36 Great Gifts for Teens and Tweens That They’ll Truly Appreciate

By Lauren Phillips
Updated December 17, 2019
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
lovesac.com
Everyone (or almost everyone) has to buy gifts for teens or tweens at some point. Whether you’re looking for gifts for teenage boys for your son or gift ideas for tween girls for your friend’s kid—or even if you’re a teen struggling to shop for your friends or siblings—we all bump into gifting occasions for teenagers or tweens at some point. (If only we could just give everyone Harry Potter gifts forever.)

The challenge of finding gift ideas for tweens and their older counterparts is that they’re not kids anymore, but they’re not adults, either. Most gifts easily fall into being too childish (and embarrassing) or not useful for these 11- to 19-year-olds; after all, they’re really too young for college graduation gifts, and any gifts having to do with alcohol are certainly inappropriate; toys, stuffed animals, and more can easily be dismissed or returned.

The simplest solution is to resort to gift card ideas, but there’s another option: These smart gift ideas for teens and tweens alike. When it comes to these fickle gift recipients, there’s really no one-size-fits-all gift, but at least one of these gifts is sure to appeal to the youth in your life. (If you don’t know them that well, consider a white elephant gift—they don’t need to know that you took the generalist route.)

Think about what this teen or tween is looking forward to, or what major life event (high school, college, middle school, a sports season) they’re facing. If you’re close, look at which items they use the most around the house. Chances are, whatever they’re using could use an upgrade. If the gift is for a particular occasion (Christmas gifts, Hanukkah presents, a birthday surprise), try to make it seasonal or relevant to what’s happening in the recipient’s life. If you find a gift that they’ll use or look at every day, you’ve done a great gifting job—good luck reaching these lofty gifting standards you’ve set next year.

RELATED: Gift Ideas for Women
Start Slideshow

1 of 36

Disney+ Subscription Card

disneyplus.com

Depending on their age and interests, the teen or tween in your life might want access to Disney+ for the Star Wars content, the DCOMs, or the Marvel movies—or all of the above. Whatever they want to watch, they’ll love having access to all of it for a full year with a gifted subscription.

To buy: $70 for a one-year subscription; subscriptioncard.disneyplus.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 36

Nintendo Switch Lite

amazon.com

The most recent iteration of the Nintendo you probably played once upon a time, the Nintendo Switch Lite is the latest and greatest way to game on the go. Consider it one of the must-have gifts of the year for teens and tweens alike.

To buy: $200; amazon.com.

3 of 36

OtterBox Apple Watch Series 3 EXO EDGE Case

otterbox.com

If they’re lucky enough to have an Apple Watch (or they’re due to receive one this holiday season), make sure they can keep it protected with one of these ultra-durable (but still sleek) cases.

To buy: $30; otterbox.com.

Advertisement

4 of 36

Nope Card Game

Brian Henn

A family-friendly game with the goal of hanging on to your cards—think Uno in reverse.

To buy: $12; blueribbongeneralstore.com.

5 of 36

Ping Pong Play On

Courtesy of manufacturer

Clamp the net onto nearly any surface and challenge family members to a snow-day table tennis tournament.

To buy: $35; sunnylife.com.

6 of 36

Read All About It!

Brian Henn

This book has tear-out pages that your budding editor can fill out and assemble to create 10 mini magazines.

To buy: $18; laurenceking.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 36

Children of Blood and Bone (Reaper, Burner, Lighter, Connector, or Seer edition)

Courtesy of manufacturer

Each special edition represents a clan from the best-selling YA fantasy series and includes fan art and a poster.

To buy: $23 each; barnesandnoble.com.

8 of 36

LED Rock On Wall Decor

rhteen.com

Light up a teen music-lover’s creative space with this vintage-inspired LED wall art.

To buy: $209; rhteen.com.

9 of 36

Smartish iPhone Wallet Case

amazon.com.

For a teen or tween who has only one or two cards (or less), this wallet phone case will both protect their precious phone and let them carry a school ID, driver’s license, and debit card wherever they go without the hassle of a wallet.

To buy: $15; amazon.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 36

Lovesac Gamersac

lovesac.com

A good beanbag can outlast the tween years (and even make it to college, with a little care), and this one is one of the best. Gift it to a tween or a teen to furnish their bedroom or a game room, and they’re certain to use it for years to come, thanks to the washable, replaceable covers and durable filling.

To buy: From $260; lovesac.com.

11 of 36

Kate Spade Love Pencil Pouch

katespade.com.

Keeping track of pens, pencils, highlighters, sticky notes, and whatever else is essential for academic success is easy with this sweet pencil pouch. Plus, any teen or tween girl will love the playful pattern.

To buy: $32; katespade.com.

12 of 36

Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

amazon.com

This portable speaker is a must-have for road-trips, sleepovers, camp-outs, and just about every other occasion in a teen or tween’s life. Its battery lasts up to 15 hours, the speaker floats, and it’s ultra-durable, so it’ll get plenty of use.

