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Graduates deserve all the gifts
The end of the school year is approaching, and if there’s a graduate in your midst, it’s time to start thinking about gifts that’ll set them up to tackle new challenges or embrace a fresh journey in style. Whether they’re heading on a trip overseas, starting a dream job, or still trying to figure out their place in the world, show them how proud you are with a thoughtful present from our top picks of graduation gifts. From sharp-looking luggage to new apartment must-haves, here’s the best way to say “congrats!”
Best gifts for travelers
Our tester absolutely adored this bag thanks to its lightweight design, smooth rolling wheels, and versatility.
This award-winning carry-on is designed with a hard exterior shell, 360-degree turning wheels, a cushioned handle, a weight-limit indicator and an expandable section with a zipper closure. It comes in 11 colors and finishes, so you’ll find the perfect version for your graduate.
$218 at Béis
Borgasets, Genuine Leather Passport Case
Keep your passport safe and secure.
A good passport holder can make all the difference when juggling everything at airport security or Customs. This leather version has room for credit cards, cash, important documents and a passport, of course. The snap fastener holds everything in place, and you can choose from 18 different colors.
$16.99 at Amazon
lululemon, Everywhere Belt Bag 1L
Active users will absolutely love this belt bag, which we found to be both durable and comfortable during our trials.
Give them the stylish bag you’re seeing everywhere. Whether they want to go to a concert, on a hike, or just enjoy a day out and about, the Everywhere Belt Bag is a perfect fit.
$38 at lululemon
Stand out on campus with this sleek and stylish bag.
This messenger bag will send graduates to the office in style. Made from soft leather, it’s equipped with built-in RFID technology to keep private information safe from electronic scanners, a laptop sleeve and interior and exterior slip pockets.
$119.97 at Amazon
Best gifts for gamers
Paladone, PlayStation Icons Light
Display your love of PlayStation proudly in your dorm room.
Gamers will love to display this fun light in their first apartment. Inspired by the iconic PlayStation gaming system, it will give their living room a cool vibe.
$24.05 at Amazon
SerdarWood, Personalized Game Controller Holder
Your game controllers and accessories are going to be more organized than your roommate’s.
When sending a graduate out into the world, it’s all about organization. Help them keep their console in order with this personalized station for controllers, headphones and more.
$49.95 at Etsy
Best gifts for book lovers
The perfect light for reading in bed.
They might be done with textbooks for now, but if they love reading in their free time, give them this rechargeable book light. Perfect for reading in bed without disturbing a roommate or partner, it comes in three different light settings, can be attached to books and a Kindle and can be arranged however they prefer.
$14.99 at Amazon
NEWZEST, So Proud of You Candle
Don’t let the skunk fool you; this candle smells wonderful.
The grad in your life will love the scent combination of juniper and lavender, and the soft flickering light sets the mood for an evening of cozy couch reading. This inviting candle is made with nontoxic, clean-burning soy wax.
$14.99 at Amazon
Amazon, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition
The Signature Edition of the Kindle Paperwhite includes some helpful features, such as a longer battery life and the ability to be charged wirelessly.
Books in your hand are always awesome, but if someone is headed on a trip or prefers a screen to paper, a Kindle is a great gift idea. This signature version has thinner edges for more reading room, wireless charging capabilities and 32 gigabytes of storage. It also has adjustable lighting for a personalized experience. With Kindle Unlimited, users can access over two million titles, audiobooks and more.
$189.99 at Amazon
A must-read for new college grads.
Half funny stories, half sage advice, this book is based on Kelly Willams’ popular blog, Adulting, and offers tips on everything from what to check when renting a new apartment to the secret of finding a mechanic you love (and won’t charge you a zillion dollars).
$12.16 at Walmart
Best gifts for coffee lovers
Nespresso, Vertuo Pop+ Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine
Because you can’t buy coffee at the corner cafe every day.
No more late classes and even later drinking sessions means your graduate will need all the caffeine to get going in the morning. This Nespresso can make espresso, drip coffee, ice coffee and more. Plus, it’s sleek enough that it won’t take up much room on the counter.
$149.99 at Amazon
AeroPress, Original Coffee and Espresso Maker
In our testing, we found this to be an easy-to-use, mess-free coffee maker.
If they’re already budding baristas, this Aeropress coffee and espresso maker will take their cup of morning joe to the next level. This press-style coffee maker combines agitation and pressure with micro-filtration so they can use fine ground beans and it eliminates the bitterness of a traditional French press.
