Reviews Gifts
Written by Mara Leighton and Julia Pugachevsky
Updated
2023-01-11T17:23:06Z
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Both recent college and high school grads are likely feeling all the joy and sadness that habitually comes along with one life chapter ending and another opening up.With new jobs and living arrangements comes a host of exciting opportunities and responsibilities to navigate. But it doesn't necessarily come with the ideal budget.
Family members and friends can celebrate their graduate's accomplishments while also selecting gifts that make the next few foundational years a little easier to acclimate to. Below are 51 thoughtful, useful graduation gifts for the Class of 2023.
Advertisem*nt
A Nintendo Switch for much-deserved game time
Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy‑Cons, available at Amazon, Target, and Walmart, from $293.49
Whether they want to play solo or with their friends, they've earned some uninterrupted game time. The Switch remains a bestseller for its simplicity and versatility (plus, it won't take up too much space in a small apartment). Pair it with a crowd-pleasing game like Mario Kart or Minecraft.
Advertisem*nt
A cute carrying case for their phone
Casey Pebble Leather Crossbody Bandolier, available at Bandolier, $108
For anyone who laments digging through their bag for their phone or wallet, this stylish phone case-wallet crossbody case keeps their essentials close without any hassle.
Advertisem*nt
A tablet for Netflix and surfing the web
Apple iPad, available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Apple, $309
Since a number of companies give their employees work computers, it's not totally necessary to get one's own. But for streaming Netflix or surfing the web at home, an iPad can be a budget-friendly alternative that better suits their lifestyle.
We think the 2022 standard iPad is ideal for general-purpose use, and it's surprisingly affordable. You can read more in our buying guide for the best iPads for every need and budget.
Advertisem*nt
A map of their college town, hometown, or study abroad city
Customized Poster, available at Grafomap, from $19
Commemorate their college town, hometown, or favorite place in the world with this customizable graphic map so they can keep it with them wherever life takes them.
Advertisem*nt
An instant camera upgrade
Polaroid OneStep+ White (9015) Bluetooth Connected Instant Film Camera, available at Amazon and Walmart, from $229
If they love taking instant photos, this camera lets them do that, plus print out photos from their phone via a Bluetooth app. And if that's not enough, it comes with two lenses (standard and portrait), so they will truly never miss their shot at a great pic.
Advertisem*nt
A chic lamp that warms candles without lighting them
luzdiosa Candle Warmer Lamp, available at Amazon and luzdiosa, from $49.99
Beyond looking cute, this lamp serves a unique function: Activating candles without lighting them. Using its warming technology, the candles "burn" and release any scents, but at a much slower pace and without setting off any finicky fire alarms.
Advertisem*nt
Nice noise-canceling headphones
Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones, available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, from $348
Sony's WH-1000XM4 are our favorite noise-canceling headphones for their balance of sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort, making them a great pick for long commutes, focusing during work, or relaxing. They're also one of the items featured in our list of the All-Time Best products we've tested.
Advertisem*nt
A beautiful bouquet
Floral Bouquet, available at Urban Stems, from $45
Send flowers to your graduate — whether you're sending them in lieu of being there yourself or as a supplement a digital gift or card. We highly recommend UrbanStems; the company's bouquets are one of the best items we've ever tested.
If you're looking for something that won't be gone after a couple of weeks, you'll also find options for potted plants and low-maintenance dried bouquets.
Advertisem*nt
A custom birth chart book
Birthdate Co. The Birthdate Book, available at Amazon and Birthdate Co., $95
For fans of astrology — or anyone who's on a serious post-college path to self-discovery — this customized birth chart book is sure to be something they turn to time and time again. All you need is their birth location and time to snag a 70-page hardcover tome of who they are and what to expect in their future. If you only know their birthday, you can also opt for a Birthdate candle or necklace.
Advertisem*nt
A minimalist backpack
Dakota Neoprene Backpack, available at Dagne Dover, from $155
Dagne Dover's neoprene backpacks are a sleek, safe bet if you want to get them something for their future travels or commutes. Beyond their trendiness, they're super comfy, are made from recycled materials, and offer lots of compartments and pockets for optimal storage.
Advertisem*nt
A dainty necklace
Tiniest Name Necklace, available at Catbird, from $298
Nameplate necklaces are timeless, this one even more so for its tiny, all-lowercase font. You can fit up to 10 letters (the cost goes up after two), so you can customize it with their name, nickname, city, or anything else.
Advertisem*nt
A National Park pass for budget-friendly adventures
America the Beautiful Pass 2023/2024, available at REI, $79.99
If they want to do some US road-tripping, this annual pass can save them hundreds. They can use it with cars of up to four people at most US National Parks, so if they've ever wanted to see Bryce and Zion in one weekend, now's their nudge to go do it.
