Cool Gifts for 11 Year Old Boys
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Ready for my favorite gift for 11 year old boys, including books, games, toys, and technology? These gift ideas work for Christmas, Hanukkah, birthdays, and all occasions!
My daughters helped me write this list of what’s cool, plus I’ve done a lot of research with friends, in stores, and online.
Happy shopping!
ALSO VISIT: Best Books for 11-Year Olds
Cool Gifts for 11-Year-Old Boys
Magic The Gathering Foundations
Learn to play this popular strategy game with this beginner box with everything you need!
Ali Cross by James Patterson
ADVENTURE / MYSTERY
If you want an enthralling adventure & mystery that you can’t put down, read this one next. It’s Christmas Eve and Ali’s friend Gabe is missing, his FBI agent dad is falsely accused of murdering an old man, and someone broke into their house while they were at church and stole his dad’s service weapon. Ali knows he has to try to fix things, starting by finding his friend Gabe. Don’t miss book two, Like Father, Like Son.
Boys Hoodie
This hoodies comes in a variety of colors and styles.
Gone to the Woods by Gary Paulsen
This is a compelling, disturbing, and hopeful childhood story of hardship and survival with moments of kindness and time in nature that sustain the neglected, determined young boy. If you love Gary Paulsen’s stories or just enjoy survival and growing up stories, DON’T MISS this powerful book!
Gaming Headset
Yes, another gaming item. I know not everyone’s sons are gamers but for those who are, this is a must have for the best gaming experience. They have several color options to choose from!
The Ruins of Gorlan: Ranger’s Apprentice book 1 by John A. Flanagan
Will is apprenticed to become a Ranger, a job he’s unsure about. But as he develops a relationship with his master and learns what being a Ranger is all about (spying for the kingdom), and comes to embrace his new life. When an old enemy of the kingdom sends out dangerous beasts to attack Will’s master, Will is instrumental in getting help and killing the creatures. Action, fantasy, adventure, friendship, excellent writing — this book has it all! Ranger’s Apprentice is a must-read, mesmerizing epic fantasy.
The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli written by Karina Yan Glaser
Hands down one of the BEST middle grade books of 2025, the mesmerizing dual stories about family, food, friendship, and culture show two kids doing incredible things to save their families!
PlayStation 5
Tons of games are available on this popular gaming system! Some of the more popular games on this platform include Miles Morales, Madden 26, Ratchet & Clank, and more!
XBox X
The newest X Series includes two Forza (Hot Wheels) games!
Bluetooth Light Up Keyboard
These kinds of keyboard are fantastic gifts for 11 year old boys! They work for desktops, laptops, as well as phones, and tablets. I find these are much easier to type on and are honestly just fun.
Apple AirPods
These are sure to be a hit with any tween!
Awesome Achievers in Technology by Alan Katz, illustrated by Chris Judge
Kids will zip through this excellent middle-grade biography because the author makes the information relevant and relatable. The writing is conversational, the author is totally hilarious (especially when he talks about his own ridiculous inventions or the questions he asks Siri) plus there are illustrations, quizzes, fast facts, activities, and a wealth of fascinating information about each inventor’s life. Read about the inventors of video games, the television remote control, the cell phone, windshield wipers, the first web browser, and the microwave oven.
GoPro
Ready to start making movies with this touch-screen, waterproof camera? Who do you know that would want this gift? Because I know a bunch of boys who want this for Christmas.
Gaming Chair
Leather game chair compatible with a control panel for playing video games and more.
Allies by Alan Gratz
Written from many different voices about one day in history, readers easily can see the massive amount of cooperation, planning. and troops from different countries involved in D-Day (when the Allies invaded France at Normandy.) We hear from an American teenager soldier who was born in Germany, a French Algerian girl whose mom is a recently captured spy, a Canadian paratrooper who lands in the wrong spot, and an American black medic. It’s violent and disheartening yet despite terrible losses, racism, and injuries, the fighters persist despite everything to accomplish their goal — to take back the area for the Allies. What an incredible retelling of this day, appropriate for middle grade readers.
Blank Comic Book – Draw Your Own!
