Screen-Free Teen Gifts Guide: 15 Best Holiday Gifts for Picky Teens!
Shop the best gifts for teens with our gift guide!
Step outside the tech box this holiday season. 🎁
The best gifts for teens don’t have to be a tech screen. Our top gift picks are affordable, approved by teens, and are still right on trend.
Be sure to check out our Christmas Shopping Challenge – it has a gift guide for everyone on your list this year! 🎁🤩
Shop our top screen-free gifts for teens:
- AstroAI Mini Fridge
- Oversized Blanket Hoodie
- Cereal Bowl Candle
- Custom Neon Sign
- Bombas Socks
- LED Strip Lights
- Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board
- Chameleon
- Tokyo Treat Monthly Surprise Box
- Hidden Pocket Scrunchies or Secret Money Puzzle Box
- Air Force 1 ’07 Sneaker
- Inflatable Lounger Air Sofa Chair
- Drawstring Bag
- Foldable Silicone Disc-Fly
- An Experience
1. Mini fridges are cool gifts for teens that are also versatile.
AstroAI Mini Fridge – as low as $39.99 shipped
Every teen will want to stock this mini fridge with all of their favorite snacks and drinks – or even beauty essentials! This is a super chill gift that they’re sure to love, and it’s available for under $40!
If your teen prefers more of a retro vibe, check out this Frigidaire mini fridge that our hip sidekick Rachel bought for her teen son.
2. Give teens a gift that will make them feel all warm and cozy.
Oversized Blanket Hoodie – $29.99 (regularly $39.99)
These blanket hoodies are a genius gift if your teen loves to feel cozy when they are spending time at home. We love this one from Amazon in particular because it comes in over 20 different patterns and colors that are sure to perfectly suit your teens’ personality. Whether they are 5 feet tall or over 6 feet tall, this oversized hoodie will be the perfect fit.
As an alternative, you could splurge on the popular Comfy hoodie for just under $50 if a more neutral color suits their aesthetic.
3. Teens. love. candles. and. cereal. so there’s no reason not to grab this gift for teens.
Cereal Bowl Candle – as low as $22.99
Don’t get your teen just any candle, get them this Lucky Charms cereal bowl candle. 🤩 Even teen dudes will appreciate this candle and plenty of reviews state that it smells just like French vanilla and looks just like the adorable pictures online. Needless to say, this gift is going to be lit. 🔥
4. Customize a sign for them to hang in their room or dorm.
Custom Neon Sign $49.99+
Clip the 15% OFF digital coupon
Final cost as low as $42.49 shipped
Teens love neon signs and with this customizable gift idea from Amazon, there are an endless amount of possibilities. Plus, this is the perfect gift idea for a guy’s game room or a girl’s bougie space considering they have numerous font choices and color options.
5. These no-show socks are the best on the market and show off their personality too.
Bombas Socks – $12.52+
We know teens typically don’t love the most practical of gifts, but Bombas socks are one brand they’ll actually love unwrapping. Bombas socks stand out as the ultimate choice for no-show and non-slip socks. They’re extra cushiony and comfy, making them ideal to pair with your favorite shoes or perfect for athletes. Bombas offers a vibrant array of colors, patterns, and styles to suit every teen’s personality.
Looking for high top socks? We hear teens love Nike athletic socks. 😉
6. Elevate their space with these fun stickable strip lights.
LED Strip Lights, 50 feet – $9.99 (regularly $13.99)
These lights are simple to install and will make any ordinary space feel so fun! Plus, they come with a remote and endless color combinations. I used about two rolls of these in my teen boys’ room and they love using them while hanging out with friends or during intense video gaming sessions.
7. An inflatable paddleboard is something they can take on the go and it will keep them active during summer.
Roc Inflatable Stand-Up Paddle Board – $199.99 (regularly $599.99)
Roc’s premium inflatable paddle boards are made of high-quality military-grade material. They offer some of the most durable and lightweight boards on the market making it a great gift idea for your teen. Plus, this set comes with everything they need to hit the water once the weather warms up. A paddle board is a gift they’ll enjoy on their own, with friends, or with family.
8. This is Collin’s favorite game to play with her teens and it gets them out of their rooms.
Chameleon – $19.79 (regularly $21.99)
This game is simple. A secret word is selected from one of the topic cards and everyone knows what the word is, except for the player with the Chameleon card. Each player shouts out a related word to prove their innocence and tries to track down who the Chameleon is, but will they blend into the group and escape – or will they get caught?!
This award-winning game is recommended for 3-8 players, ages 14 and up so it’s a board game for adults that’s suitable for all teens. It happens to be Collin’s favorite game to play with her kids!
Already have Chameleon? Check out our other team approved board games.
9. A Tokyo Treat box is a unique gift for teens that is filled with fun foreign snacks.
Tokyo Treat Monthly Surprise Box $37.50
Use your unique $5 OFF code for email/text sign-up
Shipping adds $12.50
Final cost $45 shipped for your first box!
