Completing high school is a significant accomplishment, and therefore, it is natural to desire to purchase the ideal gift for your recent or soon-to-be high school graduate. The finest graduation gifts commemorate this crucial milestone while assisting the new graduate embarking on their forthcoming journey.
Whether your recent graduate is taking a break, embarking on a new career, or pursuing advanced education, a thoughtful present can equip them for any challenges. You desire to offer a gift indicating your unwavering backing of their choices and enthusiasm for their new beginning.
While high school graduates always appreciate cold, hard cash as an easy gift, the most meaningful gifts come from the heart. A valuable and significant contribution that won’t be immediately spent on gas and groceries will likely be even more appreciated.
We have curated a diverse selection of practical and distinctive gift suggestions that are much more considerate than just a bundle of cash. Ranging from dormitory must-haves to sentimental treasures, these presents will help prepare them for the road ahead.
Amazon
Nutribullet Personal Blender
For a Quick Nutrition Boost
In case your graduate is leaving home, their healthy eating routine might go downhill. With Nutribullet blender, they can effortlessly include fruits and vegetables in their daily diet. It is user-friendly, efficient, and requires less clean-up than a conventional blender. Additionally, it has a flip-top lid that enables them to bring their smoothie wherever they go.
“You are receiving price alerts for the Nutribullet Personal Blender. It is priced at $58 on Walmart and Amazon.”
Amazon Echo Show 5: A Compact Smart Display
Are you looking for a full-featured Alexa bright screen as a graduation gift? You could opt for the more extensive and expensive Echo Show 10, but we recommend the more suitable size of the Echo Show 5 for a dorm room or small apartment. Like its bigger counterpart, the Echo Show 5 can function as an alarm clock and is perfect for video calls, streaming movies, and playing music. Additionally, your grad can personalize it to display photos of their loved ones.
Check out our review of the Amazon Echo Show 5.
It is currently priced at $30 on Amazon. You have been subscribed to receive price notifications for the Amazon Echo Show 5.
Amazon
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine
For Coffee Lovers
If the graduate in your life enjoys regular visits to coffee shops, they will adore the Breville Bambino Espresso Machine. It can produce delicious cappuccinos, espressos, and lattes, all comparable to Starbucks’ finest brews. This machine is incredibly user-friendly and doesn’t require much counter space. Its ability to create perfectly frothed milk is excellent and Instagram-worthy.
$339 at Walmart$346 at Amazon$350 at Best Buy
Apple AirTag
For the graduate who is always forgetful
If your graduate is not organized and tends to forget things, this will likely only worsen after they leave home. An AirTag is an excellent gift for anyone who frequently loses items. These small device trackers can be placed inside bags, wallets, or backpacks or attached to bicycles, keys, and other things. They can even be personalized for free with your graduate’s initials.
$25 on Amazon$25 at Walmart.
Spikeball
Enjoy summer to the fullest
With high school graduation done and dusted, it’s time for summer fun and games. Spikeball is a perfect way to kick-start the season. This popular and fast-paced game blends the essence of volleyball and four square. Unlike regular volleyball, where you hit a heavy ball over a straight net, Spikeball requires you to strike a soft, grapefruit-sized ball onto a bouncy, ringed surface, comparable to tetherball but without the rope. It’s a thrilling game that demands fast reflexes and agile movements to score high. Moreover, it’s highly portable and easily transported to the beach or park.
You are getting alerts for Spikeball for $70 at Walmart and $60 at Amazon.
Amazon
Thick Mattress Topper
For a Restful Night
If you have ever slept on a dormitory mattress, you know how uncomfortable they can be. Therefore, if your favourite graduate is moving into a dorm room in the coming fall, they will undoubtedly be thankful for an improvement. A fantastic gift idea to offer them would be this mattress topper which will provide extra cushioning to the mattress, transforming their sleeping experience completely. Plus, the topper makes cleaning up spills much easier after those late-night bedtime snacking sessions.
Make sure to purchase a Twin XL, as it is the typical mattress size for dorm rooms and residence halls.
$85 can be found on Amazon, where you will receive price notifications for an extra-thick mattress topper.
DoorDash is a prevalent option for food delivery, and thanks to its vast selection of restaurants and simple app interface, it’s our top choice among food delivery applications. You can customize a gift card with a graduation theme and send it to your graduate through mail, text, or email. Gift cards can be purchased from $25 to $500.
Check out DoorDash.
