Behind the golden tassels and draping gowns is the diligent work and effort each graduate has put in over the past school year. It’s not an easy feat, and they deserve graduation gifts to commemorate the occasion.
Whether they’re saying goodbye to high school and embarking on a new journey to college or celebrating a different milestone, you’ll want to gift the graduate you love something heartfelt — perhaps a personalized gift or a luxury gift for him or her.
Luckily, Post Wanted put together a custom edit of graduation gift ideas for the 2025 season. We conducted all the research and, of course, tested a few products and services to assemble the only gift guide you’ll need. It’s divided by category to help provide you with quality recommendations based on budget, age, type of gift and more. Even better, we compiled some of our favorite Etsy gifts for *really* original ideas.
Much like Mother’s Day gifts (yep, that’s around the corner, too), we packaged all of our top recommendations in a neat little bow for you to shop.
- Best Graduation Gift for Friends:
- Best Graduation Gift for Girls:
- Best Graduation Gift for Boys:
- Best College Graduation Gift:
- Best Educational Gift:
- Best High School Graduation Gift:
- Best 8th Grade Graduation Gift:
- Best Graduation Gift for Nurses:
- Best Personalized Graduation Gift:
- Most Unique Graduation Gift:
While you’re shopping, be sure to check out our guide to the best gifts for teachers to show your appreciation.
Most Unique and Personalized Graduation Gifts
Whether you’re looking to memorialize their big day or give a one-of-a-kind keepsake, the folks at Shutterfly have you covered. From to personalized mugs, they have something your soon-to-be graduate will cherish forever. The site is simple to use, too. All you have to do is select the item you’d like to personalize, then click the ‘Personalize’ button on the page. From there, follow the prompts, uploading photos and adding text. We bet you’ll love the creative process so much that you’ll end up using Shutterfly for all your unique gift needs.
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Looking for custom graduation gifts? We’ve got you. When approaching college and university graduation, each graduate should showcase their accomplishments. For that reason, the Custom Diploma Display Case Cabinet Frame is what we recommend most.
Upon purchase, you can select wood color and a custom layout to best suit what you have in mind. Not to mention, it’ll be a piece of office decor they’ll treasure most.
OK, we’re seriously telling everyone about the Uncommon Goods Collegiate Pouches. Stitched with your loved one’s university, it’s the budget-friendly gift idea that’ll have people asking, “where’d you get that?” It’s most definitely on the cool graduation gifts’ list.
Personalized gifts can sometimes be tacky, but this Graduation Personalized Photo Keepsake Box is meaningful, sentimental and incredibly thoughtful. Surprisingly, it’s less than $30 and stems from an online destination we love to order from ourselves. It also doubles a a jewelry organizer for the graduate’s future living quarters.
For the college graduate, the Custom University Campus Illustration Wall Art is a sweet and thoughtful gift for your loved one who wants to always remember the place they once called home — and always will. Did someone say housewarming gift? It’s a wonderful choice as far as personalized graduation gifts go.
Budget-friendly and unique, the Personalization Lab Custom Leather Jewelry Organizer Box is a lovely gift idea for any occasion, especially because it’s embossed with a flower and your recipient’s name. It’s a prime solution for storing rings, earrings and more, coming in handy for traveling as well.
One thing’s for sure: you can never have too many journals. Serving your new graduate well for their future endeavors and personal goal-setting, the Fainne “The Adventure Begins” Leather Journal is the $10 gift idea that’s personal, useful and worth every penny.
Best College Graduation Gifts
The cap and gown are one thing, but what’s underneath is just as important. We suggest . It has a demure square neckline and flared silhouette, plus pockets! Available in sizes XXS-XXL and made from 100% breathable cotton, it comes in five different floral prints, each perfect for the big day and all the photos she’s sure to take.
The BÉIS Weekender is probably the best-designed duffle bag, if we’ve ever seen one. Its neutral, brushed exterior makes you want to book a weekend trip, while its bottom zipper pouch allows you to store your running shoes and most comfortable heels.
Oh, and we don’t have to state the obvious, but we will: it’s the most practical gift if your graduate will be living at a dorm and commuting home on occasion.
Their future is so bright, they’ve got to wear shades — especially if it’s a pair from Maui Jim. The sunglass retailer offers high-quality eyewear ideal for sports, vacation, and of course, the graduate’s big day! The glasses can be customized to meet their unique style, come in a trifold case, and include a cleaning cloth.
