The 49 best gifts for teens that they won’t have to pretend to like
We're here to help you pick the best gifts for teens, because they're easier to buy for than you might expect. Take a look at the many things that adolescents in your life will actually be grateful for
Since adolescents are so uniquely terrifying, choosing the best gifts for teens can prove tricky. No matter how relatively pleasant they are. No matter how much you know they’ll soon become nice, normal grown-ups. No matter how much they’re yours. As the chances of modern-day teenagers saying something offensive at the dinner table have decreased with their increasing socio-political awareness, the difficulty of buying presents for them has only compounded. As ever, we at GQ advise staying calm, because buying for the adolescent in your life is about to get extremely easy. From a good old-fashioned pair of Doc Martens to a room-brightening homeware item, teenagers now aren’t so different from how you were at that age. So having already compiled our guides to the best gifts for men and best gifts for women, here's our look at the best gifts for teenagers.
What are the best gift ideas for teens?
One of the most wonderful things about today’s teenagers is that gender means less than it ever has. As such, most — if not all — of the following gifts would be suitable for girls, boys and gender non-conforming individuals. For make-up, opt for Glossier, choose Harry Styles’ brand Pleasing for nail varnish, and consider adding some cult skincare brand Starface bits and pieces to the mix.
Scope out what they’re listening to this year and consider a couple of vinyl records, or the whole set-up including record player and amp if they’re yet to plumb the depths of the vinyl revival. Maybe they’d even be keen to start making their own: find a starter Fender in trending ‘60s orange and a plug-and-play Pioneer controller in our list.
There are plenty more suggestions ahead, but if all feels too overwhelming, then don’t feel like a gift card is copping out: if you nail the retailer, it can be a much-appreciated midway point between choosing the wrong thing and just putting some cash in their Christmas card. We’ve suggested the Odeon Limitless cinema pass and the GymShark gift card here, but if there’s one brand your teenager wears — or just talks about — all the time, then consider that too.
- Best gift for teens: Xbox Series S, £245 at amazon.co.uk
- Best budget gifts for teens: Baggu happy shopper bag, £14 at asos.com
- Best gift for creative teens: Pioneer DDJ-FLX4 DJ Controller £280 at argos.co.uk
- Best gift for active teens: GymShark gift card, from £10 at gymshark.com
- Best gift for style-conscious teens: Dr Martens 1460 Boots, £159 at drmartens.com
- Best gift for teens who want to update their room: Lisa Angel Dried Flowers, £34 at lisaangel.co.uk
- Best gift for TikTok-mad teens: Urban Outfitters Boo Pillow,
£39£31 at urbanoutfitters.com
Still need inspiration? Check out our encyclopedias to gifting with the best gifts for men (and best unusual gifts for men), best gifts for women, best gifts for mums, best gifts for dads, best gifts for sisters and best gifts for brothers.
1/49Cutter & Squidge Biskie Box
Cutter & Squidge can make one hell of a cake. Or, as in the case of this biskie selection box, six hell of a cakes. A biskie is a special Cutter & Squidge invention combining cookies and buttercream; they’re handmade in London and have flavour names like Billionaire Dreambar and Brownie Caramel. Grab a box near to gifting time so they’re ripe for birthday morning gorging.
- Price: £26.99
- Available at: cutterandsquidge.com
2/49Stanley Quencher
Many TikTok trends might be baffling, but in this instance it is not your job to understand… only provide. One weirdly covetable item they’ll love to get for their birthday this year? A giant reusable water bottle by US camping expert Stanley.
- Price: £64.46
- Available at: amazon.co.uk & uk.stanley1913.com
3/49Papier Notebook
Remember the joy of starting a brand new notebook at school? Despite technology innovations, teens still share that unique delight. Our favourite spot for stationery that will inspire genuine excitement? Papier. Personalise for extra brownie points.
- Price: £23
- Available at: papier.com
4/49Lego Table Football
Thierry Henry is the face of Lego’s newest endeavour in play: its build-your-own Fußball table allows you to go beyond the classic arcade game by crafting your own team and even characterising the stands of spectators there to see them put away the goals. One for the whole family.
- Price: £215
- Available at: lego.com
5/49Gymshark Gift Card
Some gyms are for adults only, but many, including PureGym, are happy to welcome 16-year-olds in through their revolving doors. If there’s interest brewing — or you already have an enthusiastic fitness bunny — give them the gift of choice by furnishing them with a Gymshark gift card. As far as affordable gym clothes go, this brand makes some of the very best.
