Our favorite graduation gifts of the season, from useful tech to whiskey and home goods for their first place
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It’s graduation season, and if you’re scrambling to find something for your favorite member of the class of 2024, we’ve got you covered with some of the best graduation gifts of the year.
Gifting for graduation is somewhat unique: Your loved one will only graduate two or three times in their life, so we think big-ticket gifts are worth it. But the best graduation gifts should also reflect and help your graduate’s entry into the real adult world (or college from high school), free of safety nets and support systems. That means practical gifts — as well as thoughtful, long-lasting items — are great choices to celebrate your loved one’s achievement.
Whether you’re shopping for a photography graduate, a fashion lover, or an aspiring cook, here are some of the best graduation gifts to order online this year.
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Tudor Black Bay Watch
Image Credit: Jomashop Buy Tudor Black Bay Watch $2,550
Watches are a classic graduation gift for good reason. It’s something most young folks don’t splurge on — but they’ll appreciate it for decades (if you pick the right piece).
We like this Tudor Black Bay because it comes from a well-known brand (Tudor is the sister brand to Rolex), it will likely last for a long time (and hold its value), and it looks great with your graduate’s new suit.
The Black Bay isn’t too flashy, and it’s adequately durable for a new watch owner (500-feet water resistance), making it a fantastic first grown-up timepiece. Plus, with a 36-millimeter bezel, this Black Bay is well-sized for both men and women. (If the Tudor is out of your budget, consider this excellent M79 from Timex).
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Our Place Always Pan 2
Image Credit: Our Place Buy Our Place Always Pan 2 $143.00
Our Place’s Always Pan was beloved by chefs and casual cooks the internet over, and now they’ve just come out with the upgraded second version. The cleverly-designed non-stick pan is able to perform 10 functions including searing, baking, sauteing, and braising. Then, once the food is ready, just place it on the dining table — it’s cute enough to go with any place setting.
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A Trip
Image Credit: Sushiman/stock.adobe.com Buy Flights Skyscanner
The best graduation gift might be an experience. Whether it’s hiking in Machu Picchu, eating in Paris, exploring Tokyo, or just visiting friends on the other side of the country, post-graduation/pre-job is a great time to do it.
We suggest checking
for low prices on flights and hotels, whether domestic or international. The website has a sophisticated search engine that often finds cheaper flights than other aggregators, ensuring you’re getting the best deal on your graduate’s adventure.
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iRobot Roomba Vacuum
Image Credit: Amazon Buy iRobot Roomba 694 $243.85
Most graduates aren’t the best at cleaning. Give them a (robot) hand with this iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner. Using the iRobot app or a voice assistant, turn on the vacuum or schedule a cleaning for later when you’re out of the house. It works on both carpets and hard floors thanks to strong suction and multiple brushes that lift debris.
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The Balvenie Caribbean Cask Whisky
Image Credit: The Balvenie Buy The Balvenie Caribbean Cask $77.99
After cheap beer and plastic bottle vodka, it’s time to introduce your graduate to grown-up drinking. This Balvenie 14 year is a great way to do just that. Aged in ex-Caribbean casks, the single malt is very approachable and comes from a highly respected distillery. A palette of fruit, vanilla, and just the right amount of bite make it easy to put back, and it’s likely to turn any Scotch newbie into an aspiring connoisseur.
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Canon EOS Rebel T7
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Canon Rebel T7 $479
Whether your graduate recently finished a photography degree or just loves the art form, a nice camera is a great gift idea. This Canon Rebel T7 is a good one for gifting because nice enough to satisfy a camera geek, but still relatively affordable.
The T7 features a 24.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 4+ processor, letting you quickly capture crisp, professional photographs in a range of environments. The interface is very intuitive and adaptive autofocus does what you want, making the camera very approachable for beginners. It can also shoot HD video at 60 frames per second if your graduate is looking to make some premium video content.
