Meaningful Graduation Gifts

What are the best graduation gift ideas?

The best graduation gifts come from the heart. Graduation gifting can be tough depending on who you’re shopping for, maybe they are mysterious teenagers or seasoned scholars set to embark upon their first foray into the “real world,” your daughter, son, niece or nephew deserve an exciting gift. Track down the perfect inspirational, funny or personalized item just for them!

What to get for a high school graduate?

Fleeing the nest doesn’t come without its hiccups. In honor of your graduating high school senior’s inaugural going away, give the gift of practicality.Whether they’re college bound or heading off to their first job, they’ll soon realize what it means to live without Mom and Dad—and they’ll be glad you gave them something they can really use. Remember: “Useful” doesn’t have to mean “boring.” It could mean a “personal popcorn popper,” or “shower caddy shaped like a squid.” Who wouldn’t want that? 

What to get for a college graduate?

There are only two tried-and-true ways to win the heart of a recent college graduate: either with taste or with humor. Where funny gifts inject a bit of levity into a bittersweet moment—saying goodbye to your best friends of four years is tough! Grown-up gifts, like wall art or photo displays, will help them let go of their dorm room posters and set up their first apartment in style. If you’re feeling especially sappy, you can always elicit a tear with a personalized memento. Just make sure to keep the crying on the down low—you wouldn’t want the future boss to see. 

What are the best graduation gifts for a friend?

Besties graduate, too, you know, and unique gifts are perfect for the occasion. After all, who knows you better than your closest friends? If you’re shopping for a grad gift for a friend, think of all you’ve shared throughout the course of your friendship. Maybe you’ve taken a trip together, or toured a brewery, or baked a cake. Maybe you both throw amazing parties. Either way, keep these experiences in mind and you’re sure to find something that has you both written all over it. 

What are the best graduation gifts for girls?

She’s resilient. She’s accomplished. She’s a new grad—and she deserves a heartfelt gift to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime achievement. While a grown-up piece of jewelry with an inspirational bent is always a good bet for those on the threshold of adulthood, gifts that toast her continued journey—like a map to log her travels, or a camera to celebrate special moments—are also sure to earn that elusive “thanks” you’ve been waiting for since she turned 15. 

What are the best graduation gifts for boys?

Now that he’s a bachelor in the official sense of the word (har har), give your grad his due with a thoughtful gift that says, “You’ve done us proud.” Whether he’s an athlete, a tinkerer, or a future CEO, a gift with a bit of personal flair—like a pair of custom cufflinks, or a pen commemorating the passage of time—is sure to tug at his heartstrings, whether he wants to admit it or not.