24 best gifts for grads (that they’ll totally use in the real world)

A gift with meaning! You’re setting your grad up for success as they embark on new adventures, and giving them the spiffiest possible piece of luggage to get them there. We love the best-selling Beis— 360-degree spin wheels, internal laptop pocket, and oh yeah, that super durable polycarbonae shell that is pretty much indestructible… which is just what a 20-something-year-old needs at this point in their life. And if you really want to make it special, you can add personalization.

Maybe it’s because I’m a senior millennial who spent her entire school career beholden to one, but I have a real soft spot for a good ol’ analog planner. There’s something so nostalgic about hand-written to-dos and mindless doodles in the margins. Get your grad off to the races the old fashioned way with one of Moleskine’s Student Life Diary Planner. Part planner, part diary, they’re a super accessible way to wrap their head around this new reality. Not only is there space to keep track of their schedule and highlights of the day, they’ll also find pages for habit tracking, goal setting and even an end of year reflection.

Don’t we all wish we had kept a journal in the days, weeks, months and years following our graduations? What a treat it would be go through those entries today—which is exactly why you need to encourage your grad to do so. One style even non-journaling folks can get into is the science-backed Five Minute Journal. It’s an incredible tool for tapping into gratitude, managing overwhelm and feeling grounded even when so much is changing. (Oh, and it really only takes five minutes each day.)

And while they could use any pen to fill out said planner or journal, why not opt for one that offers a little dose of aromatherapy at the same time? We love the innovative Lifelines diffuser pens which diffuse essential oil-based scents as you write. A little bit of joy, focus, calm or energy with each swipe? Yes please.

Recent grads are armed with a degree and unbridled ambition… but they can still be, well, pretty clumsy. So why invest in a fancy portable speaker that *might* get dropped in a pool, or *might* get doused in beer, when instead you can get them JBL’s Clip 5? Fully waterproof with super impressive sound, your grad can literally bring it with them in the shower or the ocean, and at the size of an apple, it’s super portable, too.

Whether they’re buying socks or shampoo, tell them their necessities are on you!

This sweet photo collage hits all the points on graduation gift check list. Thoughtful? Check. Nostalgic? Check. Artwork for their very, very empty walls? Check!

Give them the gift of a bag that is equal parts luxurious and practical. The Laptop Backpack from Portland Leather is perfectly designed to schlep across campus and beyond and it’s soft, sumptuous leather and gold hardware make it a head-turner. The craftsmanship ensures they’ll have it for decades (if not forever) and given the quality, it only stands to get better with age. Yes, its price is a bit steep, but split it with a few friends or relatives and the cost can easily be justified!

A mattress might seem like an odd gift to ship to your new grad, but consider the fact that you’d actually giving them the gift of better, higher-quality sleep! We love both of Bear’s offerings—both the original and the hybrid mattress—which both come in a box. Designed for someone with an active lifestyle, the Bear mattresses provide a supportive sleep for your young friend… trust us, they’ll be thanking you for the next decade.

Nothing says, “I don’t live with my parents anymore” like a cheeseboard. Set them up for entertaining success with this bamboo beauty, which folds back up into a triangular wedge when not in use. We love that it comes with serving knives that store themselves in a tidy drawer within the board.

Send them on their way with the best of intentions, literally! This beautiful Wishbeads Intention bracelet is also incredibly thoughtful—jot down well-wishes for your grad on a snippet of included paper, and tuck it inside the bracelet, so they’ll literally carry your words of wisdom with them day in and out.

They might be on their way to adulthood, but that doesn’t mean they’re not going to miss home sweet home every now and again. Splurge on one of these hand-pour soy wax candles, each of which are formulated with input from state locals to create aromas that match each state’s familiar scent.

Have a favorite photo of your grad when they were just a wee babe? A collection of stained notes you rescued from their lunchbox? Or maybe you’ve been holding on to their genius artwork from Kindergarten? Frame it! Framebridge makes the process of custom framing practically anything incredibly easy—simply your frame, upload or mail in your imagery, pick your size and voila, you’ve got your gift! Prices vary.

