Never in the history of youthdom has a tween or teen ever wished for a practical gift in their Christmas stocking. While sensible gifts like underwear and gloves may serve an annual tradition under the Christmas tree, holiday stockings are a place for joyous and fun gifts like card games and festive candies.
That’s not to say that teens wouldn’t appreciate a quirky pair of socks, an Amazon gift card or new phone charger tucked inside. But as an add-on to some of the more serious, under-the-tree presents, we're inclined to say that stocking stuffers for teens should be about amusement and novelty.
So, if you’re on the hunt for the best stocking stuffers for your teenager, consider this guide a head start. No matter their interests, this list of small gifts is sure to impress.
Best stocking stuffers for teen boys
For anyone looking to give their shoes a little refresher, this is the perfect gift! Not only do these eliminate any bad odors from sneakers and shoes, but they were writer Emma Stessman's top choice compared to other shoe deodorizers tested as part of our Ranked series.
Your teen may not have inherited your pitch-perfect sound, but you can still pass on the gift of music with a Spotify Premium Gift Card. No ads, no interruptions, just endless tunes that you’ve never heard before.
Whether they fill it with water, smoothies or coffee, this tumbler is perfect for teens who are constantly on the go. It holds a drink’s temperature for hours on end, comes in 32 colors and is dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze. Oh, did we mention that you can customize it with an initial or a logo?
I [Hoeger] got this T-shirt for my outdoorsy, National Parks-loving boyfriend for Christmas last year. It's super soft, made out of a thick cotton and polyester fabric blend. Plus, it features a subtle graphic on the front and a more expansive one on the back, should he want to cover it up with a flannel or wear it as-is. The Landmark Project is a favorite brand of mine, thanks to their multiple lines, designs and products honoring the National Parks, from beanies to playing cards, wall calendars, bandanas and more."
“My boyfriend’s recently incorporated doing a clay mask into his Sunday evening routine in an effort to ‘be prettier’ (even though he’s quite pretty as is),” admits deputy managing editor Jess Bender. “Kiehl’s is one of the few skin care brands he trusts, so this was a no-brainer buy for him. He applies maybe about a tablespoon amount of product max, and it takes as little as 10 to 15 minutes to do, but it’s worked absolute wonders with cleaning out his deeply clogged pores and removing excessive oil.”
Best stocking stuffers for teen girls
This gift is useful, affordable and comes in six different colors. If you know someone who owns a car and finds themselves scrambling to find a safe place for their sunglasses, this gift is the perfect choice!
Anyone with a sweet tooth will be psyched to dig into this box of cake-inspired treats. If you play your cards right, you might get to give them a try. But no promises — this set of nine truffles is pretty tempting.
This initial necklace looks way more expensive than it is! Though we love it on its own, we think it can be easily and beautifully layered with other everyday accessories, too.
Phone charms are equal parts cute and convenient. This gold one looks like a trendy link bracelet, but wins major points in the function category, too.
If they struggle to find a claw clip that's able to contain their entire mane, gift them with one of the sturdiest ones associate editor Kamari Stewart has ever used.
"[It] even holds up all of my hair when it’s curly, which is a rare feat," she admits.
If they can’t seem to get enough of the Western styles gracing their social media platforms (think: coastal cowgirl and cowgirl Barbie), gift them with this porcelain catch-all that can serve as a jewelry tray or place to store their keys and other essentials.
They'll have a whale of a time during their skin care routine with these aquatic-shaped eye patches. Designed to rejuvenate skin underneath the eyes, this 15-pair pack of gel patches they can be used to repair the effects of pulling all-nighters or early morning sports practices. "When I take them off, the area under my eyes is wonderfully illuminated and moisturized," said one reviewer.
Know a teen who's looking for a travel bag upgrade for the new year? This trendy and useful bag from the Flat Lay Co. is an incredible option. Commerce editor and producer Julie Ricevuto says, "I have this makeup bag and love it! When opened, it lays flat so you can see all your makeup products inside without having to dig through everything. It’s made traveling a lot easier"
Add a personalized touch to any charm bracelet with Tiny Tags' birthstone charms. Social media editorial assistant Annie Shigo loves their product offerings because they're "really well made," she says.
