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Buying gifts for a teenage boy is like dining at a buffet — there’s an endless array of options to fill up an insatiable appetite. For example, you can go retro with your gifts for teens or buy a high-tech gift for a boy, and know that he'll love either (or both). And you can find plenty of gifts at all price ranges, too. All you need to do is know what they're into — and that should be easy because they either never stop talking about their interests, or there are remnants of their passions littering your home.
Check out our ultimate gift guide list for 2023
With all that in mind, these are the best gifts for teen boys in 2023, some of which have earned top marks from Good Housekeeping Institute tests, while others, like the fidget pen and laser tag set, are a mix of bestsellers and personal picks from our editors and their very own teens. No matter if they're into art, music, sports, video games, techie stuff or a combination of everything, there's bound to be more than a few items that the teen in your life will love.
Our Top Picks for the Best Gifts for Teen Boys in 2023
- QAQcew Fidget Pen, $18 on amazon.com
- WAITIEE Wireless Charger, $22 on amazon.com
- Frigidaire Retro Mini Fridge, $30 on walmart.com
- MYNT3D Professional Printing 3D Pen, $60 on amazon.com
- KODAK Luma 150 Ultra Mini Pocket Pico Projector, $219 on amazon.com
Whether you're looking for a small, just-because pick-me-up or a big-ticket gift to wow your kid, something for a 15-year-old who is finding his footing in his high school years or an 18-year-old stoked to be heading off to college, we've got gifts for every teen boy on your list.
Looking for more great gifts? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides:
The Best Stocking Stuffers for Teens | The Best Gifts for Kids of Every Age | The Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards
Personalized But Cool
Generic Personalized Leather Dopp Kit
Personalized But Cool
Generic Personalized Leather Dopp Kit
He may not be one for monograms, but he'll actually appreciate how classy his initials look on this leather toiletry bag. It's perfect if he's in college, the family travels a lot or he just needs a safe space to keep his stuff.
Portable and waterproof with awesome sound quality, it'll be hard for him not to want to take it with him everywhere. It's a great alternative to headphones, especially, say, when he's riding his bike.
Your kid's room is probably loaded with tech, but this affordable magnifier is the last piece of the puzzle. He can stream Twitch, watch his favorite YouTubers and play TV shows, movies and live sports on a 16" screen instead of just on his phone's 6 or 7-inch inch display. His eyes will thank you in a couple of decades!
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Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner
Sky Viper Vector Performance Stunt Jet
Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner
Sky Viper Vector Performance Stunt Jet
In Good Housekeeping Institute tests, teens couldn't believe how fast and how far this one could fly. They also liked how easily they could lift-off and get to the fun part. Once they mastered the controls, they could learn tricks on it, too. Ages 12+
RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards
There are many hot sauce-making kits out there, but none of the others have four skull-shaped glass jars that your teen boy is going to love pouring his piping hot creations into and out of! This kit has all the spices, seasonings and recipes he'll need to torch his friends' taste buds.
This mini inkless thermal printer synchs with his phone to let him print stickers, study notes, doodles, photos and more. He will probably think of a million creative ways to use them, including quickly decorating his room, dressing up is notebooks or adding helpful hints and reminders to his school work.
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He'll Brag to His Friends About This
Three-Flavor Variety Pack
He'll Brag to His Friends About This
Three-Flavor Variety Pack
Your teen is far too cool for soda that's mid. Stock his fridge with delicious gourmet pop with a teen-appropriate brand name: Stubborn Soda. Variety packs include classic root beer, agave vanilla cream soda and black cherry tarragon.
Unique Gifts for Music Fans
Mini Boombox With LED Speakers
Unique Gifts for Music Fans
Mini Boombox With LED Speakers
He'll be the life of the party with this rad retro boombox. It's got an FM radio in case he wants to go real old school with some static between songs, is rechargeable, and the LED lights dance to his music … even if he’s too embarrassed to do the same.
Best Gift for College Students
Nostalgia 3-in-1 Breakfast Station
Best Gift for College Students
Nostalgia 3-in-1 Breakfast Station
If you need a gift for a teen boy heading off to college, this retro breakfast station is not only going to help him burn the midnight oil writing his term papers, thanks to a coffee maker, toaster and griddle, but it'll also help him make friends fast with other hungry freshman in his dorm!
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Something He Definitely Doesn't Have
Phone & Tablet Outdoor Glare Guard
Something He Definitely Doesn't Have
Phone & Tablet Outdoor Glare Guard
It's cheap enough that you won't get mad if he breaks it, but it's so clever, he's going to be impressed with your gift skills. It just attaches to his phone, and then acts as a fan or sun blocker for easier streaming and scrolling.
If he doesn't already have a pair, get 'em ASAP. These super-soft slides that can be worn indoors or outdoors have been a top gift for teens for the last year.
Instead of bemoaning his gaming, turn his joy into creativity with this make-your-own video game set that'll teach him how to program and play his own 8-bit game creations. You can also \ enjoy the retro classics you played as a kid!
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Neon never goes out of style, just look at Vegas and every bar that exists in America! This dimmable neon sign is a gift for a teen boy that will make his room pop or the family basem*nt burst with cool colors.
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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.
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Okay, you've tried to teach him everything he needs to know about money, looking after the house and everything in between. But sometimes, it just doesn't stick. This book is a good way to drill in all the important things he needs to know, even when you're not around.
While it is perfect for all types of door frames and all sizes of teenagers, this multipurpose pull-up bar is ideal for thick doorways and tall kids. It's super stable, installed without a single tool, and portable, so your teen boy can work out anytime and anywhere.
Reviewed byRachel Rothman
Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years, overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems.