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39 Great Gifts and Toys for 13-Year-Old Boys That He'll Actually Love

For 2022, you're going to want to go with something funny or a cool STEM product.

Headshot of Marisa LaScalaBy Marisa LaScala
toys and gifts for 13 year old boys
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When he turns 13, you have a full-blown teenager on your hands. Suddenly the blocks, trucks and other toys for kids are giving way to tech, games and cool stuff for their rooms. In one way, that make shopping for the best gifts for 13-year-old boys easier: By now, they might be interested in delving deeper into certain areas, be it STEM sets, art kits, outdoor sports or some other pursuit. But that doesn't mean he doesn't still have the time or desire to play, with more sophisticated games with more online components or more complicated rules.

With all that in mind, these are the best gifts and toys for 13-year-old boys in 2022. They include some toys that have been through testing at the Good Housekeeping Institute (including current and former Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners), bestsellers from Amazon and other items that teens can't get enough of. From the just-a-little-something, like fidget toys and cool accessories, to the big, techy, splurge-worthy luxury gifts, to funny gifts he'll want to show all of his friends, you'll be sure to find something for every 13-year-old boy on your list, no matter if it's for his birthday or Christmas.

  • Professional Printing 3D Pen

    Unusual Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

    MYNT3D Professional Printing 3D Pen

    $98 at Amazon
    Read more
  • Inflatable Lounger

    Best Overall Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

    WEKAPO Inflatable Lounger

    Read more
  • Lightning Reaction Reloaded Game

    Unique Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

    Lightning Reaction Lightning Reaction Reloaded Game

    Read more
  • BrainBolt Genius

    Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner

    Educational Insights BrainBolt Genius

    Read more
  • Bedside Lamp with Bluetooth Speaker

    Best Tech Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

    MRCOOL Bedside Lamp with Bluetooth Speaker

    Read more

And if you're shopping for others, Good Housekeeping also has recommendations for gifts for tweens, gifts for teens and gifts for teen boys, too.

Unusual Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

MYNT3D Professional Printing 3D Pen

Professional Printing 3D Pen
Unusual Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

MYNT3D Professional Printing 3D Pen

$98 at Amazon
Credit: MYNT3D

Let him turn whatever he can imagine into real, 3D sculptures! The pen heats up at different temperatures, which changes the flow of the materials, allowing for more control. It also comes with three colors of ABS plastic filament for him to experiment with.

Best Overall Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

WEKAPO Inflatable Lounger

Best Seller
Inflatable Lounger
Best Overall Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

WEKAPO Inflatable Lounger

Credit: WEKAPO

This super popular air hammock doesn't require a pump to be inflated — all your 13-year-old boy has to do is move it back and forth to fill it up. It folds up into a pouch and weighs about two pounds, so it's also super easy to transport.

Unique Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Lightning Reaction Lightning Reaction Reloaded Game

On Sale
Lightning Reaction Reloaded Game
Unique Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Lightning Reaction Lightning Reaction Reloaded Game

Now 10% Off
Credit: Lightning Reaction

This game is shocking — literally! To play, each person grabs a handle and waits for the countdown. Once the red light turns green, everyone has to press their handle, and the last player to do so gets an electric shock. You can set the shock to low, medium or high depending on how brave you feel. "It doesn't really hurt that much, it's just nerve wracking to play, and [my kids] want to play ALL the time," one Amazon reviewer noted.

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Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner

Educational Insights BrainBolt Genius

On Sale
BrainBolt Genius
Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner

Educational Insights BrainBolt Genius

Now 43% Off

He's got to have a good memory and fast hands to master this game. The colored lights flash in a sequence, and he has to remember and repeat the pattern. It can be played in solo or two-player mode. Ages 7+

Best Tech Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

MRCOOL Bedside Lamp with Bluetooth Speaker

Bedside Lamp with Bluetooth Speaker
Best Tech Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

MRCOOL Bedside Lamp with Bluetooth Speaker

Credit: MRCOOL

He can add some brightly-colored light to his room with this ultra-cool lamp. It has four different brightness levels and the option for a color-changing mode. Plus, it doubles as a Bluetooth speaker so he can play his favorite songs while hanging out in his room.

Frigidaire Mini Retro Beverage Fridge

On Sale
Mini Retro Beverage Fridge

Frigidaire Mini Retro Beverage Fridge

Now 27% Off

Not only does this fridge have a cool, old-school vibe, it can keep six of his cans cold at the same time. There'll be no need for him to hog up all the space in the family fridge with sodas and sports drinks.

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Holy Stone HS110D FPV RC Drone

On Sale
HS110D FPV RC Drone

Holy Stone HS110D FPV RC Drone

Now 10% Off
Credit: Holy Stone

Testers were impressed with the quality of the images from the 1080P HD camera, which also has a wide-angle lens. The images are sent straight to a smartphone, and the drone also responds to voice commands.

