Gift for Gamers
Game Over 8-Bit Pixel Light
Credit: Paladone
Your 13-year-old gamer will love the retro 8-bit vibes of this pixel light that changes color based on mood and can react to music too. It's the perfect room decor for a new teen boy.
RELATED: The Best Gifts for Gamers
Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner
Sky Viper Vector Stunt Plane
Credit: Sky Viper
This plane flies up to 35 mph, but with automatic flight stabilization, it's still not too hard to control. Plus, it does tricks like loops at the touch of a button. Good Housekeeping Institute testers were amazed by how high and how fast this one went. Ages 12+
RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards
Funny Gift for 13-Year-Old Boys
Tortilla Blanket
Credit: CASOFU
It's always Taco Tuesday when your kid has this hilarious, realistic, 6-foot tortilla blanket! (Don't worry, it's actually made of fleece.)
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Useful Gift
Galaxy Projector
Now 17% Off
Credit: RossettaWhether he thinks he's the brightest star in the universe already or has pie-in-the-sky dreams, your 13-year-old will love to project the entire galaxy onto his bedroom. Plus, this ingenious device triples as a white noise machine to help him sleep at night and a Bluetooth speaker to help him rock out during the day. No wonder it has more than 15,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
Outdoor Game
Glow-in-the-Dark Capture the Flag Ignited Kit
Now 25% Off
Credit: Getmovin SportsWhen you're our age, you just want to flop on the couch with a beer or glass of wine and watch TV at the end of the day, but for 13-year-olds, nighttime is ripe with potential for mystery and fun! This awesome glow-in-the-dark version of the popular party game will get him and his friends moving outside after the sun (and you) settle in for the evening.
Practical Gift for Teenagers
Bombas Calf Socks
Credit: Bombas
Can we be honest about socks for a second? Most socks are in the trash after a month or two of repeated wear. The exception to this rule is Bombas who make soft, sturdy socks that will stand up to his Spikeball playing, bike riding, nighttime capture the flag games and daily teenage boy life spent in Crocs or sandals with calf socks.
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For the Teen Who Has Everything
Hoptimist Classic Bumble
Credit: Hoptimist
The world at large can often be daunting, uncertain, and scary. That's what makes this Danish designed bit of room decor so essential! The bouncing hoptimist bumble is a simple, colorful source of positivity, joy, and happiness, which makes it a great gift for a teen boy in the 21st century.
For Athletes
SPRI Exercise Dice
Credit: SPRI
Lots of young boys start to get into physical fitness in their teenage years, and these exercise dice make working out fun and different every day. He'll roll and get 00 seconds of jumping jacks, 20 push-up reps or one of many other combinations, keeping his routine fresh and fun.
For DIYers
Money Bank Robot Kit
Credit: 4M
You're never too old or young to stash coins away in the hope of accumulating some real cash to spend on new sneakers, movies or burgers with friends. This bank is a robot he'll build (sneaky STEM!) and one that eats his loose change. Fun, educational, and affordable, FTW! Ages 8+
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For Sneaker Collectors
Sneakerhead Poster 4-Pack
Credit: Nilem Design
It may not always seem like it, because they're usually scattered haphazardly around your home, but your boy loves his sneakers, loves the newest sneakers on the market and loves retro kicks too. So he's going to flip for this cool set of four modern sneaker art posters.
For Collectors
Pokémon Obsidian Flames Elite Trainer Box
Credit: The Pokémon Company
My 19-year-old daughter works in an independent neighborhood toy store and she tells me that Pokémon cards make great gifts for most 13-year-old boys because these freshly-minted teens love collecting, trading and playing Pokémon — and, she adds, talking about it nonstop! This box comes with booster packs, card sleeves, energy cards and game accessories to keep them going. Ages 6+
RELATED: The Best Pokémon Gifts for Fans
Best Accessory
Ubuntu Life Beaded Leather Bracelet
Credit: Ubuntu Life
These unisex leather bracelets come in lots of different colors, so he can wear a different one every day, or even stack a few. Each one is made with real leather and glass beads, created by artisans in Kenya.
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Affordable Tech Gift
6 Outlet USB Wall Charger
Now 33% Off
Credit: POWRUIHow many devices does your kid have that need charging? Phone, tablet, laptop, gaming headset, Bluetooth headphones, Airpods, smartwatch? And don't forget his cool desktop charging station, which needs power too! This practical gift for teen boys may not light up the room when he opens it but it'll keep the power lights on all his tech glowing.
Fun Family Game
Gutter Games Beat That! Party Game
Now 25% Off
Credit: Gutter GamesThe isolation of the pandemic reinforced how important community and human connection truly are for adults, but especially for kids. This hilarious game of wacky challenges is a sheer delight to play together with family or a group of teen friends, sharing moments in person and making lasting memories. Ages 9+
Guinness World Records 2024
Credit: Guinness World Records
He may fancy himself a young adult, but chances are he's still a curious and goofy kid who finds stuff like, the 'world record longest hula-hooping on one foot' totally awesome. The newest edition of the big hardback Guinness book makes a great gift for a 13-year-old boy.
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Two Gifts in One
Relaxcation Inc Money Soap Bar
Credit: Relaxcation Inc
There are two things we can be relatively sure of when it comes to 13-year-old boys, they need a shower and they always say they need more money. This bar of soap has real money inside, anything from a $1 bill to a Benjamin Franklin. (That's a $100 bill, in case they’re not sure.) The motivation to get clean and get cash will never be stronger!
Active Gift
Hover Soccer Ball 2-Pack
Now 11% Off
Credit: AtlasonixNothing beats kicking a ball around on the green grass but when winter weather makes playing soccer outside impossible, your 13-year-old boy(s) will love turning your hallway or family room into their soccer stadium with a clever hover ball that stays down and slides along the floor. The set comes with two balls and two goals. Ages 8+
Sophisticated Keychain
Kingsley Leather Key Fob
Credit: Kingsley Leather
If he's always losing track of his keys, maybe this very adult-looking key fob will give him the motivation he needs to keep track of it. (You can always put a Tile Bluetooth tracker on it for extra peace of mind.) You can get it with silver, gold or brass hardware.
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Upgrade His Lunch
Umami Bento Lunch Box
Credit: Umami
Make his lunch cooler and more organized with a leakproof bamboo bento lunch box complete with wooden utensils and sauce jars so he, like my teen, can enjoy grapes and cheese, a tossed salad, hummus and pita platter or the timeless classic PB&J sandwich in style.
Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner
Kanoodle Pyramid
Now 20% Off
Credit: Educational InsightsThis game gives their minds a workout and lets them engage in a solo activity all at once. Cards tell players to arrange the pieces in a certain way, and then players have to use their smarts to fit the rest of the pieces in to make a pyramid shape. Help them work on their focus and concentration! Ages 7+

Jeff is a dad of two daughters, an avid traveler, a photographer, an author and a freelance writer who lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife and their cats. In addition to Good Housekeeping, he's written for Parents, Fodor's, Food and Wine, Real Simple and Reader’s Digest, among other print and online publications. Jeff is the publisher of the quarterly literary magazine, Stanchion, and his book, Streets Cats and Where to Find Them, will be published by Running Press in the Summer of 2025.
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