The best gifts for 12-year-olds, ranked
24 picks · one clear winner · updated September 2026
The best gift for 12-year-olds is the Scrib3d P1 3D Printing Pen with Display ($30–50): a 3D pen that lets a 12-year-old draw real objects with melted plastic, starting with the included filament and stencil book. If that is not right, the TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus Black & Gray 4 Inch ($10–20) is next. Under $25, get the Rosyclo Cloud Slippers ($20–25).
- Picks
- 24
- Price range
- Under $10 to $30–50
- Under $25
- 14
- Under $50
- 24
No. 1Scrib3d P1 3D Printing Pen with Display
A 3D pen that lets a 12-year-old draw real objects with melted plastic, starting with the included filament and stencil book. It is a quiet, craft-like activity that takes up a little space and needs adult supervision with the hot tip.
Skip it if they cannot be trusted with a hot tool or you want something that does not make a mess.
Also in Good Housekeeping and 5 other gift guides
Links go to Amazon. We may earn a commission; it does not change what you pay.
Gifts for a 12-year-old under $25
The cheapest gifts on this page that still made the cut.
No. 2
No. 7
No. 9
No. 11
No. 14
No. 15Gifts for a 12-year-old under $50
The strongest picks at fifty dollars or less.
No. 1
No. 3
No. 4
No. 5
No. 6
No. 8The full ranking
No. 1Scrib3d P1 3D Printing Pen with Display
A 3D pen that lets a 12-year-old draw real objects with melted plastic, starting with the included filament and stencil book. It is a quiet, craft-like activity that takes up a little space and needs adult supervision with the hot tip.
Skip it if they cannot be trusted with a hot tool or you want something that does not make a mess.
No. 2TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus Black & Gray 4 Inch Flip Plush
Flips from happy to grumpy with one motion, which is exactly the kind of dumb, satisfying fun a 12-year-old will repeat for hours. Small enough to clip to a backpack or toss around, and soft enough that it will end up in the bed or on the desk.
Skip it if they think stuffed animals are babyish.
No. 3Max'is Creations The Basketball Mug with a Hoop
Oversized 16-ounce mug with a tiny hoop attached, so a 12-year-old can shoot cereal or marshmallows at breakfast. It is hand-painted stoneware that is honestly a gimmick, and it works best for a kid who likes basketball or snacks, not for serious tea.
Not for anyone who wants a normal, clean-look mug.
No. 4The Comfy Original Jr
A wearable blanket hoodie that keeps a 12-year-old warm and cozy on the couch or at sleepovers. It is soft, oversized, and the kind of thing they will actually use every day.
Skip it if they run hot or hate bulky clothes.
No. 5GoSports Slammo Game Set
A roundnet set that turns a backyard, beach, or park into a two-on-two battleground. For a 12-year-old who likes to move and compete, it is simple to learn and keeps everyone busy for hours.
Skip it if they prefer solo or quiet activities.
No. 6LEGO Minecraft Woodland Mansion Fighting Ring
A LEGO set that turns Minecraft battles into a hands-on build, with Steve, Garrett, and Henry figures plus a baby zombie and chicken. It suits a 12-year-old who loves the game and wants to play out scenes beyond the screen.
Skip it if they prefer building without a movie tie-in or already have too many Minecraft sets.
No. 7Rosyclo Cloud Slippers
Quiet, padded slides that a kid will slip on for late-night snacks or a fast trip out. The thick sole is cushiony underfoot, and they work for boys or girls in between sizes.
Skip it if the kid needs real shoes with straps for running and playing outside.
No. 8GlowCity Glow in The Dark Basketball
A basketball that glows in the dark, with LED lights that last up to 30 hours, so a 12-year-old can keep shooting hoops after sunset. It's a size 7, the official game size, so it works for driveway play and pickup games.
Skip it if the kid already has a basketball and plays only indoors during the day.
No. 9Flashdash Flashing Cube Electronic Memory and Brain Game
They can test memory and reaction with fast-paced light games that get more challenging as they play. It is a solo or two-player toy that travels well and keeps a kid busy on car rides.
Skip it if the kid loses interest in anything without a screen.
