The best gifts for 12-year-old girls, ranked
24 picks · one clear winner · updated September 2026
The best gift for 12-year-old girls is the TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus Black & Gray 4 Inch ($10–20): a plush octopus that flips inside out to show a happy or grumpy face, so she can flip it to match her mood. If that is not right, the Scrib3d P1 3D Printing Pen with Display ($30–50) is next. Under $25, get the Flashdash Flashing Cube Electronic Memory and Brain Game ($20–25).
- Picks
- 24
- Price range
- Under $10 to $30–50
- Under $25
- 14
- Under $50
- 24
No. 1TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus Black & Gray 4 Inch Flip Plush
A plush octopus that flips inside out to show a happy or grumpy face, so she can flip it to match her mood. Small enough to carry in a backpack and soft enough to sleep with.
Skip it if she is past stuffed animals or prefers toys with more action.
Also in Today and 2 other gift guides
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Gifts for 12-year-old girls under $25
The cheapest gifts on this page that still made the cut.
No. 1
No. 7
No. 8
No. 11
No. 14
No. 15Gifts for 12-year-old girls under $50
The strongest picks at fifty dollars or less.
No. 2
No. 3
No. 4
No. 5
No. 6
No. 9The full ranking
No. 1TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus Black & Gray 4 Inch Flip Plush
A plush octopus that flips inside out to show a happy or grumpy face, so she can flip it to match her mood. Small enough to carry in a backpack and soft enough to sleep with.
Skip it if she is past stuffed animals or prefers toys with more action.
No. 2Scrib3d P1 3D Printing Pen with Display
A 3D printing pen that lets her draw and build in three dimensions, with three starter colors of plastic and a stencil book included. It works right out of the box and is a hands-on way to make small toys and decorations.
Skip it if she is not into crafts or tends to lose interest in projects that need focus.
No. 3Max'is Creations The Basketball Mug with a Hoop
A 16-ounce mug with a mini basketball hoop attached, so she can shoot cereal or marshmallows into it while she eats. It makes breakfast or hot chocolate more fun and works for snacks too.
Skip it if she doesn't like basketball or would rather have a plain mug.
No. 4The Comfy Original Jr
A wearable blanket hoodie that keeps her cozy while she reads, watches shows, or hangs out. It is the kind of thing she will use every cold evening and can wear over pajamas.
Skip it if she runs hot or lives in a warm climate.
No. 5GoSports Slammo Game Set
A roundnet set that turns any flat patch of grass or sand into a fast 2-on-2 game. It comes with two competition balls and a training ball, so she can start playing right away.
Skip it if she prefers solo activities or has nowhere outdoors to set it up.
No. 6LEGO Minecraft Woodland Mansion Fighting Ring
Builds the Minecraft mansion set from the movie and puts Steve, Garrett, and Henry in it for battle play. The attachable handles let her swing the scene around, and the baby zombie is a funny detail.
Skip it if she is not into Minecraft or would rather play with something you cannot break.
No. 7Flashdash Flashing Cube Electronic Memory and Brain Game
A handheld cube with four light-and-memory games that test her reaction time and pattern recall. It is small enough to toss in a bag, so it works for car rides or waiting rooms.
Skip it if she already has a similar electronic game or prefers quiet solo activities.
No. 8Rosyclo Cloud Slippers
Cushioned slide sandals with a thick sole that she can wear around the house or outside. They are a comfortable, low-key gift for a kid who lives in casual footwear.
Skip it if she needs actual shoes for school or sports.
No. 9Laser Maze Brain Game
A logic game that makes her plan a laser path through 60 challenges, building reasoning skills without feeling like homework. It is a solo activity she can pick up for ten minutes or an hour.
Skip it if she gets frustrated easily by puzzles or prefers games with other players.
No. 10Babycakes Cake Pop Maker by Select Brands
Bakes a dozen cake pops in minutes, and the included stand and sticks make decorating part of the fun. For a girl who likes baking or wants to make her own treats.
Skip it if she has no interest in cooking or sweets.
No. 11Buddha Board Enso
A water painting board that lets her draw with a brush and watch the image fade as it dries, which makes it endlessly reusable. Teaches the Zen idea of letting go, and it works with just water and the included marker.
Skip it if she expects a finished artwork to keep.
No. 12ZipString Luma Glow-in-The-Dark String Toy
A handheld motor that loops a glowing string into shapes and tricks in the air, with five strings and an LED that charges the glow ones. It is a fidget, a party trick and a night-time toy in one.
Not for a 12-year-old who has already moved on from fidget toys.
