19 Best Gifts for 12 Year Old Boys
Buying gifts for tween and teenage boys is often a difficult task, and finding the perfect gift for a 12-year-old boy can feel impossible. These (almost) teen boys don’t want to feel like a little kid, but they also aren’t quite adults yet. You want to choose a great gift that they will actually like and enjoy at this age – and that’s where we come in.
We’ve put together this list of gift ideas that include some of the best toys (because 12 year olds still like to play sometimes) as well as some cool gifts that are a little more “mature” for this age group. With the help of an actual 12 year old boy, we’ve created this list of gifts with ideas that are fun, cool, trendy and just right for your favorite 12-year-olds.
So whether you’re shopping for a Christmas gift on a budget or looking for the best birthday gifts to blow his mind – we have the best gift ideas for the special occasion.
Why trust Gift Brilliant’s gift recommendations? We won’t overwhelm you with a huge list of gift ideas that people don’t really want. We share gift options that we have personally gifted or received, gifts that others have told us they loved, and a few gift ideas that we would love to have ourselves!
The Best Gifts for 12 Year Old Boys
Many of these gift ideas are available with Amazon Prime’s fast free shipping (often arriving in just one or two days!). If you’re not already a Prime member, you can get a 30-day FREE trial of Amazon Prime here!
Get everyone outside with this laser tag set! Why pay a premium price at an arcade when you can have fun at home? Up to four players can battle it out with this fun toy. Comes with 4 rechargeable blasters, 4 vests, and a charging station.
(This gift is totally worth it - check out the rave reviews online to see for yourself!)
Any preteen will love riding around the house, the neighborhood, and even around the town! This electric hoverboard has a top speed of 8 miles per hour and has an 8 mile range battery life. The best thing about this popular gift is that it has a built-in Bluetooth speaker for him to play his favorite music while he rides! (You can check out more info on the best hoverboards for kids here.)
If your 12 year old enjoys playing video games, help him pump up his gaming experience with this noise canceling, deep bass surround sound gaming headset! Comes with a detachable microphone and fold up earphones.
Can you tell my 12 year old son added a lot of input to this list of gifts? This is listed as appropriate for ages 13 and up, but parents will know if their child is ready for a fun gift like this. This dirt bike with a rechargeable battery will let your kid go off road with thirty minutes of a continuous ride! (PS - don't forget a helmet for safety!)
This moon lamp is a unique gift idea that older kids would love! A great idea to add a little *spice* to his bedroom, especially if he is into space and science. It has a remote control, is USB rechargeable, and can light up in 16 different colors.
Twelve-year-old boys everywhere can agree that a long board like this one is one of the coolest gifts you can receive in your teenage years. While moms may cringe and worry about their little boys getting hurt, kids will enjoy hours of playtime learning to do tricks and other cool stuff outdoors.
With the ability to sync to music and change colors, this light strip can create a fun and vibrant environment for any streamer. The music sync function is a unique feature that can create an exciting and dynamic atmosphere for viewers. The remote control and app make it easy to control the lights and select different colors and modes. With 100 feet of LED lights, it can cover a large area and create a cohesive look.
These strip lights are a great addition to any room, to be honest.
From a 12 year old’s experience, the new Amazon Echo Dot is great! You can use it to control smart lightbulbs, play music, play games, and even set and customize alarms. You can get a plain Echo Dot, but kids will love this owl version. Plus it has parental controls so you can ensure their safety. This is one of the best tech gifts for kids of all ages!
If you're looking for active toys, this punching ball makes an awesome gift and is a great choice! My 12 year old loves using a punching bag to get some exercise or let out those middle school frustrations. Gloves and air pump included. Improves hand-eye coordination, strength, and helps him learn self-defense.
If your kid is like mine, there's a good chance he loves playing video games. And while you may worry about him having too much screen time, an Xbox can still be a good idea! There are lots of different ways to play - both as a single player or in multiplayer mode - and there are popular games that guarantee a good time for the whole family.
I personally love playing Just Dance - it's a great game to play and be active, and even the little kids can join in!
This is a cool gift idea that I wouldn't have thought of, but my 12 year old son thought it was awesome! With this 3D printing pen, your tween can have so much fun and explore his creativity designing lots of different things!
Part toy, part learning activity, this educational STEM robot toy makes engineering fun for everyone who builds it. Builders of all ages will love building and coding their fully-functional robot to walk, talk, and even play games or complete tasks! Combine creativity and technology for hours of fun.
These toys are being retired, so get them while you can!
With these cool moon shoes, you can defy gravity with loads of fun! A great toy that will get their bodies up and moving, both indoors and outdoors.
You're literally never too old to enjoy playing with a Nerf blaster! Featuring SwitchFire technology and 3 modes: Single-fire, burst-fire, continuous-fire. Take this gift to the next level and pair it with a Nerf Bunkr and a custom-built Nerf armory!
Your teen can play with his younger siblings or challenge his best friend to an awesome battle with this awesome gift idea.
Check out these gifts for 13 year old boys for more ideas!
Kids of all ages love video games and that doesn't really change when they reach adulthood. A Nintendo Switch is the perfect gift that allows them to play all of their favorite games, even on the go. This white model is very attractive, and the 7-inch OLED screen ensures they don't miss a thing while they play. Can be used in handheld mode, tabletop mode, or TV mode. The whole family will be able to enjoy this fun gift!
Take his skills to the next level with this smart soccer ball! Using an app, he can practice various soccer skills and drills to really up his game. Practice on your own or with guided training. A great option for young athletes with any skill level, beginner and up.
(We actually have the smart basketball and love it! Parents will enjoy this too, trust me!)
If he likes playing board games, or if you're looking for a great game that he will enjoy on family game night, Catan is a good gift to get. My teenage son loves this game, and our only regret is that we don't play it enough! It's a great strategy game and is so much fun for the young teens and adults in the family.
A fantastic gift for a death metal angsty teen. Encourage your teen to be more creative with a new and improved guitar. This Fender Squier set comes with everything he needs to jam out solo or with his friends.
Side note: Dads, you can TOTALLY teach your teens your favorite 90's rock songs!
Formerly the most subscribed channel on YouTube, Pewdiepie is a recognized content creator legend to gamers worldwide. Which makes this Pewds themed comfortable gaming chair a great option for the PC gamer in need of an ergonomic chair. The high back, headrest, and lumbar support provide extra comfort during those long hours of sitting.
Not a Pewdiepie fan? There are many other colors and styles available. Whether you’re buying this gift for someone else or for yourself, this is one of the best gaming chairs that will take gaming time to the next level!
Amanda
Amanda is a mom of four kids, two dogs, some chickens, and a few hundred composting worms. As a former teacher and fitness instructor, and the oldest of a houseful of kids, she has quite a bit of experience educating others – which she now does via writing! Gift giving isn’t her main love language, but she loves shopping for the perfect gifts for others.
You can find her on her main blog at amandaseghetti.com and on all social media @amandaseghetti <3
