The toughest person to check off your shopping list is likely a teen. Luckily for you, shopping for teenagers is our specialty. From eighth graders to college sophomores, we know them, we love them and we want to make them happy, just like you.
Whether you’re buying for your kid, their bestie who basically lives at your house, a niece or nephew or a gaggle of grandteens, we’ve got you covered. Our list has great gift ideas for any teen in your life, from those who are into the latest tech to those who spend their time watching makeup tutorials.
Need more gift recommendations? Check out our favorite?gift ideas for men,?gift ideas for women and?Amazon gifts.
Best home gifts for teens
Perfect for bundling up during the winter or for lounging on slow weekend mornings, this sherpa robe from Pottery Barn Teen comes in five colors and is made of recycled materials.
If your teen is always hanging out outdoors, this inflatable sofa will give them a much comfier seat when they visit their favorite park, beach or backyard. Since it "inflates" by catching air, it's also easy to stow away in a tote bag or backpack when not in use.
If your teen is getting ready to take to the roads, you can help keep their car free of odor with this Pura Car Diffuser. Stow this diffuser in a cup holder or seat pocket and choose from fragrances like Red Rock & Amber, Pumpkin and Sweet Vanilla and Birchwood Pine.
Have a budding outdoorsperson in your home? Inspire them to see the country’s national parks with this handy checklist bandana. You can even pair it with an adorable camping chair, an aesthetic national parks puzzle or a beautiful set of minimalist playing cards for a gift bundle.
If they’re never not rearranging their room, they’ll love this string light set that they can clip photos right onto.
This cult-favorite water bottle is the hottest accessory to carry these days. Available in dozens of statement-making colors, the Stanley tumbler will keep your teenager hydrated wherever they go.
We already feel spiritually connected to this mushroom plushie. Made by the brilliant minds over at Smoko, this little dude will look just as cute sitting on the bed as he will being snuggled by your favorite teen.
This durable yet comfy beanbag chair is perfect to lounge on while watching TV, playing video games or catching up with friends. Older teens can even take it with them to their college dorm room.
This mini cooler lets them keep their go-to beverages and snacks in their room. They’ll love it, trust us. They can also use it to keep beauty products fresh and to stash face rollers that are best used chilled.
How great is this? Available in six happy hues, this supremely squishy pillow will be occupying a place of honor in your teen’s room by 10 a.m. the next day. The modern, unexpected aesthetic is perfect. For an extra-cozy gift, pair it with a weighted blanket and ensure your teen wakes up well rested every day.
A trendy piece of room decor, this light box is super easy to customize. It comes with 100 interchangeable letters and symbols to work with. Plus, it’ll be fun for you to see the statements change with your kid’s moods. We just can’t promise it won’t one day read “Go Away.”
Do they have a big trip coming up in the next year? Immediately elevate their travel gear with this hard-shell carry-on. It’s perfectly sized for the overhead bin, has 360-degree spinner wheels and an interior compression system and comes with a handy laundry bag.
The worst thing about bubble tea is that you have to leave your house to go get it. But with this kit, they can make the tea and tapioca pearls right at home. It comes with milk tea and chai, as well as two stainless steel straws that can be used over and over again.
Don’t underestimate the power of a good outdoor blanket. This sturdy Nomadix blanket is perfect for your teen to tote to the beach, the park or their favorite campsite. Plus, it’s roomy enough for a few of their friends to jump on as well.
Ideal for nature lovers, the Eno DoubleNest Hammock is great for camping trips or for enjoying a leisurely afternoon hanging around the neighborhood.
If your teen always knows how to get the party started, then this Spikeball kit is a great choice. Though it’s convenient enough to pack up and play anywhere, the game is also equally as fun if you’re just playing in your own backyard.
Best tech gifts for teens
For game-loving teens, a proper keyboard can seriously upgrade the gaming experience. This SteelSeries Apex 3 is our pick for best budget gaming keyboard, coming in at under $50. But if you want to splurge, you can opt for our best tested gaming keyboard for about $100 more.
Got a teen who is always misplacing their things? This Tile Mate two-pack is perfect for slipping on a key ring or into a wallet to ensure that your teen never has to ask you where their things are again.
You’ll never have to worry about your teen’s phone dying while they’re out as long as they have this portable charger handy. It has a built-in Lightning connector so they don’t need to carry around a separate cable.
If they’re always listening to music, this waterproof and wireless speaker will totally transform their listening experience whether they’re at the pool or the park.
Yes, teens live in the digital world. But despite that, they’ve taken a huge liking to displaying physical photos in their rooms and sharing them with friends. With this great gift idea, they can print out selfies and social media posts from anywhere. The app lets them finish off their pics with filters, borders and stickers.
Do they want to be well lit at basically all times? This is our hands-down?favorite streaming light, which clips right onto your computer. Ultra compact and priced at under $60, it’s a no-brainer for any plugged-in teen.
There’s a good chance your kid has asked for AirPods for a holiday or birthday before, so now’s your time to make their wish come true. They’re relatively affordable compared to other great wireless earbuds, making them ideal for teenagers.
This handy custom card holder sticks to any phone or phone case. It’ll make it so much less likely that lunch money is lost or a school ID will go missing (again).
If they keep their laptop practically handcuffed to them these days, then get them this adorable puffy sleeve from Baggu, the brand behind our favorite reusable bags.
Make this solid wooden headphone stand theirs and theirs alone with any meaningful short word or phrase. Practical and personal! You have the option of leaving the wood as is or having it painted in any of 15 colors (including one that glows in the dark). This stand will also give them a sure place to put their favorite noise canceling headphones so they don’t go missing.