No. 10Babycakes Cake Pop Maker by Select Brands
A countertop maker that bakes a dozen cake pops at once, with sticks and a cooling stand included. For a 12-year-old who likes baking or wants to try it, it is a fun way to make treats without much fuss.
Skip it if they are not interested in cooking or sweets.
No. 11Buddha Board Enso
Water brushed onto the board shows up as ink and then fades as it dries, leaving the board blank again. Nothing is used up and nothing is kept, which suits a 12-year-old who likes the drawing more than the pile of paper it makes.
Skip it if the drawings are meant to go on a wall, nothing here survives the afternoon.
No. 12Laser Maze Brain Game
A logic game that uses a real laser and mirrors to solve 60 challenges, which suits a 12-year-old who likes puzzles and science. It builds reasoning and planning skills while being a fun solo activity.
Not for a kid who gets frustrated easily or prefers fast-paced action games.
No. 13Skillmatics Guess in 10 Dinosaurs
A guessing game where players ask up to 10 questions to identify a dinosaur, so a 12-year-old who loves dinos or trivia gets a fast-paced challenge. It includes 50 cards and 6 clue cards, and the box is portable for travel.
Not for a kid who already knows every dinosaur fact and would find the questions too easy.
No. 14ThinkFun Sweet Victory l The Race to Finish Speed Party
A speed party game for 2-4 players where the goal is to be the first to finish, so a 12-year-old who likes competitive games gets a quick, easy-to-learn option. It's a complete board game that works for family game night or with friends.
Not for a kid who prefers strategy games with lots of pieces and long play sessions.
No. 15Educational Insights Kanoodle Shape Escape
A timed 3D puzzle game where players race to match a shape before a moving wall knocks it down. It suits a 12-year-old who likes brain teasers and a bit of pressure, building spatial reasoning as they play.
Not for anyone who gets frustrated by timed challenges or prefers open-ended building.
No. 16Dash My Mug Ice Cream Maker Bundle
Makes soft serve for two in about 20 minutes, so a 12-year-old can churn their own ice cream without waiting hours. The built-in chute drops in mix-ins like sprinkles or cookie dough as it churns, which is the fun part they will actually use.
Skip it if the kid expects a full quart or wants a machine that does the churning for them.
No. 17Do It For Yourself: A Motivational Journal
A guided journal with bold graphics and prompts that helps a 12-year-old figure out goals and build momentum on projects. It is a low-pressure way to start planning and follow through, especially for a kid who likes writing or drawing.
Skip it if they already have a journaling habit or hate writing by hand.
No. 18Kimwood 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. 19Lost Mysteries: Secrets, Legends & Treasures of the Past' Book
Lost Mysteries gathers secrets, legends and vanished places from the past into one book. It suits a 12-year-old who reads a page and then repeats it at dinner as established fact.
Skip it if they only read fiction, a book of short entries will not hold them for an evening.
No. 20Squishmallows 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 they have moved on from Squishmallows.
No. 21Ultimate 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 they would rather build than experiment.
No. 22Carpool 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.
No. 23Toyk Boy Toys LED Hover Soccer Ball
A hover soccer ball that glides on air over a floor, with lights, for a 12-year-old indoors in winter. It runs on batteries.
Skip it if the house has thick carpet.
No. 24Heishi Bracelets Set
A set of stretchy heishi bead bracelets in bright colors, for a 12-year-old who stacks them. They fit small wrists.
Skip it if they dislike bracelets.
Nothing in that price band here. Try another.
How to choose a gift for a 12-year-old
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 (Good Housekeeping, Today, The Pioneer Woman among them) put forward for a 12-year-old, 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
Best gifts for 12 year old?
The Scrib3d P1 3D Printing Pen with Display ($30–50) is the best gift for 12-year-olds in our ranking: a 3D pen that lets a 12-year-old draw real objects with melted plastic, starting with the included filament and stencil book. Runners-up: TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus Black & Gray 4 Inch ($10–20), Max'is Creations The Basketball Mug with a Hoop ($25–30).
Best 12 year old Christmas gifts?
Start with the Scrib3d P1 3D Printing Pen with Display ($30–50), our No. 1 gift for 12-year-olds, then TeeTurtle Reversible Octopus Black & Gray 4 Inch ($10–20), Max'is Creations The Basketball Mug with a Hoop ($25–30).
