Thirteen is such an exciting time – you officially have a little teenager in your life! However, thirteen comes with its own drawbacks too, like what on earth to get him for his birthday?
Boys become a little trickier to buy gifts for around this age. What tech is trendy? What clothes will he actually wear? Do they still enjoy games when they’re a teen?
Fear not, we’re here to help.
We’ve done the research to find gifts across a range of departments that any teenage boy will be excited to show off to his friends. Whether you’re looking to splurge on the latest gadget or find a fun token gift to mark the occasion, with our gift guide, the thirteen-year-old boy in your life is going to have the best, and coolest, birthday yet.
Clothing, Shoes, Jewelry & Watches
Getting a thirteen-year-old boy clothing, shoes, jewelry, or a watch that isn’t “cool” is going to result in a very “cringe” moment (teenagers aren’t very subtle). But don’t panic – clothing and accessories are still a great option to get a teenage boy.
To help you out, we’ve found clothes, shoes, jewelry, and watches that are trendy, practical, or both! We’ve even thrown in a funny gift or two if you’re just looking to tease him. He’s going to love rocking these items in front of his fellow teen friends on his birthday.
Fulllight Bluetooth Beanie Hat
This Fulllight Bluetooth Beanie Hat does more than just keep a guy’s head and ears warm in cold weather. It also lets him listen to his favorite songs and make hands-free calls through Bluetooth. This winter hat has a battery that can work up to 20 hours, so the birthday boy can enjoy cold-weather outdoor fun while listening to his favorite jams.
Official Teenager T-Shirt
On his 13th birthday, a boy has finally entered the teen world, and this Official Teenager T-Shirt lets the whole world know. The solid black tee is made of 100% cotton. On the front of the shirt, the bold font reads “Warning: Official Teenager, Do Not Approach.” This humorous birthday tee is sure to be a hit with a brand-new teen.
Educational
You might be thinking, “an educational gift… for a thirteen-year-old… really?” But actually yes. While a teenager might never admit to enjoying school, they’ll be taking a real interest in hobbies right now. So what better way to help develop their interests than with gifts that will teach them cool stuff like guitar and coding?
Or send them on an exciting quest with the likes of The Lord of the Rings or Maze Runner books. If he’s an independent teen, we’ve got gifts to help him navigate his journey into adulthood too. These educational gifts are so much fun, a thirteen-year-old birthday boy won’t even realize how much he’s learning.
Life Skills 101: Everything You Need But Won’t Learn In School By Ivi Green
Life Skills 101: Everything You Need But Won’t Learn In School can help teens learn life skills as they find their place in the world. Covering topics such as managing time, setting goals, limiting distractions, and child-parent relationships, each page is visually stimulating with easy-to-read soundbites. This book can be a practical guide as a teen enters high school or starts his first job.
Fender Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
The Fender Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar bundle would make a great new hobby. It has a spruce top, basswood back and sides, and a 20-fret walnut fingerboard. Guitar picks, a Fender chromatic clip-on tuner, a guitar strap, and replacement strings all come with this bundle so he can start practicing right away. It also includes a gig bag so a teen can take this guitar anywhere he wants to go.
Shashibo Shape Shifting Box
The Shashibo Shape Shifting Box lets kids create 70 unique shapes using only one box. This award-winning puzzle toy includes 36 rare earth magnets. Teens can experiment with different patterns and shapes to create 3D art. You can also connect this box with other shapeshifters for unlimited building possibilities. This fidget toy can help kids relieve stress while engaging the mind.
The Manual to Manhood By Jonathan Catherman
You can make a 13-year-old’s transition from boy to manhood easier with The Manual to Manhood by Jonathan Catherman. This book walks boys through important life skills, like how to talk to a girl, grill a steak, manage money, write a resume, and more. It walks through scenarios step-by-step in kid-friendly language. A teenager can enter new situations confidently with this book at his fingertips.
Let’s Start Coding Code Rocket
A 13-year-old will enjoy trying out his coding skills with this friendly Let’s Start Coding Code Rocket. This kit includes everything he’ll need, including a USB cable, LED lights, buttons, a speaker, and more. Kids can start by using coding blocks and then progress to the more complex test-based code. When the rocket is finished, a kid can watch it light up and make noises.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
A teenager can journey through an imaginary world in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series. These four classic stories include fantasy characters like the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins; Gandalf, the wizard; and the creature, Gollum. As the main characters set forth on quests through strange lands, they unknowingly also embark upon an adventure of self-discovery.
The Maze Runner Series
The Maze Runner boxed set includes five books that follow Thomas and the Gladers as they discover WICKED and the secrets of the seemingly endless maze. The books from this #1 New York Times bestselling series include The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure, The Kill Order, and The Fever Code. These action-packed, suspenseful stories will capture the imagination of a thirteen-year-old boy.
Electronics
Electronics will be right in a thirteen-year-old boy’s wheelhouse. If you’re not sure what the latest tech is and whether he’ll enjoy it, we’ve done the research to help you out.
