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Shopping for a 13 year old girl and have NO idea what to get her? Thirteen is this weird in-between age where they’re not a little girl anymore but they’re not quite a full-on older teenager either.
I have 12 and 13 year old daughters and let me tell you… figuring out what she actually wants versus what she says she wants versus what she’ll actually USE is not always easy. I’ve put together this gift guide of things that actually land well with teen girls in this age group. (I hired my teen to link all these so she could confirm these are actually good early tween/ teen girl gifts!!)
In this post, you’ll find:
- Gift ideas for creative 13-year-old girls
- Tech gifts teenage girls actually want
- Beauty products and self-care gifts
- Experience gifts that are more fun than stuff
- Budget-friendly options
Tons of Gift Ideas for Tween Girls – By Category
Creative & Artsy Gifts
If you’ve got a girl who loves making things, these are for you.
Art Supply Upgrade – If she’s been using basic Crayola, leveling up to some nicer art supplies is a great gift. Think high-quality colored pencils, a set of gel pens in bright colors, or brush markers.
Jewelry Making Kit – Friendship bracelets are back! These are fun for a rainy day friend hangout and great for sleepovers too.
Sketchbook + Quality Pencils – A thick, good quality sketchbook paired with some nice drawing pencils is a simple but perfect gift. Bonus points if you throw in a how-to-draw book that matches her interests.
Paint-by-Number Kit – I feel like these have gotten much cooler than the Lisa Frank ones we had as kids. You can find gorgeous landscape designs, animal portraits, and even custom ones made from photos. It’s a great activity for a quiet afternoon. The finished product actually looks really impressive too… like something she’d want to hang on her wall.
Tech & Gadgets
Let’s be real… this is probably what she actually wants. Haha.
Bluetooth Speaker – A portable Bluetooth speaker is one of those gifts every teenage girl will use ALL the time. In her room, in the bathroom getting ready, outside with friends. Get one in a fun color and she’ll love it. Our kids don’t get their own devices this young, so for tweens, I prefer bluetooth speaker connected to my phone or our locked down ipad over their own device + headphones.
Instant Camera – This is a favorite gift for teen girls. There’s something about instant photos that just hits different for this generation. They love sticking the photos on their walls, mirrors, and notebooks. Plus they actually have physical memories instead of just stuff on their phone. (This is a highly reviewed budget friendly one (under $40) and this is an awesome digital camera my 10 year old saved up for has that has the option to print but isn’t an exclusively film camera.)
Phone Case – My kids don’t have phones at 13, but if yours does, a cute phone case would be a fun gift.
Ring Light – If she’s into taking photos or making videos (and honestly, what 13 year old girl isn’t?), a ring light with a phone holder is a fun gift that’s actually useful.
Nintendo Switch Games – If she already has a Switch, new games are always a hit. There are SO many good ones for this age group. Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley are perfect games for cute and cozy … but also the competitive ones she can play with friends. If she doesn’t have a Switch yet, it’s a bigger investment but honestly one of the best gifts for this age.
Beauty & Self-Care Gifts
This is the age where they start getting into beauty products!!
Makeup Bag Starter Kit – Put together a little makeup bag with some age-appropriate beauty products. Think: tinted lip gloss, a subtle lip mask for hydration, some press-on nails for special occasions, and maybe a fun claw clip or two for her hair. Simple & fun.
Spa Night Kit – Bath bombs, face masks, spa headbands, & fuzzy socks to make it feel like a real spa experience. This is also an awesome gift to pair with an “experience” … set up a spa night at home with her best friend or invite a bunch of girls over for one.
Skincare Set – My daughter started to ask about skincare around 13. A gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and maybe a fun eye mask or lip mask set is a great option. Just make sure it’s formulated for young skin… nothing too harsh.
Nail Polish Set – A set of nail polish in fun, trendy colors is always a hit. Or if you want to go next-level, a gel nail kit with a UV light. My girls use these nail stands and fake nails – they paint the nails and cure them under the UV with the stands so that it’s less toxic on their nails/ skin/ tec.
Fair warning though… your bathroom counter and their bedroom carpet will never be the same. Ha!! Agh!
Room Decor & Cozy Stuff
It’s so fun to let kids express their creativity in their rooms!
String Lights – LED string lights or fairy lights to hang around her room. These are inexpensive, look amazing, and basically every teenage girl wants them. You can get lights with photo clips so she can hang up her instant camera pics or photos with friends.
