63 cool gifts for teens that they'll actually love

Side by side images of a hand pouring water over a waterproof speaker and a potato shaped plush small heating pad on a vanity table, from best gifts for teens
Best Buy; Smoko

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We feel you — teenagers are notoriously hard to shop for. But that's all the more reason to give them a gift that shows how much you care. While teens can be fickle and picky, they'll appreciate a thoughtful gift more than they're likely to let on.

We rounded up 63 teen-approved gifts to make your search a little bit easier, with a little something for every teen and tween. A music subscription, clean beauty options, and vintage-style steals? We recommend these and more. And if you're not sure what to buy for other people in your life, check out all of our gift guides.

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A ring light

A person stirs a pot of food on a stove while the Yesker 14-Inch Ring Light holds an iPhone shooting video.
Amazon

Yesker 14-inch Ring Light, available at Amazon and Yesker, from $77.39

A ring light is a thoughtful gift for teens searching for the best lighting for their TikTok videos. This one is dimmable and comes with color temperature adjustments for achieving the perfect look. Plus, it doubles as a tripod for their phone.

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A laser tag set

The blasters and vests of the Squad Hero Laser Tag set charge on the charging station.
Amazon

Squad Hero Laser Tag Set, available at Amazon, $149.99

Laser tag is fun for the whole family all year round. It's also a great screen-free game to play when your teen has friends over. The Squad Hero Laser Tag Set comes with blasters and vests needed for four players. Play as a team or solo and adjust how many lives each player has per game. It's perfect for sleepovers.

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A Lego set for the Marvel fan

woman holding and admiring a lego infinity gauntlet
Amazon

Lego Infinity Gauntlet, available at Amazon, $63.99

There's no better way for a die-hard Marvel fan to show their affection for the movies than with the Lego version of the Infinity Gauntlet from "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: End Game." After completing the 590-piece set, it can be placed prominently on the shelf or desktop to show off your ultimate fandom.

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Super-comfy and stylish socks

Bombas Tie Dye Pride Calf Socks
Bombas Tie Dye Pride Calf Socks
Bombas

Bombas socks, available at Bombas and Amazon, from $13

As a parent of a teen, it's basically your civic duty to buy them socks during the holidays. Instead of picking up the cheapest six-pack at the local department store, give them comfortable and attractive Bombas socks. Not only do they feel great on your feet, but the company gives back with every purchase. Check out our full review of Bombas socks.

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A projector for relaxing ambiance

The BlissLights Sky Lite Laser Star Projector being used to light a bedroom.
Amazon

BlissLights Sky Lite LED Laser Star Projector, available at Amazon and Walmart, $39.99

The BlissLights Sky Lite will project a blue nebula with slowly rotating green stars onto your teen's walls and ceiling. It's great for adding ambiance to a room while they hang out or as a soothing night-light while they drift off to sleep. 

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A hilariously meme-able party game

Assorted cards from the What do you meme? game spread out on a table.
Amazon

What Do You Meme Game, available at Amazon and Walmart, from $21.99

Meme lovers and board gamers unite for this hilarious What Do You Meme adult party game. Seating three to 20 players, this 435-card deck turns the kitchen table into a battleground for who can create the funniest memes. You can always add an expansion pack for fresh laughs!

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A pair of touchscreen gloves

The North Face Denali Etip Gloves
The North Face

North Face Denali Etip Gloves, available at Amazon and North Face, from $26.20

As much of the country freezes over, teens must decide between using their phones and keeping their fingers protected when they venture outside. Fortunately, the Denali Etip Gloves have impressive touchscreen compatibility so kids can stay connected without fear of frostbite. The gloves are made of recycled materials making them an eco-conscious choice.

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An Apple Music subscription

Apple Music logo and iPhone displaying the app.
Best Buy

Apple Music Subscription, available at Apple, $9.99 monthly after a 1-month free trial

As far as we're concerned, most teenagers communicate best through music. A subscription to Apple Music is a gift that keeps on giving, serving up over 90 million songs, 30,000 playlists, and live radio. You can upgrade to a multi-user jam sesh for just $5 more a month.

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A corduroy tote bag

A corduroy tote bag on a black and white checked background with an under $25 gift tag graphic in the upper left corner.
Amazon

Corduroy Tote Bag, available at Amazon, $10.99 

Lightweight and made of soft yet durable corduroy, this tote is perfect for school books or day trip essentials. The cotton-lined bag comes in 12 colors as well as leopard, cow, and floral prints. It has two small exterior pockets and measures 13.5" x 4.3" x 14.5".

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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@insider.com.

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