When I first had children, everyone told me to savor every day because I’d be amazed at how fast time flies by. And, like everyone else that was ever given that advice/warning, I knew it was probably true, but the milestones felt so far off that it didn’t seem possible. Fast forward through the years, and we find out the hard way how right those words are. High school graduation is a major milestone in any child’s life, and it’s one that they’ve been waiting many years to celebrate. It’s right around the corner, so now is the perfect time to find some great graduation gifts for high school students.
Whether you’ve been dreading this day or waiting with anxious anticipation (the teen years are hard!), it’s important to find a gift that can carry them into the next stage of life. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a robust list of great gifts to consider to send them on their journey, be it college, trade school, or a gap year, where they figure out some things about life.
Our choices include perfect dorm essentials, Amazon bestsellers, and personalized Etsy finds.
Graduation Gifts for High School Students
Weekender Water Repellent Tote Bag, $108
Your grad can take a trip to their favorite spot with this convenient tote featuring a removable shoulder strap, a padded laptop sleeve, and a travel-ready trolly pouch.
The Quarter-Life Breakthrough, $16
The Quarter-Life Breakthrough provides fresh, honest, counterintuitive, and inspiring career advice for anyone stuck in a quarter-life crisis (or third-life crisis), trying to figure out what to do with their life.
TESSAN Power Strip Tower, $26.99
With 8 AC outlets & 3 USB charging ports, this standing power strip tower can power multiple power devices at the same time. And USB ports quickly charge electronic items like smartphones, laptops, tablets, and more. It’s perfect for limited space and maximum power needs.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Over-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones, $398
These Sony headphones rewrite the rules for distraction-free listening whether you’re on an airplane or in a jam-packed room. With up to 30 hours of battery life, your grad will have enough power for long trips home to visit.
Productivity Planner by Intelligent Change, $30
Help your grad beat procrastination and get more done in less time. I.e. give them the gift of less stress and more success.
Let’s Get Closer Game, $30
This easy-to-play card game cultivates relationships by engaging friends, family members, couples, or even those who have just met in deep and meaningful conversation.
Keurig K-Iced Coffee Maker, $99.99
Give your graduate the gift of caffeine with this space-saving Keurig K-Iced Coffee Maker.
JBL Pulse 5 Portable Bluetooth Light Show Speaker, $249.95
Kickstart the party with JBL’s signature sound and a dazzling LED light show, all in 360 degrees with Pulse 5. The waterproof and dustproof design shines bright and will keep the tunes flowing for up to 12 hours on a single charge. Pair two together for stereo sound or link many JBL PartyBoost compatible speakers to make a party epic.
Blue Light Protection + Hydration Elixir Spray, $51
When your high school grad heads off to college, there’s one thing they’re sure to do: sit in front of a computer for hours on end. Help them save their complexion with this elixir spray. It’s a multi-tasking mist designed to protect against photoaging from blue light exposure. It works to repair the damage, hydrate, and restore the skin’s natural barrier to protect it from urban pollution.
Apple MacBook Air Laptop, $899
One of the key tools for college success is a high-quality laptop. With the MacBook Air, your grad can take on everything from professional-quality editing to action-packed gaming with ease. The Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU delivers up to 3.5x faster performance than the previous generation while using way less power. Plus, it’s thin and sleek and looks cool.
Stanley 40 oz. Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler, $45
The Stanley Adventure Quencher 40oz Travel Tumbler H2.0 is the upgrade you’ve been waiting for. Featuring a recycled stainless steel construction, the Stanley Adventure Quencher 40oz Travel Tumbler H2.0 keeps your water ice-cold hour for hours.
Brouk & Co. Travel Cord Roll, $19.99
These days it seems like there’s a cord for everything! Phones, computers, watches… the list goes on and on, and it’s hard not to have a tangled mess. This cord roll holds up to 8 cords, 2 plugs, and small knick-knacks. It’s made with a vegan leather material with an outside pocket for small items and will make organizing your cords a breeze.
Personalized, Large laundry bag, $18.35
This large personalized laundry bag is perfect for college students to haul their dirty laundry back and forth on the weekends.
Seven Apparel Hotel Spa Collection Herringbone Textured Plush Robe, $21.99
Having to share showers and bathrooms is a common experience at college. Show up with this comfortable knee-length robe in herringbone texture that features a large front pocket and matching belt.
Adidas Men’s Adilette Comfort Slide Sandals, $11+
Again, sharing showers isn’t ideal….. so avoid foot fungus or stepping in unknown substances by bringing along some sandals to wear in the showers.
Anker Power Bank, $29.99
This awesome power bank allows your grad to charge their phone fast when they’re on the go. The 20W USB-C port has enough power to charge an iPhone 12 to 50% in just 30 minutes, and it’s equipped with a 12W USB port if you need to charge a second device.
Custom Blankets made from t-shirts, jerseys, and other shirts, $79+
High school is full of sweet memories. This T-shirt quilt blanket is made from your grad’s t-shirts, jerseys, sweatshirts, or woven shirts. Putting together a patchwork of memories will be a perfect way for them to remember their good times in high school and remain a keepsake to take them well into adulthood.
Amazon Basics 21-Inch Hardside Spinner, $75
Give your graduate their own hard-sided suitcase for weekend road trips and visits home to see you. Available in 4 colors and a variety of sizes, there’s an option for each kiddo on your list.
Hompow 5500L Movie Projector, $79.99
This awesome projector connects to your smartphone for viewing videos or works with a variety of TV sticks, gaming systems, PCs, or other devices. Let your grad have the go-to room for entertaining and watching the latest flicks.
Women’s University Arch Logo V-Neck T-Shirt, $24.99
If your graduate is going to university, what better way to support their dreams than swag to their new school?!
Apple Watch Series 7, $300
The Apple watch seems to get better and better with each release. As with past series, this watch can take calls and reply to texts from the wrist. It kicks it up a notch by allowing your grad to measure their blood oxygen with an all-new sensor and app.
Graduation Party Gift Box, $27.95
Graduation gift boxes are a great way to celebrate all of those grads! The MINI boxes can be customized with their names for a very personal touch.
Fjallraven, Kanken Laptop 15″ Backpack, $119.95
Your grad can use this bag to stash their laptop in between classes or take it to study sessions at the local library or coffee shop. The bag includes a main compartment and three extra pockets for all of their odds and ends.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones, $329
Hopefully, your student won’t get stuck with a loud roommate, but it’s always best to prepare. These stylish earphones have 11 levels of active noise canceling to help your grad study, sleep, and enjoy music, podcasts, videos, and calls without distractions.
Floral Heart Snapshot, $212+
You can create a unique keepsake with this floral heart snapshot mix photo art print. It can be personalized with 30 of their favorite photos and special memories so they can take a memory of their loved ones with them wherever they go.
Bearaby Weighted Blanket, $199+
Weighted blankets have been medically proven to aid naturally deeper sleep cycles. The weight on your body stimulates the production of serotonin (the happy hormone), reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), and increases melatonin, which helps you fall (and stay) asleep. This chunky-knit Cotton Napper helps you sleep more deeply and wake feeling rested and revitalized.
Schwinn Women’s Gateway 700c/28″ Hybrid Bike, $263.99
Whether going to college or taking a gap year, a bicycle is a great graduation gift. It can get them from place to place and help prevent them from gaining the freshman 15.
Whether your grad has elected to take a gap year, go to a trade school, or head off to a university and is staying in the dorm, we hope we’ve given you some great ideas for high school graduation gifts to successfully send them off on their journey.
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