51 cool gifts for teens 2021: best present ideas for teenage boys & girls

Last modified on Apr 21, 2021 12:04 BST Katherine Robinson Need a cool present for the teenage boy or girl in your life? From gifts for the fashion and beauty-obsessed or an avid gamer or sports mad, we've taken the stress out of gift shopping. Shop Nike, Benefit, Nintendo & MORE..

Looking for a present idea for the teenager in your life? Teens can be hard to buy for – and with that in mind, we've scoured the best online retailers for the best present ideas for teen girls and teen boys of all ages.

Whether you're shopping for your fashion and beauty-obsessed teen niece or your avid gamer teen son, we’ve got you covered. These cool gifts will earn you major brownie points on birthdays and special occasions!

RELATED: 19 best Girl Boss gifts to celebrate the amazing women in your life

Nike Air force 1 Pixel leopard, £94.95 ASOS

SHOP NOW

The sneaks that redefined street style have been given a revamp and they couldn't be more cool. Get these freshly-launched Nike Air Force 1 crater trainers before they sell out.

Revlon One Step Dryer & Volumiser, was £79.99 now £59.99, Amazon

SHOP NOW

A TikTok-approved hairstyler is the perfect gift for teenage girls. It has gone viral with over 90 million hashtag views and it's easy to see why – combines the power of a dryer and volume of a styler to deliver effortlessly beautiful, full-bodied and frizz-free hair with 22% more shine and in up to half the time. It's available in both large and small barrel sizes – the large one pictured above is best for longer hair, find the smaller one for short hair here .

Tamagotchi, £15.99, Amazon

SHOP NOW

Most parents will remember the joy of rearing their own digital pet – and now the 90s toy is back and has been given a snazzy 2021 makeover with new styles and patterns. These Tamagotchis will keep teens on their toes – there's hours of fun to be had.

Monster Hunter rise collector's edition, was £89.99 now £79.99, Amazon

SHOP NOW

If your teen has a Nintendo Switch, this new launch makes the perfect gift idea. It's an epic open-world game where they must battle fearsome monsters and use rewards to craft a huge variety of weapons and armour. If you don't want the collector’s edition you can also grab the regular game for 20 quid cheaper at the above link.

Salter handbag style toastie maker, £24.99, Amazon

SHOP NOW

A toastie maker that looks like a Chanel handbag? What could be more perfect, teen girls will love this one!

Daisy Eau so Fresh spring, £70, The Perfume Shop

SHOP NOW

Marc Jacobs' freshly launched 2021 spring scent will transport your teen girl to a world of blooming daises and lush greenery with notes of green tea blossom, matcha and a bright burst of pink pepper. And you can buy it gift wrapped, perfect!

GXT 105 Izza illuminated gaming mouse, £12.99, GAME

SHOP NOW

This seriously cool mouse is a must-have gift for PC gamer teens! It lights up in a rainbow of jazzy colours, has an ambidextrous design to suit both left-handed and right-handed players, has six responsive buttons and a long braided cable which makes it durable and tangle resistant. Definitely one to elevate their gaming experience!

American Originals cinema style popcorn maker, £74.99, Argos

SHOP NOW

This is perfect for movie night! Cinema-style popcorn in minutes, just add oil. It has everything you need to make up to 16 cups of popcorn and includes 4 popcorn buckets, popcorn serving tray, a kernel spoon and oil spoon.

Trust gaming resto chair, was £199 now £179, Amazon

SHOP NOW

I know what you're thinking – nearly 200 quid for a chair? But trust me, if you're a gamer, this is not a chair, it's a throne! It's fitted with a premium class 4 gas lift, which lets you seamlessly adjust it from 47 to 54.5 cm. And the backrest is adjustable over 90 degrees, meaning you could even put the backrest flat for a quick rest after a sweeping victory! It can also be tilted forward to reduce pressure on the legs, or tilt it backwards to properly align your spine to prevent back problems. You have to consider these things if your teen spends hours gaming. Needless to say, the armrests' height is adjustable as well and it comes with two removable and adjustable cushions to provide optimal comfort.

