You need gifts for your senior, but have no idea what they actually need and would use? You’ve come to the right place! Here are 15 graduation gift ideas for graduating High School seniors!
Most people own soo many things, so it can get tough to find great gifts for them that won’t end up in the trash. That’s why I really tried to find and collect things or ideas that students really can use and they actually want.
These ideas are not just great for graduation, but also for other occasions such as birthdays or graduation.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase via my link I may get a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend things I use and love, but for any questions, refer to my full disclosure here.
Let’s get started!
1. Dorm Door Sign
If your senior friend is going to college next fall, how about giving her/him a fun and useful decor piece for the dorm room?
This one from Etsy is personalized, so it looks super cute! There are also various font styles available if you’re looking for something different than the picture below.
Tip: It would be helpful to know the roommate’s name (if it’s already known). But this is definitely a must-have!
2. Open When…- Letters
I love personal gifts! And I think open when letters are perfect for occasions like graduations. Things are changing and your friend or family member would for sure love something personal from you for when you’re not around every day.
3. Reusable Straw
If your grad doesn’t have a stainless steel or bamboo straw yet, it’s time to get them some!
I would recommend creating a “graduation gift box” and put some different things in there that would be helpful for them.
I personally have a stainless steel straw and got a bag from Etsy for it, and take it wherever I go.
Need more ideas? Check out these!
- The Best Gift Guide for College Students
- What to ask for Christmas as a Student
- Gift Ideas on a Budget
4. Jewelry
Jewelry is one of the basic, but best, graduation gift ideas out there. I love this one because it has a globe on it, and if your senior has a gap year ahead, or just loves traveling, it fits so well!
RELATED POSTS:
- The Best Gift Guide for College Students
- What to ask for Christmas as a Student
- Gift Ideas on a Budget
5. Experience Coupons
I keep mentioning this gift idea, but it’s just such a good one.
You can write anything on a cute coupon, such as:
- A cooking class
- Movie tickets
- Visit a national/state park
- Trip to a border state
- A trip to the beach/a lake
- Kayaking
- Tickets for a color run
- Tickets for Disney
- Trip to an amusement park
- A Spa day together
- and more!
Coupons are just so personal and aren’t wasteful in terms of materials.
It doesn’t have to be expensive, you can think of anything that your senior, or both of you, will enjoy.
6. A Spa Box
A spa box is a pretty useful graduation gift idea! The last weeks of school can be very tiring with all the exams and life changes going on.
A spa box can include things to relax, such as bath bombs, shampoo bars, lotion, etc.
Haven’t heard of shampoo bars yet? Well, they are great because :
- looks cute
- smells great
- it has a use
- no waste
- always needed
- creates awareness
- no leaking because it’s solid
- easy travel!
Shampoo bars don’t have to be expensive, but I like the ones from Lush because they just smell so good and work well.
I haven’t used a liquid shampoo in over 6 months and never missed it.
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
- The Best Gift Guide for College Students
- What to ask for Christmas as a Student
- Gift Ideas on a Budget
7. Bamboo Toothbrush
You have some more space in a gift box but are running tighter with your budget?
Why do I think this is a good idea? Toothbrushes are needed sooner or later.
By giving away one out of bamboo and recyclable bristles, you can be sure to not give away waste, and maybe inspire your future college student to keep using bamboo toothbrushes instead of switching back to plastic.
Worth a shot, right?
For more sustainable items, read my post with zero waste school supplies. That will have some more gift ideas for students!
9. “Tree” Pencils
Have you heard of those pencils that grow trees when you finish them and put them into soil?
I think those can be part of a gift box for grad students!
MORE GIFT IDEAS?
- The Best Gift Guide for College Students
- What to ask for Christmas as a Student
- Gift Ideas for Travelers
- Gift Ideas on a Budget
10. Journal
Journals are amazing graduation gift ideas! I personally love journals and cute diaries! You can’t really do anything wrong with journals since your graduating friend can write down future adventures in it.
11. Gift Cards
Not sure what else to give a graduate? You can always reach for gift cards if you really struggle with finding good gifts.
Examples include:
- Starbucks
- Netflix
- Amazon
- Uber
- Gas
- Apple/Google Play
- Target
- and anything else.
Need more ideas? Gift Ideas on a Budget
12. Wall Art
Wall art can be a great gift idea for any student. There are quotes about pretty much everything out there, or you can print a large photograph and frame it.
What I personally love are motivational quotes that look beautiful and match my room theme!
If your grad loves to be a girl boss, whether that is biz related or just a personality trait, this printable is perfect for them!
What I love about this one, is that you can just print the downloads at your local pharmacy or drugstore, get a frame for it, and voila!
This Etsy shop also offers other quotes and styles, so take your time to look through them and pick the best one as your Christmas gift!
13. A Polaroid Camera
Whether your graduating senior is going to college, work, or a gap year, a polaroid camera is useful and a fun gift!
You can get other kinds of cameras too, but I think polaroids give a whole other meaning to pictures.
14. A Day or Weekend Trip
Experiences and trips are such good gift ideas. Quality time over materialistic gifts. Always!
Here are a few ideas for a fun day or weekend trip. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money!
- Go to the movies
- Visit a national/state park
- Go to a border state
- A trip to the beach/a lake
- Kayaking
- A color run
- Disney
- Amusement park
- Spa day
- Cooking class
- and more!
Anything you enjoy doing together can be put on here. And besides trips, you can also do things at home or close to home, like a movie marathon. Get creative!
15. Photo Album
A photo album is an amazing personal gift! Whether its a small or bigger one, one where your senior can put in his/her own pictures or one that you made for him/her, I just think it’s a great gift, especially for graduation.
Comment below which gift idea you liked best from my graduation gift ideas list! I hope they helped you get some ideas about what to give to a graduating senior:)
Until soon,
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