Best educational gift:
MasterClass makes a thoughtful and practical gift for any recent grad heading out into the world. From cooking and beauty to fashion and negotiation skills, MasterClass offers a wide range of courses to help them thrive. If they’re an aspiring novelist or the next Martha Stewart, they’ll appreciate a year-long subscription that fuels their passions and sharpens real-world skills.
Give them their very first “grown-up sheets.” Cozy Earth makes the most comfortable sheets of all time. Made from 100% bamboo viscose, these sheets are ultra-cooling and breathable, creating a comfortable night’s sleep. Available in nine colors and a range of sizes from Twin to California King and Split King, each set includes one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, and two pillowcases.
The JBL Charge 5 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker makes a great gift for the tech lover you know. The brand is one of our personal favorites for portable Bluetooth speakers due to their professional sound and waterproof exterior, and nearly 31,000 Amazon shoppers feel the same.
Meet the best work tote we reviewed: the Lux & Nyx Large Ultra Satin Origami 15″ Laptop Tote. The quality, capacity and style are characteristics that make it second to none and we love how soft-cushioned it is to fit more items — without straining your neck or back. Check yes, Juliet.
The Our Place Always Pan 2.0 is one of the best cookware pieces we reviewed, thanks to its aesthetically pleasing, Instagram-buzzy design and ability to double as 10 pieces of cookware. It’s pretty phenomenal, especially because it comes in a wealth of shades and looks jazzy on your stovetop.
Your new grad may feel a bit stressed about this next stage of life. Help them relax with the Theragun Mini. Scientifically backed to relieve everyday aches, pains, and tension, it’s 30% smaller and lighter than the original Theragun but just as effective and easy to move to their new home.
Apple AirPods are an easy win and a well-deserved gift for taking not only your calls but also helping them listen to their favorite tunes or podcasts while working at their new job. With up to 24 hours of listening time thanks to the charging case, they provide a convenient, wireless audio experience and intuitive touch controls.
Best High School Graduation Gifts
The high school graduate you know is probably thinking of the university they’ll call home for the next four years. So, we recommend the Custom Embroidered University Crewneck Sweatshirt — a thoughtful option they’ll want to live in. It’s also budget-friendly and perfect to wear with leggings.
She may have been borrowing her mom’s REVLON one too many times, and now it’s time to have her own. Give her the one-step volumizer hair dryer and round brush in one, delivering salon-quality blowouts with 22% more shine and 30% less frizz in half the time. After all, she won’t have extra cash to get blowouts right away so this is the perfect way to get that salon-worthy hair without the extreme cost.
For any high school graduate who may be earning a collegiate degree next, the Apple iPad (10th Generation) is our favorite tablet, hands down. When paired with the ($121), it makes the signature option for class note-taking and leisurely scrolling alike.
Whenever someone asks us for a backpack recommendation, we almost always recommend the Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack. Whether we’re commuting to work or hopping on a plane and granted a personal item, this comfortable, trusty pack never lets us down. It’s available in plenty of colors and sizes, too.
If you’re looking for a quality pair of wireless earbuds, the Oladance OWS1 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones is what we recommend for the job. They boast up to 16 hours of battery life, come with a carry case and are comfortable to sport on the ears. They’ll also come in handy for when your graduate may be off to work or commuting to class.
Stanley, who? The Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle is truly the star of the show right now, clad with an ergonomic lid that ensures your water stays secure. Plus, it’s sleek, comes in a multitude of shades and keeps your water ice-cold.
For more options, check out our guide to the best water bottle brands.
Best 8th Grade Graduation Gifts
When we graduated high school, we received our very first DSLR camera. It’s the ideal gift for the middle school graduate who is embarking on the next chapter of their lives: high school. The quality of this one in particular is crisp, allowing us to bring it nearly everywhere we go.
If the middle school graduate you know loves jewelry, the Rellery Disk Initial Bracelet is a subtle nod to an appreciated graduation gift personalized toward them that they’ll wear all through high school. It’s the perfect addition to other jewelry pieces to stack with a watch, whether off to class or a formal event.
Oh, Baked by Melissa, how we love you. The Baked by Melissa Congratulations Gift Box 25-Pack is the quintessential sweet treat that’ll celebrate your graduate in the best (and most delicious) way possible. You can customize flavors and share them with loved ones, making them one of the best cupcake deliveries we continue to adore. This also makes for great kindergarten graduation gifts or even preschool graduation gifts because what child doesn’t love sugar?
