09-05-2025
The 21 Best High School Graduation Gifts To Kick-Start Adulthood
High school graduation season is upon us and that means gearing up the graduates in your life with things that'll help, inspire and guide them in the next big stage of their lives: adulthood. Whether they're headed off to college, exploring life options during a gap year or heading straight to the workforce, there's a gift out there to support them on their journey like a sleek new piece of luggage, such as Away The Carry-On, or a set of Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for travel or quiet moments to focus.
Angela Cook, psychologist and founder of Raising Remarkable Teenagers, says, 'At 17 or 18 our graduating teens stand on the brink of adulthood. Their graduation is more than just a milestone—it's a launch into their next chapter. The gifts we give them ought to reflect that significance. My advice to people: make that gift a blend of sentiment, practicality, meaning, and fun.'
To help you on your gift hunt, we've curated ideas to help get every graduate started on their new journey from a cake made of cash to a portable go-anywhere chair to a gorgeous personalized ring they'll wear everywhere and more.
The number one thing all the teens I spoke to said they preferred for graduation was cold hard cash (or gift cards.) Instead of just stuffing bills into an envelope, go all out and roll them up for a celebratory cash cake that'll last long after the graduation party is over.
Whether they're heading off to a dorm or to travel the world and everything in between, they'll need a chic and practical carry-on to take along with them. Away's classic hardshell carry-on comes in a wide range of aesthetic colors to suit every preference, and they can use it for years to come.
'A well-chosen present isn't just an item—it's a celebration of their journey, a tool for their future and an affirmation of your love for them,' says Cook. An aspirational read ticks all those boxes. Atomic Habits can help get them started with some solid life skills and habits (and learn how to break bad ones), so they can be the best version of themselves as they grow into adulting full time.
They may soon be sharing space with other people and noise-canceling headphones can be key in blocking out distractions, sounds and basic sensory overload. This Bose model is our top overall wireless headphone pick thanks to its stellar sound quality, adjustable noise cancellation and overall effectiveness at masking environmental noise.
If you have a graduating friend who loves live music, help protect their ears (and overstimulation) with these noise reduction earplugs designed specifically for concertgoers. They'll still be able to hear what the person next to them is yelling at them and respond, and the clear outer shell makes it practically disappear into their ears.
Wallet, keys, purse, backpack—a small but mighty AirTag can help ensure they'll never misplace their important thing again. Grab them solo, or splurge for a four-pack, so they can attach one to all their valuable items.
A spacious and modern version of a classic duffel bag is perfect for bringing clothes back home, going on a weekend getaway, as a purse alternative or to carry on a flight. Available in 14 gorgeous colors, this soft bag is filled with pockets galore to make organizing essentials easy.
This lovely clothbound journal is filled with timely prompts, thoughtful questions, gratitude logs and daily quotes. Scoop up the 'Graduate' edition for an experience tailored just for the recent graduate and this new transition phase in life. Make it even more personalized by having the important people in their life sign the inside and back covers with congratulations and life advice.
If they're heading out on their own, gift them a nice wooden cutting board, free of microplastics and any other chemicals to get them started off right. Made of FSC-certified birch, the Caraway Medium Cutting Board is just the right size to handle most daily kitchen slicing and dicing.
So their room doesn't just scream technology, what looks like a handsome hardbound book is actually a wireless charger they can simply place their devices on top of—and the book actually opens up for additional hidden storage for cords, charging plugs and whatever else they want to tuck away.
Camping, tailgating, picnicking and even beachtime just got way more comfy with this extra lightweight and portable chair they can use wherever they are. The telescoping legs slide in, making for one compact package they can easily stash in their trunk or closet.
With this handy little device, they can transform any standard headphone jack to connect to their Bluetooth headphones. It can be used on treadmills, planes, gaming consoles, TVs and more. It can even connect two separate Bluetooth headphones at once if they want to watch or listen to something with a buddy or partner.
This slim version of Yeti's popular Rambler insulated tumbler is the perfect size for carrying around campus or at home filled with their favorite hot beverage, or with ice and a cold drink. It's car cupholder-friendly and compact enough to easily bring along on every type of trip.
Chances are they already have an iPad, so gift them an Apple Pencil to pair with it to make taking notes, drawing sketches, organizing life and other more adult tasks easier. Be sure to check the compatibility with their iPad, certain models use the Apple Pencil while others only work with the Apple Pencil Pro.
Help them stay hydrated on hikes, walks across campus and travel with this super cute neoprene sling bag that's just the right size for toting a reusable water bottle, phone, keys and wallet. It's lightweight, stylish and hardly takes up any storage space.
This 14K gold strand with a dainty natural diamond in a bezel setting is delicate enough to be worn on its own to work, college and beyond, and can easily be layered with other strands to create a new look.
Perfect for unwinding after school or work, this viral ultra-soft faux-fur blanket is as beautiful draped over their dorm room bed or couch as it is cozy. I was recently gifted one of these and my own teen daughter—and everyone else in the house—is constantly trying to steal it from its perch. It's one of those luxurious gifts they would never buy for themselves, but would use daily if they had it.
Cook says she loves a personalized keepsake for a high school graduation gift. 'Every gift should carry your personal message to them that implies I see you, I celebrate you, I support you in your next adventure,' she says. Get this 14k gold fill ring inscribed with their name, graduation year or anything else that's meaningful to them to become a cherished addition to their jewelry collection.
Create a custom Funko Pop of the graduate, or another loved one in their life that they can place on their desk or shelf and smile at for years to come.
Help them fuel each day with the popular Nespresso Vertuo Pop+. Better yet, combine it with a few sleeves of pods (or a monthly subscription) to get them started off right (aka stay up late to write those term papers.)
This pocket-sized instant photo printer helps them to get the thousands of photos off their phones into the hands of their friends and family as they make new memories in this next stage in life. Add on a few packs of fun themed photo paper—including a sticker version—for the printer so they can start using it right away.
