High school graduation is always an exciting time for students (and their parents). Why not get the teen in your life something to celebrate the occasion? Before your graduate heads off into the next chapter of their life, express your pride with one of these thoughtful gifts — many of which come with an affordable price tag.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Related: Unique Gifts for College Grads
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 Instant Camera
$120 from Amazon
Help them make memories with this trendy Instax instant camera (make sure to buy them some film, too). It comes with a selfie mirror and one-touch selfie mode (obvi), and is a great way for them to start decorating their dorm room with photos of their new friends.
Related: The Best Gifts for Photographers from Newbies to Pros
Uber Appliance Portable Mini Fridge
$60 from Walmart
Snacks are the stuff of life in college. Get your grad settled with this efficient portable fridge, which can hold six cans or as many perishables as you can stuff in there — crucial for late-night study sessions.
Related: The Last Microwave You’ll Ever Buy: Why Costco is My Go-To for Small Kitchen Appliances
Goldbelly Cookie Fries Graduation Gift Basket
$80 from Goldbelly
This whimsical gift basket holds cookies in the shape of fries — what’s not to love? If you can’t make it to their graduation, send them these shortbread and chocolate chip “fries” that come with a chocolate dipping sauce.
Related: Beloved Local Eats That Can Be Shipped to Your Doorstep
Homesick Candles
$34 from Uncommon Goods
Think your grad might get a little homesick? Give them a link back to their home state with a candle that reminds them of where they’re from. All 50 states are covered (Northern California and Southern California even have their own scents!).
For more great gift guides, please sign up for our free newsletters.
Graduation Picture Frame
$21 and up from Etsy
Once you’ve captured their graduation day photo, put it in this picture frame that commemorates their special day. Frames are available in four different sizes and a handful of colors, and you have the option to personalize it with your grad’s name, school, and year.
Trending on Cheapism
NoteCube
$69 and up from NoteCube
Let your graduate know how much you love and appreciate them with a personalized gift like the NoteCube. The concept is straightforward: You tell NoteCube about the grad, and use the site’s tools to edit and add notes (typically between 40-60 but NoteCube recommends at least 20). Finally, add some photos and choose a style of NoteCube. When everything is just how you want it, you finalize and pay for your order and it gets shipped.
Plush Necessities Robe
$110 from Amazon Shop Now
A soft robe is a dorm-living must — perfect for cozy mornings, comfy evenings, and for getting to and from the showers. Even non-college-bound grads will appreciate this luxe microfiber robe that’s warm, lightweight, and machine-washable.
Marquee Light Box
$26 from Amazon
This illuminated mini marquee is perfect for advertising their current mood, celebrating a special day, or issuing a reminder to their roommates.
Sign up for our newsletter
‘What If?’ Book
$15 from Amazon
They’re never too old for the hypothetical questions in this clever and amusing book from the webcomic creators of “xkcd.” The queries include those ranging “from merely odd to downright diabolical.”
AmazonBasics Microfiber Sheet Set
$16 and up from Amazon Shop Now
These 100% polyester sheets come in tons of colors and patterns to work with any dorm room or apartment decor, and are inexpensive enough that you can pick up at least a couple of sets. They’re also highly rated by buyers, who say they’re soft, comfortable, and durable.
JBL Flip 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
$75 and up from Amazon Shop Now
This best-selling portable speaker is waterproof and supports up to 12 hours of playtime, and the design provides 360-degree sound. It can be used in a dorm or apartment, taken out onto the quad, or hauled to the pool and parties for around-the-clock tuneage.
Canway Travel Duffel
$25 and up from Amazon Shop Now
A bag like this is perfect for both quick trips home and fun weekend getaways with friends. It’s durable and made with waterproof, tear-resistant polyester fabric and has side pockets that can be used for shoes or dirty laundry. Available in three sizes and multiple colors.
Filimin Friendship Lamps
$166 from Amazon Shop Now
They might not admit it, but they’ll miss you — and, of course, you’ll miss them. These paired lamps are designed to communicate with one another, alighting in a pre-selected color when touched to let your grad know you’re thinking of them.
Crocs Bayaband Slide Sandals
$25 and up from Amazon Shop Now
These unisex foam shower slides come in a slew of colors and are a comfortable way to get to and from the showers. They can be worn outside on summer break.
