The 21 Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys of 2021

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From the latest electronics, games, and toys, to clothes, shoes, and books, there are plenty of fun gift options when shopping for 12-year-old boys.

You won’t go wrong if you stick to the child’s hobbies and interests (like Star Wars, video games, or a favorite sport) and you can narrow your option by online reviews and ratings and popularity among other kids in the same age group. 12-year-olds boys are picky and likely more aware than you think about what is trendy and cool amongst their group of friends.

Below we’ve rounded up our top gifts for 12-year-old boys with a range of price points and options for different interests.

Our Top Picks

UrbanEars Pampas Headphones at Amazon

The Pampas headphones are Bluetooth and collapse into a small size and are perfect for all-day use with 30-hour battery life.

Pop Funkoverse Strategy Game at Amazon

Perfect for Harry Potter fans, this strategy board game brings home the characters and stories from Hogwarts

Air Hogs Gravitor with Trick Stick at Amazon

Fly this hover toy with just the power of your hands! Can do stunts and tricks and is easy to take with you and play anytime.

The Comfy Original Quarter-Zip at Amazon

A 12-year-old boy will love playing video games, watching TV, out at a sporting event or camping, and just lounging at home.

Woochic Gaming Socks at Amazon

The socks are calf length which is great for the user who is usually settling in for a while once the controller comes out.

Hasbro Monopoly Voice Banking at Amazon

As competitive as the original, this version is more engaging and everyone will love using credit cards to complete transactions.

Nerf N-Strike Elite Disruptor at Amazon

It has a 6-dart rotating drum, fires fast and far, and is perfect for Neighborhood nerf battles and trick shots.

Lanyani Teen Bifold Wallet at Amazon

Has multiple card slots for things like a school ID, debit card, or library card that are RFID blocking to prevent theft.

Vans Kids Checkerboard Slip Ons at Vans.com

These shoes are a classic style with the Vans signature pattern, are easy to slip on, and are comfortable for everyday use.

NERF PerfectSmash Football at Amazon

Recreate viral video and tricks from the Dude Perfect team in your own backyard with this football and target set.

Over-ear headphones are popular for kids of any age. They are comfortable and noise-blocking and good for movies, music, and video games. The Pampas headphones are Bluetooth and collapse into a small size and are perfect for all-day use with 30-hour battery life. Best of all these are sleek with a cool black matte finish and premium fabric on the band.

Perfect for Harry Potter fans, this strategy board game brings home the characters and stories from Hogwarts. It can be played as a stand-alone game but can also be mixed with other Funkoverse games. It includes 2 playable maps and 4 exclusive Harry Potter characters.

Fly this hover toy with just the power of your hands! The Air Hog Gravitor can do stunts and tricks and is easy to take with you and play anytime. They will love to try new moves, impress their friends, and defy gravity, all in an afternoon.

As seen on Shark Tank, The Comfy is the original wearable blanket that keeps you warm wherever you go. It truly is a great gift for anybody, but a 12-year-old boy will love playing video games, watching TV, out at a sporting event or camping, and just lounging at home in the warm sherpa fleece.

What Our Editors Say

"As soon as the temps drop below 50 degrees, my son is ready to break out his Comfy. During virtual learning, this was his go-to cozy blanket" -Latifah Miles, Verywell Family Commerce Editor

A great gift for the gamer in your life, these are a fun novelty gift. They are made of a blend of cotton, polyester, and elastane and are one size fits most. The socks are calf length which is great for the user who is usually settling in for a while once the controller comes out.

Fans of the product say that everyone gets a laugh out of these!

This version takes the classic game of Monopoly and elevates it with an interactive banking unit where the iconic Mr. Monopoly top hat shows off his personality and handles all of the transactions. Just as competitive as the original, this version is more engaging and everyone will love using credit cards to complete transactions.

Almost 15,000 5 star reviews can’t be wrong. Equip your 12-year-old with a Nerf N-Strike Elite Disruptor. It has a 6-dart rotating drum, fires fast and far, and is perfect for neighborhood Nerf battles and trick shots.

This simple canvas wallet is a great first wallet for younger boys who might only have a few cards or cash to hold for school lunches and allowance. The wallet has multiple card slots for things like a school ID, debit card, or library card that are RFID blocking to prevent theft.

If there’s a clothing brand that will make any 12-year-old boy happy to receive as a gift, it’s Vans. These shoes are a classic style with the Vans signature pattern, are easy to slip on, and are comfortable for everyday use.

Recreate viral video and tricks from the Dude Perfect team in your own backyard with this football and target set. Kids will love the Dude Perfect branding, and appreciate the inspiration to make videos of their own. Set includes a ball and two targets plus a target holder and hook.