No. 13Skillmatics Guess in 10 Dinosaurs
A guessing game where players ask up to ten questions to identify a dinosaur on the card, with clue and bonus cards to make it more challenging. The portable box keeps all 50 cards together and it works at home or on trips.
Not for a kid who does not care about dinosaurs or trivia.
No. 14MeMoShe Layered Choker Name Necklace Personalized with Heart
A layered choker name necklace that can be personalized with her name and a heart pendant. It is a simple gold-plated piece that she can wear to school or dress up, and it makes for a meaningful keepsake.
Skip it if she does not like wearing jewelry.
No. 15ThinkFun Sweet Victory l The Race to Finish Speed Party
A speed party game where the goal is to be the first to finish a race, quickly playable right out of the box by 2 to 4 players aged 8 and up. A fun pick for a kid who likes competition and can just sit and play a round.
Skip it if she prefers slow-paced or cooperative games.
No. 16Educational Insights Kanoodle Shape Escape
A timed 3D puzzle that has her build a shape before a moving wall knocks it over. It suits a girl who likes games with a ticking clock and a clear goal.
Skip it if she loses interest when a puzzle does not solve in one try.
No. 17Dash My Mug Ice Cream Maker Bundle
An ice cream maker that churns soft serve in about 20 minutes using two freezer mugs, with a chute for adding mix-ins. She can make her own flavors with friends or siblings.
Skip it if she doesn't have freezer space or prefers store-bought ice cream.
No. 18Do It For Yourself: A Motivational Journal
A guided journal with prompts that help her map out what she wants and how to get it. It is for a girl who likes writing things down and making plans.
Not for a girl who does not like putting thoughts on paper.
No. 19Kimwood Clip-On Ring Light
A clip-on ring light for a phone or laptop with three color settings, for a 12-year-old who makes videos or takes calls in a dim room. It clips and charges over USB.
Skip it if they never film anything.
No. 20Personalized Bubble-Letter Name Bracelet
A bracelet with her name in bubble letters, for a 12-year-old girl. Order early; it is made to order.
Skip it if she dislikes jewelry.
No. 21Lost Mysteries: Secrets, Legends & Treasures of the Past' Book
Lost Mysteries collects secrets, legends and lost places from history into a single book. It suits a 12-year-old girl who reads one entry and then delivers it at dinner as though she found it herself.
Skip it if she reads only novels, a book of separate entries will not hold her attention.
No. 22Squishmallows Mystery Bag
A mystery bag with a small Squishmallow inside, the not-knowing being the point, for a 12-year-old who collects them. It fits a stocking.
Skip it if she has moved on from Squishmallows.
No. 23Ultimate Secret Formula Lab
A chemistry kit with real experiments and a lab notebook, for a 12-year-old who likes the science bit of school. An adult should be nearby for some.
Skip it if she would rather build than experiment.
No. 24Carpool Karaoke The Mic 2.0
The Carpool Karaoke mic that pairs with a car stereo, for a 12-year-old who sings on every drive. It charges by USB.
Skip it if the house needs quiet.
Nothing in that price band here. Try another.
How to choose a gift for a 12-year-old girl
Prices on this page run from under $10 to $30–50; 14 of the 24 picks are under $25. Start from the price band you have in mind, then read the note under each pick: it says who the thing is really for and who should skip it. Where the evidence behind a pick is thin we say so, and at the same price we take the one more guides agree on.
Where this list comes from: we start from the gifts that 5 published gift guides (Today, Good Housekeeping, The Pioneer Woman among them) put forward for a 12-year-old girl, check each one against the maker's own details and its current listing, and write our own note on who it suits and who should skip it. Anything with a poor record among buyers is out. Commission never touches the order. Price bands come from the prices the guides recorded, checked against Amazon on September 6, 2026; the retailer page is the truth on the day. The full method.
Quick answers
What is the best gift for 12-year-old girls?
The TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus Black & Gray 4 Inch ($10–20) is the best gift for 12-year-old girls in our ranking: a plush octopus that flips inside out to show a happy or grumpy face, so she can flip it to match her mood. Runners-up: Scrib3d P1 3D Printing Pen with Display ($30–50), Max'is Creations The Basketball Mug with a Hoop ($25–30).
What is a good cheap gift for 12-year-old girls?
Good inexpensive gifts for 12-year-old girls that still made our ranking: TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus Black & Gray 4 Inch ($10–20), Do It For Yourself (under $10), Flashdash Flashing Cube Electronic Memory and Brain Game ($20–25). None of them looks cheap.
