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Article updated on February 6, 2024 at 3:00 AM PST

17 Gifts Any High School Graduate Will Truly Appreciate

These are the best, fun and practical gifts for high school grads to get them ready for their next chapter.

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Written by 
Desiree DeNunzio
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement
Desiree DeNunzio Editor
Desiree DeNunzio is the gift guide editor for CNET's Commerce team. When she's not writing and editing, she's either hiking through the redwoods or curled up with a good book and a lazy dog.
Expertise Desiree has been a writer and editor for the past two decades, covering everything from top-selling Amazon deals to apparel, pets and home goods. Credentials
  • Desiree's previous work has appeared in various print and online publications including Search Engine Land, PCWorld, Wired magazine and PBS MediaShift.
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Our Picks

$50 at Amazon
Nutribullet blender
For a quick nutrition fix
Nutribullet Personal Blender
View details
View details
$85 at Amazon
Amazon Echo Show 5
A compact smart display
Amazon Echo Show 5
View details
View details
$296 at Amazon
breville-espresso-machine
For the Starbucks addict
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine
View details
View details
$25 at Amazon
Apple AirTag
For the grad who's always losing things
Apple AirTag
View details
View details
$68 at Amazon
spikeball set
For summer fun
Spikeball
View details
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$85 at Amazon
sopat mattress topper
For a good night's sleep
Extra thick mattress topper
View details
View details
See at DoorDash
doordash-meal.png
For late-night pizza runs
DoorDash gift card
View details
View details
$398 at Amazon
A pair of white Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones against a blue background
For tuning out roommates
Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones
View details
View details
$249 at Cuddle Clones
cuddle clones
A cuddly reminder of their favorite pet
Cuddle Clones
View details
$140 at Amazon
kindle-paperwhite.png
For grads who are bookworms
Kindle Paperwhite
View details
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$48 at Lunya
lunya sleep mask
For blocking out light and noise
Lunya Sleep Mask
View details
View details
$275 at Away
away luggage
For visits home
Away Carry-On
View details
View details
$30 at Zappos
adidas-shower-shoes.png
For showering or heading to the pool
Adidas Adilette shower shoes
View details
View details
$34 at Uncommon Goods
Arizona Homesick candle
For the homesick grad
Homesick candle
View details
See at Cameo
cameo.png
A personal message from their favorite celeb
Cameo video message
View details
View details
See at Things Remembered
grad frame
To celebrate achievement
Personalized picture frame
View details
$28 at Personalization Mall
personalized laundry bag
For doing laundry like a pro
Personalized laundry bag
View details

Graduating high school is a big deal. And big occasions deserve fantastic gifts. So of course you want to buy your recent or soon-to-be high school grad the perfect gift. The best graduation gifts celebrate this important milestone, while also helping the new grad take their first steps on their next journey. 

Whether your graduate is taking time off, starting a new career or heading off for further schooling, a great gift can help prepare them for whatever life throws their way. You want a gift that will show your new grad that you support their decision and are excited for them to start this new phase.

An easy gift is cold, hard cash -- which high school graduates always appreciate -- but the best gifts come from the heart. And they'll probably be even more grateful for a gift that's meaningful, useful and won't immediately get spent on gas and groceries. 

We've rounded up an assortment of practical and unique gift ideas that are considerably more thoughtful than a wad of bills. From dorm room essentials to sweet keepsakes, these gifts will get them ready for the future. 

$50 at Amazon

For a quick nutrition fix

Nutribullet Personal Blender

If your graduate is moving away from home, their healthy eating habits may very well take a nosedive. A Nutribullet blender will help them easily pack fruits and veggies into their daily diet. It's easy to use, powerful and involves way less cleanup than a standard blender. And it comes with a flip-top lid so they can take their smoothie on the go.

$85 at Amazon

A compact smart display

Amazon Echo Show 5

If you want to get your grad a full-featured Alexa smart screen, you could spring for the bigger, pricier Echo Show 10, but we think the Echo Show 5 is a better size for a dorm room or small apartment. Like its bigger sibling, the Echo Show 5 can serve as an alarm clock and is great for taking video calls, as well as streaming movies and music. Bonus points: Your grad can set it up to display photos of friends and family.

$296 at Amazon

For the Starbucks addict

Breville Bambino Espresso Machine

If your grad likes to make a daily run to Starbucks, they'll appreciate the Breville Bambino Espresso Machine. It churns out Starbucks-worthy cappuccinos, espressos, lattes and more. It's easy to use and doesn't take up much counter space. And the steaming want produces a thoroughly Insta-worthy milky froth.

$25 at Amazon

For the grad who's always losing things

Apple AirTag

If your grad is a bit messy and disorganized, that's only going to get worse once they leave home. An AirTag makes a great gift for anyone who's constantly misplacing things. These little item trackers can be slipped into luggage, backpacks and wallets or attached to keys, bikes and more. You can even personalize them with your grad's initials for free.

$68 at Amazon

For summer fun

Spikeball

Hopefully once your grad wraps up high school, they'll still have time for fun and games. Spikeball is a great way to get their summer started the right way. This super-trendy, fast-paced game combines elements of volleyball and four square. Instead of hitting a large ball over a straight net, you're smacking a softer, grapefruit-size ball onto a bouncy, ringed one, sort of like tetherball but without the string. It's fast, fun, and requires some diving and maneuvering if you want to score the most points. It also packs up easily, so you can take it with you to the beach or park.

