56 thoughtful and useful gifts that teens will actually use

Reusable straws

Hiware Reusable Silicone Straws (10-pack), available at Amazon, $5.99

Help teens do their part to keep single-use plastics out of trash bins, landfills, and the ocean by giving them this pack of reusable silicone drinking straws. They come in various colors and include a few cleaning brushes as well.

 

Fidget balls

Speks 2.5mm magnet balls, available at Speks, $27.95

Made from rare earth magnets, these tiny balls can be molded into an infinite number of shapes and designs. The size of Speks balls makes them ideal for teens to keep with them for those unpredictable moments of nervousness or anxiety that fill those teenage years.

A portable phone charger

Elecjet Powerpie Portable Charger, available at Amazon, $49.99

This handheld charger can charge up your teen’s smartphone or various devices like an iPad or small laptop which is vital for staying in touch, getting their paper turned in on time, or making sure they can keep scrolling on their social media.

A toothbrush with a timer

Oral-B Pro 1000 Electric Toothbrush, available at Amazon, $39.86

Rigorous dental hygiene isn’t usually on the top of the list of things teens care about, which is all the more reason a rechargeable toothbrush with a timer is a fantastic gift. This rechargeable brush breaks up 300% more plaque on the gum line than traditional brushing and let’s them know when two minutes has passed.

An easy and fun card game

Monikers Card Game, available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, $24.99

Game night can be fun, but a teen doesn’t have time to explain all the intricacies of Settlers of Catan to their friends. Simplicity is why Monikers is a fantastic gift — think Cards Against Humanity meets charades. The rules are simple, setup is quick, and they can play with four or more people. 

 

A portable battery charger for their car

Noco Boost Plus, available at Amazon and Walmart, $99.95

The Noco Boost Plus is a powerful battery that’s small enough to fit under the passenger seat, but it packs enough power to jump-start any vehicle with a 6-liter engine or smaller — and do it 20 times before needing a recharge. It also offers a USB port for charging various devices and has an integrated flashlight with a strobe setting for extra safety at night

An eco-friendly phone case

Pela Phone Case, available at Amazon and Pela, from $39.95

Pela offers a wide variety of biodegradable cases for iPhone and Android, all made from plant-based polymers. Pela cases are rugged enough to offer drop protection, and if a phone has both a Pela case and screen protector but still cracks, Pela will cover the bill to get it fixed.

Compact hand sanitizer spray

Touchland Power Mist Hand Sanitizer, available at Touchland, $12

It’s in the car, the house, and their pocket these days, but many hand sanitizers can smell a little like household cleaner. Touchland comes in scents like Vanilla Cinnamon and Forrest Berry, or keep it simple and choose unscented. The compact sanitizer features 67% alcohol for killing germs but balances it with soothing aloe vera and essential oils to hydrate the skin. 

A slim leather wallet

Bellroy Slim Sleeve Leather Wallet, available at Amazon and Bellroy, $79

This thin wallet is a subtle nudge toward minimalism, something many teens appreciate. The Bellroy Slim Sleeve wallet offers room for up to eight cards and a pocket to stash cash. It comes in a variety of colors and features environmentally certified leather.

Durable sunglasses that look good, too

Smith Optics Lowdown2, available at Backcountry, $129

Who better to make a pair of durable, performance-based sunglasses than the company known for innovating the ski goggle? The Lowdown2 features bio-based materials for the frame, ChromaPop lens technology which creates high contrast and vibrant colors, and an anti-reflective smudge-resistant coating. Plus, they offer peace of mind with free shipping, 30-day returns, and a lifetime warranty.

An apple watch that combines their smartphone with a fitness tracker

Apple Watch SE GPS, 40mm, available at Best Buy, from $279

If you have a little extra to spend on your teen, consider getting them a smartwatch. The Apple Watch SE is like a smartphone, fitness tracker, and music player all in one. Just like on their phone they can customize the watch to show their favorite apps to pick, including social media.

A gift card for new glasses

Gift Card, available at Warby Parker, from $50

Teens are a notoriously picky bunch, so you can never go wrong with a gift card. If they’re in the market for new glasses or sunglasses, we recommend Warby Parker because of its versatility, size flexibility, and free at-home try on program. 