- Price: from £10
- Available at: gymshark.com
6/49Cosmetics Organiser
Bedrooms from the fantastically messy to the unnervingly tidy could use some more organisers. A bizarre but sensible trend, never have teenagers wanted to separate and sort their cosmetics quite so much as they do now. Complete with hidden drawers and attached mirror, this Joseph Joseph box is a winner.
- Price: £35
- Available at: johnlewis.com
7/49Sofiest Designs Disco Cherries
Only designed and launched in 2022, Sofiest Design’s disco cherries are already being consistently copied by bigger brands and posted on Pinterest ad infinitum. Buy the original and best via Etsy and see how they delight at their new bedroom addition.
- Price: from £147
- Available at: etsy.com
8/49Oodie
They may not be the most visually-appealing thing in the world, but that's because Oodies are all about comfort. Soon, you'll be hard-pressed to find a British household that doesn’t contain at least one of these wearable duvets, and a large reason for that is the nation’s youth, who are invoking the gods of chilling out for one. Just think of it as a new outfit you can bully your teen for sleeping late in.
£89£64- Available at: theoodie.co.uk
9/49Apple AirPods Max
AirPods falling out of their ears willy nilly? Sick of replacing the stupid cordless things? Good news: fashion is swinging back towards over-ear headphones. The most covetable of them all? Unsurprisingly, they’re by Apple. Add engraving for an extra special occasion.
- Price: £549
- Available at: apple.com
10/49Urban Outfitters Boo Pillow
If they’re going to spend eight hours a day on their phone, they may as well be comfortable doing it. Urban Outfitters has christened its armchair-cum-cushions boo pillows, and we’re big fans of them all. Like its siblings, this homeware addition comes complete with arms and a hanging hook, plus it has a pocket for their phone when they’re done scrolling TikTok. You want a boo pillow for yourself now too, don’t you?
- Price: £75
- Available at: urbanoutfitters.com
11/49Ouai Hair Bundle
The hair brand filling every shower organiser of the beauty influencers your kid follows, Ouai is the beautifully minimalistic brand that conceals genuinely excellent product. To start their collection, pick up the classic shampoo and conditioning duo.
- Price: £44
- Available at: lookfantastic.com
12/49Ian Charms Beaded Necklace
Well over a year into its renaissance and beaded jewellery isn't going anywhere soon. Ian Charms is a super sought-after creator of such trinkets, and this Selfridges exclusive necklace is an iconic example in its genre.
- Price: £150
- Available at: selfridges.com
13/49Emma Weighted Blanket
Anxiety or not, being a teenager has never been easy, and right now might be the hardest its ever been. If they’re resisting your hugs at the minute, deliver a calming presence in the form of a weighted blanket instead. This Emma bamboo model is a guaranteed stress reliever.
- Price:
£198£99 - Available at: emma-sleep.co.uk
- Price:
14/49Murder Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle
No birthday is complete without an afternoon activity, and this murder mystery jigsaw ticks all the boxes for its sleek design and genuinely challenging rules. Unlike a normal jigsaw, you won’t receive a picture to reference, but rather build the puzzle based on the clues that have been left from the aftermath of a mysterious crime…
- Price: £22
- Available at: uncommongoods.com
15/49Drunk Elephant Minis Collection
Bright branding and glow-enhancing, Drunk Elephant’s skincare is a source of joy for all ages…and adolescents are no different. If they’re new to the brand, give them the joy of discovery with this collection of miniature best-sellers complete with neon yellow wash bag.
- Price: £67
- Available at: lookfantastic.com
16/49Dr Martens 1460 Boots
Will the classic Dr Marten 1460 boot ever go out of fashion? Perhaps, but it’ll be no time soon. The sub-culture icon is still highly popular with teens who love music, as well as those who are serious about their personal style. Classic black is the no-brainer way to go, but if your giftee already has — and loves — this colour, consider getting them another pair in cherry red or vibey white. And if it’s their first pair, make sure they know that at the end of blister-related suffering, they’ll be in possession of the comfiest pair of shoes they’ve owned since nursery.