Adorable coup glasses perfect for hosting
Ramona Coupe Glasses (Set of 4), available at Anthropologie, $56
Even if they're already stocked up on kitchen items, they likely don't have these colorful coup glasses. Whether they use them for homemade co*cktails, mocktails, or bubbly, they're sure to get a million compliments on them every time they host.
Advertisem*nt
A bagel candle to remind them of college
Bagel-Shaped Candle, available at Urban Outfitters, $15
This whimsical candle in the shape of an everything bagel is a low-budget but sure-to-please gift. It'll remind them of the delightfully slow Saturday mornings of college days past.
Advertisem*nt
A mini waffle maker that fits in their kitchen
Dash Mini Waffle Maker, available at Target, Amazon, and Dash, $9.99
Even the most cramped kitchens can accomodate this mini waffle maker, which comes in a variety of fun colors and iron shapes. It's an affordable, adorable way for them to make breakfast throughout their post-grad years.
Advertisem*nt
A fluffy throw blanket
Sophie Faux Fur Throw Blanket, available at Anthropologie, $98
Every home could use a comfy throw, and this faux fur one is bound to keep them cozy throughout the year. It comes in a range of colors and looks great draped over a couch or used as a bed cover.
Advertisem*nt
Iconic hoop earrings
Croissant Dôme Hoops, available at Mejuri, $78
If they've been eyeing Mejuri's Dôme hoops forever, you've found the perfect gift. These minimalist gold vermeil earrings go with everything, so you can be sure they'll wear them for years to come.
Advertisem*nt
A Le Creuset of their own
Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Deep Dutch Oven, available at Williams Sonoma, Le Creuset, and Crate & Barrel, from $199.95
Le Creusets are coveted for a reason: Beyond their timeless look, they withstand all sorts of scratches and can be used for everything from soups to bread baking. This is an investment piece for their kitchen that they'll thank you for every time they use it (aka, for practically every meal).
Advertisem*nt
A sleek smart mug that keeps their drinks hot
Ember Mug 2, available at Amazon, Williams Sonoma, and Target, from $149.95
This mug will control the temperature of their coffee or tea, so they won't have to reheat or dump it out every few hours. A former teammate called the Ember "life-changing." You can also buy a travel-friendly version.
Advertisem*nt
A luxe leather messenger bag
Henderson Laptop Brief Bag, available at Leatherology, $350
Leatherology makes luxe leather goods and delivers them in gift-wrapped boxes. This laptop brief bag is one they can own for many years, and it's a luxe step-up from the backpacks of their past. You'll find a few more budget-friendly options at Herschel Supply Co.
Advertisem*nt
A multi-purpose pan
Always Pan, available on Our Place and Huckberry, $145
The internet-famous Always Pan is meant to replace eight pieces of cookware which, if they're living in tight quarters, can especially come in handy. You can choose from a few vibrant, matte colors and treat them to a pan they'll be excited to break in.
Advertisem*nt
School spirit gear
College Gear, from Fanatics, from $4.99
Get them excited for their college days or commemorate them with a wearable bit of school spirit. Fanatics is full of clothing, hats, bags, balls, games, and drinkware for NCAA schools. Your grad will be able to spot a fellow alum from miles away.
Advertisem*nt
A funny, thoughtful card
Lettuce Build a House Dipllama Card, available at Etsy, $5.95
Grab a funny, sweet card and use it to tell them how proud you are of them.
Advertisem*nt
Advertisem*nt
A gift card for crisp, luxe sheets
Gift Card, available at Brooklinen, from $50
Your graduate may appreciate an upgrade in bedding to match their new chapter or their new space, whether it's their first adult apartment or a dorm.
Brooklinen is a common recommendation for us — you get premium, can't-wait-to-go-to-bed bedding at relatively affordable prices. Read our Brooklinen sheets review here.
Advertisem*nt
A slim Fitbit with plenty of features
Fitbit Inspire 2, available at Best Buy, Target, and Fitbit, $79.95
Fitbit's affordable Inspire 2 tracker has no shortage of useful features to keep someone informed about their physical activity — tracking calorie burn, resting heart rate, and heart rate zones. It's also one of the least expensive Fitbit models.
You can find our ranking of the best Fitbits here.
Advertisem*nt
A must-read financial guidebook
"I Will Teach You to Be Rich" by Ramit Sethi, available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, from $9.69
Good news for your grad: They can buy as many lattes as they want. They just need to choose the right accounts and investments so that their money automatically grows for them.
Libby Kane, Insider's Executive Editor for Personal Finance, says she regularly buys a new copy of this book just to give away, and it's an excellent introduction to making the most of your personal finances — especially if your graduate is young or new to managing money.
