The Comprehensive Holiday Gift Guide for Anyone 13 and Up

best gifts for teens
Teenagers can be tricky to buy gifts for, so check out our comprehensive guide to teen-approved holiday presents.

Got a teen in your life? Teenagers may be notoriously moody—and prone to making poor decisions—but they also get a bad rap for being incredibly difficult to buy gifts for. Not anymore. Consider this gift guide the ultimate hacking to buying gifts for teens. From the hottest shoes, accessories and clothes to things teens actually want (and will be excited to unwrap), you can't go wrong with any of these gifts for those who just graduated from preteen to teen.

13 Gifts for Teenagers

Keep reading for 13 gifts that teenagers will actually want, need and use this holiday. As always, the prices listed may fluctuate over time.

1. RK Royal Kludge Typewriter Style Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

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It's everything you could want in a keyboard—LED lights, typewriter-esque keys and the fastest response time. AMAZON

OK, now this may be the world's coolest keyboard! Not only does it offer an awesome retro typewriter style with mechanical, steampunk round keys, but it also glows rainbow with 168 different LED-backlit modes and seven different colors. With a 4.7-star rating and more than 2,200 reviews on Amazon.com, the RK Royal Kludge Typewriter Style Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is every gamer's dream as each keystroke is registered for the most intense gameplay, high-grade games and the fastest response. It's also compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac OS for the ultimate convenience.

Buy at Amazon for $69.99.

2. Bedside Smartphone Vase

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The Bedside Smartphone Vase combines both functionality and a pretty aesthetic. UNCOMMON GOODS

With teenagers, it's all about the aesthetic, and the Bedside Smartphone Vase is half smartphone stand, half flower vase, so it's the best of both worlds. Cute, chic and totally teen-approved, it's perfect for adding a little bit of ambiance to your room while still charging your phone overnight.

Buy at Uncommon Goods for $32.

3. Basketball Waste Basket

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With the Basketball Waste Basket, every score is worth two points. UNCOMMON GOODS

It's the wastebasket of every basketball enthusiast's dreams. (Yes, even if they're in their 20s—or 30s) Anyway, a fantastic for teen b-ballers, the Basketball Waste Basket from Uncommon Goods is just a standard wire can but is made all the more funky and gift-worthy thanks to its hilarious backboard. With something to bounce off of, they'll never miss a free throw (of trash) again!

Buy at Uncommon Goods for $52.

4. Nike Court Vision Low Sneaker

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The Nike Court Vision Low Sneaker goes with just about any outfit. URBAN OUTFITTERS

Young adults have extremely ~specific~ feelings about footwear—especially when it comes to sneaks—and the Nike Court Vision Low Sneaker is it. As in the shoes of the season. Nike makes them with leather uppers in a low-top silhouette and outfits them with plenty of plush cushioning for the ultimate level of comfort. These kicks also have a textured rubber sole and though they're stark white—like, scarily stark white—they can be pretty easily spot cleaned if (and really, when) necessary.

Buy at Urban Outfitters for $65.

5. Flare Safety Bracelet

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The Flare Safety Bracelet is as pragmatic as it is cute because it features special safety capabilities through its Bluetooth connection to your smartphone. FLARE

At first glance, the Flare Safety Bracelet simply looks like a beautiful bangle, but it's actually so much more than that. It's a smart bracelet that ensures safety in potentially sketchy situations by connecting to the Get Flare iOS app via Bluetooth. By secretly pressing the button underneath the bracelet, you can trigger a fake emergency phone call from a "friend" to get you out of something, text your friends for help, contact 911 and send your GPS location. It's not just pretty; it could save a life.

Buy at Flare for $129.

6. Jade Classic All You Bra

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Pepper's Classic All You Bra in jade only comes in cup sizes AA, A and B as it's specifically designed for women and young women with smaller breasts. PEPPER

Finally—a bra that's made for smaller bosoms! For the teenage bra-wearer who's still figuring things out or didn't inherent double D's, the Classic All You Bra in Jade offers a one-of-a-kind fit that most other bras don't. No gap between the cups and the boobs, no push-up padding with nothing to push up. Pepper makes comfortable, stylish bras that fit even the smallest of ta-tas!

Buy at Pepper for $55.