- Price: £159
- Available at: drmartens.com & tower-london.com
17/49Odeon Limitless Pass
Just as vinyl is continuing its triumphant return to lounge’s and bedrooms around the world, so is the cinema getting a look-in again. Sick to the back teeth of digital, or at least so saturated with it that more analogue alternatives are suddenly looking rosy, teens are making the big screen a priority over the little one once again. Buying an Odeon Limitless pass is extremely good value for money considering a single adult recliner seat costs more than the monthly direct debit, so it could even be a good purchase for the whole family.
- Price: from £14.99 a month
- Available at: odeon.co.uk
18/49Rose Ice Mold
More reports from the TikTok frontline: the phenomenon of gourmet ice and ice ASMR is at its peak. A simple, affordable and sustainable present idea that the whole family will be able to make the most of, choose a selection of ice trays in unusual shapes. Other ideas to pick up? Giant spheres, strawberries, hearts and diamonds.
- Price: £7.99
- Available at: amazon.co.uk
19/49Marbled Psychedelic Phone Case
Casetify is a fabulous headquarters for buying gifts for teens, but it can be tough to make a choice from the eye-watering number of products available there. Our shout is for this wavy monochrome edition, which taps into the 1990’s psychedelia that has been dominating adolescent Pinterest boards for the past two years.
- Price: £61
- Available at: casetify.com
20/49The Flat Lay Co. Drawstring Makeup Bag
Make-up stains on carpets and rugs? We can’t offer a solution for stray fake tan just yet but lipsticks and bronzers meet their match with The Flat Lay Co., which makes drawstring bags that double as mats. Washable and roomy, they’re one of our favourite buys that look like they’re for them but are actually for you.
- Price:
£22.99£19.50 - Available at: sephora.co.uk & lookfantastic.com
- Price:
21/49Asos Denim Skirt
Yes, the fashion phantom of the ‘90s and ‘00s has reached its long denim skirt era. The piece of clothing they’ll wear all summer and into autumn, this is the staple piece to buy for a teen who loves their clothes more than their own siblings.
- Price: £29
- Available at: asos.com
22/49Pioneer DDJ-FLX4 DJ Controller
If you’re close to a budding Jack Antonoff then consider feeding their talent with a proper controller like this Pioneer classic DJ basic. For DJ’ing and mixing, this deck makes learning the ropes of music-making simpler, while still following the same principles that someone destined for bigger studios will need.
- Price: £280
- Available at: argos.co.uk
23/49Dried Flower Bouquet
They may want flowers in their room, and you may be imagining dead blooms standing in staid water for months on end. Jump the shark by buying them flowers that have already achieved immortality. Bunches of dried flowers are currently having a moment thanks to an explosion in the popularity of wildflowers, and this Lisa Angel bunch delivers on all of that with a beautiful seasonal spray of dried blooms. Add a cute vase to keep them in.
- Price: £34
- Available at: lisaangel.co.uk
24/49Elephant Ring Dish
One of several present ideas racking up millions of views on TikTok, the animal-centric ring dish is only growing in popularity. The cat has been one of the most coveted iterations, but we’re shouting this elephant example for a proud place on their dressing table.
- Price: £17
- Available at: notonthehighstreet.com
25/4916-24 Railcard
Rail prices might be higher than they’ve ever been, but providing your 16-24-year-old with a railcard will at least make the country much more accessible. With 30 per cent off any trip, you and your family could visit Southen-on-Sea, Stonehenge, Scarborough… and those are just some of the S's.
- Price: from £30
- Available at: thetrainline.com
26/49Elvis Coffee Table Book (Taschen)
Should the Austin Butler-assisted hysteria for Elvis Presley have found its way into your home via Baz Luhrmann’s splashy movie, this special Taschen collection of photos might well delight. A present that’ll see them through adolescence and adulthood via a life’s worth of coffee tables, in the immediate term, they’ll love the intimacy of these shots which are all from the early period of Elvis’ career.
- Price: £50
- Available at: taschen.com
27/49XBox Series S
One of the most affordable consoles on the market right now, the Xbox Series S also has the advantage of actually being available online. Unlike many of its siblings, the Series S doesn't sell out as quickly and still does everything any other Xbox would — just not in 4K. A bonus here is that it dovetails perfectly with Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service, which already counts Deathloop, Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 among its roster.
- Price: £245
- Available at: amazon.co.uk, xbox.com, microsoft.com & game.co.uk
28/49Bespoke Jewellery Making Kit
One of the most frustrating parts of being (or having) an adolescent is that there are so few places for them to go. Places that serve alcohol are automatically out and cafés are rarely happy to accommodate heaving crowds of youths, so having stuff to do at home is a must. A new opportunity in that department now comes in the form of Cast, which box-delivers all the tools and materials needed to shape a bespoke piece of jewellery. Just send it off when they’re done and it’ll be returned to you in sterling silver.
