Gifts for Nephew, Whatever He's Into This Year
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 20 hand-picked ideas
The most common mistake with nephews is buying for a generic boy. It's an easy trap: a ball, a toy truck, a video game, chosen more for being "boy stuff" than for being his stuff. But your nephew might be the one who bakes elaborate birthday cakes, plays the guitar badly and loudly, builds entire LEGO cities or has strong opinions about birds. The best gift is the one that proves you know which.
This guide starts with a short note on finding out what he's into right now, then follows interests rather than assumptions: the nephew who builds things, the one who cooks or makes music or art, the one who can't sit still, the gamer, and the older nephew who's suddenly taller than you. Ages run from about six to eighteen, so each note says roughly who it suits.
For his sister, see gifts for niece. If he's a teenager, gifts for teens and birthday gifts for teens have more; younger nephews may suit gifts for kids. And if he lives on his console, our gifts for gamers guide goes deeper.
Know exactly who it's for?
Tell Truly about them in a sentence. You'll get ideas picked for them, each with a reason why.
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First, find out what he's into now
Kids and teens change interests faster than relatives can keep up. The nephew who was obsessed with dinosaurs at your last visit may now find them embarrassing, and the thing he cares about most might be something you've never heard of. Before you shop, ask his parents one simple question: what does he do when nobody's telling him what to do? The answer is usually more useful than any wish list.
If you can, ask him too. Kids rarely mind being asked, and a nephew who gets to name two or three ideas will remember that you listened. For an older nephew who answers everything with "I don't know," try asking what he's been watching, playing or saving up for. It also helps to know what's off limits at his house, such as certain games or online accounts, so you don't end up on the wrong side of his parents.
The nephew who builds things
Some kids can't leave anything in one piece. Give them something designed to be built, and they'll leave the rest of the house alone, at least for an afternoon.
- 1~$45
LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Set
One box of bricks with instructions for three different models, so it gets taken apart and rebuilt again and again. Good from about eight to twelve.
LEGO Fansfun - 2~$35
3D Wooden Mechanical Puzzle Model Kit
Laser-cut wooden pieces that build into a working marble run, music box or gear model. A slower, satisfying project for older kids and teens.
Puzzle LoversWoodworkers & DIYersunique - 3~$40
Beginner Coding Robot Kit
A snap-together robot he programs with drag-and-drop code, then watches drive across the floor. A gentle first step into coding for roughly nine to thirteen.
Tech LoversScience Nerdsfun - 4~$26
DIY Crystal Radio Receiver Kit
A radio he builds himself that runs without batteries. A clever, slightly old-school project for a teen nephew who likes to know how things work.
Science NerdsTech Loversexperience
The nephew who cooks, draws or plays music
Creative gifts get overlooked for boys more often than they should. Plenty of nephews love baking, drawing or making a racket on an instrument, and a real tool for it tells them that's a perfectly good thing to love.
- 5
Cookbook for Teens
~$20
A beginner cookbook written for teenagers, with simple recipes and the basic skills behind them. For a nephew who already hangs around the kitchen, it's a way to graduate from helping to making dinner himself. Pair it with an offer to cook one of the recipes together on your next visit, with you buying the ingredients.
- 6
Beginner Acoustic Guitar Starter Kit
~$130
A full-size acoustic guitar with a gig bag, tuner, strap and picks. It suits a teen nephew who's been asking to learn, or who plays air guitar to everything. Check with his parents first, since an instrument is a commitment for the whole house, and for a younger or smaller nephew a three-quarter-size guitar may be easier to hold.
- 7
Sketchbook and Colored Pencil Art Case
~$30
A zip case with colored pencils, a sharpener and a sketchbook, small enough for a backpack. It's good for a nephew who draws in every spare moment, from comics to cars to maps of imaginary countries. An inexpensive gift that says you've seen his drawings and think they're worth doing.
- 8
Paint Your Own Ceramic Mug Kit
~$20
A plain mug and ceramic paints that set in a home oven. It's a fun afternoon project for a younger nephew, and the finished mug becomes a present he can give to someone else, which kids are often very proud of. Supervise the oven part.
The nephew who can't sit still
If he's the kid who can't watch a movie without bouncing a ball, the best gifts give that energy somewhere to go. Outdoor gifts also tend to get the whole family moving, which parents rarely object to.
