The 12 Best Gifts for 14-Year-Old Boys in 2021

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14-year-old boys can be a lot of fun, but not all are great at sharing and communicating with the adults in their lives. If you get more grunts than gift ideas when you ask what they would like, don't stress—there are tons of options out there to choose from. Whether he’s into games or outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone.

While you shop, make sure that your gift is appropriate for a 14-year-old boy and has some educational value that will keep him learning. If there are safety considerations, including stylish protective gear is a good idea. You should also consider cost and if your child is ready to take care of an expensive gift, as some of these can get quite pricey.

Here, the best gifts for 14-year-old boys.

Our Top Picks

Gray Switch at Walmart

Over 1,000 games are compatible with the Switch, which is a hot item for gamers and kids of all ages.

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Spin Master Rubik’s Perplexus Game at Barnesandnoble.com

This toy is full of twists and turns and challenges along the way to making it out of the maze.

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Beats EP Wired On-Ear Headphones at Amazon

Beats is a brand known for great quality and sleek designs and this pair of headphones is no different.

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Holy Stone HS110D FPV RC Drone at Amazon

Great for beginners, this drone has adjustable speed modes and is sure to capture amazing footage.

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Uncommon Goods Game of Phones at Uncommon Goods

Game of Phones is clever, affordable, and the perfect way to spend an afternoon laughing with friends and family.

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Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Instant Film Camera at Amazon

Available in black or brown leather, this camera perfectly evokes the heyday of instants but with some modern features.

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TRSCIND Survival Gear Kits at Amazon

Every outdoorsman, or wannabe adventurer, will appreciate this complete kit.

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GlowCity Light Up LED Rim Kit at Amazon

This is a perfect gift for parties and events, for teens to practice their game late into the night

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EBODA Bluetooth Speakers at Amazon

This waterproof, portable speaker has amazing sound quality and a long battery life.

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The Way Things Work Now at Amazon

This book makes it easy and fun to learn about everyday topics.

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The Nintendo Switch is a gaming system like no other and, for that, it’s an unbeatable gift for teens. They can play in the living room with friends and family; in their bedroom when the downstairs TV is being used; or, of course, on the go, from the school bus to waiting for band lessons to start.

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A fun puzzle is cool, but one that combines two classic puzzles is even better. The Rubik’s Perplexus is full of literal twists and turns as your teen has to get the steel ball through the maze. Along the way there are 100 obstacles. It’s challenging but they’ll feel so accomplished when they solve the maze.

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Family road trips. Zoning out while doing homework. Headphones come in handy for 14-year-olds (especially if they have younger siblings to avoid), and this pair of Beats is the perfect pick for teens because of its balance in quality and price.

Beats is one the most esteemed audio brands in the world, so even one of their most affordable pairs, like the EP On-Ear Headphones, is equipped with numerous features and high-end design. This pair is battery-free, adjustable, and connects to iOS and Android devices to take phone calls and control music. They are sleek, lightweight and much comfier than the earbuds knotted up inside your teen’s backpack.

The 16 Best Gifts for Teen Boys in 2021

Holy Stone HS110D FPV RC Drone with 1080P H

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Holy Stone’s HS110D FPV Drone is distinctly suited to bring joy to teens, as it’s both easy to use and easy on the wallet. Great for beginners, this drone has adjustable speed modes, altitude hold (which means stationary hovering), and an easy one-touch start and landing button that will keep teens comfortable and in control while operating. The video quality is a standard 720p, as opposed to pricier drones that shoot in 1080p, but the views from this 120-degree wide-angle camera are still breathtaking.

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This isn’t just another excuse for 14-year-olds to be on their phones. It’s an exciting and competitive scavenger hunt, easy to set up and even easier to play. The objective is simple: collect the most cards, you win. Each turn, players draw a prompt card and must complete the task either the fastest or the funniest to win the card. Tasks can include anything from finding the strangest Google Image result of your name to creating a motionless five-second video selfie.

The 7 Best Card Games of 2021

Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Instant Film Camera

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With so much of the world made digital, people have rediscovered the joy of items that can be felt, kept, and cherished—and that’s why instant cameras are back. And no instant camera is better for your teen than Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 90.

The Mini 90 has features that 80’s cameras could only dream of. It automatically adjusts the lighting of your shot for a crisp, balanced picture every time. And, similar to a DSLR, it has numerous camera modes to fit whatever situation you’re in.

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A fully loaded survival kit can help teens pretend that a weekend camping trip is, a fun and rugged adventure. With three different kits available, Trscind offers an assortment of essential tools for the outdoorsman. Some of the major pieces include survival knives, flashlights, fire starters, and glow-in-the-dark compasses—and that’s just the start.

GlowCity Light Up LED Rim Kit with LED Basketball

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Your 14-year-old probably loves basketball so much that he’ll hoop with friends until the sun goes down. But with GlowCity’s light-up rim liner and basketball, they can play even once the stars come out. The rim lighting runs on three AAA batteries and is available in eight vivid colors. The basketball can be ordered in sizes 5, 6, or 7—the latter being the regulation size for men’s high school, college, and professional sports. And the ball comes with two LED lights inside, which can easily be removed when it’s time to change the batteries.

EBODA Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speakers

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This bluetooth speaker can go, well, pretty much anywhere. It’s waterproof (for the beach, pool, or shower) and extremely portable. A charge has up to 24 hours of playtime and there’s a 33-foot range. In addition to those features, the speaker has five LED lights for a truly standout style.

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For teens who have a million questions, this book is for them. The Way Things Work Now breaks down topics like 3D, touchscreens, how elevators work, and more in a way that’s easily accessible and understandable. The anecdotal stories can make even the least interesting topics seem fun.

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Your teen most likely has a ton of t-shirts, but probably nothing as fun and funny as this one. This is especially great for the teen who’s a hardcore gamer who hates pulling themselves away from their favorite activity. The material is super soft and the shirt comes in a range of sizes.

Gift Guides & Reviews

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This book has sold millions and is an adaptation of the popular 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This teen version touches on important topics of self esteem, friendships, and peer pressure. It’s almost 300 pages of life lessons and written in a way young teens can identify with.

Age Appropriateness

14-year-olds are on the younger side of teens but that doesn’t mean that they are short on opinions or preferences. Talk to the 14-year-old boy in your life to learn more about his interests and hobbies. This can help you narrow down on the perfect gift. Just make sure to run your ideas by his parents so that they can make sure that he is mature enough for the gift you want to give. Card games can be fun, but not all are kid-friendly.

Safety

Chances are that your 14-year-old boy has started to spend more time online and with friends. Before gifting him a toy that allows him to engage virtually, make sure to talk about internet safety. Toys that encourage your child to build and explore how parts work together can have some safety considerations. Include a helmet, safety goggles, or any other necessary protective gear with your gift so that they are able to start the fun right away.

Educational Value

Gifts that incorporate learning into the fun can be a great way to encourage kids to think critically outside of the classroom. For the most educational value, look for a gift that helps them see the connections between their interests and the world.

If they are a gamer, look for ones that allow them to build worlds and code. For a mechanical kid, anything that lets them explore while building and designing is great. Games and puzzles can also incorporate a variety of skills, such as communication, reading, strategy, and more. The Science Museum of Virginia's Virginia STEM Coordinator Chuck English stresses the importance of helping your child make these connections. “That helps kids see how it all fits together,” he says.