- Price:
£99£89 - Available at: experiencecast.com & notonthehighstreet.com
- Price:
29/49Jellycat Axolotl Toy
Today's teenagers love many things, and two of them are soft toys and surrealism. This Jellycat Axolotl plushie covers off both, being both absolutely adorable and a completely random exhibition in zoology. As ever, Jellycat comes out supreme.
- Price: £28
- Available at: selfridges.com & fenwick.co.uk
30/49Wireless Docking Station
It sometimes feels as though the tech revolution is running away from us, and nowhere is that clearer than in the tangles of chargers lying around every household. Cut the clutter for them with this wireless docking station, which charges iPhone, Apple Watch and Airpods all in one.
- Price: £39.99
- Available at: amazon.co.uk
31/49Converse
In the battle between the two most popular skate shoes, Vans and Converse are historic rivals of Oxbridge proportions. In 2023, the latter is coming out on top. If your teen hasn’t yet owned a pair, get them started with the classic black — or branch out in colour and design if you’re expanding their collection.
- Price: £60
- Available at: converse.com, schuh.co.uk & office.co.uk
32/49Baggu Happy Shopper Bag
You may have noticed a smiley-faced theme spanning this guide. Low-rise jeans and bucket hats will have already alerted you to the fact that the '90s are back in style, and that applies to this ubiquitous little guy too. Cult teen favourite Baggu has capitalised on the comeback with this sunny nylon shopper, inspired by the plastic equivalents popular in North America.
- Price: £14
- Available at: asos.com
33/49Beauty School Session at Harvey Nichols
YouTube has been helping youths to get into makeup for over a decade now, but nothing compares to the direct tutelage of an in-person lesson. As part of its in-store collection of gifting experiences, Harvey Nicks is offering 90-minute one-to-one masterclasses that include a beauty gift bag to take home afterwards.
- Price: £90
- Available at: harveynichols.com
34/49Phillips Hue LED Strip Lights
The LED light trend continues apace and if your teen still hasn’t gotten a strand for their bedroom then they should be getting one now. Philips Hue makes the best versions: their light strips are smart, with many sets available to be controlled via your Alexa or Google Assistant.
- Price: from £25
- Available at: philips-hue.com, amazon.co.uk & johnlewis.com
35/49XGIMI Horizon Pro Projector
Even if the cinema is back on the cards, the laptop screen isn't going to suddenly pale in comparison, especially when you're hooked up with a really, really good home projector. Our absolute favourite is this Xgimi gadget which projects in 4K, doesn't scrimp on high-quality sound and even has streaming apps built in.
- Price:
£1,899£1,649 - Available at: amazon.co.uk, very.co.uk & richersounds.com
- Price:
36/49Gold Name Necklace
Give them their name on a golden chain and the power to embody the sticky sweet style of the 1990s. Abbott Lyon’s designs are classic as it gets, won’t break the bank, and allow you to choose style and length of chain, plus the metal it’s cast in.
- Price: £79
- Available at: abbottlyon.com
37/49Fender Squier 60s Mustang Guitar
We love a Fender, and their Squier collections are some of the best affordable guitar brand offshoots. This Capri Orange example with a '60s-style stripe is faithful to the original Fender Mustang, complete with nickel-plated hardware and vintage-style tremolo. At a lower price point, it will ensure you're not splashing out on something that'll be discarded by October, but is well-made enough to see a new enthusiast through many years of play.
- Price: £429.99
- Available at: fender.com
38/49Glossier Make-Up Set
Barely-there make-up bits for either beauty newbies or older teens who prefer the subtle look, Glossier is still a popular Gen-Z brand. Particularly hyped for its boy brow pomade and cloud paint blush, this make-up set features both of those as well as a skin salve and mascara. It’s a great option if you’d rather they didn’t wear too much make-up just yet, but don't want to give away your ulterior motives.
- Price: from $31
- Available at: glossier.com
39/49Santa Cruz Skateboard
Trends may come and go, but skateboarding will always be cool, and if it’s cool then chances are teenagers are first in line. Treat your skater offspring to a new board that’ll have them looking forward to dry days on the ramps.
