It’s so bizarre to think that we’ve had a teen boy in the house for over 2 years now, and another tween boy! We’ve gone through a lot of different gifts over the years between birthdays, Christmas, friend gifts, and more, and these are some of the best things that we’ve personally purchased and loved & that have stood the test of time.
I hope this teen boy gift guide gives you some ideas for some useful, fun, unique teen boy gifts!
Under $15 Teen Boy Gifts
Basic But Awesome Frisbee
We’ve had a number of these over the years and it’s the best. Always popular, always fun for play.
Hover Soccer Ball
Has absolutely stood the test of time. So fun.
Zip Chip (Mini Frisbee)
I’ve given this mini frisbee to multiple of my kids and multiple friends and it is always wildly popular. So fun because it’s tiny enough to fit in a pocket to always have on hand, but still flies well and is really fun to use. Perfect for a stocking.
Beanie
This classic beanie is popular amongst the teen set and comes in lots of colors. Affordable and useful! This is another really great one that’s only $6!
Light Saber Chopsticks
I first discovered these nearly a decade ago and I still think they’re just as fun.
Logic Puzzle Book
This book is filled with fun puzzles from easy to difficult so it’s great for a variety of levels. My 7 year old had fun with it and so did my 13 year old friends!
Multi Tool Pen
I’ve gifted multiple of these over the years because they’re always a hit. A little bit fun and a little bit useful and great for a kiddo who likes to tinker a bit.
Waterproof Playing Cards
These are great to take on the go so they don’t get destroyed by the pool, beach, or a spilled drink on the plane.
Emergency Seat Belt Cutter
This is a great little tool for an older teen who is just starting to drive. Good thing to keep on a keychain or in the car.
Wool Socks
We’ve done lots of brand name (expensive) wool socks, but these are honestly terrific – there’s a reason they have 30K+ amazing reviews.
Mini Golf Pen Game
This tiny little fidget game is going in my oldest’s stocking this year. So fun!
Sneaker Cleaner
If you have a teen who is into their sneakers, this is a perfect little gift to keep them looking great.
Book Light
If you have a kid who loves to read, there’s a reason this book light has nearly 140 THOUSAND phenomenal reviews.
Collapsible Water Bottle
I can’t believe how inexpensive these are and how small they get! Super convenient for travel or when spending time outdoors.
Weight Lifting Wrist Straps
If your kiddo enjoys weight lifting, these wrist straps have been great to help stay safe. If you want to do a bigger gift, you could couple them with a set of dumbbells.
Books
There are SO many terrific book suggestions, but here are a few in particular that my teen, especially my teen son, has really loved:
- Mythos – N loves this series and has gifted it to multiple friends
- Bomb – another absolute go-to birthday gift book with my kids and their friends
- Think Again – this was N’s favorite book this year. It’s fun when your kids start enjoying the same books you do!
- Scythe – this was another recent read that N really enjoyed
Under $25 Teen Boy Gifts
Light Up Ball
These light up balls have been such a hit with my oldest and all his friends. The American football is popular to throw around a park, but the basketball and soccer ball are also super fun.
Splendor
This has been the favorite game in our family for everyone ages 10+ for years now. It’s one of our go-to teen friend birthday gifts and every single time I’ve gotten a message from the parent after saying how their whole family has fallen in love with it. Also available HERE. I also really like to give Splendor Duel as a gift for kids in smaller families (you can play the regular version with only 2 people, but I think Duel is a bit more fun with only 2).
Retractable Tabletop Ping Pong
This is one of those toys that’s lasted through years and different ages – so fun to set up and play.
Pull Up Bar
I’m honestly blown away by how much use this has gotten on an absolute daily basis. Not only does my teen son use it all the time, but so does literally every single sibling and every single friend who comes over – it’s like a magnet.
Escape Room Game
We’ve done a fair number of escape room games and this is a really fun one for older kids to play. Perfect to do with friends!
Magnetic Dart Board
We’ve had this for about 5 years and it is probably the #1 thing kids of all ages gravitate to when they come over. My 15yo and his friends play on it, my 10yo and his friends, my 8yo and his friends. So fun!
Modern Manners for Teens Book
Maybe not the most fun gift to receive, but truly so needed and special to go through together.
Home Alone T-Shirt
Maybe a bit more niche but super fun for a Home Alone fan. This Home Alone battle plan t-shirt is also a great choice.
Magnetic Fidget Sculpture Pen
These are so fun – works as a pen but a neat little thing to build little tiny sculptures. Great for a kid who likes something to do with their hands while listening.
Magnetic Folding Chess
Perfect for taking to friends’ houses!
Wood Carving Kit
This is so fun for a kid who loves to use their hands. It feels quite grown up (I gifted it to Dan a couple years ago) and has a lovely leather case and would be great for an older kiddo.
