Best Gifts for 12 Year Olds in Australia 2026: 9 Picks for Every Budget

This page is for one age only: a 12 year old. Every listing here includes 12 in its stated age range, and the nine picks sit in three budget bands, under $25, under $50 and under $100, each with a top pick. Games cover game night, three LEGO sets cover building, and a speed cube, a brain teaser and a wall collage kit cover the quieter afternoons. For a child a year or two younger, our gifts for 10 year old boys guide covers that age.

Best gifts for a 12 year old under $25

Top pick under $25: Mattel Games Phase 10

Top pick under $25: Mattel Games Phase 10, because players race to complete ten varied phases, two sets of three, one run of seven or seven cards of the same colour, and the listing calls it fun for the whole family.

The listing describes a Rummy type card game with a twist: each phase is specific to each hand, so every player must complete one phase before advancing to the next round, and Wild and Skip cards add game changing moments. It comes with 108 cards, and the title gives ages 7 years and older. It holds 4.8 stars from more than 6,200 ratings, the most in this band.

It suits a 12 year old who likes a game that rewards planning. The honest catch: the title gives ages 7 years and older and calls it a game for kids, family or adult game night, so it is not made for 12 year olds alone.

Best LEGO desk decor set under $25: LEGO Botanicals Daisies

Best LEGO desk decor set under $25: LEGO Botanicals Daisies, because a 12 year old builds three large daisies, two stems of small daisies and three sprigs of lavender that stay on the desk as bedroom decor.

The listing describes a 133 piece set for girls and boys aged 9 and over, with a small ladybird on one of the lavender stems. The larger daisy measures over 20 cm high and the smaller over 16 cm, and a vase is not included. It holds 4.8 stars from more than 2,100 ratings.

It suits a 12 year old who would rather build something to display than something to play with. The honest catch: it is a flower set for display, and the rating count may be shared across versions of the listing.

Best speed cube under $25: Rubik's 3x3 Magnetic Speed Cube

Best speed cube under $25: the Rubik's 3x3 Magnetic Speed Cube, because the magnets let it turn at an accelerated racing pace under control, which suits a 12 year old chasing a personal best time.

The listing describes a cube for speed cubers, beginners and advanced players alike, with an easy to turn stickerless design, a stronger core and a mechanism designed to make it faster and smoother, and it comes already lubricated. The title gives ages 8+. It holds 4.7 stars from more than 1,400 ratings across the speed cube versions.

It suits a 12 year old who knows the cube and wants to go faster. The honest catch: the listing says the box includes one 3x3 speed cube and that packaging may vary.

Best gifts for a 12 year old under $50

Top pick under $50: USAopoly Tapple

Top pick under $50: USAopoly Tapple, because it is a fast paced word game for 3 to 10 players, so a 12 year old with friends over or a family at the table can all join in, and it has the biggest rating count of any group game here.

The listing describes a fast paced word game: players race the clock, tapping letters on a portable wheel as they name words for categories before a ten second timer runs out. The title gives 3 to 10 players and ages 8 and up, and the bullets say suitable for kids ages 8 years and up. It holds 4.6 stars from more than 11,400 ratings across the Tapple editions.

It suits a 12 year old who has friends over or a family that plays together. The honest catch: it needs at least three players, and its 4.6 rating is the lowest on this page alongside the wall collage kit.

Best LEGO car set under $50: LEGO Speed Champions Time Machine

Best LEGO car set under $50: the LEGO Speed Champions Time Machine from Back to the Future, because the 357 piece car comes with Doc Brown and Marty McFly minifigures and rebuilds from the lightning hook version into flying mode.

The listing describes a model car kit for boys and girls aged 9 and over to build, display and recreate movie scenes: the lightning hook from the first movie, or flying mode with sideways wheels and Mr. Fusion from the second. Details include the rear air vents, cockpit, flux capacitor and time calculator, and the car measures over 10 cm high, 17 cm long and 7 cm wide. It holds 4.8 stars from more than 3,800 ratings.

It suits a 12 year old who has seen the films, or a parent who wants to share them. The honest catch: the film tie in matters most to fans, so it is the one to skip if the Back to the Future films mean nothing to them.

Best bedroom craft kit under $50: Pretty Me DIY Wall Collage Kit

Best bedroom craft kit under $50: the Pretty Me DIY Wall Collage Kit, because a 12 year old arranges 150 plus artworks and 750 plus stickers into a picture wall for the bedroom in any shape or size she chooses.

The listing describes over 1000 pieces, including 150 plus artworks, 750 plus stickers, foam blocks that add a 3D effect, wall safe tape and an instruction booklet. The title names it for teen and tween girls, lists 10 to 15 year old girls and gives age 8+. It holds 4.6 stars from more than 2,600 ratings.

It suits a 12 year old who wants her room to look like hers. The honest catch: the kit is written for girls, and it needs a wall she is allowed to decorate.

Best brain teaser under $50: Educational Insights Kanoodle

Best brain teaser under $50: Educational Insights Kanoodle, because its 200 puzzle challenges run from basic to deviously difficult, so a 12 year old works through them alone with the 12 pieces and the 48 page puzzle book.

The listing describes a solo game of 2D and 3D puzzles with 12 pieces, 200 challenges, a 48 page illustrated puzzle book and a carrying case. The title gives ages 7+ and names teens and adults, while the bullets say anyone 8 to 108. It holds 4.7 stars from more than 34,600 ratings, the biggest count on this page by a long way.

It suits a 12 year old who likes a solo puzzle, and the listing calls it a travel game. The honest catch: it is a solo game, not one for a game night.

