The Best Gifts for 2024 High School Graduates
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Well, friends, the time of year has come. You know what I’m talking about — when you start receiving a million bajillion graduation party invitations from all of the special teens in your life. Maybe you’re even receiving more than usual this year because according to the National Center for Education Statistics, an estimated 3.3 million students are expected to graduate from high school at the end of the 2023/2024 school year and all of those students will need the perfect graduation gift.
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Buying gifts, in general, can be a daunting task, but when it comes to buying a high school graduation gift, you can go one of two ways. You can either purchase something functional, something the future college student can use in the fall. Or, you can take a more personal approach and give them something that’ll remind them of home.
Ahead, we’ve gathered 10 gifts from both categories your grad will definitely love. Whether you want to remind them of the coziness of home, or are gifting them something they can use in their new, independent life, these high school graduation gifts are bound to be a hit.
Custom Moving Away Two State Map
$32+
If your high school grad is moving to another state for the first time, gift them something sentimental — like this two state map, which can also be customized with names and a quote. It’s not too cheesy, and it’s much nicer decor than a giant Goodfellas poster (thought let’s be honest, they’ll probably hang next to one another on the dorm room wall).
Amazon Prime
$14.99+
One gift that will keep on giving: an Amazon Prime membership. Members get free shipping, two-day delivery on Prime items, access to Prime Video, and a very easy way for you to ensure the grad always has toilet paper stocked. Choose from a monthly $14.99 membership, or a yearly membership for $139. Call this one a win for both parties.
Poketo Spectrum Planner
$38
Once your high schooler leaves the nest, they’ll have to keep track of appointments, homework due dates, and other to-do tasks on their own. A colorful undated planner, like this one from Poketo, can help staying organized feel fun.
Modoker Laptop Backpack With Charger
$27.99 $41.99 33% off
Most students spend hours on campus — lugging around books, notebooks, their laptop. On those days when they just can’t get back to their dorm or apartment and they desperately need a charge, they’ll thank you later when they realize they have a USB charging port built into their backpack.
Anthropologie All Roads Yucca Throw Blanket
$148
On chilly nights, an extra-large throw blanket will keep anyone warm. But for a grad gift, you want to go for something a little nicer than the $10 fleece throw from the bargain store. This stylish throw from Anthropologie will complement any trendy dorm room.
Keurig K-Express Coffee Maker
$69.99 $89.99 22% off
$59
After pulling all-nighters, coffee is a must for college students. Opt for this Keurig K-Express single-serve coffee maker, which is decently priced, small enough to fit in a dorm room or starter apartment, and will help your grad save money on java.
A Dinnerware Set
$25
For grads moving into an apartment where they’ll have an actual kitchen at their disposal, they’ll need a dinnerware set. This 12-piece Threshold dinnerware set includes four bowls, four salad plates, and four dinner plates, all of which are microwave and dishwasher safe. It also comes in four colors: navy, ivory, gray, and blue.
Festival Tickets
$149+
Sure, you could get something practical for your new graduate. But what about something that will create a lifelong memory, like tickets to a music festival for them and a friend? This is a splurge gift, but if your graduate is obsessed with music, then tickets to a summer music festival, whether it’s Lollapalooza in Chicago, Bonnaroo in Tennessee, or Outside Lands in San Francisco, is a graduation present they’ll never forget.
A Hatch Sunrise Alarm Clock
$199.99
$199.99
One of the hardest jobs as a parent is getting your kids to school on time. Well, post-graduation, a lot of them won’t have mom and dad around as a back-up alarm clock anymore. That’s where a Hatch Sunrise Alarm Clock comes in handy. Not only does it have a sound machine to help blur out the noise of the dorm or apartment building, but it also has a smart light that turns on at wake-up time, working with the alarm tone to ensure a happy wake up for your graduate so they don’t miss class or work.
Bulk Paradise Candle Warmer Plate
$9.99 $14.99 33% off
Most dorms don’t allow lit candles, for fire safety reasons. Instead, gift your candle-loving graduate a warmer plate that releases the scent of the candle, no flame needed. Pair it with a Homesick candle, and you’ve got a practical and sentimental graduation gift.
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