vanessa M. said: Ipsy is a subscription service sending a Glam Bag filled with 5 personalized makeup and beauty products each month, makeup pouch included! How fun is that? Enjoy lotions, lip gloss, nail polish, eye shadows, and more.
Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar
Carly Follett said: This is a great gift for your teen fitness buff. Designed to fit most door frames, the workout bar is perfect for strengthening their back, biceps, and other upper body muscles. The workout bar is easily installed and can be taken down just as easily for a floor workout and/or easy storage.
LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle
Alexandra F. said: The ultimate gift for any Harry Potter fan, this LEGO set has more than six thousand pieces and will keep your teen - and perhaps the whole family - entertained for quite a while. But rest assured, seeing their favorite school of witchcraft & wizardry come alive before their eyes will be well worth the effort!
For non-Potterheads, the LEGO Architecture collection offers many gorgeous and challenging sets worthy of gifting your oldest LEGO-lovers, including replicas of renowned architectural marvels like the Empire State Building or Eiffel Tower.
Photo Clip Remote String Lights
Carly Follett said: This is a great gift for your teen who is constantly taking selfies and pictures. These string lights have picture clips allowing your teen to uniquely display their pictures throughout their room.
Personalized Name Necklaces
Vanessa M. said: These trendy necklaces are sure to be a hit. Each necklace is personalized with her name, and many options can even add a birthstone to accent the piece. Personalized rings, bracelets and earrings are also available.
Unicorn Color Changing Mug
Vanessa M. said: How adorable is this color changing unicorn mug? When a hot drink is poured into the mug, the unicorn's mane magically changes from purple to rainbow!
Buckyballs
Jennie Utsinger said: These little magnetic balls, available in a variety of colors, are impossible to put down. Each of the 216 rare-earth magnets is incredibly strong and can hold a half-pound wrench. Perfect for a teen to fiddle with during homework or just hanging out.
*Make sure to keep these magnets away from children.
Old Navy Pajama Pants
Kelly R. said: My teen would live in pajama pants if he could, and this seems to be about right for most of his peers, as school amended their dress code to prohibit them. His favorites are Old Navy, which are frequently on sale and come in cotton poplin for summer and flannel for winter.
Five Below Gift Card
Vanessa M. said: Stumped on what to give the teen on your list? You can't go wrong with a Five Below gift card. Everything in the store is $5 or less, and many of the store's items are geared towards teens, with fun t-shirts, trendy teen room decor, tech gear, crafts, makeup, and much more. Teens are sure to find something they will love.
Anker PowerCore+ mini Portable Charger
Kelly R. said: A portable electronics charger can slip into a backpack or purse (or even a pocket) to be used as a backup phone battery. So they'll never be able to say they didn't call you because their battery was dead. A practical stocking stuffer idea!
MYNT3D Printing Pen
Vanessa M. said: Let their imaginations go wild with this 3D pen. Teens can create anything they imagine, in a variety of colors. The slim, ergonomic pen has OLED display to monitor temperature and adjustable speed button to regulate flow for optimum control.
Fjallraven Kånken Backpack
Kelly R. said: This cool and classic backpack comes in a rainbow of colors to suit any style. Practical for school, sleepovers, adventuring, or anything else your teen is up to.
Cinema Light Box Marquee
Yoli B said: Teens are very important and with this marquee your teen can let you know each time you walk in their room! =) This LED cinema sign comes with letters and symbols and can be arranged to convey any fun or even inspirational message your teen would like. This would be a nice fun addition to any teen hangout or bedroom!
Awkward Family Photos Game
Vanessa M. said: You know those awkward family photos that are always floating around the internet? The ones with bad hair, matching sweaters, and jazz hands? This is a hilarious board game for teens and up that asks players to pair awkward family photos with movie quotes. The results can be hysterical!
Tribit XSound Go Bluetooth Speaker
Alexandra F. said: A good portable speaker will allow teens to enjoy their favorite tunes wherever they go. Perfect for hanging out with friends and family in the backyard, at the beach, at a sporting event, practice, etc!
Apple Pencil
Alexandra F. said: Teens can turn their iPad into a notebook or drawing pad with this top-of-the-line stylus. Just be sure to pick the pencil that is compatible with their iPad!
Pocket DJ Mixer
Vanessa M. said: The music loving teen in your life will love this high quality Pocket DJ Mixer. Harness the power of a massive traditional mixing board in this small, handheld device that hooks up directly to ipods, laptops, and phones.
Dutch Blitz Original and Expansion Pack
Kate Wille Murray said: Fast paced card game for 2-8 players. Quick rounds. Easy rules and super intense fun. Color coded cards allows for multi age play.
Franklin Table Tennis To Go
Carly Follett said: No need for a huge ping pong table taking up space. With this set, your teen can use virtually any table, anywhere and be able to enjoy a fun game of table tennis! The net sets up easily and is adjustable for tables of varied width and depth and the set comes with a drawstring pouch for easy travel and storage.
Primary photo: Mae Mu on Unsplash
Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.