These Soaps Actually Have Real Money Inside — But How Much? (2024)

Yes, of course, he is still a child, technically speaking, but at 13, he's also a teenager with hungry eyes on adulthood. He’s also, probably, always hungry. Your baby boy is a big guy now and his wooden blocks and toy trucks are all boxed up and have been replaced with high-tech gear, ironic games and rad decor for his room. Shopping for the best gifts for 13-year-old boys is actually kind of easy when you think about it: His interests are clearly in focused, his passions are undeniable and his thirst for more and more is insatiable. Maybe he’s really into STEM or LEGO, art, books, outdoor sports or some other pursuit.

With all that in mind, to come up with the best gifts for kids this age, we have consulted our own teen kids, a great independent toy store, scoured the bestsellers lists at Amazon and included some toys that have been through testing at the Good Housekeeping Institute (including current and former Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners).

Our Top Picks for the Best Gifts for 13-Year-Old Boys

• The Mind Card Game, $9 on amazon.com
• Soundbot Bluetooth Wireless Smart Beanie, $15 on amazon.com
• Hetyre Night Light Bluetooth Speaker, $38 at amazon.com
• Wekapo Inflatable Lounger, $40 on amazon.com
• Snap Circuits Arcade Electronics Exploration Kit, $45 on amazon.com

Whether you are looking for a just-a-little-something to give to a teen boy, like the coolest fidget toys, or splurge-worthy luxury gifts for 13-year-old boys he'll want to show off to all his friends, you'll find exactly the best gift for every 13-year-old boy on your list. And if you're looking for more great gifts, check out the best gifts for teen boys and the best gifts for 13-year-old girls.

It's always Taco Tuesday when your kid has this hilarious, realistic, 6-foot tortilla blanket! (Don't worry, it's actually made of fleece.)

Whether he thinks he's the brightest star in the universe already or has pie-in-the-sky dreams, your 13-year-old will love to project the entire galaxy onto his bedroom. Plus, this ingenious device triples as a white noise machine to help him sleep at night and a Bluetooth speaker to help him rock out during the day. No wonder it has more than 15,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.

When you're our age, you just want to flop on the couch with a beer or glass of wine and watch TV at the end of the day, but for 13-year-olds, nighttime is ripe with potential for mystery and fun! This awesome glow-in-the-dark version of the popular party game will get him and his friends moving outside after the sun (and you) settle in for the evening.

Can we be honest about socks for a second? Most socks are in the trash after a month or two of repeated wear. The exception to this rule is Bombas who make soft, sturdy socks that will stand up to his Spikeball playing, bike riding, nighttime capture the flag games and daily teenage boy life spent in Crocs or sandals with calf socks.

The world at large can often be daunting, uncertain, and scary. That's what makes this Danish designed bit of room decor so essential! The bouncing hoptimist bumble is a simple, colorful source of positivity, joy, and happiness, which makes it a great gift for a teen boy in the 21st century.

Lots of young boys start to get into physical fitness in their teenage years, and these exercise dice make working out fun and different every day. He'll roll and get 00 seconds of jumping jacks, 20 push-up reps or one of many other combinations, keeping his routine fresh and fun.

You're never too old or young to stash coins away in the hope of accumulating some real cash to spend on new sneakers, movies or burgers with friends. This bank is a robot he'll build (sneaky STEM!) and one that eats his loose change. Fun, educational, and affordable, FTW! Ages 8+

It may not always seem like it, because they're usually scattered haphazardly around your home, but your boy loves his sneakers, loves the newest sneakers on the market and loves retro kicks too. So he's going to flip for this cool set of four modern sneaker art posters.

These unisex leather bracelets come in lots of different colors, so he can wear a different one every day, or even stack a few. Each one is made with real leather and glass beads, created by artisans in Kenya.

How many devices does your kid have that need charging? Phone, tablet, laptop, gaming headset, Bluetooth headphones, Airpods, smartwatch? And don't forget his cool desktop charging station, which needs power too! This practical gift for teen boys may not light up the room when he opens it but it'll keep the power lights on all his tech glowing.

The isolation of the pandemic reinforced how important community and human connection truly are for adults, but especially for kids. This hilarious game of wacky challenges is a sheer delight to play together with family or a group of teen friends, sharing moments in person and making lasting memories. Ages 9+

He may fancy himself a young adult, but chances are he's still a curious and goofy kid who finds stuff like, the 'world record longest hula-hooping on one foot' totally awesome. The newest edition of the big hardback Guinness book makes a great gift for a 13-year-old boy.

There are two things we can be relatively sure of when it comes to 13-year-old boys, they need a shower and they always say they need more money. This bar of soap has real money inside, anything from a $1 bill to a Benjamin Franklin. (That's a $100 bill, in case they’re not sure.) The motivation to get clean and get cash will never be stronger!

Nothing beats kicking a ball around on the green grass but when winter weather makes playing soccer outside impossible, your 13-year-old boy(s) will love turning your hallway or family room into their soccer stadium with a clever hover ball that stays down and slides along the floor. The set comes with two balls and two goals. Ages 8+

If he's always losing track of his keys, maybe this very adult-looking key fob will give him the motivation he needs to keep track of it. (You can always put a Tile Bluetooth tracker on it for extra peace of mind.) You can get it with silver, gold or brass hardware.

Make his lunch cooler and more organized with a leakproof bamboo bento lunch box complete with wooden utensils and sauce jars so he, like my teen, can enjoy grapes and cheese, a tossed salad, hummus and pita platter or the timeless classic PB&J sandwich in style.

This game gives their minds a workout and lets them engage in a solo activity all at once. Cards tell players to arrange the pieces in a certain way, and then players have to use their smarts to fit the rest of the pieces in to make a pyramid shape. Help them work on their focus and concentration! Ages 7+