For the foodie
Despite popular opinion, Bagel Bites are not a food group and a home-cooked meal is not Easy Mac. This introductory cookbook offers 100 easy recipes that require actual ingredients from an actual store. Your teen will marvel at what happens when they mix milk and eggs. Call it STEM, call it food science or just call it breakfast.
"I have a huge sweet tooth and gummies are my weakness," admits partnerships associate editor, Erica Marrison. "Recently, I was at an event where I was offered a pouch of these Better Sour gummies, and immediately after trying them, I searched for the brand online and placed an order. Needless to say: I'm obsessed. They're the first low-sugar gummies I've ever tried that don't taste artificial, and I love that the packaging still gives me the fun, childish kick I want in candy. Catch me slipping these into my bag all summer long. Better Sour gets a 10/10 from this gummy connoisseur!"
"This is as perfect a savory, spicy snack as you can get," says Bender. "The four-day process in which they put the cashews and edamame through during production results in a crunchier, more nutrient-dense mouthful that also happens to be insanely addictive, thanks to the mala spice mix from Fly by Jing brings the heat."
If they have a taste for the finer things in life, help them feel like a million bucks by slipping one of these caviar sets in their stocking.
"I would never buy it for myself because of the price, but always savor it when gifted a tin," says associate partnerships editor Lauren Witonsky. "This set from Meredith Marks Caviar comes with three different varieties to sample — though if I had to choose, I’d say I like the Platinum White Sturgeon the best. Plus, it comes with a Mother-of-Pearl spoon, which is a must for the taste test!"
Best book and game stocking stuffers
If they don’t know how to solve a Rubik’s cube, winter break is the perfect time to wrestle with the classic brain game. This coach cube features peeling stickers that your teen can remove as they improve their Rubik’s cube game.
Whether your teen is obsessed with this hit Netflix series or would prefer to read the book before their weekend binge session, you can gift them the novel that started it all.
For some screen-free time that allows them to create a DIY postcard of one of their favorite cities, or one that they've always wanted to visit, gift them with this miniature Lego set. Along with an instruction booklet, it includes 277 pieces!
"Codenames has become a staple in my family for game nights and holiday weekends," says senior partnerships editor Francesca Cocchi Zabloudil. "It’s fun for adults and teens alike — and definitely drums up some good-natured competitiveness."
This journal is dedicated to helping them find and reflect on mindful moments throughout their day with prompts such as “I am grateful for,” as well as visual charts, affirmations and more. It was also a winner in our 2024 Gifts We Love awards!
Still zany enough to play with their peers yet appropriate enough to play with their siblings, this family edition of Cards Against Humanity provides a fun game night, no matter who's in attendance. "I bought this for my 16 year old brother to play with the fam! It’s a hit!" said one reviewer.
Best tech stocking stuffers
iPhone 15 users are likely excited to deck out their devices with a new case, and there are plenty of flashy options available. If you know a guy or girl who likes to keep things sleek and simple, this lightweight case from Jiunai is a perfect option.
Have a teen who's obsessed with the idea of becoming TikTok-famous? They can film "OOTDs," "GRWMs" (acronyms galore!) and more while remaining hands-free thanks to this phone mount.
It sticks to virtually any surface — mirrors, walls, closet doors and more without harming their phone or the surface.
"I’m obsessed with this shower speaker — and it definitely exceeded my expectations, considering it’s less than $15," says Cocchi Zabloudil. "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."
Talk about a throwback! Teens will be entertained by a Tamagotchi if for no other reason than the novelty of it being a “relic.” Challenge them to keep at alive at least until dinnertime.
It may be hard to believe, but disposable cameras are back! Whether they use them to capture the rest of their winter break or take on a vacation with them, they'll have a scrapbook that looks similar to yours did when you were younger. Reviewers love them because they're easy to use and easy to develop as well.
How we chose the best stocking stuffers for teens
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides for everyone on your list, including kids, babies, families, and more.