7. Dr. Teal's Coconut Water Witch Hazel Facial Toner

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Snag Dr. Teal's Coconut Water Witch Hazel Facial Toner as a stocking stuffer. WALMART

Convincing a pubescent teenager to watch their face regularly can be quite a challenge. Luckily, Dr. Teal's Coconut Water Witch Hazel Facial Toner makes an excellent stocking stuffer that hopefully smells so deliciously akin to coconut that it convinces your teen to cleanse and tone. (Spoiler alert: It does!)

Buy at Walmart for $5.97.

8. YETI Crossroads 40L Duffel

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Move over, weekender bag. The YETI Crossroads 40L Duffel is so much better. YETI

Most people spring for the YETI tumblers, mugs and even coolers but don't sleep on the YETI Crossroads 40L Duffel. A meaningful option for teens who spend their weekends over at their friends' houses or away games, this classic duffel fits everything necessary for a quick trip or even a visit to the locker room. Featuring modular compression straps, two divider panels for ample organization and foam walls and a structured build to keep the duffel sturdy, the YETI Crossroads 40L Duffel also has plenty of pockets for storage as well.

Buy at YETI for $199.99.

9. High Waisted Sweatpants

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The High-Waisted Sweatpants from Amazon are comfy, cozy, and somehow, teens make 'em look cute. AMAZON

Teens love their sweatpants (especially in a post-coronavirus world where they spent the last two years doing distance-learning from home!). Featuring a stylish high-waisted fit, two slant pockets on the sides and elasticated cuffs for a little flair, these Amazon joggers have more than 1,400 reviews with teens (and others) loving how versatile they are. Are they big, baggy sweatpants? Undoubtedly. But somehow, the youth knows how to make it look good—fashionable, even.

Buy at Amazon for $25.99.

10. Fenty Skin Start'rs Full-Size Bundle

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Fenty Skin Start'rs Full-Size Bundle comes with three full-size beauty products that keep facial skin looking youthful and radiant (even if the user also just so happens to be young). FENTY

A fan-favorite beauty brand amongst the younger generations, Fenty Skin Start'rs Full-Size Bundle, features a trio of Rihanna-approved products that are clean, cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free, non-comedogenic, and that come in recyclable packaging. The set includes Total Cleans'r Makeup-Removing Cleanser with Barbados Cherry, Fat Water Niacinamide Pore-Refining Toner Serum with Barbados Cherry and Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen. What more could you want in a skincare set?

Buy at Fenty Skin for $75.

11. Oversized Essential Popover Hoodie

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Any remotely fashionable teen would go ga-ga over the Oversized Essential Popover Hoodie from Abercrombie & Fitch. ABERCROMBIE & FITCH

You can never go wrong with a hoodie. (Especially for anyone 13 and up.) The Oversized Essential Popover Hoodie from Abercrombie & Fitch is particularly on-trend right now with its simple one-block color, oversized style and ultra-comfy material. For the stylish young guy in your life, it makes a sweet gift when paired with a ball cap or even a pair of high socks.

Buy at Abercrombie & Fitch for $59.

12. 5-in-1 Professional Curling Iron and Wand Set

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The 5-in-1 Professional Curling Iron and Wand Set hits all the marks! AMAZON

Highly rated and beloved by buyers on Amazon.com, the 5-in-1 Professional Curling Iron and Wand Set hits all the marks. It's everything you could be looking for in a heated hair tool, especially if you're in middle school or high school. It comes with multiple barrels in all different sizes—varying from 0.3 inches to 1.25 inches—as well as a reusable, heat-resistant glove. And trust, the glove comes in handy when you're first learning how to work the wand! Perfect for all hair types, including short, medium, long, thin, fine, thick and coarse, this five-piece curling set also features a user-friendly design that automatically shuts off after 60 minutes without use. So, for parents, that means no more wondering: Did my kid turn off the curling iron before we left the house???

Buy at Amazon for $54.96.

13. Ivy Vine String Lights

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The teen in your life will love decorating their room with the Ivy Vine String Lights from Urban Outfitters. URBAN OUTFITTERS

We can't give a reason as to why teenagers love string lights so much—maybe it's because they're timeless, shiny and pretty?!—but we can point you in the right direction, gift-wise. The Ivy Vine String Lights from Urban Outfitters are the latest sub-trend within the string lights trend to become super popular amongst Gen-Z. For teens, their bedroom or dorm is their most sacred space, so it's no wonder the Ivy Vine String Lights add a bit of natural-looking whimsy and a feeling of peace for young adults.

Buy at Urban Outfitters for $16.

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