In case you have not heard, teenagers are notoriously picky. During this period of their lives, their actions (and your reactions) often inspire a love-hate dynamic between the two of you. Well, okay, hate's a bit strong of a word, but don't you remember being a punk teenager yourself? Sometimes a teenager finds pleasure in purposely making their parents' lives difficult. Even if your teenager is of the more mild persuasion, it's often the case that they keep things to themselves, including the things they like. Shopping for birthday gifts for a teenage boy may seem like an insurmountable task, but the reality is that there are a few gifts that are nearly universally appealing. It may be tough to get them to open up and tell you exactly what they want, but we've compiled a list that is bound to include at least one item that almost any teenage boy would be happy to receive come birthday or holiday time. Exploding Kittens Card Game A board game with a twistThis rowdy, edgy game makes the perfect option for those uproarious weekend get-togethers with friends.Best OverallFind on Amazon If there is one thing we are all looking for as parents, it is a way to connect more with our kids. Although discipline and headbutting are to be expected, we must take time to connect with our kids in fun ways. Even if that’s unlikely, they’ll appreciate us buying them a game that they actually enjoy playing with their friends. That is why the Exploding Kittens Card Game is an excellent choice when you are looking for the perfect gift for your teenager. This card game is fun for the whole family. It is tame enough to play with kids while being just vulgar enough that your teenagers will still find it entertaining. The game is simple, yet requires strategy and thought to make the most of it. The hilariously illustrated cards are bound to leave your son laughing out loud while he struggles to repeat the insanely funny phrases. Pros: This game is fun for people of all ages, making it the perfect way to have fun and connect with your teenager There are no electronics involved, which is a miracle considering how much tech gadgets inundate our lives It is an affordable gift that can be used over and over again Your family will learn this game quickly and easily It only takes 15-20 minutes to play a round of this game, which means your teen son should have no problem making time to play with his family Cons: The cards themselves rip easily, so you do need to exercise caution while playing Oontz Angle 3 Bluetooth Speaker A guaranteed hitIt doesn't matter what kind of music your kid listens to, he'll be thrilled to own this versatile, high-quality Bluetooth speaker.Best For Music LoversFind on Amazon Music is life for so many people. Teenage boys especially love to listen to their favorite artists and bands while doing homework, texting friends, and playing video games. And obviously, you’ve heard them playing loud music in the park while they practice soccer or basketball. Now you can gift your child the ability to take their music with them everywhere with the Oontz Angle 3 Bluetooth Speaker. This speaker delivers high-quality sound in a small package. The speaker sounds crystal clear and can be cranked super loud, all while looking sleek and stylish, making it the perfect gift for your music lover. He will want to take it with him everywhere he goes. His friends will all want one, too, so be ready to field their questions. Pros: This speaker is available in seven cool colors It is weatherproof and won’t get damaged if it starts raining or water from the shower hits it Your teen will love showing off the sound quality and sleek look of this speaker The controls are easy to use It connects quickly through simple Bluetooth Cons: The battery only lasts for 3 to 4 hours with continuous use Gawell 3D Basketball Lamp A light in the darkThis LED light adds personality to your teen's room, and his friends will love it, too.Best For Bedroom DécorFind on Amazon Do you have a son that plays basketball or another sport at school? Is he a big fan who watches all of his team’s games and gets excited to decorate this room with memorabilia? If so, you have to get him the Gawell 3D Basketball Lamp. This lamp lights up brightly in over 16 colors, including yellow, blue, green, red, purple, teal, and white. Your son can change it at will, or even set it to switch colors automatically, all with the push of a button on the included remote. It fits right in a dresser, table, or shelf, making it easy to find the right spot for it. Pros: The remote makes it easy and convenient to control You can use batteries or a USB wire to power it, meaning you can put it virtually anywhere you want In addition to the basketball design, this lamp is available in other designs, including an alien, skeleton hand, tractor, volleyball, wolf, and a meditating yogi There are 16 colors and you can customize the light settings This is an affordable gift and fits into any budget Cons: If your son loses the remote it is hard to use the lamp Runmus Gaming Headset Get your head in the gameWhether he's a casual gamer or he has MLG ambitions, your son may actually hug you when he lays his eyes on this headset.Best For GamingFind on Amazon Most teen boys love to play video games, but it can be tough for them to concentrate and enjoy themselves if they have loud siblings or a lot of background noise distracting them. They also want to be able to communicate with their friends and teammates in real-time as they play. That is why a high-quality gaming headset is a popular gift for teenage boys, and the Runmus Gaming Headset is one of the best choices. This headset features noise-canceling technology that ensures your son won’t hear what is going on around him in your home so he can focus on his game. What’s more, the sound-canceling doesn’t just apply to his game; rather, the headset is also compatible with laptops and PCs, so he can use it for school work and watching videos, too. It has a high-quality noise-canceling microphone, as well, meaning that his friends and fellow gamers can hear him clearly, but they won’t hear what is being said by anyone else around him. This is especially handy when you have a younger child around. Pros: The bright lights and futuristic design add style to this excellent headset He will love the ergonomic shape and comfort We love good customer service, and this company offers a full 1-year guarantee Both the microphone and the speakers are noise-canceling and make focusing on the game easier They are compatible with all gaming systems and computers Cons: It is heavy and can become uncomfortable after a while CraveBox Care Package Snack attackNo teen boy's life is complete without a box full of their favorite goodies.Best Snack PackFind on Amazon When all else fails to impress, it is time to fall back on everyone’s favorite gift: food. What better way can you think of to say, “I love you and I hope you have a great day,” than with a big box of your boy’s favorite snacks. For that reason, the CraveBox Care Package is such a hit with teen boys. This snack kit is full of every child and teen’s favorite goodies. There are cookies, crackers, candies, snack mixes, fruit snacks, and even granola bars. Your teen will have snacks to munch on for days, all for one low price, and packaged neatly in a portable box. You could even provide snacks to their entire party with just a couple of these boxes set out on a table. Pros: Each box comes with a wide variety of popular snack foods There are so many types of snacks that your teen is sure to like something, even if he doesn’t love it all The box is convenient and easy to wrap for gifting It is priced affordably These snacks will last your teen several days, at the very least Cons: This is not an appropriate gift for anyone with allergies to nuts Frequently Asked Questions What types of things do most teenage boys like? We do not like to generalize. All teenage boys like different things and there is no way to know for sure what your teenager will want without asking him. However, there are a few near-universal interests, like music and yummy snacks, which is why we chose products that reflect that. Why can’t I just get them a gift card? You certainly can, but for some, they feel a bit impersonal, like the easy way out. Although it would be a sweet gesture to include a gift card with your gift, it is more fun to get them something tangible that they can unwrap. Don’t you love the feeling of someone handing you a well-wrapped surprise and the anticipation of figuring out what it is as you open it? That is the best part. Related posts: The Top 5 Boyfriend Gifts The Best Wallets for Boys The Best Gifts for Fans of Friends