Inside: 17 Creative Gift Card Ideas for Teens + How to Wrap Them.
Teens love gift cards! I swear, the number one thing on my teen’s list for birthdays, Christmas, or any other special occasions are gift cards to their favorite places.
Now you might be sayings… “Why not just give them cash?”
One thing I don’t like about cash that I have noticed over the years is teens (like adults) seem to spend it more “carelessly”. Meaning they may use some for a drink, or to grab a treat at the gas station, maybe for lunch and before you know it, they have spent all their gift money on everyday things. Never really getting a chance to buy something special and that they are really wanting.
With gift cards, teens have a specific amount that they can use at a specific place and get something they are really wanting.
So, check out our 17 favorite unique gift card ideas for teens and spoil them for any occasion.
Gift Card Ideas for Teens
These cool gift card ideas are perfect for spending ANYWHERE! Check out a few of our favorite muli-use gift card brands.
- Happy Teen: Designed for young adults, this gift card can be used at a variety of stores and restaurants, including Barnes & Noble, Sephora, American Eagle, Nike, Regal Cinemas, Dave & Busters, and Jamba Juice.
- Visa Everywhere: These teen-specific cards are just as useful as regular Visa gift cards because they can be used at any store that accepts Visa.
- Teen’s Choice: Teens can spend the gift cards at places like Regal Cinemas, Dave & Buster’s, The Cheesecake Factory, Nike, Burger King, Jamba Juice, and Cold Stone Creamery, with denominations ranging from $25 to $500.
Popular Gift Cards for Teens
Teens love going to hang out with friends at the movies, hanging out and watching Netflix, or jamming out to their favorite music. These gift card ideas for teens are perfect for any of those entertainment options.
- StubHub: Gift cards to StubHub can be purchased in amounts ranging from $25 to $1,000, making them perfect for teenagers who enjoy going to concerts or sporting events.
- Netflix: With a Netflix gift card, you can help the teen in your life who enjoys staying in and watching movies and shows with their friends each month. Monthly fees for the cheapest plan starting at around $9.
- Fandango: Gift cards from the movie ticket vendor can be personalized with artwork inspired by some of your most treasured on-screen cameos. Greeting cards for special occasions like Mother’s Day, birthdays, and congrats are also available for purchase.
- Spotify: Gift cards for Spotify Premium allow young music fans to skip ads and listen to their favorite songs without interruption. Pricing for premium plans averages $10 monthly.
- Google Play: Teens can use this gift card to purchase anything from the Google Play Store, including movies, music, games, TV shows, books, and more.
Gift Card Ideas for Teenage Girl
These are just a few of the best gift cards for teenage girls. They include shopping, being creative, and finding their favorite products.
- American Eagle: An American Eagle gift card is ideal because it can be used at both American Eagle and Aerie, two of the most well-liked teen retail chains.
- Hobby Lobby: For anyone who has a love of crafting, arts, and home decor!
- Rent the Runway: For formal events like homecoming and prom, a designer dress is a must-have, making this card a perfect present for the lady in your life. Make sure the card has at least $30 on it, as rentals begin at that price.
- Zappos: Gift cards to the trendy shoe store can be purchased online and delivered via email or snail mail. Two styles are available for traditional greeting cards, while ten are available for electronic greeting cards.
- Target: This is one of my favorite teen gift card ideas. Teenage girls, in particular, will love shopping at Target. One can find all the cosmetics, home furnishings, and clothing she could ever want there.
Best Gift Cards for Teens (Boys)
Finding gift cards that appeal to boys is simple, and these suggestions also make for excellent tween gift cards.
- Nike: Shoes, apparel, and accessories from Nike, Hurley, and Converse can all be purchased with a Nike gift card, making them a convenient gift option. You get over twenty-five different card designs, and they’re even packaged in a miniature Nike shoe box.
- Nintendo eShop: Teenagers who love to play video games are going to go wild for this gift card idea!
- PlayStation Store: Any teen with a PlayStation and a desire to add games, add-ons, and movies to their collection will appreciate this card.
- GameStop: A Gamestop gift card is a great present for any teenager who enjoys playing video games on a personal computer, Xbox, or Playstation 4. Gift cards are available in any denomination from $25 to $100. Both physical and digital versions of the cards are available for purchase.
Creative Packaging Options for Teen Gift Cards
It’s time to start wrapping up those gift cards you’ve chosen as your favorites for giving to teenagers. These creative wrapping options will jazz up even the most basic present.
- Wrap it up and hide it in a puzzle box so that they have to work to uncover the prize.
- Get a nice gift card case that can hold all those tiny plastic cards.
- Place the card in a smaller box and then place that box inside a larger box, and so on, until you have a large box stuffed with smaller boxes.
- The birthday teen can have a mini clothesline strung up and guests can use miniature clothespins to hang up their gift card donations as they arrive.
- Create a small gift basket with matching wrapping paper and the gift card inside.
- Use the gift card as a bookmark by inserting it inside a book.
More Fun Ideas for Teens
- Totally Rad Teen Cake Ideas – No matter if you’re planning on making a cake for your teen’s birthday on your own or ordering one online, we have the best teen cake ideas for your big day. I personally have always loved making cakes for any birthday celebration in our family. Now, I am not saying that they have always looked the best, but they sure are a labor of love that I love to do. Check out our favorite designs and ideas that are teen-approved.
- Teen Party Game Ideas – It’s not always easy to plan a successful party for adolescent guests. You’ll need to arrange entertaining activities in addition to the food, decorations, and guests. When we want to break the ice, engage the kids, and make sure that everyone has a good time at a party, we often turn to games. Here are some of our favorite games for a teen party that kids of all ages will love.
- Creative Business Ideas for Teens – Here are some of our favorite business ideas for teens to help them get started if they are motivated but cannot find a job due to scheduling conflicts or age restrictions.
Mom to teens with lots of ideas and inspiration to share for travel, food, parties, school & fun!