Graduation gifts are hard to choose. When you want to say “congratulations” but don’t know what to give the graduate, use my list below. I’ll share 23 grad gifts (a lot of them include money), but I’ve tried my best to offer a variety of ideas for all ages.
23 Graduation Gifts That Totally Nail the Moment
1. Follow Your Compass
Graduation is filled with excitement and a touch of dread. A person has to figure out what’s next, and this “follow your compass” necklace is the perfect way to do that. You can find a lot of variations of this necklace online: here, here and here.
2. Self Care Gift Box
Gift boxes will make an appearance on this list a few times. And this self care box has a little bit of everything:
- Lotions
- Lip balms
- Fragrances
Related: 15 Insanely Cute Graduation SVG Designs We Can’t Resist
3. Personalized Money Holder
Who doesn’t like money? Now, you can give this popular graduation gift with a personalized money holder that says congratulations, the person’s name and a saying of your choosing. Etsy is a good place for these money holders, like this one.
4. Graduation Bracelet
Graduation gifts that include jewelry are always a good idea. Inside of this gift box, add a graduation bracelet with engravings. You can engrave the person’s name and graduation year on the bracelet.
Rings or other types of jewelry work just as well.
5. Graduation Journal
You’ll find plenty of graduation journals online (here, here and here). And inside, the person can write down all of their thoughts. Of course, you need to know the person well for them to appreciate this gift.
If the last thing the person would do is write down their thoughts, skip to the next idea on the list.
6. Personalized Named Mason Jar
Mason jars are easy enough to find, and you can put the person’s name on the jar. On top of the jar (if you’re crafty), you can add a graduation cap like in this photo. Inside, roll up dollar bills (or higher denominations) and fill the inside with money.
You can use one type of bill for the entire jar or add a bunch, such as 10s, 20s, 50s or even 100s.
7. Graduation Cap Tassel
Graduation cap tassels are often uniform across the graduating class. And while the person may still wear that tassel, you can also give them one to wear ahead of time. This idea is perfect for the person who has lost someone close to them:
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Friends
- Etc.
Why? The tassel will have photos of the lost person so that they can be with them on their big day.
8. Coaster Favors
Sometimes, the impact of the gift you give is all about the details. If there will be a graduation party, you can add elegant coasters on each table. Etsy is the place to go for this gift idea because people already have wonderful decorations that are just waiting for you to add personalization to, like this one.
9. Dear Graduate Gift Box
Get the whole family, and a few friends, in on this one. While this idea is similar to many others in that it’s a gift box, the magic comes from the messages written in the Dear Graduate book.
You can have everyone important in the person’s life write something special.
And then to finish off the basket, you can add teas, coffee cups, coffee or anything else that the recipient may like.
10. Bucket List Journal
Bucket lists are so popular these days for recipients of all ages. Young and college grads alike will appreciate a blank bucket list journal that they can fill in. And inside of the journal, you can help the person tick one of the items off of their list.
For example, maybe you know that the person has always wanted to go to Greece, so you can buy them a plane ticket.
Or maybe the person has always wanted to:
- Go to a concert
- Drive a Ferrari
- Visit New York City
- Etc.
And if you don’t have the budget to help the person fulfill some of the items on their list, the journal itself is more than enough.
11. Class of 2025
Graduation gifts like these are elegant yet timeless. You can wrap a gift card in a ribbon. Add in a bath bomb, rings, earrings and anything else you think the person will like. Be sure to customize the items for the year the person is graduating.
Related: 15+ Graduation Party Appetizers Under $30 to Wow Your Guests
12. Thoughtful Gift Box
Small boxes with sayings and gifts inside are the perfect, thoughtful gift this graduation season. You can add quotes on little papers and anything you want in each box, such as:
- Candy
- Jewelry
- Gemstones
If the recipient is younger, you can also give them bracelet charms into each gift box. For this idea, the notes and cards that you give are just as important as the gift itself.
13. Graduation Action Figure
You’re not going to be able to make this one on your own, but a lot of people on Etsy sell these. A few good sellers are:
Add the person’s name, school name and other personalization to your figure. Your recipient will be ecstatic when they receive their very own figurine of themselves.
14. Gift Bouquet
I have a few of these types of bouquets on the list, but they all offer something unique and special. For this bouquet, you’ll have:
- Flowers
- Makeup items
- Photos
- Creams
- Etc.
While more of a gift for her, this bouquet can be adapted for him, too.
15. Instruction Letter Box
What a neat idea. You fill a box with multiple color letters and each letter has instructions. The person should text or call you when they open the letters. Inside of each one can be something fun, such as:
- Gift cards
- A night out with you
- Anything you wish
If the person is your bestie, you can add fun notes inside and don’t even need to spend a dime. Notes, pictures and memories that you share together are perfect for inside of these letters.
16. Money Pizza
Pizza. Money. You can’t go wrong with either. With this idea, you’ll buy a pizza box and then make a fake pie in the middle out of real money. You can make the initial pizza circle with bills laid flat and then roll up bills to make the crust.
Or, if you think the person would like real pizza instead, no one will complain if you buy them an entire pizza or two.
17. Book Bouquet
If the recipient is into reading and always has a book in their hands, this is a great gift for them. Otherwise, skip this idea and move on to another one. You’ll make a bouquet out of brown paper and use ribbon on the bottom to hold it all together.
Inside of the bouquet, you can add some long-stem roses and a few paperback books.
Not sure what book to buy?
You can find great options by browsing through Amazon Editor’s favorite book selections.
18. Glue Gun Flowers
Are you crafty? If so, you can make graduation gifts like these gift card-holding flowers. You’ll need a glue gun, scissors and gift cards. The idea is simple, although the execution will take some patience:
- Cut out flowers on cardboard paper
- Create “pockets” with the petals
- Place the gift card in between the petals
And hold everything together, minus the gift cards, with your hot glue gun.
19. Graduation Bucket
Simple and sweet. Buy a bucket and fill it with a bunch of treats. You can add chocolate bars, energy drinks, money, gift cards, food items and anything else you like to the bucket.
You can also adorn the bucket with the person’s name, graduation years or other appropriate quotes.
20. Dorm Room Emergency Kit
I like this gift idea so much that I plan on using it for a graduate-to-be soon. A bit funny and awesome at the same time, you’ll need a picture frame to start. Here’s the twist. Instead of putting the person’s photo inside, you’ll add a bunch of gift cards.
A few ideas are:
- Amazon
- Burger King
- McDonalds
- Visa
- Movie theaters
You can add money inside, too. The “In case of emergency, break glass” letter goes perfectly with this Pin, too.
21. Money Lei
Creative gifts are always so memorable. But when you make a gift out of money like with this money lei, it’s even more special. Your first step is to get a bunch of bills: $1, $5, $10 – any denomination you want.
Start folding the bills like in the Pin above and make a lei out of it.
Related: 15 Cricut Graduation Ideas That Are Full of Style
22. Keepsake Box
Keepsakes are a part of graduation. People keep cards, tassels, photos and other sentimental items stashed away for years. I recently went through a box with my very own keepsakes, and that leads right up to this gift idea.
You can gift the person a keepsake box.
Amazon has neat options, but you can find truly unique boxes on Etsy. If you have wood burning tools, you can even burn the person’s name onto the box like in the Pin above.
23. Gift Set for Her
Graduation gifts can leave you indecisive. What do you get him or her? Why make it hard on yourself? Gift sets are a great choice and allow you to add anything you like. For example, you can fill a basket with:
- Flowers
- Teddy bears
- Candles
- Cupcakes
- Candies
Add a card to personalize the gift a bit more, and the recipient will be sure to love it.
