40 Gifts for Teens (That They'll Actually Like)

If you live with a teenager, you're in the right place. Knowing what to buy for the teen in your life can be just as difficult as keeping up with their latest adolescent, YouTube-fueled jargon, — which is why we consulted teens and their parents and pored through countless items of confusing, modern-day youth culture to bring you this list of holiday gift ideas. Not to boast, but on more than one occasion, a teen wandered into the room during this fact-gathering mission and said, "I want that." (Looking for gifts for younger kiddos? Check out 38 Great Gifts to Buy Your Grandkids for Christmas.)

Prices and availability are subject to change.

Price: $24 from Amazon
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Ask any teen or parent of a teen about holiday gifts and hoodies will almost certainly be on the list. These come in a range of 33 cool, colorful graphic designs that will satisfy almost any hoodie-loving teen.

Price: $100 from Amazon
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With a compact sliding design and zero-ink technology, this little gadget lets a teen take a shot and print pics instantly onto sticky-backed paper. It's rechargeable, too.

Related: Twinkies, Polaroids, and Other Popular Products That Have Been Revived

Price: $5 to $100 from Steam
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Even the most casual teen gamer will happily accept a gift card that lets them choose from among 30,000 or so titles on this mega-gaming site.

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Price: $25 from Amazon
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This rugged portable speaker can be taken into the shower or anywhere outdoors, and provides up to 12 hours of music without needing a charge. It comes in three colors and has a range of 33 feet.

Price: $50 to $90 from Crown & Paw
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Few things make teens feel better after lost games, rough days at school, or during homework breaks than the love of a pet. A custom portrait of a beloved dog, cat, or other animal will make them smile and be something they can take with them to college.

Related:14 Cheap Pets That Are Easy to Take Care Of

Price: $50 from Amazon
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Teens love this TV series that ran for nine seasons, so much so that Vanity Fair asked earlier this year, "Why Is Gen Z Obsessed with The Office?" And sure, your teen can watch the whole thing on Netflix (until 2021, that is), but this box set contains deleted scenes, a blooper reel, a Dwight Schrute music video, and tons of other extras.

Related: 15 Gifts for Your Favorite Couch Potato

Price: $10 from Amazon
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This set of lights not only provides lighting ambience, but includes transparent clips from which they can hang photos, ticket stubs, notes, and other items.

Related: 25 Dorm Room Essentials to Buy at the Dollar Store

Price: $159 to $249 from Apple
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Sure, they're pricey, but teens are at the age where you can get them a few cool stocking stuffers and one big gift they'll use every single day — and they're happy. This is one gift that they'll definitely use all the time.

Related: 30 Things That Are Worth Buying on Black Friday

Price: $60 from Amazon
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Got a teen enamored with skater culture? He or she will love this highly rated longboard made of hardrock maple. It comes in 14 designs ranging from retro-cool to avant-garde.

Price: $12 (paperback) from Amazon
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This book "is all about the stuff they don't teach you in high school," and it's actually jam-packed with useful, practical tips, such as how to host a podcast, plan a road trip, or shut down a house party before the police show up. Hopefully, they won't need that last one.

Related: 50 Facts You Learned in School That Are Actually Lies

Price: Varies from Vans.com
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Vans, Converse, Nike Air Force 1s, Adidas Sambas — if you've got a fashion-conscious adolescent in your life, you probably can't go wrong with any of these.

Price: $33 from Amazon
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Sure, they're growing and getting closer and closer to the adult versions of themselves, but releasing stress and anxiety with a little immaturity never hurt anyone. Reviewers say this game is a blast for the whole family.

Related: 10 Awesomely Cheap Games for Family Game Night

Price: $12 per month from Ipsy
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This monthly box comes with five or more makeup products for teens experimenting or who'll revel in the opportunity to sample products. Reviewers say it's a perfect cosmetic starter kit for teens, and it comes with a cute makeup bag.

Related: 20 Beauty Products Worth Buying at Costco

Price: $15 from Casely
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This club gives you the choice of gifting your teen a monthly or seasonal subscription to cool phone cases for iPhones or Samsung Galaxy phones, and lets them choose which case they want each month (or choosing a "surprise me" option).

Price: $10 to $350 from Barnes & Noble
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A good book is a gift that will never go out of style, and Barnes & Noble gift cards can be used in-store and online.

Price: $32 to $37 from Amazon
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This backpack is waterproof and designed with a USB charging port and built-in cable, as well as tons of compartments to help with organization. It also has a reflective stripe for safety at night and is available in four colors.

Related: What Kids Carry in Their Backpacks Around the Globe

Price: $37 from Etsy
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Few sections of the population need a shirt such as this more than a teen girl. Let her know that she can let you know when it's not the best time to interact by leaving this sweatshirt under the tree on Christmas morning.

Price: $2,000 from Dell
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Just like soccer and other sports, esports are something kids can earn scholarships for these days — so this $2,000 price tag won't seem like a big deal when your gamer's college is paid for. TechRadar calls this one an "out-of-this-world gaming laptop."

