Shopping for a 14-year-old can be tough. They’re just at the start of high school, meaning they're getting too old for toys, but are still too young for gifts that are solely practical or only functional. Our advice: Give the teen in your life something that perfectly straddles the line between cool and useful.
To make this mission easier for you, we pulled together this list of gifts that will tickle your 14-year-old's budding interests, whether it's music, sports, making TikToks or even computer programming. We even incorporated editor-approved picks and asked teenagers for some of the top items on their wish lists!
The best trending gifts for 14-year-olds
Some viral products can only talk the talk, but this buzzy body scrub also walks the walk. Just take it from one reviewer who rated this former Shop TODAY Beauty Award winner a perfect five: “This is my desert island pick and I want to shout it from the mountaintops! I consider myself a scrub aficionado — I’ve used expensive and not so expensive, and this is by far, hands down the ultimate scrub.”
Does your teen have a furry friend they love to hang out with and take care of? If so, you can get them a pillow that looks and is shaped exactly like your pet! They come in a variety of sizes and you can get them printed single- or double-sided.
Also known as “TikTok lights” because of how often they’re used on the social media app, these are a set of small lights your teen can hang in their bedroom and program to give off a wide variety of colored light. You can cut the light strip to fit your teen’s walls and they give off a rich, pigmented color — perfect for recording videos or simply setting the vibe in their room.
Tie-dye is an activity that’s stood the test of time and a fun way for your teen to spice up their clothes. With pretty colors like lavender, turquoise and sea green, this kit gives your family everything they need to have a tie-dye party.
Teens who can’t get enough of their favorite music or podcasts can enjoy them in the shower using this speaker. It comes with suction cups that stick it to the shower and it can blast tunes for up to six hours. It’s lightweight and has volume control.
Senior partnerships editor Francesca Cocchi Zabloudil can personally vouch for this pick: “I’m obsessed with this shower speaker — and it definitely exceeded my expectations, considering it’s less than $15,” she says. “If you know a teen who loves to listen to music or podcasts at all times, this is a great solution. They can keep it in the shower or elsewhere in the bathroom for easy listening while they get ready for the day.”
Zits, but make them cute? With these hydrocolloid patches from Starface, that’s absolutely possibly. Beyond getting rid of pimples overnight, your fave teen can feel good knowing they’re gentle enough for any skin type.
Do they have a sweet tooth? You can never go wrong with cookies, especially with this variety pack that contains 10 randomly selected classic flavors and two of the month’s seasonal cookies.
In the battle of viral water bottles, Owala is reigning supreme amongst its competitors with over 150 million views on TikTok. Social media mavens aren’t the only ones who adore its design — so does the Shop TODAY team!
Ortiz says she was a “loyal HydroFlask user” until she tried Owala. “With other water bottles, you either have to screw the top off to sip and have water fall all over you or use a built-in straw and have it exposed wherever you roam.” She likes that with the Owala “the lid covers the straw and then has an additional lock that secures it, but also doubles as a carrying hook.”
This game will give your 14-year-old and their friends hours of laughter — trust us.
Shop TODAY deputy managing editor Jess Bender highly recommends it. “Game nights at home have had a bit of a resurgence over the last couple of years, and this is one that has earned raves across a number of the Shop TODAY team. After playing over the span of a few nights with friends and family, I completely understand what the hype’s all about!” She adds that “the prompts range from serious to silly.”
Speaking of TikTok, if your teen is a budding content creator, they may want a ring light, which is a circular LED that creates consistent, bright lighting. This particular option comes with a Bluetooth range of up to 33 feet and a remote for hands-free filming.
If your teen likes to do homework all over the house, they’ll need a lap desk to get everything done comfortably. They can place their phone or tablet in the included media slot, and strap pencils and pens in with the desk’s elastic. All these features ensure an ergonomic lap desk experience wherever they go.
A cool addition to the DIY kit craze, this popular bubbly drink can now be made at home with ease. Available with two fat straws, tapioca pearls and two tea options, your giftee will be able to satisfy their boba craving from the comfort of home.
Made out of a durable, EVA plastic that helps these Birkenstocks be water-resistant and comfortable, they're also available in 12 colors, to match their every outfit of the day.
"I decided to buy these before a trip to Hawaii when I wanted a flip flop/sandal that had a bit more support but would also withstand the beach and the water," says social media video producer Anita Chomenko. "What I love about these is that they’re comfortable to walk in, and you don’t have to worry about them getting dirty. Put them under water and all the sand will come right off!"
Convenient for travel or tuning out their parents, these budget-friendly noise-cancelling headphones will drown out lingering ambient sounds. They have an average playtime of 50 hours, plus they charge up pretty quickly when they’re in a bind, according to the brand.
Polaroid-style physical photos are tons of fun to take and use as wall decoration. This camera comes in fun colors, has automatic exposure and even has a “selfie mode.” You can also buy film with cool designs, cute carrying bags and other accessories to make this their go-to camera.
