25 Thoughtful Grad Gift Ideas That Won’t Disappoint

Every grad will benefit from new luggage. Away’s The Bigger Carry-On is great for all types of travel (without the baggage fees).

This is a great starter set, whether they’re moving into a dorm suite or first apartment. It comes with a fry pan, sauce pan, sauté pan, Dutch oven, and a storage organizer.

Get them a beginner-friendly plant for their new place. They’ll be certified plant parents in no time.

Hatch smart clocks are a great way to set up the ultimate bedtime and morning routines. It works as a noise machine, nightlight, clock, alarm, and so much more.

Whether it’s used for classes or for work, this backpack fits everything they’ll need for the day. There’s a laptop sleeve, multiple exterior and interior pockets, and a luggage sleeve so it can attach to suitcases.

A first apartment needs some grown-up sheets. We love the ones from Parachute because they’re high-quality and will last a long time.

These noise-cancelling headphones will help them focus and tune out noisy roommates or coworkers.

Dorm room fluorescent lighting isn’t the best way to create ambience, so gift them a cool little lamp to upgrade their space.

Assuming they’re continuing with a new phase of their academic journey, help them get organized for classes with this planner—inside there are schedules, deadline trackers, yearly and monthly overviews, weekly planning pages, and month-ahead pages for goals, to-dos, key dates, and even moments of gratitude.

Help make their dorm or new apartment feel cozy with a great-smelling diffuser. This one has notes of French cade wood, verbena, and Bulgarian lavender.

Welcome them to alum life with these glasses emblazoned with an illustration of their school.

Get them ready for the first day on the job with this sleek tote. It can fit a 16-inch laptop, the essentials, and more. It also features a hidden zipper to keep things in place.

A sleek and colorful YETI cooler makes for the perfect housewarming gift. This hard cooler can hold 22 cans or 16 pounds of ice.

All their baking, grilling, and roasting needs will be covered with this set. It comes with a griddle pan, a trio of baking dishes, and an oven mat.

If the microwave is the most used item in their kitchen, they’re going to love this starter set from Anyday. These glass dishes will help them cook just about anything in the microwave—they reheat food evenly and are made of 100% non-toxic materials. Plus, they can be used in the oven.

They’re going need a coffee mug for those late-night study sessions or work projects. 

A shower caddy is a must for dorm living. This one features a breathable and durable mesh-bottom design that dries and drains quickly and easily.

This waterproof wireless speaker is so powerful with amazing sound quality. It can work in a dorm room or apartment, on the quad or at a beach day, and even in the shower (although we wouldn’t recommend putting it under a shower head).

A new toolkit is a must for move-in day, whether it’s a dorm or first apartment.

All the cords and other tech accessories can get tangled and messy. This pouch keeps everything in one place, perfect for travel or just everyday use.

They have to have new plates for their new place, too. These are simple and classic.

Make sure they’re set up with the right tools for the kitchen—this trio from Material will cover the basics and then some. They get a chef’s knife, serrated knife, and 4-inch knife that are all made of Japanese stainless steel. Plus, this set comes with a magnetic wooden stand.

It’s no secret that dorms can be tight quarters. Help them get all their essentials organized and within reach with this functional and smart bedside storage caddy.

Adding a little bit of sunshine to a desk can make working or studying a tiny bit better.