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Breville Barista Espresso Maker
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Breville Barista Espresso Maker $997.00
Most of us can use an upgraded cup of joe each morning, which is why we love a nice espresso machine as a generous gift. The Barista Express from Breville is one of the best, letting you make barista-level espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos at home (instead of racking up bills from the local coffee shop).
To get that authentic espresso quality, the Barista Express features digital temperature control (PID) technology, nine bars of pressure, and a high-dose system for full, rich espressos.
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Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Sony WH-1000XM5 $398.00
The world your graduate is heading into will almost certainly be loud; give them some zen with these
noise-canceling headphones. We just named them as our top choice overall for headphones in 2024 thanks to their clear, full sound and exceptional noise cancellation powers — whether we’re on a plane, in a loud office, or walking in a noisy city.
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Apple AirPods Pro 2
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Apple AirPods Pro 2 $269.99
Whether they’re entering college or the working world, Apple’s AirPods Pro earbuds are sure to be used constantly. They’re our go-to earbuds for just about every activity where headphones are too much, blocking out noise and lending impressive audio quality. You can go with the cheaper AirPods, but the addition of noise-cancellation with the Pros is well worth the extra cost.
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Instant Pot Duo
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Instant Pot Duo $99.99
Feeding yourself without a dining hall and meal card is a learning curve for many graduates; think of this Instant Pot as training wheels (although adults still use them too).
The famous pressure cooker can do everything from slow cooking to steaming, rice to meats, and everything in-between. This versatility makes it great as a starter appliance in any new kitchen.
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Brooklinen Luxe Sheet Bundle
Image Credit: Brooklinen Buy Brooklinen Luxe Sheet Bundle $246.84
Good bedding is something young adults often put off buying for far too long, making high-quality sheets a great graduation gift. These best-selling Luxe sateen sheets from Brooklinen are some of the very best; just look at their 90,000+ reviews.
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ps5-spider-man-bundle
Image Credit: Amazon Buy PS5 Spider-Man 2 Bundle $449.99
If your graduate is into video games (or just tech in general), there’s arguably no better gift than the latest from Playstation, the PS5. They were hard to come by for some time due to supply chain shortages and massive demand, so even die-hard gamers are still patiently waiting to get the new console.
Now, however, you can pick up a PS5 on Amazon. We recommend getting this Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Bundle, which is currently discounted by $110.
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Levoit Air Purifier
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Levoit Air Purifier $99.98
It’s rare that recent grads invest in proper cleaning supplies — including those that clean the air of dust, smoke, and other harmful particles. This best-selling air purifier from Levoit ensures that the air in their new space will be clean and safe. The device is very compact but surprisingly powerful, quickly purifying a 1,095-square-foot space in around an hour.
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J. Crew Ludlow Suit
Image Credit: J. Crew Buy J. Crew Ludlow Suit $248
Workplaces are getting more casual, but every graduate should still have a reliable, versatile suit to wear to job interviews and events. This J. Crew Ludlow suit is a great option, showcasing an unstructured fit and laid-back feel suitable (pun intended) for modern offices and dressy events.
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Apple iPad
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Apple iPad (10th Gen) $429.00
iPads are another great grad gift because your giftee can use them for work as well as downtime fun. This 10th generation version of the iPad is the newest one, featuring a crystal clear Liquid Retina display, powerful processing, and fast WiFi speeds. It also comes in a few fun colors, making it as much an accessory as a piece of tech.
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Uplift V2 Standing Desk
Image Credit: Amazon Here’s a way to deck out your graduate’s new apartment and encourage a healthier body: Standing desks have blown up recently (as many people continue to work from home), reducing back and shoulder pain while making users more productive.
We like this standing desk from Uplift as a thoughtful, useful grad gift. When lowered, it’s just like any good desk with a wood-grain top and a sturdy base. But, at the push of a button, the desk raises up with a quiet motor. There are even pre-set buttons that raise the desk to your preferred height, rounding out a helpful, healthy piece of furniture.
