These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (2024)

From the unusual and the unique to the popular and trendy, this is what teens what this year.

By Jeff Bogle
These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (1)

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Buying gifts for teen boys doesn't have to be as stinky an experience as doing their laundry! When it comes to what to buy your young adult, you have so many choices, from the retro to the high-tech. And don’t worry about breaking the bank because there are plenty of rad gifts for teen boys at different price ranges, too. You just need to know what they're into — and let's be honest, if the teens in your life are like mine, that's easy because they never stop talking about it.

Check out our ultimate gift guide list for 2024

If you still need some suggestions, these are the best gifts for teen boys in 2024, some of which have earned top marks from Good Housekeeping Institute tests. Others, like the ingenious smartphone-controlled paper airplane, clever fidget pen and awesome laser tag set are a mix of Amazon bestsellers and personalized picks from our editors and their teens. Whether he's crazy about music, sports, art, clothes, or video games, we've got more than a few great gifts for the teen boy in your life.

Gift for the Teen Who Has Everything

BiC BodyMark Temporary Tattoo Markers

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (3)

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (4)

If your teen is anything like mine, he's got a whole Pinterest board of tattoos they can't wait to get permanently printed on their body. These markers let him create his own tattoo art that thankfully, won't last forever.

For His Bedroom

Roku Smart LED Light Strip+

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (5)

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (6)

Behind his TV, under his bed, around his posters, there's no place that won't be made cooler with these controllable light strips from Roku. They can be scheduled to go on and off at certain times, sync to music and can be controlled through the app.

For Football Fans

CR7 Play It Cool by Cristiano Ronaldo

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (7)

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (8)

Cristiano Ronaldo is one if the most famous soccer players on the planet and his cologne will make your teen boy smell great but more importantly, feel like a superstar at school, at work and on his first dates.

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Active, Outdoor Gift

TOSY Flying Ring

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (9)

This is the coolest iteration of a Frisbee ever and if the best teen boy gift for when he and his friends want something other than Spikeball to play outside...and at night! It comes in three colors (or you can get a set of all three for $50).

Gift He Needs

Dr. Squatch Game of Thrones Soap Collection

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (10)

GoT is back in full force with season two of House of the Dragon and teen boys famously smell worse than a dragon, so this soap set makes the perfect gift for your smelly, fire-breathing teenager.

Gift for Gamers

'Do Not Disturb, I'm Gaming' Socks

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (11)

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (12)

Now 25% Off

Getting a teen to communicate verbally can be a challenge. These socks do all the talking for him while he's busy fighting, scoring, or building on his Xbox.

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Cool Tech Gift

Backbone One Mobile Gaming Controller for iPhone

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (13)

Make his iPhone gaming easier and more fun with this cool controller adapter that, thankfully, doesn’t need to be charged (because he’s already got enough cables, plugs, and wires in his room)!

For Teens Who Live in Their Cars

Febreze Car Air Freshener Vent Clip

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (14)

The perfect, budget-friendly gift for teen boys who drive is a pack of Febreze air fresheners that'll fight the noble battle against the stench of take out food and body odor after gym workouts.

Gag Gift

AMBREGRISSUN 'Don’t Do Stupid St**' Keychain

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (15)

Because sometimes you won't be around to remind him not to do all the stupid stuff that’s in his head!

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Grab One for Yourself

Portable iPhone Charger

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (16)

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (17)

This tiny portable high-speed charger will help ensure your teen boy can never say, "sorry I didn't text, my phone died" while out late with his friends. This means you'll sleep a little better knowing he's safe and still within reach.

Top Gift for Teens

JBL Clip 3

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (18)

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (19)

Now 10% Off

Portable and waterproof with awesome sound quality, it'll be hard for him not to want to take it with him everywhere. It's a great alternative to headphones, especially, say, when he's riding his bike.

Fun Fidget Gift

Fidget Pen

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (20)

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (21)

Now 22% Off

Yep, it's a totally functioning pen, but it can also be shaped into a bunch of different sculptures. It's another way for teen boys to busy their restless hands when they need something to fidget with.

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Something You Can Do Together

Smartphone Controlled Paper Airplane Kit

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (22)

An upgrade from the ones he used to make when he was little, he can take any piece of paper and connect it to a device for endless hours of flying.

Creative Gift for Teen Boys

Pocket Sticker Printer

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (23)

If he's always doodling and snapping cool pics with his phone, give him the gift that'll let your teen boy turn all of his art, and school notes too, into stickers for his locker, notebook and laptop

A Hit With Him and His Friends

Nightball Light-Up Football

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (24)

Some of his best convos with you and his friends happen over a game of catch. Now, he can have those moments even when the sun goes down with this cool LED ball.

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More Than 8,300 5-star reviews on Amazon

Professional Printing 3D Pen

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (25)

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (26)

You might not understand how it actually works, but he'll love that it really does! Give your teen boy a gift that'll let him create anything he can dream up. This 3D pen magically brings his superhero doodles and dream decor to life right before his eyes

Worth the Splurge

KODAK Luma 150 Ultra Mini Pocket Pico Projector

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (27)

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (28)

This machine uses HDMI or Micro USB cables to hook up to a laptop, phone or other storage device, then project the image onto a wall at a size of up to 150 inches. And yet, it's pocket sized (just 4 inches x 4 inches x less than an inch), so it's like carrying a movie theater in your pocket. Good Housekeeping Institute experts were impressed with how easy it was to use this one, too.

RELATED: The Best Budget Projectors

He'll Love This In His Room

Frigidaire Portable Retro Mini Fridge

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (29)

This is just enough to keep his favorite snacks and drinks cold — it fits about six cans. It comes in four colors, all in the cool, vintage style.

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Inexpensive Gift

Gooseneck Bed Phone Holder

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (30)

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (31)

No, it's not a selfie stick. If he likes to watch videos in bed, this phone holder will make it so he doesn't have to keep his phone in his hands while he watches — hopefully stopping him from getting the dreaded "text neck." The arm is adjustable, and it comes in three colors.

RELATED: 40 Fun Stocking Stuffers for Teens

Practical Gift for a Teen Boy

Wireless Charging Station

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (32)

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (33)

Let him charge all his devices at once. This one can handle a smartwatch, earbuds and a phone, keeping everything organized and in one place. It is compatible with both Apple and Samsung devices, too.

These Under-$30 Light-Up Gifts Will Have Teens Playing Outside After the Sun Goes Down (2024)
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