*Note you can save more by choosing a 3, 6, or 12-month subscription instead of the monthly option. Also, note that this is a monthly subscription, but you can cancel after your first month if you aren’t satisfied.
Delight your teen’s taste buds with an array of unique Japanese foods and drinks that they can’t get anywhere else! After all, food is the way to their heart. When you buy a subscription, they’ll receive a Tokyo Treat box with 15-20 full-size food and drink items from Japan. Each box is just $37.50 plus shipping which breaks down to $1.88-$2.50 per treat! The boxes include a surprise assortment of items including rare flavors of Coca-Cola & Fanta sodas, Ramen, soba, udon, Kit Kats, sweet and sour candies, cakes, cookies, chips, and more! It’s a unique and really fun gift idea they may love too much to share. 😉
Head over to our full product review of the Tokyo Treat Surprise Box to read more about why your teen likely needs this in their life!
10. These scrunchies are the perfect place to stash away cash or a key.
Hidden Pocket Scrunchies 2-Pack – $20 – just $10 each!
Does your teen carry their money in a phone case or pocket where it can easily fall out? Gift them these trendy scrunchies that have a hidden pocket to safely stash cash or even a house or car key! We adore these trendy scrunchies that are a perfect blend of style and practicality!
Shopping for a teen who doesn’t wear scrunchies? Check out this unique Secret Money Puzzle Box!
11. Air Force 1s are a timeless pick for teen guys and girls.
Nike Air Force 1 ’07 Sneakers – $115 shipped
There is no denying that teens love Nike Air Force 1s. In fact, if you’ve taken a look at what they’re wearing on their feet, nearly all of them are sporting some style of Nike shoes. Air Force 1s are a timeless choice that will go with so many of their favorite wardrobe essentials.
Wanna snag a deal on Air Force 1s? Nordstrom has several color options on sale for women and men.
Hip Tip: Shop the current hottest Nike deals on the market right now!
12. These inflatable chairs are genius for traveling, camping, festivals, and more.
Inflatable Lounger Air Sofa Chair – $39.98 shipped
Your teen will be convincing all of their friends to grab one of these chairs after they see the ease and convenience of toting this thing around! It gives a totally new definition to inflatable chairs since it self-inflates with a simple whisk through the air and is compact enough to fit inside the included tote bag.
13. Teens will use a drawstring bag for nearly everything if they don’t already have one.
Lululemon Lightweight Gym Sack 13L – $39 shipped (regularly $58)
A drawstring bag is an essential item for any teen to take to the gym, a friend’s house for a sleepover, work for a change of clothes, and so much more. It’s a convenient bag that they’re sure to use on a regular basis.
Looking for a drawstring bag that’s more affordable? Check out this trendy Adidas drawstring bag available for under $20.
14. Grab this under $10 stocking stuffer that will get them outside and playing like a kid again.
Teens still wanna have fun and these flexible silicone flying discs are something that will get them outside and off the screens. They’re softer than a traditional frisbee and are perfect for teens to goof off with friends, or even play with the littlest of siblings without the risk of injury. They make a great stocking stuffer and something they can easily take with them on the go.
As another option, check out this frisbee that lights up.
15. Give them an experience they’ll never forget.
Experiences – priceless 😉
Teens will appreciate the joy of receiving an experience over material things if it’s something that they’ve really been wanting to do. Plus, there are not many Christmases left before they head off to college, so you might as well make them enjoyable. There are endless options when gifting an experience, depending on your teen’s interests, hobbies, and personality. Best of all, you can customize your gift to suit any budget!
Consider an escape room, indoor rock climbing, a baking or arts and crafts MasterClass, private lessons related to their sport or hobby, bowling passes, amusement park admission, tickets to a sporting event, concert tickets, or even a visit to a special destination.
Search your local Groupon for more experience ideas for your teen!
What are your suggestions for the best screen-free gifts for teens? Please share your favorite gift ideas in the comments below!
Bombas are hands down my favorite socks. Yes, they are pricey but that is because they stand behind their promise of replacing socks if you ever get a hole or rip in one. Iβve had the same pairs for about 7 years and they replaced the pair that developed a hole no questions asked. Yeah it took 7 years to get a hole in my sock. They are built to last and are super soft. I absolutely love them and recommend them.
That’s wonderful to know, CSexton311! Thank you for sharing that with us!
I was gifted a pack of Bombas socks from my inlaws last Christmas and was like oh… socks. But then I tried them and now I’m gifting them to my kids this Christmas because I love them so much haha.
π Great to hear how much you’ve been loving them, Jessica! Hoping your kiddos enjoy them just as much! π§¦π
Five below actually has a DIY cereal and ice-cream candle you can make with your teen! $5 https://www.fivebelow.com/products/myo-candle-scents-kit_2
Awesome! Thanks for sharing, Kat! π