$85 at Amazon

For a good night's sleep

Extra thick mattress topper

If you've ever slept on a dorm mattress, you know just how horribly uncomfortable they can be. So if your favorite graduate will be moving into a dorm room in the fall, they'll be grateful for an upgrade. This mattress topper is a great gift and exactly what they'll need to add extra cushioning and transform their sleeping experience. Bonus: A topper also makes it a whole lot easier to clean up spills after late-night snacking in bed. 

Be sure to buy a Twin XL since that's the standard size mattress for most dorm rooms and residence halls.

See at DoorDash

For late-night pizza runs

DoorDash gift card

Nothing can replace Mom or Dad's home cooking, but a cash-strapped graduate would love having more food options beyond the dining hall. College students may not always have the option to cook food in their dorms. So if you're looking for high school graduation gifts, this could be perfect.

DoorDash is a popular choice for food delivery, and it's our top pick among food delivery apps, thanks to its numerous restaurant options and easy app interface. You can purchase gift cards for any amount between $25 and $500, customize it with a graduation theme, and send it to your graduate via mail, text or email.

$398 at Amazon

For tuning out roommates

Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones

For college-bound grads who aren't staying at home, chances are they'll need to deal with noisy roommates. The newest version of Sony's top noise-canceling headphones will block out unwanted noise so your graduate can focus on homework or just relax with music. Thanks to its strong battery life, comfortable fit and refined sound, Sony's WH-1000XM5 received our Editors' Choice award. The older -- but still great -- XM4 models remain available, and sometimes dip to as low as $280.

$249 at Cuddle Clones

A cuddly reminder of their favorite pet

Cuddle Clones

Leaving home is especially hard when you have to leave a beloved pet behind. If you have a new grad who adores their pet, consider getting them a plush Cuddle Clone to provide comfort and a constant reminder of their favorite furry friend. 

The Cuddle Clones ordering process is pretty straightforward. Simply start with the pet's name, followed by the type of pet and the breed. Then answer a few simple questions, upload photos, and voila, your grad will have a fuzzy version of their pet in eight weeks.

$140 at Amazon

For grads who are bookworms

Kindle Paperwhite

If your new grad is moving after graduation, chances are they'll end up living in a smaller space, and that means there will be less room for their precious piles of books. The Kindle Paperwhite is a great choice for bookworms who are attached to their physical book collections and want a similar experience. It features warm light settings, a long battery life and is completely waterproof. While the retail price is $140, this model is often discounted, sometimes as low as $80.

$48 at Lunya

For blocking out light and noise

Lunya Sleep Mask

All young adults value their sleep (don't we all?). So your new grad will appreciate this silk sleep mask. Not only is it washable, but the wide band ensures you have enough coverage on your face to actually block out all light. Bonus points: It's designed to muffle noise since the band fits over your ears. 

$275 at Away

For visits home

Away Carry-On

It's hard to say goodbye to your new grad, which is why you want to give them a good excuse to visit. The Away Carry-On can fit in most overhead bins, and it's perfect for weekend trips and longer vacations back home. This durable roller bag can also take a beating. It's got a limited lifetime warranty, which means the company will cover any damage to the suitcase's shell, wheels, handles, zippers and more.

The standard carry-on costs $275, but if you want to include a USB charger for charging a phone while on the go, then it's an extra $50. And if you want to add on a personalized luggage tag with their initials, it's another $35.

$30 at Zappos

For showering or heading to the pool

Adidas Adilette shower shoes

If your new grad is moving into a dorm room in the fall, shower shoes are a must-have. Flip-flops or slides help protect their feet from the fungus and bacteria that thrive in communal bathrooms (ew). 

The hugely popular Adidas Adilette shower slides are a classic -- and for good reason. They're comfy, durable and have plenty of textured traction to prevent accidental slips on wet tiles. Prices start at $25. 

$34 at Uncommon Goods

For the homesick grad

Homesick candle

If the new grad in your life will be moving to a different state, a Homesick Candle will give them a sweet reminder of home. These 13.75-ounce candles are created with a natural soy wax blend and fragrances tied to the geography of each state. So no matter where your grad ends up, they can light this up and let the nostalgia kick in.

See at Cameo

A personal message from their favorite celeb

Cameo video message

The grad in your life no doubt has a favorite movie, TV series or sports team. Any grad would smile ear to ear to see a personal video from their favorite celeb or reality star congratulating them on their graduation day. Cameo lets you seek out the person you think would most delight your grad and pay for a quick video from them. Prices vary quite a bit, but the end result is always pure joy.

See at Things Remembered

To celebrate achievement

Personalized picture frame

Things Remembered specializes in personalized gifts for all occasions, including high school graduations. If you're looking for a keepsake that will help capture the day forever, this is the perfect high school graduation gift idea. There are a number of frames available, with prices starting at just $20. 

$28 at Personalization Mall

For doing laundry like a pro

Personalized laundry bag

Adulting is hard, but it feels especially hard when you have to do your own laundry and cart it from a dorm room to a laundromat. You can make that one tedious chore a whole lot easier for your grad with this personalized laundry bag. It's large enough to hold a week's worth of laundry, and the sturdy backpack straps make it a breeze to carry from one place to the next. For an extra-thoughtful touch, you could add some laundry essentials to the front pocket like coins, detergent pods and fabric softener.

See at

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