27 Best Gifts a 14-Year-Old Boy Will Actually Appreciate
It might seem like he has everything, and he may tell you nothing, but we bet you can find him a slam-dunk gift on this list.
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At age 14, a kid's wish list — if they'll tell it to you at all— tends to reflect teen trends, a love of technology and a loyalty to the cartoon and superhero characters they've grown up with. They're still kids at heart!
When shopping for the best, unique gifts for 14-year-old boys, you can zero in on electronics, sports and books, plus toys for big kids. We wish they'd show a little more interest in how they dress or which body products they use, but it's rare to find a dude this age who has any opinion about his shirt or his soap. At least, that's been my experience making this list, with input from my own two kids, Good Housekeeping Institute parents and current 14-year-olds (one of whom most wants a vacation, so we're gonna let his mom handle that request!).
This was the #1 birthday request from a newly-14-year-old we talked to. Does your teen need a sports watch that's water-resistant and has a stopwatch? Maybe or maybe not, but it's all about the look from this brand anyway. Shark watches, inspired by California surf culture, come in bright 90s colors with nylon bands. Teens love them so much that they're often backordered a few days, so order ahead.
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Give him a book he'll pour over! More than 1,000 characters are included in this Marvel Encyclopedia, with rich stories, backstories and lore galore. It was updated in 2024 to stay current with the Marvel Universe.
RELATED: The Best Gifts for Marvel Fans
If you can splurge, every teen wants these noise-cancelling, in-ear, top-of-the-line AirPods that work via Bluetooth with any device, not just an iPhone.
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Cheap and useful, this pen breaks down into magnetic pieces that can be reassembled into different shapes, perfect for a boy who likes to fidget while he thinks.
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With the live-action Lilo & Stitch out, one 14-year-old we talked to was on the hunt for this plush Stitch that doubles as a pillow for travel or lounging at home.
Most 14-year-old boys are heavy gamers. It's normal. This stand holds his controllers and headphones to keep his desk a little neater and hopefully end him asking, "Where's my...?"
Time for him to graduate to a bike he can keep through college? The brand that the Good Housekeeping Institute named the best bike for learning to ride, Guardian, now has this adult-sized bike with rave reviews. Rider must be at least 5 feet tall
Good Housekeeping Institute Lab pros named this the best value bluetooth speaker, praising its 24-hour battery life and waterproof design. He can take it outside, to the beach, or just use it to play music at home, and it weighs less than a pound.
GlowCity Glow in The Dark Soccer Ball
Good Housekeeping readers are loving this LED-lit soccer ball that glows on impact, encouraging kids and teens to practice and goof around outside in the dusk before they have to come in for the night.
LEGO's Fortnite Klombo dinosaur brings the purple character into 3D, where Peely (the banana figure) and Oro can ride on its back, off to pretend adventures. Or they can just decorate his bookshelf for his own amusement. Inside the box is a QR code for him to get a special digital outfit for the Peely in his game world. The LEGO build has just over 1,000 pieces, a fun but not impossible challenge.
My nephews got very into Catan at about age 14, when it gave them a fun activity to do with their parents (even if that activity was actively trying to defeat them). It's a world-building game for three to four players and has a longer playtime.
Long my younger son's favorite wired gaming headset, the HyperX still gets rave online reviews and costs less than many other brands. There's a microphone that makes it easy to talk to other players, or to friends on Discord, and the ear pieces cut out distracting background noise, like siblings.
LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter
If he's into the Star Wars universe, this LEGO starfighter comes with four figures, including the Mandalorian, Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) and a droid. He can make it crash-land, then build it all over again.
Less a traditional skateboard and more of a way to snowboard on dry land, the RipStik flies along when the rider twists their body while balanced on the two wheels. Weight capacity is up to 175 lbs
He can plug these in for a flash of cool colors in his room, which he can change via remote control.
My younger guy also loved his magnetic chess set at age 14, when he started to dig in and learn strategy (he liked a classic chess strategy book, too).
Another choice from my own son, who seemed to test every stainless steel bottle known to man before picking a few favorites, this one included. It's easy for an active (or impatient) teen to take big gulps from the spout rather than sipping from a straw.
Related: Our Review of the Owala Water Bottle
Does he have a sweet tooth? These cookies are a sensation in New York City, where they're baked, but can be shipped nationwide. Each one is giant and rich, so though you might be thinking "four cookies?" know that these fill you up more like a dozen.
All the kids and young adults (my own included) love the Jellycat line of plush, which includes smiling versions of favorite foods. My son has a little blueberry and a wedge of blue cheese that he got some years ago; this hot dog is a current favorite. If you're buying for a birthday, there's also a birthday cake.
Thames & Kosmos Structural Engineering: Bridges & Skyscrapers
Support his interest in building things — plus engineering concepts like force and load — with this kit for building twenty models including bridges and structures.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
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