20 Trendy Gifts for 17-Year-Olds

Pretty, and useful: A compact mirror with LED lights can fit in your teen's pocket or purse for quick checks of their teeth, lip gloss — whatever. There are a bunch of colors, and batteries are included. One thousand of these werer purchase on Amazon last month, and it earned more than 11,000 five-star reviews.

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This is fun like a toy, but actually really good for restless kids who need something for their hands to do while they sit through school or homework. It's a functioning pen made up of magnets that can be sculpted into other designs.

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A cell phone without power is useless! A portable pack hleps keep phones powered up on the go, for those days when your teen has school and then all that comes afterwards. If they forget, it's a two-pack, and hopefully their other one is ready to go. These chargers are compatible with many phones, including iPhone 15 and 16, some Google Pixel models and some Samsung models.

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My kids' grandma got them each a hoodie blanket last Christmas, and it's the ultimate lounge-at-home indulgence. We like this one for its cozy sherpa lining and big pocket. This is the latte pattern but there are many others including a pixel pattern for gamers, pandas or sushi. It's one giant size (6XL!) for all.

Thermal printers don't print in color and the quality isn't great, but it's flat-out amazing that your teen can connect their phone to this via Bluetooth and turn photos or drawings into stickers for themselves or for their friends.

This is what my brother actually got my kid for their 17th birthday: A version of the Animal House movie's generic "College" sweatshirt. It made us all laugh, and it helped diffuse the tension during a year when it seemed like every relative, friend and stranger was asking them for their post-high-school plans.

"Jellycat stuffed animals" come up anytime I'm talking about teen gifts — the brand's line of smiling, plush food is beloved. I like the way this hot dog sits and hangs out, but there are plenty of other favorite foods like a burger and more unexpected ones like a cute cauliflower.

My sources tell me that Lululemon is still a status brand for the teen girls and boys. Its Everywhere Belt Bag sells like hotcakes (and is our Good Housekeeping Institute pick for the best belt bag). It comes in many colors and works around the waist or as a cross-body bag, able to hold a phone and a couple of essentials. If you're still unsure, you also can't go wrong with a Lululemon gift certificate.

A 17-year-old's days are packed. It may be that their only time to throw a ball around outside is when the sun is going down. This LED ball lights up when you pick it up and stays lit while in play, then turns itself off when not in use. Batteries are included, but note that you will need to inflate the football.

"My nieces want all Sephora, all the time." "Anything from Sephora." "Gift cards from Sephora." I heard this from so many people buying for the 17-year-olds in their life. Give the kids what they want with a Sephora gift card, which you load with a minimum of $25. This is a physical card but you can buy a Sephora e-card as well, great for a last-minute gift.

The Old Spice brand cracks me up, and I totally support getting your 17-year-old to use soap on his face and body with the cheekiness of this superhero set. If by chance it sells out since it's a limited edition, I like giving my kid the Krakengard body wash with the funny sea character and hundreds of five-star ratings.

"For my nephew, it’s all about shoes or slides, specifically Hoka," one aunt told me, with a link to these. We're a little obsessed with the brand ourselves — see our review of the new Hoka Speed Loafer — so we appreciate gifting these cushiony, waterproof, indoor-or-outdoor casual kicks.

I don't know my Pokémon, but a mom friend tells me it is the "year of Eevee" and another says "plushies of favorite Pokémon characters" are what her 17-year-old wants. This is a small (8-inch) collectible with more than 6,000 five-star Amazon ratings, so it's definitely making fans happy.

AirPods are the splurge gift, and actually what both of my kids asked for then they were 17. Maybe you're not the parent on the hook for the "big" gift, but if you are, I can reassure you that the noise-cancelling feature can help kids relax and focus.

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Good Housekeeping readers are loving these customizable neon signs as a unique, personalized gift. The actual price will depend on the length of your word or words, your font and whether you add any cute symbols, like a crown or a heart.

Following the hot teen clothing brands is a fool's job but...I guess I am that fool. In texting with 17-year-olds I learned that Fear of God Essentials is the brand they want right now. Maybe order the smallest size of this gender-inclusive shirt, because it's deliberately ridiculously oversized. Beware of dupes and buy from a department store to be sure you're not accidentally off-label.

Owala continues to be the water bottle that the teens want. It's a Good Housekeeping Institute favorite, too. Kitchen Lab Director, Nicole Papantoniou, says that it's easy to drink out of the Owala in two ways: use the spout or tilt the bottle. It comes in many colors to appeal to every teen.

RELATED: Our Owala Water Bottle Review

Teen fans are enthusiastic fans, but they only have so much space for collectibles. We like the Funko Bitty Pop! line because these are truly small (0.9-inch) figures, but they're highly detailed and come with a display case. Other sets include Minions and Pixar characters.

If your 17-year-old has access to a pool or a lake, treat them to this new, luxury float with a wide seat, a backrest and a cupholder. You just have to inflate it and then they'll populate it anytime the sun is out and they have downtime.

Teens who like to layer their necklaces are into the Gorjana brand, parents tell me. It's well-made the designs are unique, like this ancient symbol of protection on a gold-plated chain.