- Price: £116
- Available at: blue-tomato.com
40/49Ikea Djungelskog Bear
You’d go viral if you looked like this too… Ikea’s homely bear Djungelskog is a big softie that’s had a moment online thanks to his adorable Swedish name and giant squishy belly. Chocolate-coloured and made for cuddling, Djungelskog is massively popular with children, teens and adults, as evidenced by the adorable reviews attached to his online listing. Back in stock after selling out, you should buy him now before it’s too late…
- Price: £29
- Available at: ikea.com
41/49Mermade Hair Blow Dry Brush
In our quest to discover the best Dyson Airwrap dupes so you don’t have to, we’ve hit upon this pink Mermade edition — and it’s stuck. On the more affordable end of the scale, this hairdryer brush is spectacularly effective at creating sleeker hair or blow-dried volume. Since huge hair à la Farrah Fawcett and Cindy Crawford is in right now, the power to imitate is likely on your teenager’s wish list.
- Price: £41.50
- Available at: beautybay.com, lookfantastic.com & harrods.com
42/49Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
The biggest Playstation release of all time, the latest in the Call of Duty series picks up where Modern Warfare finished up… Occupying oodles of your teenager’s time, that is. An essential purchase for the PlayStation-owners among your brood.
- Price:
£69.99£39.95 - Available at: amazon.co.uk & xbox.com
- Price:
43/49Micro Speed Classic Scooter
E-scooters may be a terrifying prospect, but manual scooters are also rising in popularity. Give them the ability to get about with ease and grab them a true classic. This one is foldable and comes with its own carry bag so it'll be easy to get onto the bus or tube should you need them home ASAP.
- Price: £152.95
- Available at: micro-scooters.co.uk
44/49FujiFilm Instax Square Printer
Some of what you’ve been told about polaroids is untrue. You can thank OutKast for the “shake it” myth, and new technologies mean there’s no longer any need to keep a developing picture in the dark, but one rumour is true: everyone loves a polaroid. A camera is still a classic route to take, but if your teen wants the effect without the pressure then hook them up with this new printer, which prints smartphone shots onto film through Bluetooth and allows for collage and decoration in its adjoining app.
- Price: £129
- Available at: amazon.co.uk, boots.com & skinnydiplondon.com
45/49Backbone Mobile Gaming
First, we had the GameBoy, then the Nintendo Switch, and now there's the Backbone. A new way of making video games portable, Backbone slots a controller around either an iPhone or Android phone and allows for games to be downloaded from the App or Google Play stores. Your claim that their phone is their whole life gets truer and truer every day.
- Price: £99.99
- Available at: playbackbone.com
46/49Ganni Scrunchie
Plenty of the 1990’s and 2000’s trends coming back right now are absolutely foul, but many of the best are also heading back into the zeitgeist. Ganni’s oversized scrunchie is a welcome reminder of some of the era’s better style moments. Cher Horowitz, eat your heart out.
- Price: £25
- Available at: ganni.com
47/49Portable Karaoke machine
To follow the tradition of eternity, adolescence tends to contradict itself, and while modern teens love new tech, they also hanker for nostalgia. Deliver it through a portable karaoke machine, which you will likely remember from your own youth. It may look the same but this kitsch gadget has had some notable updates, most notably in its compatibility with Bluetooth.
- Price:
£55.50£53.06 - Available at: amazon.co.uk & groov-e.co.uk
- Price:
48/49Pivo Pod Lite
The era of the individual keeps getting more democratic thanks to TikTok and its many imitators. And now for influencers or archivists wanting to take selfies and videos even in the absence of someone to operate the phone, we have the Pivo Pod. An AI assistant of sorts, this phone mount rotates to follow the subject’s movements while also allowing for some cool editing magic. A ‘W’ for vloggers everywhere.
- Price:
£84.99£79.99 - Available at: amazon.co.uk & uk.pivo.ai
- Price:
49/49Pleasing Perfect Polish Set
Harry Styles might still be getting his acting career up to speed, but he can definitely oversee a lovely nail varnish. The singer’s beauty brand Pleasing has already found a fan in Mick Fleetwood, who has starred in one of its campaigns, and if the teen you’re buying for is fond or Mr. Styles then they’re likely enthusiastic about these varnishes too. This set contains four signature colours; the perfect gift box.
- Price: $65
- Available at: pleasing.com
NOW READ
Best gifts for men (that he’ll actually like)
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Best gifts for dads that are definitely on his list