David Carnoy/CNET
Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones
Perfect for blocking out noisy roommates
Product Specifications
Battery Life: Up to 32 hours
Noise Cancellation: Yes (ANC)
Multipoint: Yes
Headphone Type: Over-ear wireless headphones
Water-Resistant: No IP rating
If college graduates are not staying at home, they will likely have to face loud roommates. The latest edition of Sony’s highly-effective noise-cancelling headphones is a great solution to block unwanted noise and enable graduates to concentrate on their studies or unwind with music. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has earned our Editors’ Choice accolade with excellent battery life, superb sound quality, and a comfortable fit. The older models, XM4, are also amazing and can sometimes be purchased for as low a price as $280.
Check out our review of the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.
$348 on Amazon
$350 on Best Buy
$348 on Crutchfield
Cuddle Clones
A warm and fuzzy reminder of their beloved pet
Parting with a beloved pet can be challenging, especially when leaving home. If you know a recent graduate who loves their furry companion, you may consider gifting them a snuggly Cuddle Clone. This will offer comfort and constantly remind them of their treasured animal friend.
The process of ordering from Cuddle Clones is quite simple. Begin by providing your pet’s name, species, and breed. Then, respond to a few uncomplicated inquiries, submit photos, and presto! Your loved one will have a cuddly replica of their furry friend in eight weeks.
$249 from Cuddle Clones.
Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite is an excellent gift option for graduates who love reading. If your new grad is relocating after graduation, they may end up in a smaller living space, resulting in less space for their extraordinary book collections. However, the Kindle Paperwhite provides bookworms with a similar reading experience as physical books. It includes warm light settings, has a long battery life, and is entirely waterproof. Although the retail price is $140, there are often discounts on this model, sometimes dropping as low as $80.
$140 on Amazon$140 at Best Buy$140 at Target
Lunya Sleep Mask
Ideal for eliminating light and noise disturbances
Quality sleep is essential for all individuals, especially young adults like your recent graduate. Consider gifting them the Lunya silk sleep mask, which can be easily washed. The mask’s wide band ensures proper face coverage to block out light effectively. Plus, its unique design muffles noise thanks to the band that fits over the ears.
$48 for Lunya
Travel with the Away Carry-On
If you’re sad about bidding farewell to your recent graduate, why not encourage them to come back and visit with an Away Carry-On? This compact suitcase easily fits in the overhead compartment of most aeroplanes, making it ideal for weekend getaways and extended trips home. Designed to be sturdy and dependable, this roller bag is built to last and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty that covers everything from the shell to the wheels, handles and zippers.
The regular carry-on luggage is priced at $275; however, if you wish to have a USB charger for charging your phone while in transit, it will cost an additional $50. Moreover, if you desire to customize the luggage tag with your initials, there will be an extra charge of $35.
Away charges $275.
Zappos
Adidas Adilette? shower sandals
For showering or a trip to the swimming pool
If your recent graduate is relocating to a dorm room in the autumn, shower sandals are a must. Thongs or slides can safeguard their feet from fungi and bacteria that flourish in shared restrooms (yuck).
The Adidas Adilette shower slides are a classic that has gained immense popularity for good reasons. They provide comfort, durability and ample textured traction to prevent slipping on wet tiles. The price ranges from $25 and upwards.
$30 on Zappos
Nostalgic
Nostalgic candle
For the recent graduate feeling the pangs of nostalgia for their hometown, a Nostalgic Candle is the perfect reminder of home. These 13.75-ounce candles are made with a natural soy wax blend and scents that reflect the unique characteristics of each state. Whether your graduate moves cross-country or settles in a new city, lighting this candle will transport them back home, if only for a moment.
$34 on Uncommon Goods.
Cameo
Cameo Video Message
Your beloved graduate most likely has a favourite sports team, TV series, or movie. You can make their day by gifting them a personal video message from their favourite celebrity or reality star, congratulating them on their graduation. With Cameo, you can select the individual you believe would bring the most happiness to your graduate and pay for a brief video message from them. Prices differ significantly, but the outcome is always pure delight.
Cameo sighting
Things Remembered offers personalized picture frames as a perfect high school graduation gift idea to commemorate this achievement. With prices starting at just $20, many options exist to help celebrate and capture the day forever.
Check out Things Remembered.
Bed Bath & Beyond
Customized Laundry Bag
For Expert Laundry Session
Being an adult can be challenging, particularly when you are responsible for doing your laundry and lugging it from your dorm room to the laundromat. However, you can simplify this tiresome task for your graduate using this customized laundry bag. It can fit a week’s worth of laundry, and the robust backpack straps ensure simple transportation from one location to another. You could fill the front pocket with laundry essentials like coins, fabric softener, and detergent pods for an added heartfelt gesture.
$28 on Personalization Mall
More CNET gift guides
Best Star Wars Gifts
Best Coffee Club and Subscription
Best Flower Delivery Services
Best Gifts under $300
Viral TikTok Products Worth Purchasing