Graduation Gifts for Every Grad
Graduation is a big milestone, and the right gift can help launch whatever comes next. We've rounded up our favorite gifts for high school and college grads, from practical dorm and first-apartment essentials to meaningful keepsakes and fun splurges. Congrats, grads!
The guides
Frequently asked
How much money should you give for a graduation gift?
It really depends on your relationship to the grad and your budget. Close family often gives more than friends or neighbors, and any amount with a heartfelt note is meaningful. There's no wrong answer.
What is a good graduation gift?
Practical things for their next chapter (dorm or first-apartment essentials, quality tech accessories), meaningful keepsakes, or money toward their goals. See our graduation gift guide.
What is a good college graduation gift?
Help them launch adult life: a quality work bag, home basics for a first apartment, a professional-feeling upgrade, or a meaningful keepsake marking the milestone.
Do you bring a gift to a graduation party?
It's customary to bring a card, often with cash or a gift card, if you attend. A small gift is a kind gesture even when the invitation says "no gifts necessary."
Shop all picks
This guide contains affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission from some purchases to help support our team. All picks are determined editorially by our staff; there has been no compensation in exchange for our picks.
Cinemood Portable Theater Projector
A palm-sized portable projector that streams movies and shows for easy outdoor or bedroom movie nights.
From: 10 of the best holiday gifts on Amazon this year, most supporting small businesses
UNA Portable Grill
Compact, design-forward portable grill good for backyard or travel grilling.
From: 21 creative Father's Day gifts for the man who has everything, including great taste | Father's Day Gifts 2018
Little Spoon Blueprint Organic Baby Food Subscription
A tailored organic baby-food delivery subscription that customizes purees and blends to a child's developmental stage—nice for new parents who want convenient, nutritious meals for infants.
From the guidePixsee Baby Monitor System
A smart baby monitor with app features for photo/video sharing and remote viewing—good for new parents who want connected monitoring and easy keepsake sharing.
From the guideMamava (lactation room finder app)
A smartphone app that helps nursing parents find and crowdsource private lactation rooms and nursing-friendly spots — handy for travel and outings.
From the guideMomseze (24/7 lactation support app)
A service app offering on-demand access to certified lactation specialists via phone, text, or video — useful for new parents needing expert help.
From the guideMilk Stash (breast milk inventory app)
An app for tracking pumped milk with inventory, printable labels and barcode scanning to help organize bottles in fridge and freezer.
From the guideNanit Breathing Wear Kit
Breath-tracking wearable band that pairs with the Nanit camera system to monitor a newborn’s respiration without wires—practical gift for parents focused on monitoring and sleep safety.
From the guideBaby Story (photo-editing baby book app)
A photo- and video-focused baby book app with strong editing tools and cute stickers, good for documenting pregnancy through early childhood.
From the guideTinybeans (baby memory-sharing app)
A private, family-shared baby book app that makes saving and sharing photos and milestones easy — great for busy parents who want a secure keepsake.
From the guidePeekaboo Moments (audio + photo baby book app)
An app that stores photos, videos and audio memories with options to create future letters — useful for parents who want multimedia keepsakes.
From the guideB Kids Watch Over Me Dream Station
A crib mobile and smart sleep trainer that uses timed cycles and sensors to help babies learn to fall asleep and self-soothe, making it a practical gift for new parents.
From the guide1Password (password manager)
Password manager subscription that makes storing and sharing secure logins and notes easy — a practical, security-focused gift.
From the guidePocket (read-it-later app)
Saves articles and web pages for offline reading, a handy gift for avid readers or people who like to consume content on the go.
From the guide
Chicco Duo Baby Bottle (hybrid glass-plastic)
A hybrid baby bottle combining a glass inner lining with a lightweight, break-resistant outer shell—offers glass safety with plastic convenience, making feeding simpler for new parents.
From: Finally, a genius hybrid baby bottle: The benefits of glass with the convenience of plasticApple Shortcuts App (iOS)
A free iPhone app that automates tasks with custom voice or tap shortcuts — a useful gift for anyone who wants to save time and simplify daily routines.
From the guide
Panasonic Extra Long-Range Video Baby Monitor
A long-range video baby monitor that gives parents clear remote viewing and added peace of mind for use at home or while traveling.
From: Quick Picks: The Panasonic Extra Long-Range Video Baby MonitorGrammarly Keyboard (mobile app)
A mobile keyboard that improves typing speed and clarity with real-time grammar, punctuation, and style suggestions — handy for frequent texters and mobile professionals.
From the guide
Plot-A-Tot Illustrated Baby Wall Calendar & Growth Chart
A brightly illustrated wall calendar that doubles as a growth chart and includes 96 milestone stickers to track a baby’s first-year events without writing.
From: Baby Book, Minus the Book PartTokimeki Unfollow (Twitter browser extension)
A browser extension that helps you tidy and declutter your Twitter feed by quickly unfollowing accounts, making it a useful digital-organizing gift for social-media mindful friends.
From the guide
Clouds and Stars Super Genius Zip Sheet
A zip-on crib sheet that makes nighttime diaper changes faster and easier — a practical, time-saving baby shower gift.
From: Smart SheetsSlack
A popular team messaging app that helps parents separate work conversations from family life—useful for organizing notifications and staying focused.
From the guide
Harbor Baby Monitor System
A smart baby monitor system designed to help new parents track their infant’s sleep and safety—makes a practical, thoughtful shower or new-parent gift.
From: Behold! The innovative baby monitor that was named a top 2024 invention by Time MagazineLogitech Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard
A portable keyboard that pairs with multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer) for faster typing on the go.
From the guide