If you’re looking to really treat the new teen in your life, you can’t go wrong with the latest PlayStation or Xbox. Or if gaming isn’t his thing, and he’s more into music or capturing moments with his friends, we’ve found the tech that will make these hobbies much more fun. Awesome gadgets don’t need to be expensive – a thirteen-year-old boy will really appreciate any one of these electronics on his birthday.
Kodak Digital Instant Camera
A birthday boy can enjoy some retro fun with this Kodak Digital Instant Camera. This camera maintains the charm of the original Polaroid cameras with the ease of updated technology. This camera focuses automatically, has a 10-second timer, and can save photos directly to a device to print later. This Kodak camera is a perfect way for a teenager to make memories.
Beats Studio Buds
Beats Studio Buds will maximize music and video games for a teenage boy. These wireless earbuds have a clear and powerful sound and two listening modes. Active Noise Cancelling lets you enjoy an immersive sound experience, while in Transparency mode, you can hear some ambient sounds. A teen boy will get plenty of use out of these Beats Studio Buds.
PlayStation PS5 Console God of War Ragnarök Bundle
This PlayStation PS5 Console God of War Ragnarök Bundle includes a PlayStation 5 console, base, HDMI cable, AC power cord, USB cable, and a God of War full game voucher. A DualSense Wireless Controller allows players to feel a part of this Norse world through immersive haptic feedback. The high-quality scenery and enhanced deformable snow make a perfect backdrop for battles and adventure.
Microsoft – Xbox One S 500GB Console
A young teen will thoroughly enjoy playing games on this Microsoft Xbox One S 500GB Console. The Xbox One S has a slim design, and the crisp colors let you feel fully immersed in the game. It also supports 4K Ultra HD video streaming for a high-quality viewing experience. There are a ton of great games to play and it can hold up to 12 games at a time.
JBL Quantum 300
The JBL Quantum 300 wired headphones are a gamer’s dream come true. This headset has a boom microphone and uses echo-canceling technology for full immersion in a game. Under the PU leather ear cushions is a layer of memory foam for a higher comfort level during long gaming sessions. A thirteen-year-old will love the high-quality experience these headphones offer while he games.
Nintendo Switch
A Nintendo Switch OLED Model with White Joy-Con will bring a thirteen-year-old boy a high-quality gaming experience. The vivid colors make scenes and characters come alive on the 7-inch OLED screen. It can use wired and wireless internet connections and has an internal storage of 64 GB. Handheld and tabletop mode means he can take the Nintendo Switch with him anywhere he goes.
JBL Flip 5 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
A music-loving teen can take the party with him with this JBL Flip 5 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker. This Bluetooth speaker is small enough to carry on your wrist and can play music for up to 12 hours. Its durable rubber exterior means it’s protected, even outdoors. He can turn up the bass and let the good times roll with this portable, waterproof speaker.
Meta Quest 2 Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset
A thirteen-year-old can experience gaming in a whole new way with this Meta Quest 2 Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset. This VR headset immerses you in your favorite action-packed games through its 3D positional audio, hand tracking, and haptic feedback. You don’t need to invest in a console to enjoy games with this wireless Meta Quest 2 VR Headset. Instead, you can store them directly in the headset.
Entertainment
It’s unfortunate to admit, but when he’s not at school or spending time in extracurricular activities or with friends, then a thirteen-year-old boy is going to need entertainment. And this definitely won’t be with his parents.
To prevent the dreaded words of “I’m bored!”, we’ve found the best gifts that will keep a teenage boy occupied for hours on end. He’ll love trying out these entertaining gifts on his thirteenth birthday.
Minecraft Dungeons: Hero Edition
Minecraft Dungeons: Hero Edition is an action-packed adventure game. Players can fight their way through dungeons using melee swings, put on heavy armor for protection, or try a ranged attack. Minecraft Dungeons requires planning and strategy to make it through to the other side. With a hero pass, players have additional perks: a hero cape, extra skins, and a pet chicken.
Home, Garden, & Tools
Though time spent at home might be few and far between when they’re thirteen, you want to make sure that when they are there, it’s a place where they can fully relax and recharge.
A teenage boy is likely going to want his room to feel super personal to him, so a gift card that lets him deck it out to his taste is a great option. Or if he’s a true gamer, then a gaming chair will be much appreciated – both now and when he’s an adult without a bad back! However he likes to spend his time at home, we’ve got the best gifts that will make it more fun and comfortable for a thirteen-year-old boy.
Steam Gift Card
With a Steam $50 Wallet Card, gamers get access to exclusive deals and thousands of games. Steam gives kids the opportunity to share ideas, communicate, and create unique content through game groups, clans, and in-game chats. This gift card can provide hours of entertainment for a thirteen-year-old boy, and he can even influence new video game creations as he plays.
Winshare Puzzle Box Enigma Secret Discovery
If you plan on giving a thirteen-year-old boy money for his birthday, this Winshare Puzzle Box Enigma box makes it more exciting. He’ll need to use strategy to get the money inside this enigma. Don’t worry, you don’t have to solve it to put money inside! Simply slide the bills into the slot on the side of the box. After he solves the puzzle, a teen can use the box as a bank.