A vinyl record membership

Gift Membership, 3 months, available at Vinyl Me, Please, $119

There’s no greater joy than adding to a record collection or playing a new album for the first time. Your recipient gets to choose from three different types of tracks each month and will also receive extra goodies in each package. They’ll also get one bonus record as part of the three-month gift membership. 

A smartphone-sized travel photo printer

HP Sprocket 200 Photo Printer, available at Amazon and B&H Photo, from $79.99

This tiny, compact device prints photos with sticker backing on ZINK film with Zero Ink technology. It connects to devices via Bluetooth, and multiple devices can connect at once — personalized LED lights indicate who’s currently printing. 

A Time-Turner clock that actually spins

Harry Potter Time-Turner Clock, available at Pottery Barn, $59

It may not be able to take them back in time or help them be in two places at once, but this Time-Turner clock will help them stay on top of their schedule. It even has a functional hourglass on the back so they can time their study breaks. 

A lottery card that donates to charities

LottoLove Card, available at LottoLove, from $5

When you gift this lottery card, you’re actually giving the gift of charity. When you “win big,” you’re winning a charitable prize that gets donated to nonprofits in one of four categories: clean water, solar light, nutritious meals, or literacy tools. To date, LottoLove and its partners have impacted lives in over 70 countries.

A pair of trendy, easy-to-use AirPods

Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case, available at Apple, $199

If you’re after the title of their favorite relative of the year, here’s a good place to start. AirPods are both easy to use and functional as well as trendy. The newer generation of AirPods can be purchased on sale at Amazon for the same price, but we still like this version.

A Disney+ subscription for access to classic movies and more

Disney+ Gift Subscription Service, available at Disney, $79.99/year

Disney Plus is the new Disney-centric streaming service. The platform includes Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Fox. You can gift a whole year of access for $80, which is something their entire family can benefit from.

If you’d rather test Disney Plus out before buying, you can sign up for a free weeklong trial.

A creamy lip balm that goes on silky smooth

Balm Dotcom Universal Skin Salve, available at Glossier, $12

Glossier is the maker of makeup that’s not really makeup. It’s dewy, fresh, and youthful — more of a complement to the skin than a cover for it. Check out the company’s bestsellers, or grab a cult-favorite tinted Balm Dotcom for them to use as a multipurpose lip balm. 

An Amazon Echo Dot for hands-free calls, alarms, music, updates on the weather, recipes, and more

Echo Dot (4th gen), available at Amazon, $44.99

The Amazon Echo Dot is the most popular Amazon device for a reason — it’s compact and has all the capabilities of Alexa (weather updates, recipes, music, news) without any of the bulk. 

A fortune-telling cup and guide book

The Cup Of Destiny Book + Teacup Set, available at Urban Outfitters, $24.95

This cup is a copy of an Edwardian fortune-telling cup and saucer, and it comes with Jane Lyle’s expert book as a guide to reading over 200 of the signs and symbols they might find. 

A cult-favorite hair towel that reduces damage and cuts drying time by 50%

Aquis Rapid Dry Hair Towel, available at Amazon and Sephora, from $20.99

Aquis’ cult-favorite hair towels can cut the amount of time it takes your hair to dry in half — a claim we’re happy to report holds up. The proprietary fabric also means there’s less damage to wet hair while it dries. If they’ve ever complained about frizzy hair, this and a silk pillowcase are thoughtful gifts they’ll actually use. Find more product suggestions here.

A trendy Champion sweatshirt

 Champion Reverse Weave Fleece Crew Neck Sweatshirt, available at Urban Outfitters, $54

Like Fila, Champion is a brand that’s had a resurgence as of late. If you want to get them something they’ll end up wearing more often than you’d probably one day like, this is a good candidate. 

A splashproof portable Bluetooth speaker for great sound and low maintenance

JBL FLIP4, available at JBL, $89.95

This under-$100 Bluetooth speaker with over 5,600 five-star reviews on Amazon is ideal for teens who want great sound and could use a speaker that won’t protest to spills or less-than-gentle handling.

