61 Gifts for Teen Boys That’ll Elicit More Than a Grunt in Response (2024)

It’s that time of year, man. Get locked in for some gift giving. If you think I’m just being funny, you’re bugging. This is no normal gift. We’re not talking about something for your dad, tasteful millennial homies, husband, wife, or girlfriend. We’re talking about a teenage boy. He’s not as scary as the teen girl on your list, but he’s not to be messed with. Even if you get him something expensive and luxury, he’s gonna say you’re tweakin’. Whatever the f*ck that means.

He will not hesitate to call a gift “mid,” but he might give you props by saying it’s “bussin bussin” or it “hits” or, like I said, you were really “locked in” for gift giving this year. Who understands these kids? I do, actually ... I have an 18-year-old nephew I have to buy a graduation gift for, and I just spent three days straight with him when he visited me in N.Y.C. He drinks two Monsters a day. He asks if I’m locked in every two minutes. And he wears only vintage tees.

I’d say I’m pretty tapped in to the minds of our next generation of men. It’s not as confusing in there as you might think. They’re here for a laugh. They love a new gadget. They really don’t take much seriously, so there’s no reason to stress over this kid’s gift. Buy something off this list, know he’ll love it, and keep it moving.

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Perfect for lounging at home or loitering in a parking lot. Teens wear these Uggs literally everywhere. (Cool Uncle Luke might splurge on the sold-out Palace x Ugg collab pair.)

Buy him the ultimate Gen Z status symbol.

It’s a good-looking speaker for his backpack or his dorm room, and it’s got IP67 weather resistance for when he forgets it outside.

Dunks are back. You might have missed this, but every kid in high school owns a pair. The Panda Dunks are obviously the most popular pair.

As an adult, you always try to steer teenage boys away from two things. Number one is prison. Self-explanatory, and easy if you’ve done everything else right. Number two is the epidemic that is LED string lights. That’s difficult, as there’s a lot of social pressure for him to have a light strip in his dorm room. A fancy, and surprisingly tasteful, LED floor lamp is the answer.

The A&F look has changed a lot since you rocked it, but it’s still tapped into what the kids want to wear. This linen camp-collar shirt will be a bit more buttoned-up than whatever tee he’s rocking.

It’s not a purse, okay? It’s a shoulder pouch that’s going to come in handy when he wants hands-free mobility. Chill.

He might not have a lot of money, but that doesn’t mean he won’t need one of these. Made with smooth calfskin, this sleek wallet has four card slots and two larger pockets.

He is finding his sense of personal style, and you’re here to help him. A cool beaded necklace from AllSaints is a great first good necklace for ya boy.

Whether he’s a runner or not, On’s sneakers are going to get him moving and grooving.

A simple sweatshirt is his uniform. This one is extra cool, with a graphic print on the back that will have all his friends talking.

This is not your ordinary stuffed animal. It’s a weighted stuffed animal, aimed at reducing anxiety and stress. He’ll act too cool for it, but we guarantee he’ll love it.

His classic baseball cap is getting an upgrade. Overland’s suede style is ultra chic.

A guy’s watch says a lot about him. This one says, “I’m ready to get my hands dirty” but in a sophisticated way.

Even if he’s not a camper, learning how to build a fire is an essential skill. It’s survival 101.

He’s not going to roll his eyes when he receives this tie. It’s cool, it’s camo, and it’s got Tyler, the Creator’s stamp of approval.

Grailed and Depop don’t sell gift cards, so give him a Mastercard that will buy him one vintage NASCAR tee.

With a massive catalog of games and the ability to stream them to any Game Pass–enabled PC, Xbox, or TV, this is the best deal in video games. Drop $200 on a yearlong subscription and he’ll love you forever.

If he’s going to watch too many movies, they might as well be the greats. He’ll be a classic-film buff with a broadened worldview by this time next year.

Not that teens need an excuse to take any longer to get ready, but this suction-cupped, Bluetooth-enabled, waterproof shower speaker makes the whole thing fun.