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60 Best Gifts for Teenage Boys, From the Unusual to the Out-of-This-World Cool
And a ton of inexpensive ideas that won't break the bank.
Reviewed by Rachel RothmanChief Technologist & Executive Technical Director
When it comes time to buy a gift for a teenage boy, lots of adults' minds go blank. But, secretly, getting gifts for teens is actually really fun. That's because so many creative things — from high-flying drones to tech gifts that'll have them making their own pro-quality movies at home — have become so affordable, the whole world is open to them.
The secret is knowing what they're into — and where to go from there. For your money, these are the best gifts for teen boys in 2023. Some are products that earned top marks from Good Housekeeping Institute tests. Others, especially when it comes to fun little things like fidget toys and board games, are a mix of editor's picks and best-sellers designed to put a smile on your teen's face. No matter if they're into art, music, sports, video games, techie stuff or a combo of all of the above, there's sure to be something that appeals to the teen in your life. Whether you're looking for a small pick-me-up or a big-ticket gift, something for a 15-year-old still getting the hang of high school or an 18-year-old heading off to college, we've got you covered with all the cool gifts for boys they could possibly ask for.
Yep, it's a totally functioning pen, but it can also be shaped into a bunch of different sculptures. It's another way for teen boys to busy their restless hands when they need something to fidget with.
With this pen, he can take his drawings off the page and make 3D animals, cars, figures and so much more. It brings his creativity into three dimensions, with a medium he probably hasn't had a chance to use that much.
This machine uses HDMI or Micro USB cables to hook up to a laptop, phone or other storage device, then project the image onto a wall at a size of up to 150 inches. And yet, it's pocket sized (just 4 inches x 4 inches x less than an inch), so it's like carrying a movie theater in your pocket. Good Housekeeping Institute experts were impressed with how easy it was to use this one, too.
Let him charge all his devices at once. This one can handle a smartwatch, earbuds and a phone, keeping everything organized and in one place. It is compatible with both Apple and Samsung devices, too.
This lamp has four different levels of brightness, and also a range of different colors, so he can get his room to look the exact way he wants it. It also works as a Bluetooth speaker, so he can use it to play his favorite tunes.
In this card game, you have to play cooperatively with other players, all while staying silent — you just have to get on each other's wavelengths. The hilarity led this game to win a Golden Geek Award for Best Card Game from the Board Game Geek community.
This drone, a favorite of the Good Housekeeping Institute's experts for the quality of its camera, shoots videos that'll go straight to his smartphone, and, with a 1080P HD camera with 120º wide angle, they actually look nice, too. You can also set it to hover and take awesome still photos, too.
If you have the type of kid who always needs to do something with their hands, give them this box, which can be twisted and flipped and contorted into more than 70 different shapes. Then, the puzzle becomes how to get it to be a cube again. It's available in lots of cool, eye-catching patterns.
Just take this lightweight lounger outside and wave it around a few times, and it'll fill with air and become an outdoor sofa perfect for relaxing. This is especially good for teens headed to college, since it's almost tailor-made for lazing about on the quad.
A lawn game that's perfect for the beach, the park or the backyard, Spikeball is a cross between volleyball and foursquare. It's a tough one, so he'll definitely work up a sweat while getting some fresh air — all healthy things. This set comes with all the basics you need to get started, including one ball, netting and a carrying bag.
Who wants to spend the day in a stuffy, indoor laser tag arena? With this set, up to four people can play in your home, backyard or around the neighborhood. This set has fun features like invisibility mode that shuts off the lights on the blasters, vibrating blasters and vests and voice-guided gameplay. It has more than 5,000 five-star reviews on Amazon!
No, it's not a selfie stick. If he likes to watch videos in bed, this phone holder will make it so he doesn't have to keep his phone in his hands while he watches — hopefully stopping him from getting the dreaded "text neck." The arm is adjustable, and it comes in three colors.
Help him trick out his room with this light kit, which changes colors and speed automatically. You get more than 16' of lights, and you can adjust the brightness.
If he dreams of being a director like Wes Anderson or Henry Selick, he can try his hand at stop-motion animation with this kit. It comes with a camera with an integrated microphone, animation software and a book with instructions along with hints and tricks. The box can even be used as a background with a green screen.
If you're raising a budding cinephile, give him a lesson in film history with this wall poster. As he watches each movie, he can scratch off a square to reveal its icon, making the poster more colorful the more he watches.
They might act like they're too old for toys, but they're not — especially when they see this remote-controlled car, which can actually drive up walls and onto the ceiling when guided by a laser. And yet, it won't do damage to the walls or furniture.
You get a three-for-one with this gift: It comes with a macro lens, a wide-angle lens and a fisheye lens. Pretty soon, he'll be the designated family photographer.
Just a little something for all the gamers out there, these socks display a funny message when he has his feet up on an ottoman or coffee table. It works perfectly with an "I Paused My Game to Be Here" shirt.
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.
Rachel Rothman (she/her) is the chief technologist and executive technical director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also manages GH’s growing research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems. During her 15 years at Good Housekeeping, Rachel has had the opportunity to evaluate thousands of products, including toys and cars for GH’s annual awards programs and countless innovative breakthroughs in consumer tech and home improvement.