For high school, weekend trips and beyond, gear up your graduate with a quality backpack. The CALPAK Luka 15-Inch Laptop Backpack is the unisex option we recommend, hailing from a brand where Quality is its middle name. It also has well-designed pouches and compartments.
If your loved one wants to carry around a tablet to class in the coming fall, the Microsoft Surface Go 2 is what we recommend. We’ve personally used it and love it for its slim design, fair price point and ability to serve as a resource for class, study sessions and beyond.
Best Graduation Gifts for Nurses
As mentioned, nurses are on their feet for a large chunk of the day, so kicking back and relaxing in the off-hours sounds like a delight. The TheraGun Prime Massage Gun is one of the best massage guns to aide in some R&R and a graduation gift idea the nurse you know will adore.
We’re telling you, the nurse gift ideas are some of our favorites in this guide. How adorable is the Personalized Stethoscope Charm? And, it’s only $14 on Amazon! It surely adds some pizzazz to the essential medical equipment, too.
How cute is the Personalized Nurse Clipboard, another less-than-$25 find? Choose the colors, name and other details for when your soon-to-be working nurse is hopping from patient room to patient room.
We didn’t know one of our favorite party games came in an industry-specific version — but we’re so happy for our newfound discovery. Shop the What Do You Meme: Nurses Edition for less than $25. It’s sure to contain relatable humor for your graduate and a fun evening while they’re *finally* not studying.
As far as nurse graduation gifts go, our edit would be incomplete without a mention of custom scrubs. This set from Etsy is one of the best wrap-it-and-give-it ideas we can’t stop telling people about. For one, it’s practical, and it just so happens to be extremely thoughtful.
Best Graduation Gifts for Her
One of the best gifts we’ve received is the Kurt Geiger Drench Leather Shoulder Bag. It looks high-end, boasts impeccable quality and always gives us the most compliments. Plus, it’s quite spacious and will come in handy for all her nights out, now that she’s not studying.
For some, collecting journals and notebooks is an obsession — and rightfully so. The Papier Monogram Leather Notebook is a personalized option that comes in a variety of colors and has a premium nature to it. We love the band for all things stationery as well, and it’s an option that’s less than $40.
This just in: the BaubleBar Bubble Custom Slider Bracelet. This bubble design for jewelry pieces is trending right now and we can’t help ourselves from recommending any and all pieces from BaubleBar. It’s a budget-friendly gift idea as well, with its quality lasting for years.
If he loves his long locks and perfectly combed hair, he’ll love this very special Maon Pearson. This brush detangles and makes every time you dry your hair a perfect blowout.
Best Graduation Gifts for Him
For the grad who’s about to enter the workforce, the Leatherology Personalized Deluxe Folio is a premium gift he’ll love and adore stashing inside his briefcase or messenger bag. It even has the option to become personalized, with plenty of integrated pockets throughout.
We always recommend the Herschel Supply Co. Novel Duffle Bag as a top-of-the-line travel option that looks great and is quite spacious, too. It comes in a few tones to suit his style and we consistently gift this to the men in our lives. Plus, it’ll come in handy.
We had to. The “College Level Complete” T-Shirt is the novel gift idea fit for the gamer you know. For less than $25, you can’t go wrong.
If the graduate you’re shopping for is in need of a new wallet, consider the Huckberry Bellroy Hide & Seek Wallet. It makes a great less-than-$100 gift idea, comes in a variety of shades, and is cut from premium vegetable-tanned cow leather that’ll last for ages.
Best Budget Graduation Gifts
Beauty lovers, rejoice. For the graduate who loves to travel or loves makeup (or both), the “And Off She Went to Change the World” Makeup Bag is the less-than-$15 gift that you can fill with your favorite lipstick, a gift card and more. It can also double as a pencil case for college or grad school.
As seen on plenty of Instagram captions during graduation season, “Hotter by One Degree” is likely your graduate’s MO. So, the Cedar Crate Market “Now Hotter By One Degree” Candle is a witty graduation gift idea, only $25.
We all know that most (ahem, all) graduates live on coffee, so The Tassel Was Worth the Hassle Graduation Tumbler is a fitting purchase to make. You can never have too many and, the best part? It’s only $16 and *aesthetically pleasing*.
Three words: get this gift. It’s one of the most practical and will get your high school graduates prepped and ready for the tumultuous task of doing their own laundry. Oh, the horror…
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