High School Graduation Gift Ideas

Are graduation announcements hitting your mailbox, and you need some inspiration on what gift to give? I’m here for you with High School Graduation Gift Ideas that make sense!

Choosing the perfect graduation gift can be a challenging task, especially considering the many paths a high school graduate may take. Listed below are gift ideas tailored to various post-graduation journeys, from young adults taking a gap year to career-focused individuals and college-bound students. Check out my suggestions to find the right gift idea for any graduate in your life.

Graduation Gift Ideas For Any High School Graduate

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• Money – Money is the most popular, most used, and most appreciated gift. Although money can be boring to give, it’s the all-time best gift for high school grads setting out on their own! Check out this fun Money Gift For Graduates or use this Graduation Pillow Box as an excellent way to gift money!
• Gift Cards – Gift cards are an excellent gift idea when it’s to a place that the graduate shops at often, but be sure to take precautions when buying gift cards, as there are a lot of gift card scams that will leave your graduate with nothing on the card.
• Sherpa Throw Blanket – A cozy blanket is always a welcome gift! Everyone needs a throw blanket to wrap around themselves on chilly days!
• Cookbook – A good cookbook with the basics will give them a reference if they move out on their own.
• Experiences – Concert tickets, museum memberships, or activities for the graduate’s summertime adventures.

Gift Ideas For The College-Bound High School Graduate

A college-bound student will need many things to live on their own, even if it’s in a dorm. Listed below are a few ideas, but for a more comprehensive list, check out Dorm Room Essentials You Actually Need.

• Laptop – A reliable laptop for taking notes, completing assignments, and staying organized throughout college would be a great gift from parents.
• Bedding and Dorm Essentials – Comfortable bedding, towels, storage bins, and other dorm essentials can make their living space feel like home.
• Noise-Canceling Headphones – To block out distractions in dorms or libraries and focus on studying.
• Gift Cards for Food – So they can get a break from the dining hall.
• Care Package Subscription – Treat them to monthly care packages filled with snacks and seasonal items to brighten their days while living away from home. Check out these Care Package Ideas!
• Honeywell Security Box – The graduate on your list will need a way to secure their things in the dorm room. This Honeywell Fire Resistant Steel Security Box comes with a secure cable tether, two keys, and a convenient carry handle! My daughter put hers under her desk and tethered it to the back bar of her desk.
• Desk Lamp – Because your 17-year-old will be doing a lot of studying in college, a desk lamp is a must-have!
• Mini Sewing Kit – You’re always there for your kids when they need you. Now that they are on their own, they need the right tools to see them through. A sewing kit can come in handy.
• Tool Set – We bought a tool kit for our daughter and didn’t realize how good it would be to have on move-in day.
• First Aid Kit – Rest assured, your college-bound student will have what they need when they need it!
• Hydro Flask – A Hydro Flask is the way to take water on the go! This isn’t your ordinary water bottle. My daughter wanted one for school one year, and my husband kept taking it because he likes his water cold. The Hydro Flask still has ice in it after a long day! Justine’s Hydro Flask now dons multiple stickers. She carries it with her everywhere!
• Vacuum – Help your college-bound student keep their dorm room clean with a simple little vacuum cleaner. Most dorms probably have a cleaning closet with a shared vacuum cleaner, but it’s nice to have your own so you have it when you need it. There are certain times of the year when students are expected to leave campus and they are required to leave their dorm rooms in tip-top shape. That means everyone is trying to use the shared vacuum at the same time.
• Laundry Backpack – We found a laundry backpack was the most convenient way to deal with laundry. It’s easy to hang on a bedpost then, when you’re ready to do laundry, you can easily carry it to the laundry room. My son lived the dorm life just one quarter of college and he came home every weekend with his laundry backpack. It was easy to carry to the car along with his guitar and schoolwork. Combine this laundry backpack with detergent and laundry money to assist the graduate with clean clothes!
• FRAKTA Large Zippered Blue IKEA Shopping Bags – These zippered shopping bags are ideal for throwing a bunch of stuff in and hauling it to the dorm and back home! They are especially useful for bedding, pillows, and clothing. Pair an IKEA Bag with a few other fun necessities or treats or use it as a gift bag. The nice thing about these bags is that they fold up small enough to store right in their room so students can pack before parents arrive to pick them up for the summer!
• Graduation Gift Book – Celebrate the graduate’s big achievement with this Printable Graduation Gift Card Book. Designed with flexibility in mind, this 5×7″ gift book includes pages you can print, cut, and personalize with small items, gift cards, or cash. Whether you’re looking for a high school graduation gift or something special for a college send-off, this College Survival Kit is full of encouragement and essentials to make the transition smoother. Choose your favorite pages, attach your gifts, and bind them using your favorite method. My favorite thing about this gift book is you can make it fit any budget!

Gift Ideas For Career-Focused High School Graduates

• Briefcase – A briefcase to carry resumes, documents, and notes to interviews or meetings.
• Laptop – A good quality laptop will help high school graduates in their job search and in day-to-day activities for many years to come.
• Career-Appropriate Clothes – Depending on where the graduate has their eye set to work, they could probably use help with career-appropriate clothing.
• Emergency Kit – Equip them with essentials like a first aid kit, flashlight, and emergency supplies for unexpected situations.

Gift Ideas For High School Graduates Taking A Gap Year

• Travel Items – Practical items like a durable backpack, luggage, or packing cubes.
• Journal – For documenting the things they did during their gap year.
• Outdoor Gear – If they’re planning outdoor adventures like hiking or camping, consider gifts like a quality tent, camping stove, hiking boots, or a portable water filter.
• Photography Equipment – If they’re passionate about photography, consider gifting a quality camera, lenses, or photography accessories to capture their experiences.
• Experiences – Treat them to tickets to events, museum passes, or guided tours to make their gap year one to remember.