Advertisem*nt
Delicious goodies from a famous NYC bakery
Milk Bar Goodies, available at Milk Bar, from $27
Milk Bar cakes are one of our go-to gifts to send to friends and family — especially when we can't celebrate with them in person. We love their classic flavors as well as the limited-edition stuff, too. You can find a review of the Milk Bar cakes here. It's also one of the Insider Reviews All-Time Best products.
Advertisem*nt
A planner that helps map out long-term goals
BestSelf Co. Self Journal, available at BestSelfand Amazon, $32
The Best Self Co. Journal helps people map out their five- or 10-year plans in a tangible, easily managed way. It's a nice way to provide growth and direction after graduation, whether your graduate is on their way to college, a new job, traveling, or anything else.
Advertisem*nt
A great streaming device
Roku Ultra Streaming Player, available at Amazon, Roku, and Walmart, from $85.99
The Roku Ultra stands out from other streaming device options thanks to its 4K and HDR support, speed, reliability, and large library of streaming services (Netflix, HBO Max, Rakuten Viki, etc.). Plus, if your graduate wants to watch TV on the big screen without disturbing anyone, it comes with headphones for private listening.
Read the full review of the Roku Ultra here.
Advertisem*nt
A framed photo of their friends or favorite memories
Framed Photo, available at Framebridge, from $25
Most of us appreciate some nostalgia. Since your graduate may not feel like investing in a nice frame, frame a photo of their friends or some of their favorite memories from school or home, so they can take them anywhere.
Advertisem*nt
A nice business card holder
Business Card Case, available at Leatherology, $50 (+$10 for monogramming)
If they're entering a new career, they can hold their business cards in this polished cardholder. You can even opt to get it monogrammed, and it'll arrive ready in a gift box.
Advertisem*nt
An office-ready blazer
Prince Blazer, available at Of Mercer, $248
A nice, reliable blazer that can be worn for everything from interviews to days in the office (if that's what your graduate's next chapter includes) is a classic wardrobe staple.
Or, if you'd rather leave the decision-making up to them, give them a gift card to a store like Everlane, Banana Republic, J. Crew, Nordstrom, or Universal Standard so they can shop for their own post-graduate clothing.
Advertisem*nt
A gift card for the nights when they want an Uber home
Uber Gift Card, available at Amazon, from $25
Whether they're heading into a new college town, starting a new job, or taking a gap year, there will be nights when it's more convenient or safer for them to Uber home. Make it an easier decision with a gift card for a ride home.
Advertisem*nt
Timeless advice on how to lead a compassionate life
"Congratulations, by the Way: Some Thoughts on Kindness" by George Saunders, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $12.94
This short read is a transcript from author George Saunders' Syracuse University commencement speech, in which he focuses on one simple but significant message: The value of kindness. When so much of the post-graduate advice out there centers on career success or hustling to get ahead, this sweet and beautifully written book will remind them of what's most important in life.
Advertisem*nt
A reliable, convenient suitcase
The Carry-On, available at Away, $275
An Away suitcase is a particularly thoughtful gift for grads living far from home or planning future travel. The cult-favorite luggage has an ejectable external battery that charges devices easily on the go, 360-degree wheels for no-hassle travel, and weighs only 7.6 pounds. Throw in packing cubesif you really want to go the extra mile.
Read our full review of Away suitcases here.
Advertisem*nt
A French press your graduate can rely upon
Bodum Chambord French Press, available at Amazon, $34.99
If their new job or college major requires lots of early mornings, they'll probably appreciate a good cup of coffee. The Bodum Chambord is our favorite French press; it's timeless, compact, easy to operate, and entirely unfussy. It's also affordable to replace, so they don't need to be too precious with it.
Advertisem*nt
A Disney+ membership
Gift Membership, available at Disney Plus, $7.99 per month
We all occasionally want a break from being a grownup — and Disney Plus is a good place to do it. Disney Plus lets subscribers stream movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and more. You can also bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+.
Advertisem*nt
An air fryer to make fast, delicious meals
Philips Premium Airfryer XXL, available at Amazon and Target, $148.47
There's a reason people seem obsessed with air fryers recently. They're exceptionally convenient and can whip up everything from salmon and veggies to French toast sticks.
Shop our pick for the best air fryer, which heats up within seconds and turns out evenly crispy food with greater efficiency than an oven. If you're looking for something at a lower budget, we've got recommendations for that, too.
Advertisem*nt
A sharp suit
Gift Card, available at Indochino, from $50
Suits — especially the nicer ones — are a large yet ultimately useful expense for most masculine dressers, even if it's only for special occasions rather than an everyday job. This is one gift your graduate will likely wear for years to come — and something they will likely need before they have the budget to afford it.
