Gift guides
Graduation Gifts for Every Grad
From the editors
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!
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Good questions
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."
Every pick in one place
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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.
Type
Home Sweet Home
From: 10 creative ways to give cash or a gift card for graduation, along with your congratulations.
1. The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations, by Toni Morrison
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
2. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, by Brené Brown
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
3. You Will Leave a Trail of Stars: Words of Inspiration for Blazing Your Own Path, by Lisa Congdon
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
4. The Boy, The Fox, The Mole, and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
5. All Along You Were Blooming, by Morgan Harper Nichols
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
6. Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, by Luvvie Ajayi Jones
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
7. The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV, with Douglas Abrams
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)Salvage the Bones
From: 7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)
"Oh, the Places You'll Go...Later" graduation card
From: The perfect graduation card for the Class of 2020Work Hard and be Nice to People Print
From: 10 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.Albert Einstein Motivational Print
From: 10 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.Nelson Mandela Education Print
From: 10 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.Theodore Roosevelt Believe In Yourself Digital Print
From: 10 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.Thoughts On Failure Print
From: 10 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.Henry David Thoreau Dreams Print
From: 10 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.Follow Your Dreams Print
From: 10 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.What If I Fall? Print
From: 10 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.Hamilton Quote Print
From: 10 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.Harry Potter Quote Print
From: 10 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.HeidiJHale Designs
From: Keepsake jewelry under $75 that makes a meaningful gift for your favorite grad.Say it on a Bangle bracelet
From: Keepsake jewelry under $75 that makes a meaningful gift for your favorite grad.Gold initial charm necklace
From: Keepsake jewelry under $75 that makes a meaningful gift for your favorite grad.
From the archive
Earlier guides
Symbolic keepsake jewelry for graduates: 7 thoughtful gifts with 7 meanings16 great high school graduation gift ideas that grads actually want. Besides cash.12 inspirational books for graduation gifts, beyond Oh, the Places You'll Go!One Cool Thing: A thoughtful gift under $10 for an avid reader, teacher, or a new grad10 creative ways to give cash or a gift card for graduation, along with your congratulations.7 outstanding high school or college graduation gift books: On stepping into the arena, dreaming with eyes wide open, and professional troublemaking (in the best possible way)The perfect graduation card for the Class of 202010 inspirational art prints for grads that will encourage them to work hard, be kind, and follow their dreams.Keepsake jewelry under $75 that makes a meaningful gift for your favorite grad.