$39.95 at Amazon
Frerdui, The Tassel was Worth The Hassle Glass Coffee Cup
The perfect glass for iced drinks all summer long.
The sweetest little glass sipper for a celebration! Add it to a gift bag full of goodies, and they can enjoy iced drinks all summer long.
$16.99 at Amazon
De’Longhi, Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine
Our tester lauded this model’s simplicity; it comes at an affordable cost without sacrificing the quality of your coffee.
Another great gift for coffee lovers, this manual espresso machine comes with a frother so they can make cappuccinos and lattes. Its sleek design will look good on display, and the easy-to-clean parts will ensure a good cup every time.
$86.99 at Amazon
Ember, Temperature Control Smart Mug 2
The Ember smart mug and accompanying app did a great job at keeping coffee warm in our user testing.
A cold cup of coffee tastes great — said no one ever. With this smart mug, your graduate can focus on the task at hand without worrying about their warm beverage. There’s an app that allows for temperature adjustments, and after two hours of inactivity, it shuts off automatically.
$119.95 at Amazon
Best self-care gifts
Slip, Silk Icons Edit Gift Set
After all that hard work, grads deserve to rest easy — with their hair and skin protected.
Good sleep is essential for anyone, so start your grad off on the right foot with a luxe silk pillowcase and sleeping mask set. It absorbs less moisture than a regular pillowcase, so their nighttime products stay on their skin, and it helps reduce hair frizz, which helps reduce their morning routine — it’s a win-win situation!
$145 at Amazon
A treat for your feet.
They made the grade, got the diploma, and now it’s time for pampering! This three-pack DIY pedicure comes with a salt soak, a sugar scrub, a mud mask and a massage butter.
$19 at Amazon
Cleverfy, Aromatherapy Shower Steamers
These six shower steamers offer aromatherapy benefits.
Bath bombs, but for people who don’t have time to relax in the tub. This set of six shower steamers includes scents like lavender, grapefruit, watermelon and more.
$16.99 at Amazon
MASON MAN, Essentials Shaving Kit
Shave like an adult.
If the new job requires a clean-cut look, set them up with the ultimate shaving supply set. They’ll get a facial cleanser, a luxe shave cream and a soothing after-shave balm.
$19 at Ulta
Best gifts for foodies
Dash, Heart-Shaped Mini Waffle Maker
Enjoy a hearty brunch with your new roommates.
A mini-waffle maker, but make it super cute. This popular version is perfect for someone living alone or with roommates — it makes just enough for one person or two!
$9.95 at Amazon
The only pan you’ll ever need.
This 10-inch pan does almost everything: sautéing, steaming, searing, frying, boiling, baking and more! The perfect addition to a new kitchen, your budding chef can learn how to cook their favorite dishes without the hassle of extra pots and pans to clean up afterward.
$110 at Our Place
Best sentimental gifts
Fujifilm, Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera
Capture all the best moments at your grad party, and then bring it with you on your next adventure.
Pictures on a smartphone are convenient, but there’s nothing like capturing memories on real film. This mini camera prints out mini pictures within five seconds, has a compact design created for easy carrying and has a built-in mirror for selfies.
$69 at Amazon
Aluratek, Distressed Wood Digital Photo Frame
While it may not have as many features as other models, this affordable and chic digital photo frame is still a top pick.
If they’re moving far away or even around the block, a digital picture frame will let them create a slideshow of their favorite memories. The distressed wood is fashionable and there’s an easy USB flash drive or SB card option for transferring photos from storage to screen.
$44.95 at Amazon
Chronicle Books, Ticket Stub Diary
A much better option than a random drawer.
They treasure each stub from every ticketed experience they had in college, so let them display and preserve them with pride! The sleeves allow for ticket stubs of different shapes and sizes, and there’s room to jot down notes on the sides of the margins.
$15.53 at Amazon
StayProudly, College University Campus Map Poster
A map to commemorate a grad’s time, dedication and hard work.
Let them show off their college pride with a university campus map. It includes the latitude and longitude of the campus and can be personalized with the graduate’s name and commencement year.
$22.90+ at Etsy
Best tech gifts
Apple, Apple Watch Series 9 GPS
The highly customizable Series 9 offers quality-of-life upgrades over its predecessors.
If they don’t already have an Apple Watch, this is the perfect time to splurge. The series 9 has the popular fitness tracker, blood oxygen and electrocardiogram apps and an always-on retina display. Choose from two sizes and nine different colors.