Exotic paisley flip flops, £14.99, Gandys

SHOP NOW

How about a gift that helps give back? These cute flip flops are by travel-inspired fashion line Gandys. It has an incredible back story – the brand was started by brothers Rob and Pal Gandy after they lost their parents in the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. The duo are dedicated to doing good, by building kids’ campuses and giving back to other underprivileged children around the world.

915 Boys embroidered grey camo hoodie , £16.99 and matching joggers , £14.99, both New Look

SHOP NOW

New Look has just launched 915 Boys – their first-ever collection for boys aged nine to 15, and it’s packed with pieces that would make great gifts for teen boys, including slogan tees and cool loungewear sets, like the camo two-piece above. Another reason to shop is that pieces in this line are part of New Look Kind, clothes that are more sustainable and friendlier to the planet. Whether that's 100% organic cotton tops, jeans made using less water and nasty chemicals, or sweatshirts and joggers made with responsibly grown fabrics, you'll be able to find styles that will make him look good and feel it, too.

Cosrx Advanced Snail Mucin Power essence gel, £23.99, Boots

SHOP NOW

Here's a quirky vegan beauty treat your teen girl will love. It's a glow-giving skincare essence that sinks instantly into skin for a refreshing hit of moisture and it's enriched with Snail Secretion Filtrate, a wonder K-Beauty ingredient that helps to protect the skin from moisture loss. Supermodel Emily Ratajkowski is a fan, so if it's good enough for her….

Pinky Goat Lashes FARAH, £9.99, Superdrug

SHOP NOW

These luscious lashes are cruelty-free, handmade, and vegan. Using durable faux mink material and can be reused up to 15 times. They're a global bestseller and Rita Ora ‘s lash of choice so you can be sure they'll get the thumbs up from any beauty-loving teenage girl.

Fauna Audio eyewear, £249, Selfridges

SHOP NOW

This new piece of smart tech will win ultimate brownie points – they are futuristic Bluetooth audio glasses – available as either blue light blocking glasses or sunnies. What on earth do they do, you may ask? Well they give you gorgeous sound, while also looking gorgeous. These fashionable specs let you listen to your favourite music and audiobooks and keep your hands free when taking phone calls. You can listen privately while still staying open to the environment with multi-layer sound.

Music amp design mini fridge, £199, Amazon

SHOP NOW

This genius mini fridge will make teens the envy of their friends – it's made to look like a music amp and it's great for stashing drinks and snacks for gaming or study sessions in their bedrooms.

Home-made ice cream maker, £32.99, Amazon

SHOP NOW

This is a fun teen gift idea – a machine that lets you make your own fruit sorbets and flavoured ice cream at home in just 15-25 minutes Gift it with the Ben & Jerry's ice cream recipe book and you're onto a winner!

FOREO UFO 2, £249, FOREO

SHOP NOW

Teen girls – and some boys too, this is 2021 after all – love a beauty gadget, and this is the ultimate! A fab update on the original UFO model, it delivers a spa-worthy skincare experience in just 90 seconds. Its skincare routines are fully customisable via the special app and it makes use of full-spectrum LED light and advanced thermo-therapy to give you the most radiant skin imaginable. You could say it’s out of this world, is that why they called it the UFO I wonder?

Florence by Mills Hit Snooze lip mask, £16, and Hit Reset moisturising pearls, £34, both at Beauty Bay

SHOP NOW

Florence by Mills is a brand that Gen Zers can’t get enough of. It’s a range of skincare and makeup by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown – aka Mils and the two latest launches are our top pick for gifts for teens. The lip mask can be applied at night and left on for soft and hydrated lips in the morning and the mask pearls are bursting with nourishing ingredients to leave skin feeling soothed, soft and supple.

Good Karma cards, £7.99, eBay

SHOP NOW

Who couldn't use a bit of extra karma? Each card contains a prompt to help your teen boost their karma. It's a motivational gift that encourages acts of kindness, you can't get better than that.

