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

By Lauren Phillips
Updated November 30, 2020
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Credit: uncommongoods.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.

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

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Catan the Board Game

Credit: amazon.com
$44, amazon.com

If they’re not already familiar with this beloved, appropriate-for-all-ages board game, they’ll soon be all in on this civilization-building game. It’s one of few games that they can play with the family and with friends, and it’s a little different each time, so they’ll never get tired of playing.

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Pottery Barn Cozy Teddy Faux Fur Heart-Shaped Pillow

Credit: potterybarn.com
$40, potterybarn.com

This is the softest, squishiest gift they’ll get this year. They’ll love this addition to their bed or couch for its sweet shape and its texture alike, and it’s a subtle reminder of how much you love them—even if they cringe from bolder expressions of affection.

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Urbanears Luma

Credit: urbanears.com
$99, urbanears.com

With up to 25 hours of playtime, five on-trend colors, and smart features like wear-detect sensors that pause music when an earbud is removed and splash-resistant design, these (slightly) more affordable wireless earbuds will be their new go-to for school, travel, the gym, and more.

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LEGO Architecture Empire State Building

Credit: amazon.com
$104, amazon.com

Give them the chance to build the world with this Lego kit, which mimics the iconic Empire State Building with 1,767 Lego pieces. It’s meant for those 12 and older and sure to guarantee hours of entertainment. Travel or architecture buffs will love this gift as much as Lego fans, and even someone who hasn’t touched a Lego brick in years will love the meditative, thoughtful process of building this tower.

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Sh*t That I Knit Bliss Headband

Credit: shitthatiknit.com
$75, shitthatiknit.com

Hand-knit from 100 percent Peruvian merino wool, this subtle, high-quality piece of winter-wear will keep their ears toasty and their hair muss-free all winter long. Thick, breathable, and never itchy, it’s a gift your teen or tween will use for years to come—even without their parents’ urging.

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Fortune & Frame Fortune Frame

$38, fortuneandframe.com

A sentimental gift they’ll truly hang on to, this gold-dipped brass frame will keep their favorite fortunes safe. Whenever they’re in need of a reminder or a little motivation, they can look back on their fortunes and get that little boost—and with the attached three-use easel, they can keep them somewhere visible so those precious fortunes never get lost.

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Sierra Designs Double Lightweight Hammock

Credit: target.com
$40, target.com

With this hammock kit, teens and tweens alike can escape the house for a fresh air hang. The kit comes complete with tree saver straps and carabiners for hanging, and the hammock holds two people (up to 400 pounds), so they can grab a friend, pet, or a sibling (or just spread out).

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Women’s Keds x Jungalow Double Decker Duet

Credit: keds.com
$70, keds.com

This original print from Jungalow founder Justina Blakeney will give them the boho look they crave with the comfort you know they need—these Keds have a Dream Foam footbed and a flexible rubber outsole that offer support and durability.

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Free Period Press Collage Kit Magazine Vol. 1

Credit: freeperiodpress.com
$28, freeperiodpress.com

In this colorful magazine of curated photos, illustrations, and textures, they’ll find everything they need to collage to their heart’s content. Whether they’re putting together a vision board or creating funny works of art to share with friends, they’ll love reassembling the images in this 120-page magazine.

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Logitech Blue Snowball Ice Microphone

Credit: target.com
$50, target.com

Encourage their podcasting dreams, help them with remote music or voice lessons, and set them up for better audio during remote classes with this compact microphone, which has a desktop stand so they can set it up when they need it. It delivers clear audio, so everyone they’re chatting with (or their podcast listeners) will hear them perfectly, and the USB connection means set-up is easy.

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Thousand Chapter MIPS Helmet

Credit: explorethousand.com
$135, explorethousand.com

Keep them safe and encourage them to adventure and explore at the same time with this helmet. It’s on-trend enough that they’ll actually wear it while biking or skating, it has MIPS technology for added protection against concussions, and a magnetic taillight offers better visibility—they’ll love wearing it, and you’ll love the peace of mind it comes with.

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Logitech Design Collection Wireless Mouse

Credit: bestbuy.com
$18, bestbuy.com

Remote learning got them down? Give them a colorful boost (and reduce some gripes about working on a laptop all the time) with this affordable, compact wireless mouse, which they can pair with their laptop for easier schoolwork, video chatting, and downtime.

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Disney+ Subscription Card

Credit: disneyplus.com
$70 for a one-year subscription, 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.

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Nintendo Switch Lite

Credit: target.com
$200, target.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—and because it’s available in a slew of colors, you can find the just-right console for everyone on your list.

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LED Rock On Wall Decor

Credit: rhteen.com
$219, rhteen.com

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

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Lovesac Gamersac

Credit: lovesac.com
From $350, 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.

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Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Credit: amazon.com
$150, 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.

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Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle

Credit: amazon.com.
$30, 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.

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Urbanears Pampas

Credit: urbanears.com
$150, 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.

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Umbra Hangit Photo Display

Credit: amazon.com.
$20, 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.

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Timbuk2 Slacker Chest Pack

Credit: timbuk2.com
$49, 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.

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Ettitude Bamboo Lyocell Robe

Credit: ettitude.com
$80, 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.

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Gummy Bear Lights

Credit: uncommongoods.com
$28, 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.

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Silpat Silicone Baking Mat with Storage Band

Credit: amazon.com
$30, 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.

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Timbuk2 Hero Laptop Backpack

Credit: timbuk2.com
$89, 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.

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OtterSpot Wireless Charging System

Credit: otterbox.com
$130, 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.

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ThisWear Frenchie Tote Bag

Credit: amazon.com.
$17, amazon.com

For carrying books, lunch, sports gear, and more, this cotton canvas tote (and its too-cool-for-school Frenchie) can’t be beat.

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Artifact Uprising Walnut Block & Prints

Credit: artifactuprising.com
$30, artifactuprising.com

For small, compact (and totally changeable) displays, this walnut block can’t be beat. Include prints of family trips, pets, or gorgeous locations—your teen or tween recipient can order new ones and swap them out as they like.

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