Teenage boys can be a handful, but that doesn’t mean gift-shopping for them has to be a challenge. Whether it’s tech to teach and entertain, cool clothes and accessories, or time-honored toys and electronics, our gift guide for teen boys will make shopping a snap for holidays, birthdays, and other occasions.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
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$27 and up from Amazon
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We have it on good authority from actual teenage boys that a Hydro Flask is the only brand of stainless-steel water bottle worth being seen with at school because … reasons. (It doesn’t hurt that Hydro Flask gets exceptionally positive user reviews at Amazon). Choose from standard- or wide-mouth designs in three sizes and more than a dozen colors.
$350 from Lego
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Boys of all ages love Legos — even the fully grown ones with sons of their own. And boys who are also “Star Wars” fans will love this new-for-2020 Lego kit of the iconic intergalactic cantina from the original film. With more than 3,100 pieces, this kit will keep ’em occupied for light years.
$8.50 from Uncommon Goods
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Of course they need to study and do well in school! But there’s something to be said for a little outside-the-box thinking, too. This book collects 250 of the most clever, unusual, and hilarious wrong answers from student exams.
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$249 from Amazon
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There are earbuds and then there are Apple AirPods. These top-of-the-line earbuds are a perennial bestseller at Amazon (50,000 glowing reviews and counting). They’ve got active noise canceling so he can tune out the world when he needs to focus on important stuff, such as remote classwork (or talking with his buddies). They come with a charging case for up to 24 hours of battery life, and they’re water-resistant.
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$28 from Amazon
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Give that Space Force cadet wannabe this hoodie so he can show off his love of all things astronomical. This unisex cotton-polyester hoodie is available in black, dark heather, and heather gray, in sizes from small to 2XL.
$19 on Amazon
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Save him from ruining his phone in the shower with a waterproof Bluetooth speaker such as this one. It attaches to a shower wall with a suction cup and has a hook for hanging on the shower curtain rod.
$177 from Amazon
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Instant film is so old that it’s new again. Shoot and edit pictures like you would with a digital camera, choose your favorite shot, add filters, or create collages, then print out the result. (Just don’t shake it like a Polaroid picture.)
Related: The Best Gifts for Photographers from Newbies to Pros
$15 from Carhartt
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In cold weather or warm, these watch hats are a fashion must-have for young guys. Made of stretchy acrylic rib-knit fabric, they come in more than 20 colors.
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$24 and up from Amazon
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For that kid who just can never get enough Taco Bell: a round microfiber blanket printed to resemble a tortilla. There are two burrito patterns available, and the blanket comes in four sizes.
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$300 from Amazon
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Teen boys and video games have gone together like peanut butter and jelly since at least the 1970s. Needless to say, those old Ataris can’t hold a candle to the gaming power of the latest Nintendo Switch. Two game controllers and a docking station are included, but games are sold separately.
$100 from Amazon
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If he loves football and gaming, get him the latest iteration of this long-running video game classic. Available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and online gaming.
$249 from Guitar Center
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This kit includes everything a curious young musician needs to start learning how to play the electric guitar: amplifier, cables, picks, gig bag, and of course, the guitar itself. Reviewers say the Epiphone is fairly easy for a newbie to play, and owners say it gets plenty loud for a beginner to make all the noise he wants.
$120 from Best Buy
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He can stream up to 12 hours of music on this Bluetooth speaker and, with a range of 33 feet, take the tunes to go. It’s also water resistant and available in six colors.
$6 from Urban Outfitters
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These cute critters — dog, cat, pig, rabbit, polar bear, and chameleon — go on the ends of phone chargers, giving fingers something grippy and durable to grasp while protecting the plug ends from breakage.
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$23 and up from Hot Topic
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What teenage boy doesn’t have a closet full of graphic T-shirts? Some of the selections at Hot Topic are a bit much, but devote some time to browsing and you’ll unearth some awesome retro-style tees that could just as easily appeal to some adults we know.
$108 from Amazon
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Wannabe electrical engineers and budding young programmers can learn the basics of JavaScript and CircuitPython as they build projects that range from robotics to wearables and more with this kit. When they’re done, they can recycle the parts into their next project.
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$67 from Amazon
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Gamers need a chair that’s comfy enough to settle in for the long haul, and this high-backed Furmax gaming chair is Amazon’s top seller, which ought to count for something. The height can be adjusted, and unlike some chairs, this one also tilts backward.
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$13 from Amazon
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Give that nerd in the backseat of the family car this book, and he’ll stay occupied from now until the next rest area. Just expect a barrage of “Did you knows ...” and “You won’t believes …” as he shares what he’s learned on the rest of the trip.
$150 from Best Buy
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Know a young music lover who’s streaming tunes all the time? Introduce them to the pleasure of music that you can actually hold: the long-playing record. And give them a turntable to play that vinyl on. This portable record player can be plugged into an amplifier with the included RCA cables or stream music via Bluetooth.
$35 and up from Walmart
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Roller skating was the hot pastime this summer, and there’s no doubt it will continue to be trendy. These skates have a fixed, lace-up boot that provides more foot and ankle support than step-in beginner skates. A girls' model is also available.
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Varies from Amazon
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Let’s be honest. Teens are impossible to please. So give ‘em what they really want, no matter what they’re into: the freedom to choose for themselves.
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