Kids can come up with their own comic-book style stories with this exciting blank journal, where they can take their imagination to new heights!
iPad Pro + Apple Pencil
Both the Pro and the Apple Pencil have been much-used gifts for both my kids. They’re loving the pencil for drawing apps and think the functionality of the Pro rocks.
800 Pound Gorilla
In this fast and easy game by the makers of Cat Goat Cheese Pizza win points by being the fastest player to grab a banana or coconut or guess the correct size of the gorilla!
Sports Watch
How cool is this waterproof watch?
A Day in the Life of an Astronaut, Mars, and the Distant Stars by Mike Barfield and Jess Bradley
Learn about the solar system in this nonfiction comic book. The day in the life stories are first-person personified stories from the point of view of things like a Death Cloud, Meteorite, and Nebula. Packed full of information, the other story formats include bigger picture sections and secret diaries. For example, you’ll like reading the secret diary of a space monkey. Honestly, it’s amazing how much information this book teaches readers about space and how appealing it is!
Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud
GHOST ADVENTURE
Dangerous ghosts and spirits appear everywhere in London, but only certain kids can see them. Teens Lucy, Anthony, and George badly need money for their ghost-hunting agency, Lockwood & Co., so they take a perilous job that, if the ghosts have their way, may just be their last. An enthralling, spooky adventure series kids won’t be able to put down.
NFL Jersey
Wear your favorite player’s jersey– this is a popular gift for boys who love football.
Skateboard
With a cool pattern, this is a great beginner board for tweens and teens.
LEGO Chain Reactions Design & Build Amazing Moving Machines
Make machines that spin, swing, pivot, roll, lift, and drop and do these functions IN CHAIN REACTIONS! You’ll receive a 78 page book, 33 LEGO elements, 6 LEGO balls, 6 feet of string, 8 paper ramps, 2 paper pop-up signs, 1 paper funnel ramp, 1 paper flag, 1 paper bucket, and 1 platform.
The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier, illustrated by Douglas Holgate
After the zombie/monster apocalypse, Jack and his best friend, Quint, live in an upgraded, well-defended treehouse where they plan to rescue his crush June (although she doesn’t need rescuing) and fight zombies. Illustrations throughout make this even more appealing to read and imagine. It’s a fantastic adventure with great plot twists and character development. Who would have thought?!
Doomlings
If you like strategy games, you will love this card game, where you get to build a species of Doomlings that can survive the end of the world. (Hence, the DOOM in Doomlings!) Our family loves card games and this is a new favorite!
The Settlers of Catan
Players must trade for resources to build roads, settlements, and cities for points. The first to ten points wins. It’s easy to learn but the strategy requires some practice but 11 year olds can master this with no problem. A very popular game for families and friend groups!
The Monster Book of Sudoku for Kids by Will Shortz
Easy (number-based) sudoku puzzles for kids, starting with 4 x 4 grids. These will keep your 11 year old boys’ brains working hard — and maybe you, too, if you want!
Slackline Kit
The slackline stretches between two trees like a tightrope but is stretchy and bouncy. You can ratchet the line so it fits the distance. We also use the guided teaching line above so the kids can hold on when they lose their balance.
City Spies by James Ponti
ADVENTURE
Action-packed, every book in this series is a thrilling adventure of five daring spy kids who are tasked with saving the world through disguises, hacking, breaking and entering, and more. HIGHLY recommended!
One by Wacom Digital Drawing Tablet
The original Wacom tablets cost $500+ so this is a more affordable option at $60 for kids who want to get started with digital art. Plug into your computer and start drawing!
Nintendo Switch Lite
Now you can hold a Nintendo Switch in your hands. I have to admit, this gift got us through some tough quarantine times — and I’m so glad I got it for both my kids.
Gift Guides by Age
Best Gifts for 4 Year Old Boys
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Best Gifts for 5 Year Old Boys
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Best Gifts for 6 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 8 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 9 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 9 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 10 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 11 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 11 Year Old Girls
Best Gifts for 12 Year Old Boys
Best Gifts for 12 Year Old Girls
Totally agree with your genius tips.And the images are so colourful.
anyway, thank you for your hard work! I have a son and a daughter.Hope it will be working for my sweet daughter.Thanks again!!
I would like to upload to you an ebook written by me for kids ages 10 and up.