Cafetiere French Press
$34 and up from Amazon Shop Now
This double-walled French press doesn’t just make a great cup of coffee that stays warm longer — the stainless steel design means it’s also unbreakable. And with no filters or K-Cups required, it’ll be appreciated by eco-conscious young adults.
Netflix Subscription
$7 and upShop Now
Chances are good that high school grads have been using the family Netflix account at home. As they prepare to go off into the world, give them their own streaming account that they can use to watch shows and movies on a laptop, phone, tablet, and more.
Jssmst Dictionary Dorm Safe
$13 from Amazon Shop Now
Dorms and apartments can be busy places, with people roaming in and out. Encourage your graduate to keep valuables safe with this covert “dictionary” safe. It comes in both large and small options that lock via a combination.
Spotify Subscription
$10/month Shop Now
Give a grad the gift of endless musical selection with a premium Spotify subscription. The plan lets them download music and play just about any song they can think of, even offline, with no ad interruptions. If they’re not moving out just yet, for just $6 more, you can even buy a subscription that allows up to six accounts for family members living under the same roof.
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
$895 and up from Amazon Shop Now
That beat-up Chromebook they’ve been lugging around for years might still work, but post-high school life is probably going to demand more of their computing capabilities. This Surface Pro has a quick eighth-generation Intel Core processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 128 GB hard drive. It also features a touch screen and can be converted into a tablet by removing the keyboard.
Dalykate Backpack Laundry Bag
$12 and up from Amazon Shop Now
Whether they’re hauling dirty laundry home or to the laundromat, this backpack-style bag lets them carry up to three loads. Plus, it has a mesh pocket for storing detergent and an inner, zip pocket for storing wallets, phones, and other small items. It comes in three colors.
Lakibole Hanging Toiletry Bag
$15 from Amazon Shop Now
This hanging toiletry organizer has five pockets to store cosmetics, skincare products, and other self-care accessories to reduce clutter and the chance of misplacing items. Its nylon exterior is water-resistant, and it comes in a number of cute color combos and patterns.
‘Am I Overthinking This?’
$10 from Amazon Shop Now
Learning to become a self-sustaining adult can be tough, and any tool that helps do it in a fun, entertaining way is perfect for high school grads. This hardcover book contains 101 charts and answers that help provide solutions to questions ranging from “Do I need to cancel my credit cards?” to “Can I keep it alive?” and “Am I going to regret this?”
Anker PowerCore Portable Charger
$17 and up from Amazon Shop Now
The busy life of a young adult pretty much demands having a portable charger on hand. This small, lightweight bestseller comes in four colors and can charge Apple and Android products more than once. It comes with a micro-USB cable, travel pouch, and 18-month warranty.
Glion Dolly Electric Scooter
$500 from Amazon Shop Now
Sure, lots of college students still ride bikes to and from class, but the lightweight, foldable Glion will get them there just as quickly and with a bit less effort — not to mention take up less space. Features include a built-in headlight and pedestrian bell for safety, and an aircraft-grade aluminum alloy frame and never-flat tires for durability.
Matein Laptop Backpack
$40 and up from Amazon Shop Now
Buyers love this pack for its many compartments that allow for easy organization, durability, and compact size (despite the amount of stuff you can cram into it). As a bonus, it’s a great backpack for travel, too, and it comes in a few colors.
Amazon Prime Student
$69/year from Amazon Shop Now
A Prime membership will score your high school grad lots of perks as they enter into early adulthood, including free and fast shipping, access to deals, Prime video, and free games and tunes with Twitch Prime and Amazon Music.
Apple AirPods Pro
$216 from Amazon Shop Now
If there was ever a time to splurge on wireless earbuds, that time is now. Show your graduate how much you appreciate his or her hard work and dedication with a set of these. Features include noise-cancellation, transparency mode, three sizes of silicone tips for a comfortable fit, and they’re sweat- and water-resistant for use at the gym or pool.
Related: Cool and Creative Gift Ideas for Music Lovers
‘Kids Against Maturity’ Card Game
$30 from Amazon
Though the game makers note that “humorless” parents can remove any card they find objectionable, most of the more than 7,000 reviewers appear nonplussed at the content, noting that Kids Against Maturity offers “real-deal laughs” and is “suitable for all ages.”