Stanley Tumbler, Hydrojug, or Water Bottle – Yes, I know… it’s a water bottle. But trust me, this is a THING for teen girls right now.
Cozy Blanket – A super soft throw blanket is one of those gifts she’ll use literally every single day. Watching TV, doing homework, reading, etc. One Christmas I gave everyone their own – huge hit!
LED Letters or Signs – A light-up sign with her name or a fun phrase for her room is a great gift for this age. Makes her space feel more “her.”
Experience Gifts
Honestly, some of the best gifts for a 13 year old girl aren’t things at all.
Concert Tickets – This is an amazing gift!! Even smaller local shows or events can be SO much fun. The gift of an experience with her best friend or with you? Priceless.
Gift Card to Her Favorite Store – I know, I know… a gift card doesn’t feel very personal. But teens love to pick out their own stuff. And that’s OK!! A gift card to her favorite place lets her get exactly what she wants. Pair it with a sweet handwritten note or something small that you know she’ll love to make it more personal
Cooking/ Baking/ Activity Class – If she’s into food at all, a cooking or baking class (maybe one you take together?) is such a fun experience & quality time! My dad took my 12 year old to pottery and they had so much fun!
Escape Room – Take her and a friend or two or three to an escape room. These are SO much fun for this age group. They love the puzzle-solving and teamwork aspect… plus it’s something different that they’ll actually remember.
Host a Movie Night or Theme Party – Instead of giving her a thing, host an event for her. A movie night with a projector in the backyard, a pizza-making party, or a themed sleepover. I did a “homemade chipotle bar + game” night for my a birthday and it was SO easy to put together but felt really special to her. Mostly it’s not about spending a ton of money… it’s about creating time & space for her and her friends.
Board Games & Card Games
Don’t roll your eyes… teens actually still love games!! Especially ones they can play with friends.
Card Games – Games like Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, Exploding Kittens, or Cover Your Assets are fast, funny, and perfect for game nights or sleepovers.
Strategy Games – For a girl who likes to think, games like Wingspan, Ticket to Ride, or Azul are really engaging. These are also great because the whole family can play together.
Books & Reading Gifts
If she’s a reader…
E-Reader – If she reads a LOT, an e-reader can be a game-changer. We recently gave our kids kindles & they’re a HUGE hit! Lighter than carrying around books, and she can download new ones instantly. My daughters read on theirs every single night. Pair it with a gift card for her ebook store so she can pick out her first few books.
Audiobook Subscription – If you have an audiobook lover, an Audible subscription is a sneaky good choice. She can listen while doing her hair, riding in the car, or just hanging out in her room.
Books and Series Our Tween/ Teen Girls Loved
- False Prince
- Hunger Games
- Maze Runner
- Anything by Jennifer A. Nielsen
- Anything by Eva Austin
- Anything by Abigail Manning
- Keeper of the Lost Cities
- Anything by Shannon Hale
- The Vanderbeekers
- The Penderwicks
- Mysterious Benedict Society
- The Unwanteds
- Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion
Budget-Friendly Gift Ideas Under $25
Good news… you don’t have to spend a fortune to make a 13 year old girl happy. Some of the best gifts are actually pretty affordable… my girls love to snag a few things off this list for their friends and gift it in a tiny cute bag or basket!
- A cute journal or planner
- Fun pens and gel pens in every color
- A cozy pair of fuzzy socks
- A claw clip set
- Bath bombs
- A cute mug
- Stickers… SO many stickers
- A photo collage kit
- Lip gloss set
- A plush toy or stuffed animal (they’re not too old for these… even if they say they are!!)
Shopping for 13-year-old girls doesn’t have to be stressful. The trick is to think about HER specifically… her interests, her personality, what makes her light up. Whether it’s a 13th birthday, Christmas, a special occasion, or just because… the simple gestures often matter more than the price tag.
And honestly? Sometimes the best gift is your time. We almost always do a coffee or lunch + shopping day around my girls’ birthdays. Take her out for coffee, let her pick the music in the car, or just sit and listen to her talk about her day. That stuff matters more than any gift on this list. I know it sounds cheesy but it’s TRUE. These years go fast and she won’t always want to hang out with you… so soak it up while she still does!
But also… the Hydrojug. Definitely get the Hydrojug. IYKYK
xoxo,
~Renee