Magical Kitchen – the unofficial Harry Potter cookbook, £14.99, Amazon

SHOP NOW

If your teen muggle thinks cooking is boring then this book will turn them into a wizard chef before you can say Hufflepuff! Fun and easy recipes include Butterbrew (known today as butterbeer) and Pumpkin Pasties, to powerful potions such as Amortentia and Liquid Luck. Spellbinding!

Benefit big brow love set, £30, Lookfantastic

SHOP NOW

Any teen girl worth her salt knows that eyebrows absolutely need to be #onfleek – so she'd love to get this gift. The Benefit Big Brow Love Gift set nets you £67.50 worth of products for £30 – three of the brands full-size brow bestsellers. There's everything here you need to create beautiful, natural-looking full brows and it's available in three different shades.

Nike Velvet box bag in black, £24.99, ASOS

SHOP NOW

This Nike velvet box bag goes with everything and it's just so strokeable – what's not to love?

Big Bold in Bioceramic, 108, Swatch

SHOP NOW

Many parents rocked Swatch watches in the 80s and 90s and just look how far they're come. The newest model, the Big Bold in Bioceramic, is painfully cool – one third bio-sourced plastic, two thirds ceramic and 100% stylish. Teen boys and girls will love these slick timepieces, which are available in black, grey, sky blue and powder pink.

Personalised Gothic game necklace, £28.99, Etsy

SHOP NOW

Every teenager needs a personalised gold name necklace – this trendy gothic version is great for both teen boys and teen girls and comes in a number in a number of different chain lengths and styles.

PuroGamer headset, £39.99 Amazon

SHOP NOW

Crystal-clear sounds with a volume-limiter to protect teen ears, this headset not only looks good and sounds fab, it also does some good too. Maintaining amazing sound quality, it limits sounds about 85dB, ensuring in the heat of the action, your teen doesn’t end up damaging their hearing. The mic is also super-clear too. They’re very comfortable to wear – not too bulky or warm when gaming gets hectic, plus they’re lightweight and foldable so are super-portable.

Take brighter selfies light, £9.99, Firebox

SHOP NOW

No-one loves a selfie more than teen girls and boys, am I wrong? Well, they will thank you for this selfie light, which clips neatly on top of all smartphones tablets and laptops – that's their Christmas zoom parties covered too! It has three levels of brightness to achieve that perfect glow and has a halo of LEDs for an even distribution of light.

Get off your phone activity book, £12.99 now £9.75, Firebox

SHOP NOW

Need to give your teen a subtle hint? This Get Off Your Phone book is part journal, part colouring book, part advice on how to take a break and make the most of the real world. It's sure to raise a smile – and who knows, it might just work!

USE CODE: HELLO5OFF TO GET 5% OFF AT CHECKOUT

Brazen Python 2.0 Bluetooth Surround Sound Gaming Chair, £83.98, Amazon

SHOP NOW

A fantastic gaming chair for console-mad teens with the added benefit for mum and dad that it folds in half for easy storage when not in use! The chair is powered by the mains and has two surround-sound speakers built in to make sure your teen is fully immersed in the action whenever they're gaming. Compatible with all devices (Switch, Xbox, PS4) it’s also remarkably comfortable to sit on, rocking back and forth as you extend your legs, allowing for acrobatic celebrations when that virtual goal is scored. Those more into PC gaming may prefer the Brazen Phantom Elite .

SHOP: 75 gift ideas guaranteed to cheer up loved-ones in isolation

RELATED: 20 best music gifts for the budding musician in your life

Black chain detail leggings, £55, River Island

SHOP NOW

Most teen girls live in leggings, and we bet they would love these fancy pair – which feature a gold chain detail. They'd look great with some cool sneaks and a bright cropped hoodie.

