25 Best High School Graduation Gift Ideas for 2023

This post: 25 Best Graduation Gift Ideas for 2023 / Post updated 2/2023

It’s almost grad season – such an amazing time of year as we celebrate all our graduate’s hard-earned accomplishments!

But, it’s also a time that leaves many parents feeling totally perplexed… what to get ALL the grads in their life.

Some kids you’ve known since they were babies, others are children of family friends, and still others you barely know. And yet, you want to make sure you give each of them an appropriate gift to congratulate and honor them for this important milestone in their life. (I know, I’ve been there!)

Aside from straight cash, which of course is always appreciated and welcomed by any grad, here are a few other ideas that will make absolutely awesome gifts for the grads in your life. From practical and meaningful to fun and frivolous, you’ll find the best graduation gift ideas for 2023 right here!

25 Best Graduation Gift ideas for 2023

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JBL Waterproof, Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Choose a gift for the grad in your life that they’ll definitely use! This JBL Bluetooth Speaker allows up to 12 hours of wireless streaming and includes a noise-canceling speakerphone. Great for any college-bound student!

Eagle Nest Outfitters (ENO) Portable Hammock

The absolute perfect gift for any high school graduate heading off to college. Easy enough to fit in their backpack and durable enough to last a lifetime, this hammock will give the grad on your list a relaxing way to hang out on campus between classes (I see kids using ENOs all the time on college campuses!) or spend a leisurely afternoon with friends. It comes in lots of great colors too.

Adidas Defender II Duffle Bag

This Adidas overnight duffle bag is great for those weekend trips home or when your grad heads off to other colleges to visit friends. It’s lightweight, compact, and collapsible, so it won’t take up any extra room in those cramped dorm rooms. Check out all the fun colors! (HINT: This is one thing most kids forget to bring when they leave for college.)

The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College

A must-have for the grads on your list – this book is both fun and silly offering a realistic and humorous view of life as a college student. (Yes, chances are your child will see their roommate naked!)

Looking for MORE great books for grads? Check out this post!

25 ALL-TIME BEST Books for High School Graduates

HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer

Live it, love it, and print it! It’s really THAT simple! Your grad can take photos on the go and customize them before printing with the HP Sprocket app by adding fun text, borders, and emojis. How fun is that?

Fitbit Charge 5 Advanced Fitness & Health Tracker with Built-in GPS

Life is about to get really busy for your favorite grad! And, when you’re trying to keep up with classes, studying, and fitting in a social life, it’s easy to put your health on the back burner. This popular Fitbit will make sure they put their health front and center by tracking calories, steps, sleep and so much more! A must-have for any college-bound student!

High-Quality Laptop Sleeve Case

Ask any college student and they’ll tell you, their laptop goes everywhere they do. This padded laptop case (which comes in tons of great colors and several sizes) is not only sleek looking, it’s slim, lightweight, and slides easily into any backpack. Plus, it has an extra front pocket to store pens, a cell phone, cable chargers, and more. TOP SELLER ON AMAZON!

Ramen Cooker Bowl with Chopsticks for Microwave

Equipped with a side handle, the ramen cooker bowl can be easily taken out from your microwave without scalding your hands. Their favorite food is ready in minutes!

Collegiate Sweatshirt

When it comes to finding the best graduation gift ideas for 2022, collegiate sweatshirts are always a big hit with high school grads. Every college student loves to show their collegiate spirit! Tons of colleges to choose from!

College Plush Throw Blanket (Lots of Colleges to Choose From!)

This soft plush 63×86 throw featuring your grad’s college team logo is a perfect gift to keep them warm on those chilly nights in the dorm. Check out all the colleges to choose from!

The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook

Just because your grad is headed off to college doesn’t mean they have to miss out on delicious home-cooked meals. This 5-Ingredient College Cookbook will give them all the recipes they need to cook simple, healthy, delicious meals on the tightest budget right in their dorm room. Add a gift card to a restaurant near campus and you have a great gift!

College Sticker Sheet

Make a big impression with these fun (yet, totally inexpensive) team spirit stickers that are perfect for car windows, folders, laptops, and more! Include a gift card with your grad’s college logo stickers and you’ll have a thoughtful and personal gift.

Keurig K-Mini Coffe Maker

This single-serve Keurig K-Mini will make getting out the door in the morning a breeze for any college student. It’s fast, easy and it’s small so it fits in tiny dorm spaces. Check out the great colors!

Striped Mesh Shower Caddy Tote with Key Hook

This shower caddy couldn’t be cuter! Fill it with toiletries, a comb and brush, shampoo, bath accessories, and lotion for a fun grad gift she’ll use every day. (A shower caddy like this is a MUST, especially if she’s staying in a dorm with community bathrooms.)

Noise-Canceling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

These headphones are the coolest! They reduce ambient noise by up to 90% and give 40 hours of playtime per charge. Perfect to drown out all the distracting sounds in noisy dorm rooms.

Extra-Large Waterproof Laundry Bag

This oversized, durable laundry bag with handles will make laundry day a breeze! Stands up on its own and it’s also collapsible so they can tuck it away if they’d like! Fun colors to choose from, too!

Vintage Leather Journal

For those of us who’ve been there, we know how quickly the days of college pass by. Give the grad on your list a beautiful keepsake to jot down all their thoughts and favorite college memories. It’s something they’ll treasure their entire life.

Hydro Flask Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle

Perfect for college-bound kids, this Hydro Flask Water Bottle keeps hot drinks hot and cold drink ice cold. Fill it up and they’re ready to take on the day. Fits great in the side pocket of a backpack and it comes in a ton of fun colors.

Self-Defense Classes

Campus safety is something every parent worries about when their child ventures off to college. To protect and empower the grad in your life, give them the gift of safety and confidence.

Extra-Large Hanging Toiletry Bag (Waterproof!)

Every college student needs a great toiletry bag to store all his essentials. This cool bag has an extra large capacity so it’s sure to fit everything they need. Comes in tons of great colors, too!

The Freshman Survival Guide: Soulful Advice for Studying, Socializing, and Everything in Between

Getting adjusted as a freshman in college can be challenging. And, a little solid advice on socializing, studying, and everything in between can go a long way in making the transition smoother. This book offers college-bound freshmen just the insight they need to “rock” their freshman year! Toss in a gift card and you’ll have a great gift for any grad on your list!

Tervis Individual College Water Bottle

Any college-bound student would absolutely love this logo water bottle! Choose from dozens of colleges, too. Fill it with candy or a gift card for an awesome gift idea.

NCAA Men’s Adjustable Team Hat

Help your grad show their college pride with a college team hat. For added fun, turn it upside down and fill it with candy, a team logo t-shirt, or a gift card.

Anker PowerCore 10000 Portable Charger

For the student on the go, a quality portable charger is an absolute must. This Anker PowerCore Portable Charger is remarkably compact and one of the smallest and lightest 10,000mAh portable chargers around.

“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Book by Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss’s wonderfully wise “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” book is the perfect send-off for any grad. Tuck in a bookmark, a personalized note, or a gift card and you’ll have a great grad gift!

Finding the best graduation gift ideas for 2023 shouldn’t have to be stressful. If you’re too darn busy to come up with creative gift ideas for the grads in your life, simply go with cash! You know they’ll love it and you’ll feel good about giving them something they need and want.