The Best Toys and Gifts for 11-Year-Old Boys (2024)

As you roll through our picks, you'll observe that 11-year-old boys are into anything that'll help them expand their minds, from brain-teasing puzzles to STEM kits. And if you are looking for more great gift ideas, check out the best gifts for 11-year-olds, the best gifts for 11-year-old girls and the best gifts for teen boys.

This speaker has a 4.7-star rating across almost 1,000 Walmart shopper reviews, and it makes sense. It's waterproof and dustproof, and once it's fully charged, he'll get up to 5 hours of non-stop music.

He's probably really getting into music right now, so he'll be impressed when you tell him you got him a gift from House of Marley, a brand that says it works with Bob Marley's family, to keep his legacy going.

With this dice game, you play as a zombie, and you're looking to eat those delicious brains. If you roll a brain, you get to eat a human (and you get a point), if you roll a set of footprints, it means your prey got away — but if you get three shotgun blasts, it means your turn is over. You can play this with a group of people that's big or small, and it plays fast and sets up easily, so it's great to just keep on-hand in case a moment of boredom arises. Ages 10+

Whether he's doing sports, heading to class or swinging his way through the city, he's going to need to stay hydrated. This 17-oz cup is triple-insulated to keep drinks cold (they say for up to nine hours), plus the lid seals tight so it won't leak in his backpack. No age recommendation given.

He'll spend hours of screen-free time building up his memory and motor coordination at the same time with this game. It flashes lights in a sequence, and players have to try and repeat it. (Warning: You may want to steal this from him when he's not looking). Ages 7+

Just when you thought they were too big for pop-up books, this comes along and blows all the others out of the water. The pages fold out and transform in to six different fully functioning inventions, including a planetarium, a decoder ring and a speaker that amplifies sound. The text on each page describes the science of how it all works. Ages 8+

Now he won't have to worry about running out of juice when he's on the go. This portable charger carries enough battery power to charge his phone two or three times before it needs to be refreshed, the brand says, and yet it's still small enough to stash in his backpack. No age recommendation given.

He could be the next Tim Burton or Wes Anderson with this kit, which gives him all he needs to make his own stop-motion animated videos. It comes with a camera with an internal microphone, stop-motion software (for Windows), a mini stage with a background, effects and sounds and a book of animation. No age recommendation given.

It's the classic Capture the Flag with a techie twist: Instead of a fabric flag, players are going after a glowing orb, and teams are identified through glowing bracelets. That means the game is more fun the darker it gets outside! There are enough materials for up to eight players (depending on the game variation) but you can also get expansion sets. Ages 8+

Their birthday money and allowance will be kept safe (a.k.a. out of the hands of their siblings) with this password-protected piggy bank, which is a cool upgrade from the kiddy ones they might have. Ages 3+

Two '90s trends come together into one irresistable toy. In this version of Bop It, you either press a part of Leonardo's shell, twist his arm (and hear his blade slice through the air) or pull his leg, depending on what the instructions tell you to do. It has two modes of play (single player or "pass it" mode). Do you have what it takes to get the highest score? Ages 8+

If he's a wiz in the kitchen and wants to take on a new challenge, he probably hasn't already made his own mochi ice cream! (Or mochi donuts.) This gives him enough ingredients to make 32 pieces, along with tools like a silicone mold and a dough cutter. No age recommendation given.

When the weather is cold and it's time to get cozy, this blanket hoodie is just what he needs. Not only is it warm and comfy, the dinosaur pattern glows in the dark — and it has a big front pocket for him to keep his hands in. Fits ages 8 – 15

Christmas comes with a long school break, and, with this book, he'll never be at a loss for how to fill it. It comes chock-full of activities courtesy of the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute. He'll spend his days making his own advent calendar, planning a movie marathon, brewing hot chocolate and learning the history behind different traditions. (Why do we decorate trees, anyway?) Ages 8 – 12

From card tricks to coin tricks to linking rings, this tin contains all they need to master 50 different magic tricks — something that helps them with self-confidence and public speaking. They can use the app to get step-by-step video instructions along with a free magic trick every week. Ages 8+

This basketball lights up when being played with, so he can practice in the driveway even after the sun goes down. (It also shuts off on its own when it's no longer in use.) The LED lights inside are powered by batteries that can be replaced for continued use. If basketball isn't his sport, you can also get an LED football, soccer ball or volleyball. Ages 3+