Earbuds
If you have a teen who’s into music or audiobooks, these earbuds are good quality and CHEAP. I recently lost another pair and grabbed these and have been so impressed!
Over Door Basketball Hoop
Always a winner and so fun for everyday play and for having friends over.
$25-50 Teen Boy Gifts
Light Up Capture the Flag
Speaking of getting teens outside moving and playing, this light up capture the flag has been so fun, especially on winter nights when it gets dark at approximately 2pm.
3D Pen
N got this 3D pen as a sibling gift a couple years ago and it’s such a fun thing for a teen who likes to tinker and create.
Electric Trimmer & Shaver
Personal hygiene items aren’t the most exciting but this is a great razor that Dan has loved.
Subway Map Poster
Teens tend to like decorating their spaces in ways that reflect their personality, so a fun framed poster is perfect. N loves Paris, so I’m doing a Metro map poster for him this year!
Hammock
If you have a kid who loves exploring in the outdoors, a hammock to take camping (or to hang in the backyard) is a great option.
Packing Cubes
If you want a super functional gift for a kid who travels, grab a set of packing cubes in their favorite color. These expandable ones are my favorites!
Sports Bag
If your kiddo is interested in a sport, a bag to hold all their stuff is a great option. We love this tennis bag!
Sunglasses
Goodr sunglasses have classic shapes, hold up well, have a great fit, and are super affordable. Perfect for a teen.
Skateboard
A skateboard is always a fun choice for kids who love to move around and especially if they can use it as a form of transport!
Slackline
We had this in our backyard in California and it was so fun! Got played on and used constantly by kids of all ages.
Convertible Hiking Pants
If you have a teen who loves the outdoors, ALL of my boys love these pants. The men’s version is also great for older teens.
Portable Bluetooth Speaker
We’ve had a couple of these little speakers for years and they’ve held up so well and have phenomenal sound quality. Great for a kid who likes to listen to music, audiobooks, etc.
$50-100 Teen Boy Gifts
Klask
The description of half foosball, half air hockey is pretty accurate but doesn’t come close to describing how fun this is. The best part is that it’s so appealing to a huge variety of ages – it tends to be the first thing to get pulled out with my kids and their friends from ages 7 to 15, and is great for adults, too.
Mini Photo Printer
If your teen is into pictures, this is such a fun gift that easily prints photos directly from a smartphone.
Tabletop Air Hockey
This one is so fun – my 15 year old often pulls it out when friends come over. And it’s nice because not that many people have it so it’s a fun incentive to come hang at our house! Here’s another more expensive option that also has great reviews for it.
Gravel Travel Blanket (Discount Code PASSPORT)
These travel blankets are soooo cool – they pack down super tiny, are insulated so they’re really warm, and they SNAP so they actually stay on when you fall asleep on the plane. Great for a kid who travels. (Discount Code: PASSPORT)
Theatre/Concert Tickets
Last year, we gave each of our kids tickets to a show to attend with just Dan and me. It was so special and fun! I loved getting to choose a show that was unique to their interests. We saw Dear England with N and while it wouldn’t have been great for our other kids, it was terrific with him. This could be any sort of performance – a show, concert, etc!
Cashmere Pullover Hoodie
This is Dan’s absolute favorite and N has borrowed it a number of times, too. It’s so soft and cozy but and looks casual but not too slouchy. The best.
Merino T-Shirt (Discount Code LOCALPASSPORTFAMILY)
Merino wool is such a great staple for layering or wearing on its own and it’s so comfortable. We love using merino wool base layers or just as shirts, especially when traveling because they can be reworn several times without washing. A great investment piece. These are some of our favorite base layers (TOP and BOTTOM), and this short-sleeved version is also great for warmer weather.
$100-200 Teen Boy Gifts
Chewbacca LEGO Set
Turns out big kids are still kids and if they liked LEGO when they were tiny, they’ll likely still love this 2300+ piece set when they’re older. N got totally sucked in and built it in a few hours and it was so sweet seeing him play like a kid again.
Lighted Bike Helmet
If you have a teen who likes to cycle, this is a great choice. As they develop more independence, this helps me feel a little safer with them cycling when it’s dark outside (especially in winter when it gets dark so early!). My oldest owns this helmet and it’s worked great for him. You could pair it with this bike repair kit for a really terrific and useful gift.
Combo Game Table
This is a more intense version of the tabletop air hockey with foosball, air hockey, ping pong, and pool. Really fun for hosting friends but doesn’t take tons of room.
Zipper Bedding
Teen boys are not usually known for their extreme tidiness, but our favorite zipper bedding has made bed making so much easier and much more likely to happen! Lots of great patterns and solid colors.
Adjustable Dumbbells
If your kiddo is interested in weight lifting, these adjustable dumbbells are a great investment. Pair them with some weight lifting straps!
And here are the lists of gifts we’ve ACTUALLY given over the years!