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Price: $120 from Amazon
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If a laptop isn't in the budget right now, your teen gamer will definitely appreciate a new gaming headset. TechRadar says this one offers "elite feel and sound at a premium price."

Related: 35 Hobbies That Pay Off in Jobs

Price: $10 from Amazon
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Custom name necklaces will never go out of style, and this one is made in a trendy script font and is available in gold, silver, or stainless steel. It can accommodate Arabic and Japanese alphabets as well.

Price: Varies, from Birkenstock
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These well-made sandals can last a lifetime and are super trendy for teens right now. They're available in winter-worthy wool, and there are boot and clog versions too.

Related: 18 Bargain Knockoffs for Birkenstocks, Tory Burch, and Other Hot Women's Sandals

Price: $15 from Amazon
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This lightweight, inflatable lounger and ottoman can be dragged easily from a teen's room to a gaming marathon in front of the TV. It's made of durable vinyl with soft, waterproof flocked top, sides, and bottom, and even includes a cup holder.

Price: $24 and up from Vineyard Vines
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Another popular fashion item for teens — boys especially — is this brand, founded in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, in 1998. It skews to the pricey side, but has outlets all over the country.

Price: $90 from Amazon
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Perfect for a teen who walks or bikes to school in frigid temps. The gloves have three heat settings that last anywhere from four to 12 hours and can be recharged again and again.

Related: 50 Best Products for Surviving Winter

Price: $30 from Amazon
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Want to spend time with a teen who never puts down his or her phone? Bring the phone into the fun with this game designed to use smartphones to answer trivia questions and complete challenges. Reviewers say it's a high-energy game that is lots of fun for teens and adults.

Price: $5 to $100 from Starbucks
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There are few constants in life, but a teen wanting Starbucks is one of them. You can choose from three "red cup" holiday gift card versions, or many others with cute designs.

Related: 16 Things You Didn't Know About Starbucks

Price: $18 from Urban Outfitters
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Like other old-school items on this list, scrunchies are back, and the teen girl in your life probably wants some. This 10-count set comes in velvets, metallics, and satin, and is available in neon colors or a set with more muted hues.

Price: $10 to $100 from AMC
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Going to the movies with friends — even if they need a lift — is one way teens can assert their independence. A gift card to your local theater makes a great stocking stuffer.

Related: 16 Ways to Save Money at the Movies

Price: $99 from Rakuten
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Give your teen the gift of music and podcasts with a year's subscription to Spotify. This gift supplies a digital code delivered via email — so you'll want to time this one right.

Related: 20 Gifts for People Who Say, 'Don't Get Me Anything'

Price: $26 from Amazon
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The coolest phone charger around: this cute Starbucks-themed option, which comes in three fun colors. Cord not included.

Related: Best Portable Battery Chargers

Price: $29 from Etsy
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Remind her you're always there for her with a stainless steel cuff laser-engraved with a message of your choice. (You can also choose a pre-written one such as, "Not to spoil the ending for you, but everything is going to be OK.")

Price: $15 from Amazon
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Your gamer will appreciate that you get how tough it is to drag him or her off a screen with this cheeky tagless T-shirt made with 100% cotton and phthalate-free inks.

Price: $23 from Amazon
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Forget tangled cords and bulky wireless headphones. This stylish but simple beanie has built-in Bluetooth headphones that'll make that chilly walk to and from school a lot more fun.

Price: $11 from Amazon
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This giant bin of strawberry licorice will be appreciated for sleepovers, gaming sessions, or just when their friends stop by after school.

Related: 25 Candy Stores That Will Make You Feel Like a Kid Again

Price: $14 (hardcover) from Amazon
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Give your teen the gift of strength and inspiration with this illustrated tale of young women who changed the world.

Price: $27 from Amazon
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Teach your teen the importance of self-care with this pretty, colorful, and artful set of 12 bath bombs made in the U.S.A.

Related: 22 Ways to Relax From the Comfort of Your Own Home

Price: $39 from Amazon
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Never have to buy a snow cone again with the sleekly designed, small-footprint, easy-to-clean (even for a teen) set. Bonus: When your teen starts all the eye-rolling, confiscate it for your own shaved-ice version of a frozen margarita.

Related: Relive Your Childhood By Making These 13 Classic Ice Cream Truck Treats

Price: $43 (paperback) from Amazon
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Perfect for a fantasy-loving literary enthusiast, this New York Times-bestselling series includes six books that tell the tale of a world that includes cyborgs, evil queens, space pilots, and other assorted characters.

Price: $45 from Amazon
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Lucky enough to have a teen who doesn't lose things all the time? Reward that skill with a water bottle they'll be able to carry well into adulthood (long after people stop talking about VSCO girls). The Hydro Flask brand is known for its impressive quality, and it comes in seven colors.

Related: 50 Well-Made Products You'll Never Have to Buy Again

Price: Varies, from VividSeats
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Support your teen's burgeoning musical tastes (even if their choice in tunes makes your ears bleed) with a set of concert tickets. Current tickets on sale for shows in 2020 include teen favorites such as Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift.

Related:15 Iconic Music Venues Across America

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To see products mentioned in this gift guide and more, visit our gift idea lists on Amazon.