RELATED: The Best Drones for Kids

STEM Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Snap Circuits Arcade Electronics Exploration Kit

On Sale
Arcade Electronics Exploration Kit
STEM Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Snap Circuits Arcade Electronics Exploration Kit

Now 43% Off
Credit: Snap Circuits

If your teen boy is into electronics and games (and who isn't?), he can build his own arcade using circuits and connectors. The possibilities are basically endless because there are more than 200 different projects (with instructions) for him to build out and experiment with.

Best Game for for 13-Year-Old Boys

Pandasaurus Games The Mind Card Game

Editor’s Choice
The Mind Card Game
Best Game for for 13-Year-Old Boys

Pandasaurus Games The Mind Card Game

Credit: MemorySweets

This super popular card game has only one rule: no one can talk while playing. The whole point is for all players to act as one and play their cards in order from one to 100. Reviewers say that even though it seems simple, everyone will be talking about it for days after playing.

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Inexpensive Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Soundbot Bluetooth Wireless Smart Beanie

Best Seller
Bluetooth Wireless Smart Beanie
Inexpensive Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Soundbot Bluetooth Wireless Smart Beanie

Credit: SoundBot

Trying to wear headphones and a hat is usually awkward and uncomfortable. This winter, his ears can stay warm and toasty without sacrificing the ability to listen to his favorite playlists for up to five hours. Plus, it's washable as long as you take out the battery and speaker from the velcro slot.

Trendy Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Shashibo Shape Shifting Box

Shape Shifting Box
Trendy Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Shashibo Shape Shifting Box

Credit: SHASHIBO

When you need just-a-little-something, this ultimate fidget toy is the way to go. The box folds and unfolds into different shapes, revealing different patterns along the way. He can contort it back into a cube again when he's done.

For Marvel Fans

LEGO Marvel I Am Groot

Amazon’s Choice
Marvel I Am Groot
For Marvel Fans

LEGO Marvel I Am Groot

Credit: LEGO

When he's finished completing this Baby Groot LEGO build, it'll look perfect on a shelf, because it's meant to be easily positionable and poseable. It even comes with its own (non-playable) cassette tape to inspire its dance moves! The set comes with 476 pieces, so it's not too hard of a challenge. Ages 10+

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Luxury Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Beats On-Ear Headphones

On-Ear Headphones
Luxury Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Beats On-Ear Headphones

Whether he's listening to music for FaceTiming with friends, a good pair of headphones will do you all some good. These on-ear headphones are easy to keep track of, and even come with their own case.

Outdoor Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Spikeball Spikeball Game Set

Spikeball Game Set
Outdoor Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Spikeball Spikeball Game Set

Credit: Spikeball

If he loves to be active, this Spikeball game set is the perfect game to play outside with a couple of friends. A combo of volleyball and four square, the game is easy to learn, and the set is portable enough to bring to the park or beach, so it's easy to pick up whenever the mood strikes.

RELATED: The Best Outdoor Toys

Best Gift Under $20

SAIJI Gooseneck Bed Phone Holder

On Sale
Gooseneck Bed Phone Holder
Best Gift Under $20

SAIJI Gooseneck Bed Phone Holder

Now 40% Off
Credit: Saiji

This phone holder clamps to a bedside table or headboard, so he can watch videos in his bed hands-free. The adjustable arm makes it so that he doesn't get the dreaded "text neck" from holding his phone down all the time.

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elago 3-in-1 Charging Station

3-in-1 Charging Station

elago 3-in-1 Charging Station

Credit: elago

Give him a place to charge all of his devices at once. This charging hub lets him plug in his iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, so he never has to worry about leaving the house with a low battery. All he needs to do is insert charging cables through the designated slots.

Funny Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Winkon Do Not Disturb Socks

On Sale
Do Not Disturb Socks
Funny Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys

Winkon Do Not Disturb Socks

Now 20% Off
Credit: Winkon

These hilarious socks make for a perfect just-a-little-something for teen boys since they're so affordable. Just make sure you can get him to put down the video games long enough to open presents during the holidays.

RELATED: Cool Stocking Stuffers Under $25 for Everyone on Your Christmas List

Gift Republic 100 Movies Bucket List Poster

100 Movies Bucket List Poster

Gift Republic 100 Movies Bucket List Poster

If he's a budding cinephile, get him started on a library of film knowledge. Every time he sees a movie on the list, he can scratch off the tile and fill in more and more of the poster. (Note: Not all the movies on the list are appropriate for 13-year-olds, so think of it as a long-term project.)

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This fun team game challenges players to freestyle different rhyming words into a rap — set to a beat provided by an app — and pass the mic to a teammate to score more points. There are different difficulty levels, so you can get the whole family involved!

SAYM Galaxy Sweatshirts

Amazon’s Choice
Galaxy Sweatshirts

SAYM Galaxy Sweatshirts

Credit: SAYM

Space is cold, but this fleece sweatshirt is extra warm, and looks cool in its eye-catching galaxy pattern. It comes in a ton of other colors and patterns, and has two side pockets for him to stuff his hands into.

Headshot of Marisa LaScala
Marisa LaScala
Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.

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