A new video game

FIFA 21 Standard Edition, available at Amazon, $28.79

If they’re really into video games, all other gifts may pale in comparison to a really good new one. Check out Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening, Borderlands 3, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and FIFA 21 Standard Edition this year. 

The book that was made into Netflix’s new teen classic

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before book collection, available at Amazon, Target, and Barnes & Noble, from $17.85

If you haven’t heard about this Netflix movie more times than you can count, rest assured that it has become a full-blown teen phenomenon — and a sequel is imminent. They’ll love getting to relive it in book form. This collection includes all three books in the series. 

Comfortable lounge pants that look put-together

The Lounge Pant, Men, available at MeUndies, $68

The Lounge Pant, Women, available at MeUndies $68

MeUndies is a popular LA startup that makes some of the most comfortable underwear we’ve ever tried. Their lounge pants, however, are the real hidden gem — perfect for lounging around on weekend mornings or heading to the dining hall when they get to college (yep, they’ll last that long), and they’re sleek enough to avoid looking too unkempt for the comfort.

Fun and useful PopSockets for the back of their phone

PopGrips, available at PopSockets and Amazon, from $10

PopSockets have become their own cultural phenomenon in recent years, and they’re surprisingly useful. Get your teen one for their own phone, kindle, or tablet, and depending on their age, you may find it’s the gift they’re most excited about. It doesn’t hurt that there’s free domestic shipping on orders over $20, or that you can actually design your own.

A toiletry bag for grooming tools and makeup

Small Shave Bag, available at Leatherology, from $90

Hunter Toiletry Bag, available at Dagne Dover, from $35

Leatherology’s shave bag is a great purchase if you want to gift your teen a leather bag that will age gracefully. But, if you’re looking to get something a bit cooler, Dagne Dover makes a great neoprene toiletry bag that’s built to accommodate makeup. If they have a lot of toiletries, you’ll probably want to get the large size for $55 (shown above).

A set of velvet retro-inspired scrunchies

Hair Scrunchie Variety Pack, available at Target, $6.99

Another trendy gift is as many scrunchies as you can carry. This pack comes with 12 options in enough colors to work with virtually any outfit or mood. 

16 Korean sheet masks

Dermal Korea Facial Mask Sheets, 16-Pack, available at Amazon, $11.99

For the ideal night(s) in, grab this inexpensive and cult-favorite 16-pack of Korean sheet masks — something any beauty- or skincare-obsessed teen will likely already know about.

Comfortable headphones with a long battery life and good sound

Beats by Dre Wireless Solo3 Headphones, available at B&H Photo, from $149.95

They can use these at the gym, for studying, and for zoning out during family road trips. This pair has great sound, cushioned ear cups, and 40 hours of battery life so they have one less thing to think about. And if they let the battery run out, a five-minute charge is the equivalent to three hours of play time.

A trendy neon beanie

UO Neon Watchcap Beanie, available at Urban Outfitters, $9.99

Another clothing item that you’ll see around frequently over the course of the fall and winter is a neon beanie. This one is a soft, basic staple that is a little cooler than your average black or grey.

Personalized Nikes

Customizable Nikes, available at Nike, from $120

Nike makes great stuff, and they’re popular for that reason. But it’s nice to get the benefits of the big budget, years of product development, and design team without forsaking what makes something unique. You can customize a pair of Nikes for them, or give them a gift card so they can get creative making something one-of-a-kind on their own.

Comfortable, high-quality sheets that come in lots of colors and patterns

Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle, available at Brooklinen and Amazon, from $240

We think Brooklinen makes the best high-end sheets at the best price on the market, and most of the Insider Reviews team uses Brooklinen on their own beds. It’s perfect for lazy Saturday mornings or the rare occasion sleeping in is encouraged.

The Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle comes in 15 colors and patterns that range from classic to fun, and you can mix and match them to suit their preferences. Grab a gift card (delivered digitally) if you want to give them more freedom.