Advertisem*nt
A travel-friendly speaker for listening to music
Sonos Move, available at Best Buy, Target, and Sonos, from $399
We think the Sonos Move is one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy. It has excellent sound quality, a good battery life that can last up to 11 hours on the go, and convenient smart features such as connecting to smart assistants from Amazon and Google. It'll be useful for travel or for listening to music at home.
Advertisem*nt
A facial cleansing brush that gently gets rid of grime
FOREO Luna 3 Facial Cleansing Device, available at FOREO, Amazon, and Sephora, $219
Foreo cleansing brushes are one of the Insider Reviews All-Time Best products. The company claims they remove up to 99.5% of dirt and oil and gently buff away dead skin cells, and both female and male reporters on our team loved the results. On top of being waterproof, rechargeable, and made from bacteria-resistant silicone, the brush leaves skin feeling clean and rejuvenated (like it's just had a mini massage).
Advertisem*nt
A gift card for ordering takeout
Gift Card, available at GrubHub,from $25
They may not have the energy to cook every night after work or classes. Get them a gift card for the impending evenings in which takeout feels essential.
Advertisem*nt
An excellent, personalized coffee subscription
Coffee Subscription, available at Trade, from $40
If they like a great cup of coffee, they'll enjoy Trade. The coffee subscription service has a huge variety of coffee, and it's easy to customize based on their tastes. We ranked it as the best coffee subscription service you can join.
If they're a tea drinker, we'd also recommend checking out an Atlas Tea Club subscription.
Advertisem*nt
A gift card to find their favorite workout
Gift Card, available at ClassPass, from $50
No matter what their work schedule looks like, it's important that your graduate still gets healthy exercise. Lower the barrier to entry and gift them a ClassPass gift card. With it, they can try tons of boutique fitness classes in their area — or, if they need to unwind, meditation sessions or spa days.
Advertisem*nt
A smart reusable notebook
Rocketbook Reusable Notebook, available at Amazon, $25.60
If your graduate goes through notebook after notebook, this reusable option offers a long-lasting solution. They can use the included pen to take notes, scan each page with an accompanying app to save the pages digitally, and then wipe away the notes to use the same page over and over again.
Advertisem*nt
Groceries delivered to their door
Gift Card, available at InstaCart, from $25
Starting a new chapter can be exhausting, and they may be pulling long hours studying or working. We recommend a gift card to Blue Apron (our top pick for meal kits) or Instacart (our top pick for online grocery services) to do their grocery shopping for them. Both will show up at their doorstep.
Advertisem*nt
A membership to a meditation app
Membership, available at Headspace, $69.99 per year
Give them the gift of a meditation app that can help give them the tools to destress, practice mindfulness (which has positive effects on personal happiness), and possibly improve their focus.
Advertisem*nt
An excellent cookbook that’s tailored to beginners
"How to Cook Everything: Simple Recipes for Great Food" by Mark Bittman, available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, from $18.99
Lots of graduates enter this new chapter with little cooking know-how. Mark Bittman's cookbook, which teaches the basics in a fun, digestible way for newcomers is one of the best gifts you can give for people who don't want to solely rely on takeout. It even has a list of ingredients they might have in their fridge already — and recipes to make with them.
We're personally big fans of the "How to Cook Everything" cookbook.
Advertisem*nt
A toolkit they will undoubtedly need in "real life"
CARTMAN 148-Piece Tool Kit, available at Amazon, $30.79
After graduation, the stress of a first apartment will include putting together furniture, Googling how to fix leaky faucets when their landlord avoids their calls, and enticing their friends to help mount their living room TV in return for free pizza. A toolbox may not be the most strictly "fun" gift, but it will absolutely be necessary — and they'll appreciate it for years to come.
Advertisem*nt
A gift card to decorate their home as they choose
Gift Card, available at Target, from $5
Sometimes, the best gift is helping them buy whatever they need. Pick up a gift card to a store with affordable home goods such as Target or The Container Store so your graduate can organize and decorate their new space with less stress.
Senior Digital Culture Reporter
Mara Leighton is a senior digital culture reporter. If you want to get in touch, please send an email to mleighton@businessinsider.com, or send a DM on twitter to @maraleighton.
Senior Health Reporter
Julia is a senior health reporter on the Insider Health team primarily covering skincare and relationships. Prior to that, she was theeducation and personal development editor on the Insider Reviews team and a sex and relationships editor at Cosmopolitan and BuzzFeed, respectively. You can say hi to Julia at jpugachevsky@businessinsider.com or shoot her a DM on Twitter or Instagram (she is @jaypugz on both)
You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
NEW LOOK
Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.
Advertisem*nt