Best gifts for a 12 year old under $100

Top pick under $100: LEGO Technic Bugatti Bolide

Top pick under $100: the LEGO Technic Bugatti Bolide, because a 12 year old builds a racing car model with a working W16 engine, steering and scissor doors, then displays it, and it is the highest rated pick in this band.

The listing describes a building challenge for racing car enthusiasts aged 9+, a yellow and black colour scheme with sticker details, and a finished model over 8 cm high, 31 cm long and 13 cm wide. Instructions come through the LEGO Builder app, where builders zoom in, rotate the model in 3D and track progress. It holds 4.8 stars from more than 4,900 ratings.

It suits a 12 year old who wants a build with moving parts and a shelf piece at the end. The honest catch: it costs the most of any pick on this page, and the finishing details are stickers.

Best strategy board game under $100: Ravensburger Castles of Burgundy

Best strategy board game under $100: Ravensburger Castles of Burgundy, because each player is an aristocrat building settlements and castles across a princedom, and it is the one pick here listed for ages 12 and up.

The listing describes players taking settlement tiles from the game board and placing them into their princedom to activate unique functions, with several regions that each need their own type of settlement tile to complete. The title gives ages 12+ and the bullets recommend it for 12 years and above. It holds 4.7 stars from more than 2,300 ratings.

It suits a 12 year old who wants a strategy game to play with parents or older siblings. The honest catch: there are several regions and tile types to learn, and the listing is mixed on players, with a title that says for 2 to 4 players while its item details give a different number, so check before you buy.

How to choose a gift for a 12 year old

Check the age on the listing

Read the full age range on the listing, not just the minimum. Castles of Burgundy is listed for ages 12+ and is the one pick aimed squarely at this age. The wall collage kit lists 10 to 15 year old girls as well as age 8+. The three LEGO sets are listed for ages 9 and over, Rubik's and Tapple for ages 8+, Phase 10 for ages 7 years and older, and Kanoodle gives ages 7+ on the title and anyone 8 to 108 in the bullets.

Playing alone or playing together

Phase 10, Tapple and Castles of Burgundy are games for several players. Kanoodle, which the listing calls a solo game, the Rubik's speed cube, the three LEGO sets and the wall collage kit can be enjoyed individually or together. For a child who mostly plays alone, pick from the second group; for a family that plays together, the games are the better buy.

Gifts for a 12 year old girl or boy

One listing here is written for one sex: the Pretty Me wall collage kit names teen and tween girls. The LEGO Daisies and Time Machine listings say girls and boys, and the rest say nothing either way. For more ideas for a girl, our gifts for girls guide covers ages 5 to 12, and our gifts for teenage boys guide is where a 12 year old boy's wish list heads next.

Christmas gift or birthday gift

At Christmas a 12 year old usually gets several things, so the under $25 band works as the extra present: Phase 10 or the speed cube in a stocking, the Daisies as a box under the tree. For a birthday, one bigger gift lands better: the Bugatti Bolide or Castles of Burgundy under $100, or Tapple under $50 if friends are coming to the party.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best gift for a 12 year old in Australia?

Phase 10 is the pick to start with: a Rummy type card game where players race to complete ten phases, with 4.8 stars and the most ratings in the under $25 band. Under $50 the top pick is Tapple for 3 to 10 players, and under $100 the LEGO Technic Bugatti Bolide with its working W16 engine.

What are the best Christmas gifts for 12 year olds?

Pick by budget. Under $25, Phase 10 or the Rubik's speed cube fit a stocking and the LEGO Daisies make a box under the tree. Under $50, Tapple suits a group of up to 10 players, and the Speed Champions Time Machine has 357 pieces. Under $100, the Technic Bugatti Bolide is the big present.

What are the best gifts for a 12 year old girl?

Start with what she makes or plays. The Pretty Me wall collage kit is the one listing here written for girls, with 150 plus artworks and 750 plus stickers for a bedroom wall. The LEGO Daisies become desk decor, Phase 10 and Tapple work for a sleepover, and our gifts for girls guide covers ages 5 to 12.

What is a unique birthday gift for a 12 year old girl?

Unique does not have to mean unusual. The Pretty Me wall collage kit becomes a picture wall nobody else has, arranged in any shape or size with her own photos and favourite quotes. The LEGO Daisies are flowers she builds herself, with a ladybird on a lavender stem, for the desk.

What are the best gifts for a 12 year old boy?

Go by what he does. For a builder, the LEGO Technic Bugatti Bolide under $100 has a working W16 engine, steering and scissor doors, and the Speed Champions Time Machine under $50 comes with Doc Brown and Marty McFly. For a puzzler, the Rubik's speed cube or Kanoodle. For game night, Phase 10 or Castles of Burgundy.

What is an unusual gift for a 12 year old boy?

Skip another console game and give him something to make or master. The Rubik's 3x3 Magnetic Speed Cube is built for chasing faster solve times, with a stickerless design and magnets. Castles of Burgundy is a strategy board game listed for ages 12 and up, where each player builds a princedom from settlement tiles.

What do you buy an 11 or 12 year old girl in Australia?

The same list works for both ages, because every listing here includes 11 and 12 except Castles of Burgundy, which starts at 12. The Pretty Me wall collage kit names 10 to 15 year old girls on its title, the LEGO Daisies and Time Machine say girls and boys, and Kanoodle and the speed cube suit any puzzler.

Which gifts here can a 12 year old play alone?

Kanoodle is a solo game by the listing's own words. The Rubik's speed cube comes as one cube, and the three LEGO sets can be built by one child. Phase 10 and Castles of Burgundy are played with other people, and Tapple is listed for 3 to 10 players.