36 Best Gifts for Teens in 2025

A portable Bluetooth speaker will let your teen take their music with them wherever they go, whether it's a pre-game tailgate, a bonfire at the beach or just hanging out in the backyard. The Bose SoundLink Flex is CNET's top choice for the best Bluetooth speaker. Available in five colors -- black, cypress green, carmine red, white smoke and stone blue -- CNET audio expert David Carnoy says it's "arguably the best-sounding wireless speaker for its compact size."

Kodak's pocket-size projector is a cool gift for teens who love movies, TV shows or video games (which is pretty much all teens). The Luma 150 can project up to 150 inches (12.5 feet) onto almost any surface to give your teen an impressive big-screen experience. Plus, there's a built-in speaker so no extra equipment is needed.

Waking up in the morning is hard. But it's especially hard when you're a growing teen and you need more hours of rest. A sunrise alarm clock makes for more peaceful mornings by mimicking the natural light of dawn. No more anxiety-inducing shrill beeps. Read more about why the The Hatch Restore 2 is CNET's pick for the best sunrise alarm clock of 2024. 

If you're tired of your teen saying they couldn't text because their phone ran out of juice, the InstantGo 5000 is a versatile little charger that offers fast charging for iPhones and Android devices. It's small and compact, so it's easy to throw into a backpack or tote. 

Even if your teen has a desk in their room, chances are they don't use it. This portable lap desk lets them comfortably do their homework from anywhere, whether they want to study in bed, on the living room couch or even the floor.

The Stanley is officially out. So replace their old water bottle with the Owala FreeSip, which is a top choice for teens who want to keep their drinks cool throughout the day. The 32-ounce size isn't as bulky as a Stanley, so it's easier to carry around. And unlike the Stanley, it's also leak-proof.

Lululemon's Everywhere Belt Bag is a great hands-free alternative to using a tote or purse, especially if you're heading to the gym. Teens can stash their keys, phones and credit cards in this easy, on-the-go accessory.

If you know a teen who loves skin care products -- or has chronically chapped lips -- Laneige's lip sleeping mask is an ideal gift. Slather the vitamin C-infused mask on before bed for some instant TLC. They'll wake up with hydrated, super-soft lips. It comes in six delectable flavors, but eggnog and candy cane are the new favorites of the season.

Yes, it's expensive, especially for a candle, but fans of Taylor Swift know exactly why. Woody, luxurious and suitable for any season, Byredo's Tree House candle is Taylor Swift's fav. The 2.5-ounce votive costs $45, and the 8.5-ounce size is a whopping $94.

If you're looking for a soothing candle without the Swiftie theme, Homesick has made it easy by coming up with unique candles that will speak to every interest. Hogwarts fans will appreciate Homesick's Harry Potter collection, but you can also find candles that are inspired by US states, MLB stadiums, Star Wars and more. The standard 13.75-ounce size starts at $30.

What's even better than a weighted blanket? A fuzzy weighted blanket. If your teen likes to sleep in on the weekends (who doesn't?), this blanket will keep them cozy and relaxed. It also adds a touch of style and texture to a teen's bedroom. This great gift comes in white, cream, gray, brown, navy and pink.

This huggable llama is more than a cute stuffy. Pop it in the microwave and it'll warm up your bed or soothe sore muscles -- or you can keep it in the freezer and use it as an ice pack. It has a soothing lavender scent, and what could be more adorable than a llama? Or choose from a wide selection of the brand's other heatable plush toys including a sloth, an avocado, buttered toast and more.

A manicure system is a great gift for a teen who enjoys a little self-care without having to visit the salon. Olive & June is one of our go-to brands for nail polish, and the its mani systems come with all the tools you need for beautiful nails. A standard mani system starts at $55. The company also has gel polishes and holiday polish sets.

In case you hadn't heard, teen boys can't get enough of designer colognes. So if you want to satisfy the sophisticated fragrance desires of a teen boy in your life (or teen girls if they prefer woody, spicy scents), this cologne sampler set from Sephora will do the trick. It lets them try out 12 different cologne samples from luxury brands. Once they've homed in on their favorite, they can bring the included gift certificate to any Sephora store to get a free full-size bottle of it. 

Spikeball is a super-trendy, fast-paced game that combines elements of volleyball and four-square. Instead of hitting a large ball over a straight net, you're smacking a softer, grapefruit-size ball onto a bouncy, ringed one, sort of like tetherball but without the string. This is a physical game, one that requires fast movement and probably some diving if you want to score points. You wouldn't want to play it indoors, but it's easy to set up in a backyard, a nearby park, or even your college quad.