Shop TODAY editor Vivien Moon was gifted this herself and it's become one of her "favorite new ways to keep track of memories and spend time with my friends.” Moon adds, “it really gets people into the spirit when an instant camera comes out, no matter what activity we’re doing (and I know teenage me would’ve been just as obsessed with it as I am now in my early 30s). I love how portable and cute this instant camera is and how it has the feeling of nostalgia with a modern twist courtesy of the fun design.”
They're classic, gender neutral and go with everything from sundresses to ripped denim. Plus, the teen in your life is probably coveting them after seeing their favorite celebs sporting them in street style photos.
Best gifts for 14-year-old girls
This rattan earring set is the perfect match for the fashion-forward girl in your life. They're an easy, fun and playful way to add some personality to a simple outfit.
Balm Dotcom is one of Glossier’s top products and it’s easy to see why. The lip balms come in a variety of “flavors” that boast great scents and they contain hydrating ingredients like lanolin and beeswax. It’s the ultimate statement lip balm!
Cocchi Zabloudil loves to have one of these internet-famous balms handy: “I have a bit of a lip balm obsession — I typically have more than one option in my bag, on my desk and on my nightstand at all times. The mango flavor is in my regular rotation.”
Hailey Bieber’s skin care brand is not only viral on social media, but truly effective. Gift this lip treatment that comes unscented or in “flavors” like watermelon, salted caramel and vanilla.
Shop TODAY partnerships editorial assistant Erica Marrison was surprised by how much she’s come to love this formula. “I have a reputation for being extremely particular about my fashion and beauty preferences, and it’s something I really can’t hide when it comes to lip products. While I wasn’t convinced until I finally tried it, Rhode’s Peptide Lip Treatment has earned its spot as my daily go-to,” she says.
It’s no surprise that teenage girls spend a lot of time in their rooms getting ready and hanging out with their friends. They can now make their bedroom an oasis with this adorable wall collage kit that includes over 1,000 pieces. This cute set includes over 150 artworks, more than 750 stickers, foam blocks, wall-safe tape and an instructional booklet for helping your teen create the ideal collage.
If they’re anticipating the return of the ultra-popular TV series, they can dive deep into the novels in the mean time.
“No one captures what it’s like to be a teen quite like Jenny Han. I adored this trilogy when I first read it in high school (the first book came out when I was in 9th grade), and I loved all three books just as much when I reread them as an adult after the Amazon Prime series came out,” says Cocchi Zabloudil.
Your self-care obsessed teen is definitely familiar with these two viral Sol de Janeiro products. Gift them these minis to keep in their bookbag to give themselves a refresh throughout the day.
At 14, she’ll want some more independence and the ability to go places like the movies or mall with friends alone. Keep her safe (and give yourself some peace of mind) with this bestselling personal safety alarm system that can clip onto her keys, backpack or fit in her pocket. It has a loud siren and flashing strobe lights to deter an attack and alert others in their surroundings of a potential emergency.
Whether they’re cozying up on the couch or wrapping themselves up while cramming for tests, this plush tie-dye blanket (available in 40+ hues) will keep them feeling toasty through thick and thin.
Best gifts for 14-year-old boys
John Green is famous for his teen fiction, including bestsellers like “The Fault in Our Stars,” Paper Towns” and “Looking for Alaska.” “Turtles All the Way Down” was released in 2017, but was recently adapted into a movie, making it a trending book again.
“I loved reading John Green as a teen and young adult and am thrilled to see this one getting another wave of interest thanks to the new movie,” says Cocchi Zabloudil.
Game of Phones is a card game using every teen’s favorite possession...their phone! Players grab a card and use their phones to answer prompts like: Draw an emoji masterpiece or show off the last photo you took. It’s a fast and exciting multiplayer game that’s great for both families and friend groups.
If he’s a big baseball fan, this scratch-off chart is sure to get him excited. It’s even something that the whole family can get involved with by taking trips to visit each park on the chart.
They may have outgrown their old toys, but is anyone ever too old for Lego? If your teen is an avid basketball fan, then they’ll definitely be excited to receive this trick shot set that doubles as room decor.
Spikeball is an engaging outdoor game, perfect for the beach or your backyard. Players stand around a net, trying to spike the ball onto the net in each other’s direction. It’s great for teens to get exercise and work together in teams. If your teen becomes great at the game, there have even been tournaments all over the country.
The Vans Old Skool are vintage-feeling shoes that are amazing for skateboarding or just walking to class. They’re durable, sturdy and have a style that’s effortlessly classic. Your teen will have no trouble pairing these iconic shoes with anything else in their wardrobe.
This is a functional and well-designed chair that is perfect for relaxing in their room or the den. Its rocking features ensure they can sit in a variety of poses while they’re gaming, and the chair can hook up to your television or a stereo.
How we chose the best gifts for 14-year-olds
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there to gift 14-year-olds. We comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present for the tween, teen and young adult on your list including 11-year-olds, 12-year-olds, 13-year-olds, 15-year-olds, 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds, 18-year-olds, 19-year-olds and 20-year-olds.