50 Graduation Gifts They’ll Actually Use (2024)

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If you're a parent, family member, or even friend of a Class of 2023 graduate, you might be struggling to pick out a good gift—one that recognizes a lifetime of hard work.

Our advice? The best gift for any graduate—whether they're headed to college or graduate school, entering the "real world," or leaving high school behind—is something that will help set them up for success. That could be a practical present (like a sleek watch to keep them punctual or a sturdy suitcase for their upcoming travel) or it could be something that'll streamline their routine, like a cookbook filled with cheap and easy recipes, a delicious meal delivery subscription, or a journal to help them organize their life. These unisex gifts are timeless options, but be sure to check out gifts for her and gifts for him for even more choices.

We've compiled the smartest, most stylish, and all around best gifts for high school and college graduates—from a bestselling book on Amazon to a pair of Oprah-approved headphones—so all you have to do is add a card and, of course, write a thoughtful message inside.

Who doesn't love a bobblehead? Made of polymer clay, you can customize the bobblehead to look like your graduate, complete with text. You can choose either a stationary head or a classic wobbly bobblehead.

Mark the graduate's special day with their very own bottle of tequila by Casamigos. Easily customizable, you can add their name and year of their graduation and it'll be engraved below the original label and filled with an elegant golden inlay.

Students are notorious for partying at college—overdoing it on beer, not getting enough sleep, surviving on a diet of instant noodles. This clever handbook is the ultimate guide to living a healthy and full college student life.

Whether they're a high school or college grad, reading is fundamental. This digital gift card is a perfect way for them to pick books either for their studies or just for pleasure. Because it's digital, this is a great choice for last-minute shoppers or those who live far from the grad.

Everyone is spending more and more time looking at screens, whether it's a phone or laptop, which means protecting eyes from the blue light that comes from these devices is essential. Your grad can study, game, and watch movies in comfort and style with these specs that filter out up to 40 percent of blue light.

Perfect for everything from coffee and tea to instant noodles, this stylish yet ultra-functional tea kettle will get a lot of use by the new grad.

If microwaving ramen is the closest they've come to making dinner for themselves, this cookbook, complete with more than 275 recipes, will expand their culinary horizons.

Even if they exclusively use their phones to check the time, a good watch never goes out of style. Engraved on the back of all these watches is the motto “Live your legacy," just in case your grad needs a little more inspiration for this next life stage.

Gift your grad a truly inspiring gift of a book. Written as life lesson letters to the author's son, Karen Duffy, author and former MTV VJ gives a lot of advice that'll be relevant to anyone starting their—insert dramatic music here—adult years.

Do what you can to lure your grad back home with a weekender bag that makes packing easy. You can both feel good about this one because of its vegan leather exterior and roomy interior (complete with zippered pockets both inside and out). Plus, it's an Oprah fave: "Not too big, not too small—this weekender is just right," she says.

Sometimes the most practical present—and therefore the most used—is a gift card. That way they can get exactly what they need.

If your grad is the type to constantly misplace their phone charger, a wireless one will revolutionize their tech game. This one not only looks sleek on a nightstand or side table but also leaves space for any accessories that might need a home.

These Oprah-approved bluetooth headphones will drown out noise while studying, blast pump-up music at the gym, or play podcasts during the morning commute.

When the only kitchen tool you have at your disposal is a microwave, options are limited. But this handy tool makes it a little easier for grads to cook a dinner that's a step above frozen entrées.

Inspire your new grad to take the lead with this bestselling book from Brené Brown. In it, she uses research, stories, and examples to answer two frequently asked questions: How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture?

They may not like to admit it, but sometimes homesickness hits hard. Help stave off those blue feelings with a candle that brings comfort.

Add a touch of home sweet home to any small, white-walled apartment or dorm room with this luxury towel set. The soft, plush cotton terry will provide the perfect antidote for an extra-long day, while the monogram will ensure your grad's towels never get nabbed in the dorm laundry or at the local laundromat.

A custom photo frame takes their special snapshots off their phone and brings them to life, plus it serves as some much-needed apartment decor.

Has your grad wanted a new Xbox Series S for a while? Maybe you promised them the games console as a gift if they got good grades? Well now's the perfect time to reward their hard work. They can experience next-gen speed and performance with the largest digital library yet.

Adulthood means self-care, including dental hygiene. A rechargeable electric power brush is the perfect gift for a grad, helping them keep their teeth in tip-top shape before those college-break dentist visits.