This is the perfect cooking tool for young people who are used to instant gratification, because Instant Pot creates amazing dishes in the blink of an eye! Literally everyone on the planet needs an Instant Pot, and this one is compact but mighty. In addition to being able to make hard boiled eggs in minutes, the 3 Quart 7-in-1 Mini can also prepare soups and stews, steam and sauté vegetables and much more in just minutes.

From ramen and oatmeal to tea and instant coffee, there’s a whole lot a poor college student can do with an electric tea kettle. This super popular style from Hamilton Beach gets high marks for it’s space-saving design, glass construction and speed of heating.

For those who have more refined culinary skills, send them off with a piece of equipment they’ll be able to use everyday until the end of time. An heirloom in the making, Field Company’s cast iron skillets are designed to be the only pan they’ll need to cook everything from eggs to cinnamon rolls. The smooth cast iron is naturally non-stick and unlike Teflon, won’t flake or scratch. (It’s also a fair bit lighter than your typical cast iron pans.) While they come in several sizes, we’d opt for the No. 8 in this case since it’s large enough to cook for multiple people but still small enough to cook for one. Throw in the natural fiber brush, chain mail scrubber, and cast iron seasoning oil to give it the proper love and they’ve got a pan for life! (Even if they still burn their eggs for awhile.)

Because a car would be way too extravagant, lol. Seriously though, every grad in the world would love a set of (two) wheels as a gift and Priority Bicycles offers one of the most streamlined, easy-to-maintain e-bikes you can buy. Weighing a manegable 49 pounds, Priority E-Classic Plus features a grease- and rust-free belt drive (meaning no grease on the pants on the commute to work) and rides super smooth with or without the pedal assist. The battery lasts for a range of 20-60 miles depending on conditions to get them where they’re going without ever breaking a sweat. The bike comes with a kickstand, fenders and front and rear safety lights. Available in a black matte, glossy white, glossy pink and glossy blue hues, this e-bike just might make your grad cry with happiness.

We can’t have our grads showing up to an interview look all schlumpy, can we? But, alas, we also can’t expect them to pull out an ironing board and iron to get their clothes wrinkle-free. Enter Nori: The steam iron that revolutionized the game. Yes, it looks more like a hair straightener than a clothing iron. And yes, we’re kicking ourselves for not having invented it. But now that it exists, let’s just appreciate the fact we’re living in more convenient times. It features six heat settings, acts as both a steamer and an iron and doesn’t even require an ironing board to get that fresh from the cleaners crispness. (Because let’s be real. Ain’t no 20-something buying an ironing board.)

It’s 2025 and women are still fighting for equal pay, equal opportunities, and you know, basic human rights. On the hardest days (because she will have them!) remind your girl grad that she can and will shatter the glass ceiling with these elegant shattered glass earrings.

Listen, they’re going to want a daily Starbucks—or even fancier coffee!—fix, but let’s save them the $5 a day cost and supply them with the most convenient perfect cup under the sun. The wildly-popular (and super compact!) K-Mini Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker from Keurig brews a single cup with the press of a button and can be used with traditional pre-packed K-cups or refillable ones.

A cozy, furry throw blanket is never a bad idea and this one gets the job done. Like something out of a Game of Thrones scene, Quince’s faux fur throw looks way more expensive than it is and will certainly be a welcome accoutrement to your grad’s couch.

Get them adult sheets for their adult digs! These linen beauties from Brooklinen are chemical-free and soft as can be. The core set includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet and two pillowcases, and come in a variety of neutral colors.

Sure, tote bags and fanny packs are all well and good, but there’s no better way of transporting your stuff safely and comfortable than a good ol’ backpack. And we’re obsessed with the unisex Laptop Backpack from Brevitē. Ultra lightweight and perfectly streamlined for travel, the backpack comes in 11 colors and is roomy enough for a laptop, gym sneakers, a water bottle, headphones and more. The best part? It’s machine washable and comes out looking brand spankin’ new every time.

For all those memos, reminders and love notes they’ll be handing out over the next year, gift your grad they’re very own personalized stationary. Because nothing says, “I mean business!” quite like thick card stock emblazoned with your very own name.