39 Christmas Gifts for 17-Year-Old Boys

The short answer

For many families, 17 means one of the last Christmases before big changes like college, work or a first place of his own.

Practical gifts he can carry into that next chapter, plus one fun surprise for the morning, strike a nice balance. You'll find both kinds below.

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Our picks

Pick 3 of 39

Donner practice electric guitar

Music

If he hums the lead lines from his favorite bands all day, this Donner electric guitar lets him start playing them himself.

Working a riff out by ear takes patience, and the guitar is built for beginners who mean to keep going, with a coil split that changes its sound as he improves. Pair it with a small practice amp if he has none yet.

Pick 5 of 39

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-WW home vinyl record player

Electronics

Vinyl by the bands he streams most has started piling up in his room, and this Audio-Technica turntable gives those LPs a place to spin.

Being automatic, it lowers the arm and lifts it back at the end of each side on its own. Sound comes through separate speakers, so make sure his room has a set.

Pick 6 of 39

CATAN Struggle for CATAN deck-based strategy game

Games and puzzles

Plotting moves several turns ahead is half the fun of Struggle for CATAN, a card game that packs the race to outbuild everyone into one deck.

There is no board to set up, and two to four players can finish a match within an hour. The deck travels easily, which suits late-night rounds at a friend's place over winter break.

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Electronics

Pick 8 of 39

Soundcore P31i earbuds with noise canceling

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Pick 11 of 39

GoPro MAX action camera for adventures

Every family vacation needs someone behind the camera, and if a teen is the one filming with his phone, the GoPro MAX is a real step up.

It shoots in full 360 or as a regular action camera, and it is waterproof, so the beach and the pool are fair game. His finished reel becomes the family's record of the trip.

Pick 12 of 39

Polaroid Now instant camera for snapshots

Around a backyard bonfire, an older teen can aim the Polaroid Now at his friends and hand over a picture moments later.

He is usually the friend who records the night, and a print gives each guest something to carry home. The best shot of the evening gets tucked into a buddy's jacket before the fire dies down.

Pick 13 of 39

Nintendo Fire Emblem Switch 2 video game

Named on a list by CNN Underscored (edition.cnn.com)

Japanese brand

Any older teen with a Nintendo Switch 2 and a soft spot for Fire Emblem can add Fortune's Weave to his collection.

A fan of a long-running series usually wants each fresh chapter more than a gift card to spend later. That latest entry then waits on his console, ready whenever he picks up the controller.

Pick 14 of 39

Nintendo Metroid Prime 4 game for Nintendo Switch 2

Named on a list by CNN Underscored (edition.cnn.com)

Japanese brand

Late at night with the lights off, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond gives an older teen solo hours on his Nintendo Switch 2.

Party racers come out when friends visit, yet alone he prefers an unhurried story he steers at his own pace. The edition stays loaded on his console between those quiet sessions.

Pick 20 of 39

Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra gamepad for Xbox consoles

When the boy you are buying for games most evenings on an Xbox Series X|S, give him a Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra.

Long sessions wear down the pad that shipped with his console, so a fresh controller keeps his matches going. His old one becomes the spare a visiting friend grabs for couch co-op.

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Clothing and accessories

Pick 21 of 39

Carhartt cuffed winter beanie

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Games and puzzles

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Outdoor and sports

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Books

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Questions and answers

Do any of these need extra gear before he can use them?

Yes. The Audio-Technica record player sends sound through separate speakers, so a teen who spins his LPs at home needs a set in his room, and the Donner electric guitar is for a beginner working riffs out by ear who should also have a small practice amp if none is at hand.

What makes a good small Secret Santa gift on this list?

The Starface pimple patches make an easy stocking stuffer for a teen starting a skincare routine of his own: the pack sits by the sink, a patch goes over a new spot after he washes his face, and he handles a breakout himself without a shelf of new products.

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We recheck every pick daily and swap out anything that’s no longer available.Rechecked daily

Chosen by our team from store data and what readers pick, not hands-on tests. Nothing is paid to be on this list. Recall notices checked . How we pick

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

What changed recently

Updated Nov 8
Older changes
November 2026 · 9 added
October 2026 · 17 added · 30 removed

Removed

  • DJI Neo drone for aerial clips
  • Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 beard trimmer and shaver
  • ASUS ROG Xbox Ally handheld game system
  • weekender duffel bag for overnight trips
  • HP laptop for schoolwork
  • Fossil Grant dress watch for men
  • Mainstreet Classics by GLD Products tabletop pool table
  • LANEIGE hydrating skincare set
  • LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask overnight lip care
  • Americanflat photo frame for prints
  • slipper socks for lounging at home
  • Ninja PB051SG countertop coffee brewer

and 18 more

September 2026 · 10 added