A waterproof speaker so they can listen to music in the shower

SoundBot Water Resistant Bluetooth Speaker, available at Walmart and Amazon, $14.99

This speaker is waterproof, wireless, and has a suction cup to stick to the wall so they can listen to their favorite music easily in the shower.

A subscription to a famous book club that sends them great hardcovers each month

3-Month Gift Subscription, available at Book of the Month, $49.99

If your teen is a bookworm, Book of the Month is an especially cool gift. It’s a book club that has been around since 1926, and it’s credited with discovering some of the most beloved books of all time (like “Gone with the Wind” and “Catcher in the Rye” to name a couple).

If you gift them a subscription, they’ll receive a hardcover book delivered once a month. Books are selected by a team of experts and celebrity guest judges.

If they’re really more into audiobooks or e-reading now rather than hardcovers, check out a gift subscription to Scribd (full review here).

String lights with clips for photos

Photo Clip LED String Lights, available at Target, $10

Perfect for creating the archetypal teen room that’s most often seen in Netflix movies and old Taylor Swift music videos, the photo clip string lights combine warm light and Polaroids or other memorabilia. 

A gentle facial cleansing device that removes 98.5% of dirt and makeup

Luna 2 Facial Cleansing Device, Men, available at Foreo, $169

Luna 2 Facial Cleansing Device, Women, available at Foreo, $169

FOREO’s cult-favorite Luna 2 cleansing device gently and effectively cleans with thin, antimicrobial silicone touch-points, and it removes 98.5% of dirt and makeup residue without irritating the skin. Plus, it’s 100% waterproof and the battery life lasts for a few months per charge. Find a full review from a female reporter and a male reporter here.

A monthly subscription of grooming products to try

Three Month Subscription, available at BirchBox, $45

Teens are usually among the most interested in the latest and greatest beauty or grooming products, but may lack the funds to try all the full-sized versions. Birchbox sends samples of new and beloved products once a month, so they can test out new finds and discover products they may want to buy a full size of in the future. It’s also just fun to get an ongoing gift that’s all about them.

A multicolor mini cinema light box

Multicolor Cinema Light Box, available at Uncommon Goods, from $20

These trendy lightboxes are inspired by cinema marquees, and they come with 100 letters and symbols for personal messages. This one also has color-changing LED lights for further customization.

One of the best young adult books ever written

The Outsiders, available at Amazon, $5.89

For the kind of gift that they’ll still mention 10 years later, give them one of the best young adult books you ever read — or one of the 37 best young adult books Business Insider staff ever read. You may also want to check out Amazon’s list of the 100 books you should read in a lifetime too. 

A comfortable and sustainable Patagonia pullover they’ll wear all the time

Lightweight Synchilla Snap-T Pullover, Men, available at Patagonia, $119

Patagonia Women’s Better Sweater 1/4-Zip Fleece, available at Patagonia, from $70.99

A Patagonia sweater is a particularly good gift for teens who are interested in sustainability. The company has been turning plastic bottles into polyester for its clothing since 1993, and continues to do so today.

Its Snap-T pullover is the unofficial uniform of the cozy adventurer. It and the Better Sweater are long-held favorites, and both are comfortable classics that they’ll no doubt come to rely on heavily during colder weather.

A suitcase with an ejectable battery that can charge their devices on the go

The Carry-On, available at Away, from $225

Travel startup Away makes a great carry-on thanks to an ejectable battery that can charge devices seamlessly on the go, 360-degree wheels, and a lightweight build that travels easily. In other words, it takes a lot of the angst out of travel, and may make family trips far more enjoyable and stress-free.

The extremely popular Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch, available at Best Buy, $299.99

The Nintendo Switch is likely to be one of those big ticket gifts that’ll get you an extremely excited reaction upon opening. They can play it at home, on the go, and with friends from a huge library of games.

A popular electric toothbrush from an up-and-coming startup

Electric Brush, available at Quip, $25

To inspire the best oral care you can, gift them a surprisingly cool electrical toothbrush from an up-and-coming startup they’ve probably heard about. Quip is a relatively inexpensive electric toothbrush, and the company sends fresh brush heads and battery refills every three months. When you gift Quip, you can prepay for the year. Otherwise, Quip users are charged $5 every three months for refills.