Chances are LEGO has been a big part of a 12-year-old boy's life and they may be ready for some of the harder building challenges. This premium Star Wars set comes with 1,336 pieces to build out the Imperial Light Cruiser and 5 Minifigures to set the stage for epic battle scenes. It comes with detailed instructions so any level of builder can build with confidence.

Start by giving the first book of the global phenomenon of Harry Potter that has been loved by every new generation. This is a great age to dive into the story of an orphaned boy, the son of two powerful wizards that finds out he has unique powers of his own.

They will be ready to dive into the whole series after getting a taste of the first book!

Finding a balance between screen time and other activities can be tough, but a new video game is a great gift for any kid. Watch as they build their community from scratch on a deserted island and customize their character, home, decorations, and the surrounding landscape.

This is a game the whole family can get involved with.

X Rocker Eclipse Floor Rocker Gaming Chair

Outfit your child’s bedroom or play area with a high-tech gaming chair like this one from X Rocker. It rocks, reclines, and folds to store and has a comfortable headrest with mounted speakers that provide an immersive experience for any gaming fan.

It connects to most gaming systems and its leather looks nice with any kind of decor.

This 4 person game will get the competitive juices flowing. Each team of 2 has up to 3 hits to return or spike the ball on the circular net. This game will have everyone’s hearts pumping and can be taken to the beach, the park, or grandma’s backyard.

A kids-specific fitness tracker is a fun way to encourage a healthy lifestyle and allows your child to see their steps, fitness, and sleep performance and compete with themselves to make improvements each day. The Fitbit is high-performing and will work just as well for young athletes and it does for beginners to fitness tracking.

This drone is for beginners and is a great introduction to flying. The 2 cell battery will give about 8 minutes of flying per charge, and the 120-degree wide-angle lens captures stunning pictures and videos. Its foldable design makes it small enough to take anywhere with you.

One reviewer makes note that this is the best drone on the market for the price!

Skateboarding is a great outlet for boys with boundless energy and who are looking for something to do with their friends. Spend hours perfecting new tricks or ride to school with the Magneto skateboard—the perfect gift because it is specifically designed for kids and teens looking for their first board.

The deck is hard maple with a double kick tail and requires no assembly.

Middle school is a good time to upgrade from a kid’s style backpack to one that can be used for school, travel, and hanging out with friends. Herschel backpacks are popular for boys and girls of all ages because they are durable, comfortable, and stylish.

With 30 patterns and colors to choose from, Herschel’s original backpack has water bottle pockets, a laptop sleeve, and extra storage to fit everything your 12-year-old can think of.

For under $10, the Monopoly Deal card game is great for on-the-go and family fun. It’s a simple twist on the classic Monopoly game for 2-6 players that’s easy to learn, quick to play, and competitive.

OtterBox Defender Series Screenless for iPhone 12

If your 12-year-old has an iPhone, protecting it might not be their top priority. To keep it safe, gift them with an OtterBox Defender Series case. The case has three layers of protection, port covers, and a built-in holster.

Plus, the case has screen protection that doesn’t affect the display but will prevent cracks.

Final Verdict

Keep things simple when buying for 12-year-old boys. They are practicing their independence but are still young enough for toys that will keep them busy when spending time alone. Electronics are always a hit, as are video games for whichever console system they have at home.

The Drocon Ninja Drone (view at Amazon) is my top choice for a big gift. It’s under $100 and will inspire endless creativity.

Why Trust Verywell Family?

Deanna McCormack is a freelance writer who focuses on family, kids, and household items. She’s her family’s top gift-giver and has two kids to keep her in the loop on what is trending. She won’t buy anything without reading almost every review on the internet.

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The 21 Best Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys of 2021

Gifts tween boys will love

UrbanEars Pampas Headphones

Pop Funkoverse Strategy Game

Air Hogs Gravitor with Trick Stick

The Comfy Original Quarter-Zip

What Our Editors Say

Woochic Gaming Socks

Hasbro Monopoly Voice Banking

Nerf N-Strike Elite Disruptor

Lanyani Teen Bifold Wallet

Vans Kids Checkerboard Slip Ons

NERF Sports Dude Perfect PerfectSmash Football

LEGO Imperial Light Cruiser

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

X Rocker Eclipse Floor Rocker Gaming Chair

Spikeball Kit 1-Ball

Fitbit Ace 3

DROCON Ninja Drone for Kids

Magneto Kids Skateboard

Herschel Classic Backpack XL

Hasbro Gaming Monopoly Deal Card Game

OtterBox Defender Series Screenless Edition Case for iPhone 12