Curve slippers, £99, mahabis

SHOP NOW

If you think slippers are frumpy then prepare to have your mind changed. Take a look at these space-age designs – possibly the coolest slippers on the planet and perfect for fashion-conscious teens. The mahabis curve is designed to improve shock absorption and grip and is crafted from recycled materials and come in a range of neutral shades and colour pop soles.

Lenovo Quad HD Gaming Monitor (27″), £449, AO.com

SHOP NOW

Want to give your gaming-mad teen the ultimate gift? This Lenovo HD gaming monitor will guarantee grins as you elevate your PC gamer’s play experience to an entirely new level. The visuals in your game literally pop off the screen and the high refresh rate means this monitor can keep up with whatever you throw at it – from high-octane battle scenes to speed-demon racing games. This Lenovo IPS monitor offers unrivalled viewing angles and has some of the best colour accuracy for content creation. But if you’re after something at a different price point or size, AO has a fantastic selection still available.

RELATED: 29 home office must-haves that make the best working from home gifts

Pac-Man Quarter Size Arcade Game, £129, Amazon

SHOP NOW

This quarter-sized Pac-Man arcade game is a must-have in any teen den. And we’ll be honest, any parents who loved the original Pac-Man game will be sneaking in at any opportunity to gulp a few ghosts and get a High Score! At nearly 17 inches tall, this is not a mini-game – you can see the screen very clearly and features the original 1980s ROM.

Impala skates in holographic, £91.16, Impala Skate

SHOP NOW

If you’ve seen the cool skater crew on Instagram and TikTok working their magic on wheels, you’ll know this could be the perfect gift for a teenager who wants to have a little fun. These holographic roller skates will bring a smile to their face and they come in a whole array of designs.

Mudmasky limited edition classics set, £98.94, Mudmasky

SHOP NOW

Remember the days when a face mask was just gunk that you spread on your face to make your skin glow? Sigh. Well, these cruelty free, all-natural face masks (of the traditional pre-2020 meaning) are not just seriously brilliant, they’re perfect for busy teens as they’re designed to be left on. So there’s no sitting around for ages waiting for them to work and you can skip the messy wash-off. That’s with the exception of the delicious-smelling morning boost mask, which you simply smooth on, brush your teeth, then wash and go. This fab gift set has over £202 worth of product for just under £99.

Marshmallow set: top £26.40 bottoms £36.96, Butterfly Breeze set: top £49.03 bottoms £41.49, Creamsicle set: top £49.03 bottoms £41.49, Blackbough Swim

SHOP NOW

Blackbough Swim are known for their gorgeous Influencer-approved swimwear, but they also do fab cosy loungewear that teens are sure to love, especially tie dye enthusiasts. And when we are finally allowed to travel again, they can get the bikini to match!

Vlogging light, £19.99, Firebox

SHOP NOW

Do you have the next YouTube star at home? If your teen loves recording makeup tutorials or videos of themselves gaming then this is an essential piece of kit. It has three settings – cool light, warm light, warm yellow light and adjustable brightness for the perfect close up and it clips to any surface to hold your smartphone in place for hands-free vlogging

Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Steering Wheel Adaptor, £14.99, Amazon

SHOP NOW

If your teen is into his or her Nintendo Switch, this nifty adaptor will transform their joy con into a proper steering wheel – Mario Cart here we come!

Wild deodorant Lavender Haze, from £12, Wild

SHOP NOW

I know what you’re thinking – deodorant as a present? But hear me out – this isn’t just any deodorant and it’s perfect for eco-conscious teens. Posted straight to your door in 100% recyclable packaging, Wild deodorant refills are available as a one-off purchase or part of a subscription service. Choose a case in a range of fab colours including aqua, coral, purple and silver with scents ranging from Orange Zest to Coconut Dreams and Lavender Haze scent. Their refills are entirely plastic-free and are made using bamboo pulp which is 100% recyclable and home compostable. Basically, once your teen has their Wild case they won't ever have to think about buying a plastic deodorant ever again.