To buy: $150; amazon.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 36

Large Letter Board

store.moma.org

Letter board images are all over social media, and with this gift, your teen or tween can leave notes, make reminders, list their favorite things, capture quotes, and more. (Whether they post pictures of their letter board creation is up to them.)

To buy: $74; store.moma.org.

14 of 36

Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle

amazon.com.

If you don’t have a Hydro Flask, are you even a teen or tween? Help yours keep up with the hydration trends with this colorful bottle, which comes in more than ten colors and several sizes.

To buy: $30; amazon.com.

15 of 36

Urbanears Pampas

urbanears.com

Let them dive into their favorite songs with these wireless Bluetooth headphones, which offer more than 30 hours of playtime on a single charge (so they’ll never be caught on the school bus without their music), a trendy oversized look, and super comfortable ear covers.

To buy: $150; urbanears.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 36

UGG Coastline Faux Fur Pillow

nordstrom.com

Whether it’s for their bed, the couch, or traveling, every teen or tween will love curling up with this unbelievably plush pillow.

To buy: $54; nordstrom.com.

17 of 36

Umbra Hangit Photo Display

amazon.com.

Give the teen or tween in your life the chance to present their favorite photos, prints, postcards, and more with this hanging display. Clothespin clips will let them swap out photos at will, and the simple cord and wood hanger melds into any style room.

To buy: $20; amazon.com.

18 of 36

Timbuk2 Slacker Chest Pack

timbuk2.com

Believe it or not, belt bags (or fanny packs) and cross-chest bags are back again, and all the teens and tweens are sporting them. This one has a breathable air mesh panel and has room for keys, cards, and a phone without venturing into too-bulky territory.

To buy: $49; timbuk2.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 36

Dormify Accessories Holder

dormify.com.

This accessory hammock can hold sunglasses, keys, tablets, notes, and more—perfect for a teen or tween who struggles to keep track of all their odds and ends.

To buy: $25; dormify.com.

20 of 36

Ettitude Bamboo Lyocell Robe

ettitude.com

This sleek robe—made of planet-friendly organic bamboo lyocell—is perfect for lounging around the house or bringing along to a sleepover, and the relaxed fit means teens or tweens of any age can sport it.

To buy: $80; ettitude.com.

21 of 36

Gummy Bear Lights

uncommongoods.com

Whether they’re used as sweet shelf decor or an on-trend nightstand light, these LED bears (available in five colors) will help any teen or tween customize their space.

To buy: $28; uncommongoods.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 36

Boconi Becker Catchall Tray

nordstrom.com

For laidback teens or tweens who somehow always seem to lose watches, rings, phone chargers, change, or other odds and ends, this sleek tray makes a great gift. They can keep it on a nightstand, dresser, or desk and use it to keep track of whatever it is they just keep losing.

To buy: $68; nordstrom.com.

23 of 36

Elago Charging Station

anthropologie.com

For the tech-savvy teen with too much phone gear to count, gift this compact charging station, which can charge an iPhone, AirPods, and an Apple Watch—it’s sure to be a present they’ll use every day.

To buy: $25; anthropologie.com.

24 of 36

Pearl Compact Mirror and Charger

store.moma.org

This compact has two mirrors—one normal, one magnifying—so any teen or tween testing out new makeup looks can use it to check their application. It also has a USB port for charging a phone, so they can have their portable charger and mirror in one small package.

To buy: $30; store.moma.org.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 36

Minted Skate 2 Print

minted.com.

This subtle, simple print adds a little personality to any room. Gift it to any teens or tweens interested in skateboarding and rest easy knowing it’s something they’ll look at every day.

To buy: From $23; minted.com.

26 of 36

Silpat Silicone Baking Mat with Storage Band

amazon.com

The teen and tween years are prime time for exploring interests, and baking is often something teens or tweens get into. Encourage the tasty habit with this top-notch baking gear, which prevents burned cookie bottoms and comes with a handy storage helper.

To buy: $30; amazon.com.

27 of 36

Timbuk2 Hero Laptop Backpack

timbuk2.com

Every teen or tween worth their salt has a backpack to lug around. This one looks good enough for school and travel alike, plus it has a laptop sleeve, an easy-to-access roll-top, and room for school gear, sports gear, lunch, and more.

To buy: $89; timbuk2.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 36

Darcy Monogram Letter

anthropologie.com

Whether it spells out their favorite slogan, their name, or just their initials, any teen or tween will love having a personalized piece of wall art.

To buy: $24 each; anthropologie.com.

29 of 36

OtterSpot Wireless Charging System

otterbox.com

They’ll never have an excuse for an uncharged phone again with this wireless charging set, which includes both a charging platform for Qi wireless devices and a portable wireless battery teens and tweens can take on the road.

To buy: $130; otterbox.com.