If you know a teen who's really into sports and goes to the gym regularly, they'll appreciate a massage gun to ease the muscle soreness that comes with intense exercise. Therabody is a well-known brand with a lot of ultra-expensive larger models, but the Theragun Mini is a powerful, cheaper option in a smaller package. It's easy to throw in a gym bag, and it delivers an impressive 1,750 to 2,400 percussions per minute.

This is a great gift for teens during the winter season when they can't spend as much time outdoors. This portable ping pong set turns any standard rectangular table into what feels like a true ping pong experience. Make sure you don't have anything fragile near your table as this game can get seriously competitive.

This lightweight duffel bag is durable and is just the right size for holding sports gear or even to use for a weekend getaway. It's got three zippered pockets on the outside, along with a smaller inside pocket for holding keys and a phone.

Coloring books are out. Watercolor paints sets are the new TikTok favorite, and they're a great way to relax, unwind and promote mindfulness.

Sure, Spotify is great, but there's nothing quite like the retro feel of real records and spinning vinyl to listen to your favorite artists. This Bluetooth-compatible, portable turntable hits all the right notes. Not only can you play LPs, but you can stream music wirelessly from any device. While the sound isn't as top-notch as some more expensive models, you can't beat the cool retro aesthetic.

What's old is new again. While it's easy for teens to take pics with their phones, it's way more entertaining to capture stuff with a retro digicam. This compact digital camera is easy to stash in a pocket or backpack. While you're not going to get the top-notch shots that you would from an iPhone 16 Pro, this isn't a bad little camera for the price.

If your teen likes a daily dose of boba, they'd probably enjoy making it at home with their friends. This DIY kit comes with everything you need to make delicious boba at home: tapioca balls, a variety of loose-leaf teas, straws and recipe cards.

Any PC gamer will tell you: A high-quality headset is essential for a totally immersive gaming experience. CNET gaming expert Lori Grunin tested a number of headsets, and the HyperX Cloud Alpha wireless gaming headset came out a clear winner thanks to its long battery life and superb comfort.

The Meta Quest 3 is our top pick for the best VR headset of 2024 and won a CNET Editors' Choice Award. This headset is a step up from the Quest 2, allowing for more-intuitive interactions and realistic sensations. It plays a wide variety of games, from shooters and puzzles to aircraft simulation. Plus, you can do more than just games, like go to concerts, attend workout classes and more.

A decent gaming mouse for the money, the SteelSeries Rival 3 is surprisingly comfortable and ambidextrous. It has six programmable buttons and three zones of RGB LED lights for a great gaming experience. 

These in-demand boots sell out quickly around the holidays, so it's wise to do your shopping early if it's a favorite item your teen has been coveting. They're a versatile boot that works with pretty much every outfit, and you can't beat the comfort. If you live in a rainy climate, it's not a bad idea to invest in the brand's cleaning and conditioning kit to keep them looking spiffy.

Sure, socks are a boring gift, but that's why they make great stocking stuffers. Teens go through a lot of socks, especially if they play sports, so it's good to have some higher-end pairs like Bombas that can withstand plenty of wear and tear. Prices start at $16 a pair for calf socks (shown here), which isn't cheap for socks, but you can get 20% off your first order.

Nike continues to dominate teen footwear. Give your teen the perfect pair by letting them customize it exactly to their tastes. Choose from a variety of designs, and then let them pick out the look of everything from the laces to the tongue, midsole, swoosh and more. Shoes start at $120 and go up from there.

Gorjana is best known for their mix-and-match layered necklaces, but their hoop earrings are also popular gifts for teens. These chunky gold hoops are versatile and can either be worn with a casual outfit or for a fancy night out.

There's nothing quite like getting an assortment of delicious Japanese snacks that you can't find here in the US. CNET rated Bokksu's service the best snack subscription box for 2024. From tempura seaweed to matcha Kit-Kats, there's everything here a snack-obsessed teen could possibly desire.

These cookies get a lot of attention on TikTok, and we've tried them and can guarantee that they're actually quite good. Each cookie assortment comes artfully wrapped in cellophane bags, ribbons and Levain's signature blue box. You can choose from a variety of flavors, though the Signature Cookie Assortment checks all the boxes. A pack starts at $29 for four cookies. Don't forget to pop them in the oven or microwave to enjoy them at their ooey-gooey finest.

In Japan, Kit Kats aren't your standard, boring old chocolate bar -- they come in more unique flavors than you could possibly imagine, including raspberry, melon and even sweet potato. Any teen would love making their way through this pack -- it's fun to share with friends, too.

What's even better than a box of See's chocolate? A custom box of See's filled with all your teen's favorites. Skip the dreaded walnuts and nougat and go straight for the California brittle, milk Butterchews and more. Just hope they don't gobble them up all at once. These custom boxes start at $32 for a 1-pound box and go all the way up to $160 for a 5-pounder.