Pioneer DDJ-200 Smart DJ Controller, was £149.99 now £139.99, Selfridges

SHOP NOW

Got the next big EDM star in your fam? If your teen is obsessed with the latest dance tracks, they're sure to be in heaven with this Pioneer DJ controller gift. Just connect it to a smartphone, tablet or PC or Mac to start mixing, and it comes with free usage of the WeDJ app to help them get their music career off the ground.

PopGrip Lips 100% Cotton Candy (more flavours available) £16.99, Popsockets

SHOP NOW

If your teen has a mobile (highly likely) then they need a PopGrip – it sticks on to the back of the phone and serves as a grip or stand so they can take better selfies or watch cat videos hands free. The special Lips edition has a built in, refillable, cruelty free lip balm and it's swappable so they can change designs or flavours as the mood suits them. Perfect!

Instax mini LiPlay camera Stone White, £134.95, Amazon

SHOP NOW

This hybrid camera is both a printer and Polaroid-style camera in one. It's even better than the retro style polaroid, however, as you can retake your picture as many times as you want before you print it, and add filters and barcodes and sound to your snaps.

Tommy Hilfiger Boy 50ml cologne, £20, Lookfantastic

SHOP NOW

With top notes of Bergamot, Grapefruit and mint mingling with middle notes of green apple and cranberry for a subtle fruity twist, Tommy Hilfiger's classic scent is fresh and crisp and your teen boy will love it.

Nightmare Horror Adventures, £24.99, Amazon

SHOP NOW

Teens aged 16 and over who love scary movies will love this spooky emersive board game. Up to five players step into the roles of the five Crafton children who were orphaned 15 years ago after a grisly murder ended the lives of their parents. They must revisit their childhood home and work as a team to explore forgotten rooms, discover repressed memories and uncover the truth step by step.

ISSA 2 sonic toothbrush, £ 149, Foreo

SHOP NOW

If you're always bugging your teen to take care of their teeth – you only get one set etc etc – then this space-age sonic toothbrush will help your case. It looks super cool, the ultra soft silicone bristles give a superior clean and the best thing – one charge lasts an incredible 365 days! No excuses!

30 minute young driver experience, £39.99, Buyagift

SHOP NOW

Is your teenager desperate to get behind the wheel? Just because they can't drive on a road until they're 17 doesn't mean they can't practice before hand! The 30-minute young driver experience is run by the UK's largest under 17 driving academy and is designed for 10-17 year-olds to learn the basics of driving with a qualified instructor. There are 61 locations UK wide that run the course. If they want a bit extra, there's a one hour experience available.

Baby Yoda desktop LED light, £19.99, Firebox

SHOP NOW

All teens love The Child – aka Baby Yoda –  so snap up one of these newly launched baby Yoda desktop lights before they sell out.

Marc Jacobs Perfect eau de parfum 50ml, £57, John Lewis

SHOP NOW

Marc Jacob's perfume launch for her, Perfect, was inspired by his mantra: “I am perfect as I am” – which is a message we should all get our teen girls to get behind. It's a floral scent, with notes of rhubarb and bright daffodil and almond milk mixed with a soft dry down of cedarwood and cashmeran.

Speed classic micro scooter mint, £139.95, Micro Scooters

SHOP NOW

You can cut the school run time in half – and encourage your teen to do some exercise of the non-boring kind – with a speed classic micro scooter. They're unbelievably lightweight, agile and fast, and have a fancy shock dampening system to absorb bumps in the road. It also folds in half meaning it's super easy to store and carry and is suitable from ages 12 to adult.

hur.iron classic, £129, hur hair

SHOP NOW

If your teen is just getting into hairstyling products, then the hur.iron classic is a good place to start. Simple and easy-to-use, these hair straighteners are designed for daily use and for all hair styles – a universal styling hero!

FRIENDS: The Complete Series – DVD, £49.99, Warner Bros

SHOP NOW

There’s no way you can go wrong with a FRIENDS DVD box set! All teenagers will love watching and re-watching the funniest episodes from the hit TV show.

HELLO!’s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page .