It can be hard to impress a teen who’s a serious gamer, at least without spending hundreds. Try this, why don’t you? Think of this controller as a handheld PS5 or Series X. They can use it to stream Xbox games to any iPhone, no actual Xbox required. It also works with PlayStation Remote Play, Call of Duty: Mobile, Minecraft, Roblox and more.
If you’re willing to splurge a bit more, you can’t go wrong with a Nintendo Switch for your tech-savvy teen. They can play their favorite games solo or enjoy gameplay with their friends, thanks to the detachable controllers.
A Kindle lets your literary-loving teen enjoy all the books they want, whenever they want, without weighing down their backpack.
Best fashion gifts for teens
This simple and dainty gold necklace set from Gorjana also comes with optional custom engraving so you can make your gift that much more personal.
With a trendy but still classic shape, this shoulder bag from JW PEI comes in over 20 colors and finishes. So, whether you teen likes neutrals, bold colors or something in-between, you’ll be sure to find a shade that matches their vibe.
Store driver’s licenses, school IDs, credit cards and more in this skinny ID case, which can also be clipped on to house or car keys.
This layering fleece will help keep your teen warm without weighing them down. Plus, it probably looks much more stylish than their favorite sweatshirt.
If your teen is really in need of an wardrobe update, this five-pack of T-shirts from Abercrombie & Fitch is a great way to gift them a wardrobe of reliable basics that will never go out of style.
Sometimes it’s sold out and sometimes it’s not. But if you can catch Lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag in stock, your teen will feel ultra special.
Speaking of backpacks, this colorful one is a trendy way for your teen to carry around their books and everyday essentials for school and beyond.
Uggs are practically always in style, and this mini style is available in a slew of cute colors so you can pick which one’s right for your teen.
A true winterwear classic, this cuffed beanie is simply timeless, and we love all the colors it’s available in too.
If they’re always wearing leggings, they’ll love this pair from Athleta. The pockets are big enough to stash things like their phone or wallet, and we love how comfortable and secure these leggings feel during workouts and everyday activities alike.
Absolutely perfect for lounging around the house, these cozy socks come with rubber grippy dots on the bottom to keep your teen from slipping and sliding. They come in men’s sizes too.
The designers of this unbearably smart and lovely bracelet should get the Nobel Peace Prize. Teens (all of them!) keep hair ties on their wrists, just in case. Why not make adornments of them? This genius bangle bracelet comes in gold and silver tones.
Equal parts slipper and sneaker, these slip-ons from Teva can go basically everywhere. Underscored editors love them.
Stocking stuffer alert! If they got their driver’s license recently, they need a special keychain for those car keys. These are made with flowers embedded inside each initial. They can hold their house keys too, of course.
Our readers go wild for nap dresses, and this is the style that started the trend. From Hill House Home, this signature nap dress is available in tons of colors, fabrics and sizes up to 2XL. It has elasticated smocking, ruffled shoulders and a tiered midi skirt that will feel comfortable yet sophisticated.
This is the year of the shearling clog, and your teen will forever thank you for getting them this trendy pair. Comfy, cozy and a great everyday shoe, it’ll make errands and coffee runs feel infinitely cooler. The clogs also come in men’s sizing.
The Hit the Slopes jacket is basically the stuff of legends in the fashion world. It’s cozy, ultra soft and incredibly cute. With tons of colors and pattern options, they’ll be wearing it for years to come.
Gift your teen a go-to set of sweats, which is not only great for the colder months but the perfect fit to throw on after sports practices or games. Available in nine colors, this set will have your teen looking a bit put-together, even if they just rolled out of bed.
Best beauty gifts for teens
Skin care- and makeup-obsessed teens will love this spa-style headband that keeps their hair tucked back while they do their routines. It even comes with two plush wristbands to keep water from spilling down their arms while they wash up.
If you have a tween or teen who is looking to explore more of the beauty world, this beauty box has everything they need to start experimenting. From liquid lipsticks to eye shadows, face palettes and even an LED mirror, your teen will be a pro in no time.
Everyone (even stubborn teen boys) can benefit from a skin care routine. This set from Kiehl’s comes with five full-sized products that will leave their skin cleansed and hydrated. Now all they need is a good face sunscreen to round out the routine.
If your teen’s favorite Instagram celeb is Hailey Bieber, gift them this kit from her skin care line, Rhode Skin, which includes the cult-favorite Peptide Lip Treatment.
This bestselling sheet mask set comes with options to soothe, brighten, refresh and nourish all skin types. Divvy them up as stocking stuffers or treat the teen in your life to 12 days of glowing skin.
Know a major Harry Styles fan? Give them this nail polish set from the singer-songwriter’s Pleasing brand. Choose from several curated polish pairings or choose to mix and match polishes for your own personalized set.
After 10 to 15 minutes in the freezer, this skin care tool can depuff and refresh skin — perfect for teens who never get enough sleep. The ice roller can even provide some relief from migraines.
Any skin care-obsessed teen will love this bestsellers kit from Glow Recipe. With six of their mini-sized fruit-focused products, including their cult-favorite Watermelon Glow Dew Drops and Toner, this kit is perfect for a teen who’s after that jello skin look.
A cult-favorite beauty product for a reason, the Revlon One-Step is our favorite affordable hair dryer because it makes it easy to achieve a shiny, frizz-free blowout at home.
If they’re itching to get more into nail art, there’s no better place to start than with Chillhouse’s gorgeous and high-quality press-on nails. They’re loved by Underscored editors too.
Dealing with acne as a teenager is rough, but these pimple patches can help protect and heal their spots — all while making them look pretty cute too.
