Your Teen Will Actually Use These Unique High School Graduation Gifts (2024)

Alright, so your favorite high school senior is about to toss their cap and head into the wild world of adulthood. Cue the mix of excitement, nerves, and maybe a little bit of denial. But fear not because we've got your back when it comes to finding the ultimate graduation gift that they'll actually use. Ree Drummond is one graduation goer who has successfully cracked the gift code after years of being in charge of gifts for her kids' many birthdays, graduations, and other major milestones. "High school grads seem to appreciate things they can use right away—like gift cards, electronics, or cold hard cash," Ree says. "But I gravitate toward gifts with a little more meaning, something that will last a long time." Whether that meaningful gift is a custom handwriting bracelet or a pet portrait stamp, there are so many ways to tailor a gift to your high school grad!

Ahead, we've curated a list of graduation gift ideas that are perfectly age-appropriate—and don't you worry, we've included great recommendations for graduation gifts for boys and graduation gifts for girls, plus plenty of gender neutral options. Whether you're in need of a gift for teens who are headed off to college or a trade school, taking a gap year, or navigating the real world right away, we've got ideas that will help them step into their next phase of life. And if you're still stumped, you can always take a cue from Ree's other favorite graduation gift idea: a real-life experience, such as a cooking class or tickets to a concert. "The event is temporary," she says. "But the memory will last forever."

For more graduation ideas:

• Show Them How Proud You Are With These Inspirational Graduation Wishes
• These Graduation Outfits Will Look So Pretty With Your Cap and Gown
• Kick Off Graduation Season by Listening to These Ultra-Nostalgic Songs

How cute are these pouches? They're beautifully embroidered with a unique design representing their new school. The creators took collaborative input from passionate alumni, fans, faculty, and locals to come up with the best motifs. Your grad can use it to carry anything from pencils to makeup to their ID and keys.

Laundry time doesn’t have to be a weightlifting session thanks to this handy laundry backpack, which evenly distributes the weight of the load across your upper body! It comes in tons of cool colors, like Ree’s favorite, teal, and has a front zipper pocket to hold supplies like laundry pods and dryer sheets.

If they're going to be living with roommates, this portable (and waterproof) safe will definitely come in handy to store all of their essentials and personal items. They just have to set their own four-digit combination.

It'll be that much easier to pack up their belongings and head off to a new school with this adorable duffel in tow. It just so happens to meet TSA travel standards and it's water-resistant.

For a practical present that they’ll thank you for time and time again down the line, give them a pack of AirTags! These tracking tags will prevent them from losing important items like keys, wallets, and even bikes.

Yes, they're just plain beautiful, but that's not the only reason we love these headphones. They also feature two listening modes—"active noise cancelling" and "transparency."

Although they’ll need a larger mirror to live on their desk or vanity permanently, a portable, lighted, compact mirror is still a must! It’s slim, lightweight, and perfectly portable for when you need a touchup on a night out, job interview, or in between classes.

She can arrive to campus in spirited style with this custom necklace! Just send the seller a picture of her new school's logo then wait as it's crafted into a beautiful charm.

If your high school graduate’s next step is leaving the nest, equip them with a perfect weekend travel bag so they have something to carry all their stuff in when visiting home! This spacious tote is complete with a bottom zip compartment to keep shoes, toiletries, or anything else separate.

Whether they use it to keep their skincare products cool or just want to have a few snacks on hand (we don't blame them), they'll love having this nifty mini fridge in their dorm.

Trust us, this option will make getting ready each morning so much easier. The compact tri-fold design will fit right on their desk. It has LED lights that they can dim with a touch, magnified mirrors, and swivel capabilities.

Hydration is key at all stages of life, and this bestselling tumbler is a great way to keep that message in their minds! It keeps 40 ounces of water, or whatever liquid they choose to hydrate with, cold for 48 hours. And it comes in tons of cool colors to fit their vibe!

If their old backpack is looking a little scraggly, opt for something nice and new—and add some teal while you're at it! We love the look of this lightweight, roomy option.

Here's a way to make moving away from friends and family a little easier! This device allows them to instantly print their favorite images straight from their smartphone to hang up in their new space. They can even add a little personal flair with filters, stickers, and borders.

Not only does this neat gadget work as an alarm clock that's designed to wake you up naturally, but it also offers sleep sounds and light. They can control it by touch or with an app that also allows them to download even more sounds, like meditations and sleep stories.

Post-high school life can be an exciting and busy time, but it’s important not to lose track of gratitude and mindfulness along the way! This highly-rated prompt journal encourages users to appreciate life for at least five minutes a day with daily prompts, including weekly challenges, inspirational quotes, affirmations, and self-reflection.

Make laundry days a little more bearable for your teen with a stylish laundry bag. This one is also a backpack, which means hauling it down to those communal dorm laundry rooms won't be so bad. Just be careful, this pick will make it easy for them to bring their laundry to you whenever they come home. 😆

For those high school grads headed to college, they'll probably be enjoying a lot of game days in the near future. Make sure they're ready to cheer on their team in style with this bag set. It's stadium approved! Plus, you can find the confetti pouches in several school colors.

Send in a photo of your actual penmanship to this maker, then watch as it transforms into a stunning wearable bracelet. It's a true one-of-a-kind gift!

They'll enjoy being able to listen to their music wherever they go with this bluetooth speaker! Hook it to a backpack for walks around campus, put on some study tunes in the dorm, or jam out in the shower! Yep, it's waterproof, too.