$299 at Amazon
While this Fitbit offers a sleek design and many useful features, it may not impress enthusiasts who expect it to replicate the Versa 3.
A FitBit is also an excellent choice for a new graduate. With 40-plus workout options, auto-exercise tracking, built-in GPS, tools to measure and improve sleep quality, mental health features, phone and text notifications and built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Wallet, this slim but mighty fitness tracker is popular for a good reason.
$149.95 at Amazon
This fully-featured smart clock brings alarm clocks up to modern scratch.
Studies show that keeping your smartphone out of your bedroom improves sleep. This smart alarm clock has all the bells and whistles you like without the distraction of social media and streaming platforms. It has a two-phase alarm that mimics your waking patterns, a wind-down night mode and night light, and has white noise, meditations, sleep stories and more.
$149.99 at Loftie
reMarkable, Essentials Bundle Including reMarkable 2 — The Paper Tablet
This tablet actually feels like paper.
If they like taking notes and drawing but also love tech, this tablet is the perfect compromise. It feels like real paper, comes with a pen that has a built-in eraser, can organize notes into various tabs, allows users to work directly in PDFs, has two weeks of battery life and a cloud to store work
$549 at Amazon
If you are looking for a natural way to wake up, we found that this is an excellent option for a subtle alarm during our trials.
Another great gift for people adjusting to rising at the same time every day, this natural wake-up clock has a sunrise simulation light, seven wake-up sounds, dual alarm clocks for different people, various snooze options and an FM radio.
$38.99 at Amazon
Apple, AirPods (2nd Generation)
Perfect for walks on campus and long study sessions.
AirPods are a great gift for a recent grad. Whether they’re commuting on the train, taking a trip, or learning how to take care of their place, they’ll be able to listen to their tunes, podcasts, or audiobooks with ease. The second-generation version has 24 hours of battery life, a charging case and voice control with Siri.
$79.99 at Amazon
A surefire way to wake up on the right side of the bed every day.
This smart lamp offers a red light to naturally increase melatonin production, preset lighting modes for day, night or reading, and was designed by physicians to help mimic the body’s circadian rhythm. The sunrise feature allows the lamp to get lighter gradually to help you wake up peacefully.
$249 at Amazon
A more colorful way to listen to your favorite tunes.
Wireless earbuds, but with an attitude! With these Beats Studio Buds, your graduate can get all the perks of wireless earphones with extra sass. The sweat-resistant feature means they won’t lose a bud while at the gym, and the built-in microphone makes it easy to make and take calls.
$149.95 at Amazon
Marshall, Emberton II Portable Bluetooth Speaker
This is, without a doubt, one of the coolest portable speakers.
This retro-cool Bluetooth speaker offers 30 hours of portable playtime and delivers clear sound, and the water- and dirt-resistant design makes it extremely durable.
$119.99 at Amazon
Because hunching over books at a desk year after year can really take a toll on your body.
This is a serious massage gun. Hydragun claims their products are used by Olympians and recovery professionals, and after using this product, we see why. It comes with seven attachment heads and a storage bag and gives your grad the deep-tissue massage they crave.
Sold by Amazon
More of the best graduation gifts
Easy, simple, no-fuss slipper that keeps your feet warm and has good durability.
If your grad is heading to college, they’ll appreciate the homey comfort a pair of UGG slippers brings. And if they’re heading into the “real world” — they’ll need as much comfort as they can get!
$94.95 at Amazon
Stanley, The Reverb 40 oz. Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler in Frost Reverb
Drink your beverage in style.
Stanley’s newest design has a retro feel and will ensure your grad stays well hydrated while remaining stylish.
$45 at Stanley
Living in a dorm with a shared shower? You’ll definitely want a pair of these.
Shower slides are absolutely essential for any student heading to a dorm room situation, and these classic Under Armour slides will last.
$22 at Amazon
This plant is resilient and known for bringing good luck and fortune.
Money trees are said to bring good fortune, making them the perfect gift for a recent graduate. (Student loans, anyone?) This one arrives with The Sill’s guarantee that it will arrive happy and healthy or they’ll replace it for free.
$68 at The Sill
A perfect grad party gift.
A jewelry dish is such a great gift, and this one has a sweet reminder of the grad’s recent accomplishment. They worked hard! They deserve a few reminders littered around the house.
$8.97+ at Etsy
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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