35+ gifts for teens they’ll actually use, according to the teens in our lives
NBC News · Jem Alabi ·
Looking for gifts for teenage girls and boys? Discover our picks for stylish, practical and personalized presents, with recommendations from real teens.
Shopping for teenagers can be tricky. Trends come and go, interests change seemingly overnight and what was considered cool a few months ago might already be out of style. And while teenagers are often pretty vocal about what they like (and especially what they don’t like), finding a gift they’ll actually use and appreciate long term can still feel like a guessing game.
Luckily, I have a few teenagers in my corner. As the oldest of three siblings, including a 16-year-old girl, and as an occasional tutor for high schoolers, I’ve had a front-row seat to the changing trends of today’s teens. I am very good at giving gifts, according to everyone I know. Every year, I arrange dozens of gifts for my large family across many age groups and they all ask me, “how do you do it?” Shopping and testing products for a living helps, but I truly take pride in giving people gifts that make them feel special, and won’t just get added to piles of clutter somewhere. Whether you’re shopping for a fashion-obsessed 13-year-old, a high school athlete or a soon-to-be college student, these are some of the best gifts for teens to consider this year.
The best gifts for teens in 2026
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