The best gifts for 10 year old boys tend to fall somewhere between playful and practical.
Some still enjoy building LEGO sets, while others are more interested in gaming gear or hands-on STEM projects.
After trying plenty of options over the past few years, these are the gifts my son and his friends actually used, talked about, and returned to long after the wrapping paper was gone.
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Top 10 Gifts for 10 Year Old Boys
These are the gifts that actually held my sonโs attention and didnโt end up forgotten in a drawer a week later.
Theyโve been played with, built, read, worn out, and even passed along to friends.
If youโre short on time, start here, the ones below got the most love in our house.
PlayStation Digital Alarm Clock โ Looks great on a nightstand and actually got my son to check the time on something other than his tablet.
PS5 Skin โ An easy win for kids who want to personalize their gaming setup without messing with settings.
Throw Throw Burrito โ Loud, silly, and surprisingly strategic. Weโve played this with cousins and even grandparents.
Gaming Chair โ This was the upgrade my son didnโt ask for but now insists on using for everything, including homework.
Lego Sets โ Still unbeatable for kids who like to build and rebuild. Weโve rotated through everything from Star Wars to Minecraft.
Nintendo Switch 2 โ Great for long car rides and travel. Itโs smaller than a full console but just as loved.
Hot Wheels Unleashed โ One of the few racing games that kept my son interested beyond the first week.
Glow in the Dark Marble Run โ A favorite on rainy days. The glow adds just enough โwowโ to make it a repeat activity.
The Last Kids on Earth Books โ This series turned my reluctant reader into someone who stays up late on purpose to finish a chapter.
Mel Science โ The only science kit weโve reordered. Genuinely engaging and not just a one-and-done project.
More Great Gift Ideas for 10 Year Old Boys
If youโre after more inspiration, the list below includes ideas for every kind of kid, readers, builders, gamers, and explorers alike.
From books and tech to STEM kits and outdoor play, these are the ones that keep getting used long after the excitement fades.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Amazon.com: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition – PlayStation 5 : Toys & Games
If your 10-year-old loves racing games, this one stands out. The car customization kept my son engaged, and the different terrains add a fun challenge. Itโs a nice mix of fast-paced action and strategy, without being too complicated.
A great pick for LEGO fans who are ready for a more action-packed game. My son liked teaming up with friends in co-op mode, and the robotic creatures and missions kept him coming back. It's fun without being overwhelming.
If your child knows every SpongeBob or Ninja Turtle episode by heart, theyโll probably enjoy this one. Itโs a fast-paced fighting game with favorite characters and simple enough for younger kids to play without needing tutorials.
My son described this as โMario Kart but with Shrek.โ Itโs easy to pick up and great for younger kids who want fast racing without complicated controls. Ideal for casual family races or solo play.
This oneโs light and silly, great for kids who enjoy puzzle-solving but arenโt ready for anything too intense. The mini-games are short, the vibe is fun, and itโs an easy party-style game to play with friends or siblings.
Embark on a whimsical journey with The Smurfs 2: Prisoner of the Green Stone on the PS5, offering a captivating story and challenges in the magical Smurf universe.
A solid headset for the price. My son uses this for both gaming and chatting with friends online, and the sound quality is surprisingly good. The lights are a fun bonus, and it works across all his devices without issues.
This chair made a bigger difference than I expected, itโs comfortable enough for long gaming sessions, but also works well for reading or homework. My son liked the design, and itโs held up well after months of daily use.
If your child loves Spider-Man, this skin is an easy win. It makes the PS5 setup feel personalized, and the design has stayed in great shape even with regular use. My son loved that it matched his controller and headset.
A great set for Harry Potter fans who are ready for something a bit more advanced. My son enjoyed building the different scenes and reenacting the final battle. Itโs detailed enough to be fun, without being overwhelming to build solo.
This game is always a hit. Itโs fast, ridiculous, and easy to learn, even younger kids catch on quickly. Weโve played it with family and friends, and itโs one of the few games that gets pulled out over and over again.
We didnโt expect to love this game, but itโs become a favorite. Itโs silly, loud, and the foam burritos are surprisingly durable. Great for burning off energy and always gets laughs, even from adults.
This oneโs great for older kids who love to bluff and be silly. You make up fake definitions and try to trick others, my son loved trying to outsmart us. Itโs easy to set up and fun for mixed-age game nights.
A great build for Star Wars fans who arenโt ready for the bigger sets just yet. This one is manageable for most 10-year-olds to build on their own and makes a fun display piece once itโs done.
