You are visiting a website for another country. Some products may not be available or valid in your location. Switch to your local store for the best experience.
Best gift cards for teens when you no longer know what is cool
20 October 2026
Somewhere around 13, buying gifts for teenagers gets tricky, mostly because they stop telling you what's cool and you're no longer allowed to guess. That's where gift cards for teens earn their place. They pick the thing themselves, it isn't mortifying to open in front of their friends, and nothing has to go back to the shop in January. This guide is written for you, the adult doing the buying. We've sorted it by what they're into rather than by age or by whether they're a boy or a girl, with a section on the 18th and the 21st, and one for when there are three of them to buy for in December.
Start with what they're into, not how old they are
The rule for every idea on this page is the same for girls and boys: ask what they're into, not how old they are. A 14-year-old who lives on Roblox and a 17-year-old who lives on Roblox want the same card, and a teenager who's mad about clothes doesn't care much what the age label says.
When you can't get a straight answer out of them, two cards always work. The All-in-1 Choice Gift Card lets them spread the amount across more than one shop: a bit on a hoodie, a bit on a game, a bit on chips with the friends after school. They decide the split, and believe us, they'll have opinions about it.
The Happy Birthday Gift Card is the same idea with a birthday design, so it looks like a present and not like pocket money in an envelope.
For a teenage girl, both cards do the job just as well as they would for her brother, because neither one assumes anything about what she likes.
Gifts for teenagers who game
This one is sorted by what they play, not by who's holding the controller. Plenty of teenagers game, and the right card depends entirely on the platform, so do a quick check first. Look at what's plugged into the telly, glance at the apps on their phone, or ask a younger sibling, who will tell you everything for the price of a bar of chocolate.
On Roblox? A Roblox Gift Card between €10 and €150 gives them Robux for outfits, accessories and game passes. On a PlayStation, a PlayStation Gift Card tops up their account for new games and add-ons. On an Xbox, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives them a whole library to work through instead of a single title.
That's what makes these good gift cards for teens: you don't need an opinion on which game is any good. That's a relief all round, since your opinion on games stopped counting somewhere around their 12th birthday.
Clothes and trainers they'll actually wear
Here it's style and budget that count, not who wears what.
On a tighter budget, a Penneys Gift Card goes a long way: a pair of pyjamas, a new top for the weekend, a phone case and a few bits for their room. For the teenager who spots every trend online before it reaches you, a River Island Gift Card covers the jeans, jackets and bags they've already screenshotted.
Trainers are a category of their own. A Foot Locker Gift Card lets them pick the pair themselves, which saves you the silent disappointment of the wrong colourway on Christmas morning.
These work for girls and boys alike, because style is personal. They're also the easy route with a 16-year-old daughter or son: at that age they'd much rather choose the jacket than wear the one you picked.
The 18th, the 21st and other big moments
The 18th and the 21st are the birthdays they'll talk about for years, and the Debs usually lands somewhere in between. Give them something that matches the size of the occasion.
A Ticketmaster Gift Card goes on a gig, a festival or a match. It gives them a night out with the friends and a date to count down to, which is half the fun.
A Treatwell Gift Card covers a haircut, a massage or a treatment before the Debs or the big night. It's a good one for an 18th, and it works for any 18-year-old who'd love a fresh cut and an hour off.
Or go bigger on one card. A larger amount on the All-in-1 Choice Gift Card lets them put it towards something they've had their eye on for months, a new jacket for college or a proper pair of headphones. For an 18th or a 21st, that one says you trust them to spend it well.
Buying for three teenagers at once in December
Three teenagers, three sets of interests, and it's already the 20th. Sound familiar?
The Merry Christmas Gift Card is the quick fix. Each of them picks where to spend it, and it lands by email within minutes. At checkout you choose whether it comes to you or goes straight to them. If you'd rather have something to put under the tree, the All-in-1 Choice Gift Card also comes as a physical card in a gift box with your message.
It works for the lads and the girls alike, and it keeps things fair between siblings, which in some houses matters more than the present itself.
Have a look through our Christmas gift cards, pick one per teenager and you're sorted!
Christmas gifts for her that do not end up in a drawer
In this guide we've sorted the ideas by how she spends her own evenings and weekends, not by what women are supposed to want.
Secret Santa with family and friends: how it works
In this guide, we cover how to draw names, how to agree a budget without anyone feeling awkward, a version for groups that like a bit of chaos, and what to give when you pull out a name you hardly know.
Christmas gift ideas for everyone on your list
In this guide we've sorted things by the type of person rather than by price bracket: the one who has everything, the one you barely know, the big present a few of you go in on and the small one where the gesture is the point.
See all blogs