Cool backpacks from a popular startup with a charitable mission

State bags and accessories, from $25

State bags are increasingly popular thanks to their versatile, laid-back aesthetic and characteristically bright nylon colorways. They’re also known as #GiveBackPack(s), because for every State bag purchased, State hand-delivers a backpack — packed with essential tools for success — to a local child in need. The Lorimer and Bedford are two of the company’s best sellers.

Gift cards for concert tickets, food, and clothes

You can’t go wrong with money for their favorite things, especially for teens who are often relying upon part-time jobs to fund their frequent Chipotle meals and concert trips with friends. Check out more gift card gifts here.

Everything: Visa Gift Card / Amazon Gift Card

Coffee and food: Starbucks Gift Card / Chipotle Gift Card

Entertainment and live events: Netflix Gift Card / Xbox Gift Card / Hulu Gift Card / StubHub gift card

Music: Spotify Gift Card

Sheets: Brooklinen Gift Card

Groceries and food: Whole Foods Gift Card / Chipotle Gift Card

Clothes: Nordstrom Gift Card / Everlane Gift Card

Tech: Best Buy Gift Card

A cute iPhone case

Coffee Reading iPhone Case, available at Society6, $19.49

In my teen years, you could have tethered me to my phone with a 10-inch string and I wouldn’t have noticed. This makes phone-related gifts pretty easy scores. This fun iPhone case is funny and unique, and most of their friends probably won’t have the exact same one. 

A color-changing alarm clock that also charges their phone

La Crosse Technology Color Mood Light Alarm Clock with Nature Sounds, available at Amazon and The Home Depot, $26.14

This color-changing alarm clock radio will charge their devices and play soothing nature sounds at the same time. They can also use the aux-in port to play music from their phone.

The newest version of the most popular Fitbit for fitness and sleep tracking

Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness Tracker, available at Fitbit, $129.95

Fitbits help the wearer measure and track their health and fitness, including sleep patterns and activity trends. They can set goals and get real-time stat updates during workouts to see how they can improve. It’s also water-resistant and has a battery life that lives up to seven days.

A cool weekender for sleepovers that not everyone will have yet

Unisex Landon Carryall, available at Dagne Dover, from $95

Dagne Dover is a cult-favorite handbag startup and their weekender bags make for a unique and useful unisex gift. It’s made from neoprene (think: scuba gear), and has an impressive internal organization system (padded laptop sleeve, water bottle pocket, and stretch key leash for easy access). It’s great for weekend trips, sleepovers, and as a carry-on, and comes in a ton of colors.

A soft $100 cashmere sweater they can wear with anything

Cashmere Crew, available at Everlane, from $50

Everlane is a cult-favorite startup, and its $100 cashmere sweaters are one of its most popular products ever for a reason — they’re soft, come in 18 colors, and the owner can pair this with pretty much anything during the cold season.

If they’re especially environmentally conscious, check out Reformation’s 70% recycled cashmere or Patagonia’s recycled cashmere. If you’re looking for something less expensive, cashmere startup Naadam has fantastic cashmere sweaters for $75, but they’re prone to sell out.

A pack of smart plugs so they can control devices from a distance

TP-Link KIT WiFi Smart Plug, 2-Pack, available at Best Buy, $9.99

Whether they’re wondering if they turned off their hot iron or just don’t want to get up to turn off the TV, a smart plug lets them control devices from a distance. You can connect to them using any smart device.

A great Alexa-enabled speaker they can control by voice

Sonos One Smart Speaker, available at Sonos, from $199

The new Sonos One smart speaker fills any room with clear, rich sound, and they can use Alexa to play and control their music without ever lifting a finger. Find a full review here.

A waterproof e-reader with a no-glare screen

All-New Kindle Paperwhite, available at Amazon, $129.99

Amazon’s all-new Kindle Paperwhite is the thinnest, lightest one yet and it’s waterproof for reading anywhere, including the beach or bath. It also has double the storage, a built-in light that adjusts to accommodate reading indoors or outdoors, day and night. Plus, a single battery charge lasts weeks rather than hours.