Buy Uplift V2 Standing Desk $708.00
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Kindle Paperwhite
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Kindle Paperwhite $149.99
Graduating can be bitter-sweet for bookworms: No more free library right on campus. If that sounds like your loved one, get them this Kindle Paperwhite.
Amazon’s e-reader has a high-resolution display that makes text look crisp and won’t glare in the sun. Its battery can last weeks on a single charge, and its IP8X certification means it’s totally dust- and waterproof, able to survive in up to three feet of water for an hour.
The Paperwhite’s five backlights make it easy to read in the dark. Whether they love the classics or keep up with new releases, it’s a good way to help them continue reading.
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Apple MacBook Pro
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Apple MacBook Pro $1,849.95
If your graduate is lugging around an old laptop or used to depend on school-supplied computers, a MacBook is probably the best thing you can give them. This MacBook Pro is the latest model, complete with an ultra-fast M2 Pro chip and 512GB or 1TB of storage space. It also has a bevy of physical ports, which Apple recently brought back after (foolishly) removing on a recent MacBook model.
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Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera $81.10
An instant camera combines the immediate feedback and gratification of taking a smartphone picture with a physical result.
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 9 evolves the concept of the classic Polaroid by including a built-in flash, adjustable 35-50cm macro lens, and a viewfinder to frame shots properly.
The photos will get printed on photo paper inserted into the back of the camera, and pop through a slot on the top.
The camera’s prints are 3.4 inches long and 2.13 inches wide — great for tucking into your wallet, framing on your desk, or sticking on the fridge. We recommend getting the Film Twin Pack bundle, which includes both the Instax Mini 9 and 20 sheets of film, so your graduate can start taking shots right out of the box.
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Ride1Up Prodigy Electric Bike
Image Credit: Ride1Up Buy Ride1Up Prodigy $1,995
E-bikes have become a go-to for commuters and pleasure cruisers alike, and the benefits are just as useful, if not more attractive for recent grads. They’ll spend less money on gas, get some time outside, and skip traffic getting to their new job.
One of our favorite E-bikes we’ve tested in the past year is this Ride1Up Prodigy, which brings the comfort of a cruiser and the agility of a road bike. It’s very quick (we got it going close to 30 miles per hour), but the power delivery is smooth and stable for a fantastic overall riding experience.
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Audio Technica AT LPW40WN Turntable
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN $379.00
A turntable is one of the few gifts that can last your graduate a lifetime, so it’s a good idea to get them a good one. Audio Technica has been making record players for nearly 60 years, and the AT-LPW40WN lives up to that reputation.
It has two speeds: 33RPM and 45RPM, so it can play 12-inch records and 7-inch singles. An anti-skate arm helps to prevent the needle from sliding and scratching the vinyl.
The LPW40WN comes pre-packaged with an AT-VM95E cartridge, which will sound good, but it can be replaced if the graduate who receives it is a vinyl geek who wants an upgrade later on.
This turntable has a built-in phono preamp, so you can plug it directly into a pair of powered speakers (like the pair from Edifier we recommended above). The preamp can be turned off if your graduate would prefer to connect the record player to the one they already own and like.
There are a bunch of turntables to choose from, but the LPW40WN’s mix of built-in features and upgradability help it stand out.
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Marshall Middleton Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Marshall Middleton Speaker $236.99
Portable Bluetooth speakers are one of the best gifts, no matter the occasion or giftee. For graduates, we like Marshall’s
, which delivers loud, clear sound in a compact, water-resistant package. We’re also big fans of the throwback look, which makes the speaker work as shelf decor when not in use.
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Custom Signet Ring
Image Credit: Etsy Buy Custom Signet Ring $47.34+
Signet rings are having a moment right now, and they make a great way for your new graduate to commemorate their alma mater. You can also get high-quality signet rings made custom for very little through Etsy; this seller, for example, makes rings starting at just $48.
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Hilife Clothing Steamer
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Hilife Clothing Steamer $29.99
Another great budget graduation gift is a handheld clothing steamer like this one from Hilife. It’s something we picked up years ago and use all the time, helping to get creases and wrinkles out of dress shirts, suits, and dresses before job interviews, dates, or other events that demand some sharpness.