This kit was a hit during our Nerf-themed birthday party. It comes with everything a kid needs to gear up, including extra darts and safety glasses. Great for active play and especially fun in team battles with friends or siblings.
My son loved building different tracks and testing how fast he could make the marbles go. The glow-in-the-dark feature adds a fun twist, especially when we turn off the lights for nighttime races.
If your child is into fidget toys or puzzles, this one stands out. Itโs more interesting than a basic cube, my son kept trying to discover all 70+ shapes. Great for quiet play or keeping hands busy during screen-free time.
This is one of those practical gifts that still feels fun. My son actually uses it, and it looks great next to his PS5 setup. If your child loves PlayStation, itโs a simple way to get them to care about the time.
We got this when my son wanted a smartwatch โlike grown-ups have.โ He uses it to track steps and set activity goals, and the battery life is great. Itโs especially fun if your child enjoys a little friendly competition.
My son mainly uses this to play music, ask random trivia questions, and set timers for reading. The parental controls are easy to manage, and it feels more like a fun helper than a screen.
This was a great starter keyboard for my son. It comes with everything you need, and the app made it easy for him to follow along without feeling overwhelmed. He picked up a few songs quickly, which really boosted his confidence.Check out the best online piano lessons for kids
Perfect for travel or when your child doesnโt want to share the main console. My son brings his on road trips and plays Pokรฉmon, Mario, and Animal Crossing. Itโs smaller than a regular Switch but just as fun for solo play.
My son brought this to a birthday party and ended up taking pictures of all his friends to keep in a little photo album. The instant prints are a big hit, and itโs a fun screen-free way for kids to capture memories.
This is one of the only science kits my son has actually stuck with. The experiments feel real, the VR headset adds something extra, and the quality of materials is way better than most. Weโve even reordered extra kits.Check out our honest Mel Science reviewto see what exclusive promo codes are available.
We got this when my son showed interest in learning guitar but wasnโt ready for formal lessons. The kit includes everything he needed to get started, and the guide helped him learn a few simple chords on his own.
This kit combines LEGO building with simple mechanics. My son liked figuring out how to make each bot move, and the instructions were clear enough for him to follow without help. A good mix of fun and learning.
This set includes the first three books in a series my son has loved for years. Itโs full of action, monsters, and just enough humor to keep kids hooked. Great for reluctant readers or kids who enjoy adventure stories.
My son thought this was the coolest STEM kit heโs ever done. It took a bit of focus to put together, but the end result, a working foam dart glove, was totally worth it. Great for kids who like building with a purpose.
This kit kept my son busy for days. There are 13 different robot options, and the solar power twist made it feel like a real science project. Some are more challenging than others, but the variety makes it a great value.
Weโve had this game table for over a year, and it still gets regular use. Itโs compact enough to fit in a corner but has four games (like pool, air hockey, and table tennis) that keep kids entertained without screens.Check out our favorite gifts for baseball fans too.
This little hoop has been a lifesaver on rainy days. It fits over a door and actually holds up well to daily use. Great for burning energy indoors and practicing trick shots without breaking anything (most of the time).If you have a basketball fan you need to check out our top gifts for kids who love basketball.
This was a huge hit with both my son and his friends. Itโs sturdy, looks great, and holds up to competitive games. Setup took a bit of time, but itโs been totally worth it for game nights and weekend fun.
If your 10-year-old is into soccer, this ball is a solid choice. Itโs held up really well to daily backyard play and looks cool enough that my son actually wanted to bring it to practice.
This jump rope was an unexpected hit. My son started using it after seeing some fun jump challenges online, and now itโs part of his daily routine. The counter is a fun bonus, and the rope adjusts easily for his height.
This is a safe way for kids to try darts without worrying about sharp points. My son likes flipping between the two games, and itโs surprisingly sturdy for a magnetic board. Good for quick play sessions after school.
We got this when my son outgrew his first bike. Itโs held up well to jumps, rough rides, and weekend tricks. Assembly wasnโt too bad, and the design definitely got a thumbs-up.
My son loves stats, so this bike computer was a fun way to track his rides. It shows speed and distance clearly, and itโs been a cool add-on for weekend biking around the neighborhood.
This took a bit of practice, but once my son got the hang of it, he was hooked. It rides differently from a regular skateboard, so thereโs a learning curve, but itโs great for kids who like a challenge.
Weโve used this laser tag set for birthday parties, sleepovers, and just running around the backyard. The vests and lights make it feel legit, and it works great even in daylight. One of the few group toys that actually gets used.