- Our favorite9
Beginner Camera Drone with Carrying Case
~$120
A beginner drone with a stabilized camera, an auto-return function and a padded case. For a nephew who loves gadgets and being outdoors, filming his neighborhood from above is a real thrill. It suits teens far more than young kids, and drone rules apply even to small hobby models, so check the current FAA guidance for recreational flyers and find a big open park for the first flights.
- 10
Pop-Up Portable Soccer Goal Pair
~$55
Two folding goals that pop open in seconds and pack into bags. A backyard or park becomes a field, and suddenly every cousin at the family gathering is playing. Good for any age from about six up, and easy to throw in the car for the beach.
- 11
Kids Walkie Talkies
~$25
A pair of walkie-talkies with built-in flashlights, for backyard missions, campouts and talking to a sibling from across the house. Best for younger nephews, roughly six to eleven, who will use them far more than you'd guess, mostly after bedtime.
- 12
Foldable Kick Scooter for Kids
~$50
A light aluminum scooter that folds to fit in a trunk. A good fit for a tween who wants to get around the neighborhood with friends but isn't on a bike yet. Add a helmet, and check with his parents about where he's allowed to ride.
The nephew who games
Gaming is where relatives most often buy the wrong thing, because games depend on the console, the account, the age rating and what his friends are playing. These gifts go with the games rather than trying to guess them.
- 13
Video Game Gift Card
~$25
Credit for the store on his console or PC. It's the safest way to give a gamer a game, because he picks it and you avoid buying one he already owns or isn't allowed to play. Confirm the platform with his parents, and ask whether they prefer to manage purchases through a parent's account.
- 14
Retro Handheld Game Console
~$60
A pocket console that plays classic 8- and 16-bit era games. It's a fun way to show a nephew the games you grew up with, and it's good for long car trips. He may find the graphics hilarious at first; give it twenty minutes and he'll be challenging you to one more round.
- 15
Controller Charging Dock
~$25
A stand that charges two controllers at once, so game night doesn't stall on a dead battery. It's small and specific, which shows attention. Make sure it matches his console before buying, since docks are made for one system and don't cross over.
- 16
LEGO Minecraft Building Set
~$30
A small LEGO set based on Minecraft, with blocky scenery and minifigures. For a younger nephew who plays the game, it's a satisfying way to build his favorite world with real bricks, and it sits nicely on a shelf next to his other sets.
For the older nephew, sixteen and up
Older nephews are on the edge of adulthood and can be hard to read. These are simple, grown-up things a young man will actually use, without you having to guess his taste in clothes or music.
17.Casio F-91W Classic Digital Watch ~$20
A small, light digital watch that's been made for decades. Cheap, tough and quietly cool, so it suits almost anyone with a wrist.
18.Leather Key Organizer ~$20
Folds a set of keys into a neat stack. A good first gift for a nephew who's just been handed his own car or house key.
19.Gym Duffel Bag with Shoe Compartment ~$45
A gym bag with a separate pocket for shoes, for the nephew who plays a sport or lifts. It keeps the smell away from everything else.
20.Bluetooth Beanie Hat ~$20
A winter hat with thin speakers built in, for walking to school or work with music. Useful, warm and a little bit of a gadget.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
Getting it right with nephews
Ask his parents what he does when nobody's telling him what to do. That's his real interest.
Skip anything bought only because it's a "boy" gift. A nephew who bakes or draws deserves a gift for that.
Check age ratings and house rules before buying games, apps or anything that needs an online account.
Add an invitation: a recipe to cook together, a park to fly the drone in, a game you'll play on your next visit.
Need a shortlist? Describe him to our gift finder, including his age and what he's into now.
Questions about nephew gifts
What do you get a nephew who only plays video games?
A gift card for his console's store, a charging dock for his controllers, or a building set based on a game he loves. Check with his parents before buying a game itself, since many families have rules about ratings.
What's a good gift for a teenage nephew?
Something tied to what he cares about: a guitar starter kit, a cookbook, a drone, a gym bag for his sport. Simple, useful things like a classic digital watch or a key organizer also work well for older teens.
How much should I spend on my nephew?
Most aunts and uncles spend roughly $20 to $50, adjusting for milestones and how many nieces and nephews they buy for. Keeping amounts similar across siblings and cousins avoids awkward comparisons.
What should I get a nephew I don't know well?
Ask his parents for one current interest and buy something specific to it. If that's not possible, a gift card for his console, the movies or a favorite store is a reasonable fallback, especially with a personal note.