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Hisense 58″ U6HF 4K Smart Fire TV
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Hisense Smart TV $419.99
A good TV in your graduate’s new space will get a lot of use. This Hisense U6HF is one of the best 4K TVs around and it’s very reasonably priced under $500. At 58 inches, it’s also a good size for the kind of small apartment your graduate will likely be moving into.
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AeroGarden Black Harvest
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Aerogarden Harvest $79.95
If your graduate has a green thumb, they’ll appreciate AeroGarden’s hydroponic garden. This gadget will allow them to grow up to six herbs and vegetables regardless of the season.
The garden comes with six pre-prepared pods containing basil, parsley, dill, thyme, Thai basil, and mint. These pods fit perfectly into the Aerogarden’s circular chambers, which ensure proper spacing.
The garden’s light will turn on automatically, and buttons on the front of the garden will illuminate when the plants need to be fed (included) or watered. All your graduate will need to enjoy fresh produce is a little patience.
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Monos Carry On
Image Credit: Monos Buy Monos Carry On $255
Monos’ carry-on bag is a stylish, highly functional gift for the graduate who loves to travel.
The suitcase has a hard outer shell to keep your clothes and tech from bumping around, and its long handle was custom designed using aluminum tools for maximum durability.
The luggage’s signature feature is a TSA-approved three-digit combo lock, which makes it easy to keep your belongings safe in case the bag gets lost. The lock features mechanisms that hold the zippers in place to avoid it opening in the middle of your journey.
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MasterClass Membership
Image Credit: MasterClass Buy MasterClass Membership $8+
A subscription to MasterClass will allow your graduate to continue learning. The difference is that there are no grades, they pick the classes, and each course is taught by one of the most famous people in their field.
Young people can get real-world lessons like cooking with Gordon Ramsey, or career-oriented classes like filmmaking with James Cameron or songwriting with Alecia Keys.
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Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 (3rd Gen)
Image Credit: Focusrite Buy Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 (3rd Gen) $199.99
The latest generation of Focusite’s Scarlett 4i4 makes it simple to turn a bedroom into a recording studio.
Plugging the audio interface into the computer supplies power and a data connection, so it doesn’t need to be connected into an outlet. This makes it incredibly portable.
The Scarlett has two balanced line inputs, which can be used simultaneously, and two line inputs, so you can record up to four instruments or vocals at a time. This is the perfect gift if your mom’s a musician who wants to make professional-quality demos anywhere.
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G.H. Bass Weejuns Larson Loafers
Image Credit: Farfetch Buy G.H. Bass Weejuns Larson Loafers $206
Not quite as dressy as a lace-up shoe but more grown-up than a sneaker, loafers have become the go-to for many young people — whether they’re headed to the office or a restaurant. G.H. Bass’ iconic Weejuns are still some of the very best loafers around — especially at a gifting-friendly price point of less than $200.
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Vitamix 5200 Blender
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Vitamix 5200 Blender $413.05
A quality blender, such as this Vitamix 5200, is a great means of encouraging your new graduate to eat (or, rather, drink) healthier. The powerful blender works for smoothies and juices, as well as sauces and soups once your giftee gets more adventurous in the kitchen.
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Rich Dad Poor Dad
Image Credit: Amazon Buy Rich Dad Poor Dad $6.39
27 years after its initial publication, Rich Dad Poor Dad is still a great read for anyone learning to handle their money better. Author Robert T. Kiyosaki covers investing and money management in straightforward, easy-to-understand terms that your new graduate can start to use right away as they navigate financial independence.
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Scentbox Cologne/Perfume Subscription
Image Credit: Scentbox Buy Scentbox Subscription $9.72
Thanks to fragrance subscription services like Scentbox, it’s much easier for newcomers to find the right cologne or perfume for their style. For just $17 a month ($10 the first month), your giftee can receive a constant stream of designer fragrances, letting them sample to find a go-to or mix things up as their tastes change.