Amazon Gift Card
If you’re not sure what a teenage boy wants, you can let him find his own gift with this Amazon gift card. The card doesn’t expire, so a teen can use the gift card online when he finds an item that would make his birthday wish come true. This Amazon gift card comes gift-ready in a metal wooden-looking box with a blue stripe.
Razer Enki Gaming Chair
This black and green Razer Enki Gaming Chair provides back support for a growing teen who spends hours at a computer. It has a premium memory foam head cushion, a reactive seat tilt, an ultra-wide seat base, and reclines up to 152 degrees. Whether doing homework online or playing video games, a teen will be grateful for this comfy gaming chair.
Kids & Babies Toys
While there are toys out there that a thirteen-year-old boy will roll his eyes at, there are still a ton of games that they’re going to love.
Games that they can play with friends in particular will always be a huge hit. LEGO ticks a whole bunch of boxes too – it’s something that can be bought in a franchise he loves, it challenges his brain, and results in something cool he can proudly display in his room. Our recommendations for toys and games will be a huge hit for a thirteen-year-old boy on his birthday, and will help you feel like he’s not growing up so fast!
LEGO Minecraft The Nether Bastion
A fan of the video game Minecraft will enjoy building this 3D Nether Bastion LEGO set. First, he must follow the step-by-step instructions to create this 300-piece brick-built adventure set. Then, he can fight off foes to reach the Nether Bastion and gather red mushrooms, soul torches, blocks of gold, soul fire, and more. With five LEGO Minecraft characters, the adventures are ready to begin.
Nerf Fortnite 6-SH Dart Blaster
A kid can recreate the fun of Fortnite challenges in real life with this Nerf Fortnite 6-SH Dart Blaster. This blaster replica comes in a Camo Pulse wrap to look just like the blaster characters in Fortnite. Pull the hammer down and press the trigger to send a foam dart flying. This Fortnite-inspired nerf gun can get a thirteen-year-old away from the computer and outdoors with his friends.
LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian Imperial Light Cruiser
A Star Wars fan will enjoy building this highly detailed Mandalorian Imperial Light Cruiser. This LEGO Star Wars set includes 1,336 total pieces and the five popular characters, the Mandalorian, Cara Dune, Fennec Shand, Moff Gideon, a Dark Trooper, plus a tiny Baby Yoda. A teen can enjoy staging mock battles using the starship’s spring-loaded shooters, plus a hatch full of weapons.
Speks Geode Magnetic Fidget Sphere
The Speks Geode Magnetic Fidget Sphere includes 12 magnetic pentagon disks for teens to build creative shapes. Connect the sides to form a 3D geode, or stack the tiles to build towers. Each pentagon has five rare earth magnets so they can self-align in your palm. These compact fidget disks can help relieve stress and bring out a teen’s creative side.
Harry Potter Wizard Chess Set
Playing chess can be even more fun for a teen with this Harry Potter Wizard Chess Set. This chess set contains 32 detailed characters and is remarkably similar to the Final Challenge Chess Set from the first Harry Potter film. A thirteen-year-old can practice strategies and use critical thinking skills to defeat the White King and win a game of Harry Potter chess.
Monopoly Fortnite Edition
A teen can experience Fortnite in a new way with this board game. Instead of using regular Monopoly rules, this game cranks the competition up a notch. The players must fight for survival while claiming locations, facing off with other players, and avoiding the Storm. The board pieces can even change outfits! This board game will bring the joy of Fortnite to the game table.
Sports
Many teenage boys are sports-mad, so gifts that help them enjoy the hobby more will be much appreciated. Or if they’re not so into sports, but you’re keen to get them outside more, we’ve found alternative sports gifts that they’ll love giving a go.
Tech that tracks their fitness will also have them fanatical about how much time they spend outdoors too. With our top sports gifts, the thirteen-year-old boy in your life is going to be eager to get outside and play on his birthday.
ChromeWheels 31-inch Skateboard
A teen can enjoy outdoor fun with friends using this Chrome Wheels 31-inch Skateboard. The skateboard is suitable for beginners up to advanced skaters. The PU wheels are equipped with an anti-shock design for a smooth ride on any terrain. A thirteen-year-old can take a break from his electronics and join his friends at the local skate park to practice his skills.
Fitbit Charge 2
An active teen will love a Fitbit Charge 2 to track his fitness progress and get to classes on time. This watch can give updates on your steps, exercise, heart rate, sleep, and more. The OLED display lets the wearer see call and text notifications, making it easy to keep up with family and friends. A thirteen-year-old can gain independence and keep fit with this high-tech wristwatch.
Wrapping Up
Becoming a teenager is a super exciting milestone in a boy’s life, though they may not show it (who knows what a teenager thinks these days!) But buying a gift for a thirteen-year-old can be a little bit of a challenge. When friends and hobbies are their life, it makes it harder to know what they’re into, what’s trendy, and what they’ll actually appreciate.
To help make your gift-buying experience easier, we’ve found the top gifts across a range of departments and budgets so that no matter if he has definite interests or you’re not so sure, there’s an option for you. With our recommendations, a thirteen-year-old boy is guaranteed to have an absolute blast on his birthday.
