We have gathered a list of high school graduation gifts that look forward and backward. Presents like a unique photo book of high school friends or uniquely personal jewelry help to celebrate this important milestone and recall so much of what our teens are leaving behind.
But other gifts on our list include some of the true college essentials that any high school senior will need as they prepare to leave home for the next phase of their life.
All of these are under $100.
Note: We receive compensation from purchases made through some of the links in this post, but the opinions are our own.
Best high school graduation gifts (under $100)
1. YETI Tumbler — Customized (YETI)
Give your son or daughter a legendary YETI travel mug or water bottle, and add their monogram and college logo for a truly fantastic gift. YETI mugs keep beverages hot or cold for hours and are available in various colors and sizes.
A durable YETI mug would be the perfect gift for your teen.
2. Belt Bag (lululemon)
This clear lululemon belt bag would be a great grad gift. Many colleges won’t allow bags into stadiums unless they are clear. Whether heading to a concert or cheering on the home team, this transparent belt bag keeps belongings visible so lineups are a breeze.
3. Soundcore Noise-Canceling Headphones (Amazon)
Noise-canceling earphones like these highly-rated Anker Soundcore headphones can be a lifesaver. Even the quietest roommate makes noise; your grad will appreciate these once it’s time to hit the books despite the music being blasted inside that tiny dorm room. This is one of the best graduation presents for students living in a dorm.
4. LED Task Lamp with Wireless Charger (The Container Store)
A desk lamp with a built-in charger for a phone is a practical gift that your teen can use in dorms or apartments for years to come. This one has three brightness modes, so it’s easy to customize the lighting experience for any task.
5. The Naked Roommate (Amazon)
This bestselling book is an excellent go-to guide for all things related to college life, academics, friends, and more.
6. UE Wonderboom Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker 3 (Amazon)
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 is the highest-rated portable Bluetooth speaker and a gift your son or daughter would love to have in their new dorm room. With excellent audio, it is also portable, dustproof, waterproof, and floatable. Available in multiple colors.
7. Move-In Bags (The Container Store)
These large blue bags will be useful to any teen heading off to college this fall. They are durable and have space to carry tons of stuff but also collapse so that they don’t take up space after unpacking.
8. Do Your Laundry (Amazon)
Becky Blades, author/illustrator (and mom of two daughters), is the genius behind this adorable book. The thought-provoking, conversation-starting book covers topics from laundry to forgiveness to creative living.
9. lululemon Laptop Backpack (lululemon)
Your teen will need a sturdy backpack for college and this one by lululemon has a padded sleeve for storing a laptop. It is water-repellent and has other interior and exterior pockets to help your new college student stay organized while on the go.
10. Nike Duffel Bag (Nike)
This 45L duffel bag is ideal for your soon-to-be college student to use for weekend trips home, with many small pockets to help keep items organized. It can also be used for the gym or other day trips during college.
11. Luna Weighted Blanket (Amazon)
Weighted blankets are heavier than typical quilts or throw blankets that can offer a soothing feeling when you slip off to sleep or curl up in one to relax with Netflix or a book. The Luna brand is highly recommended for weighted blankets, and we think this Sherpa Throw style would make an excellent gift for your new grad.
12. Kodak Mini Printer (Amazon)
This smartphone printer is small enough to fit in a pocket. It turns photos or screenshots into high-quality 2×3″ prints and would be a fun gift for your grad to capture moments with friends at graduation parties.
13. Hydro Flask Water Bottle (The Container Store)
Help your teen stay hydrated by giving them a reusable water bottle that keeps cold drinks cold or hot drinks hot for hours. Plus, this one has a large capacity so it won’t need to be refilled often.
14. Pottery Barn Teen Towels (Pottery Barn Teen)
Basic bedding and bath items for a dorm room or apartment are essential for college students, and these Hydrocotton® Quick-Dry Organic Towels would be a practical gift for your teen. Available in six pretty colors, there are hand and bath towels, facecloths, and bath mats.
15. Master Lock Personal Safe (Amazon)
This safe is handy for keeping valuables such as cash, prescription meds, a passport, or jewelry in a dorm room.
16. Mixbook Photo Book (Mixbook)
Is your teen feeling sad about the friends they are leaving behind? Create a photo book with pictures of their graduation year with Mixbook, the most highly-rated site for photo books. They can take this book to college and remember all the good times and good friends from their hometown and younger years.
17. Poppin Box Seat (The Container Store)
Not only is this cube an extra place for guests to sit in their dorm room, but it also holds 4,096 cubic-inches of storage space — the perfect solution for seating and storage in a tiny dorm room.
18. 40 Piece Tool Set (Target)
A toolset is one of the most highly-recommended grad gifts and one that they will use throughout college, in their first apartment, and into the real world beyond.
19. Eagle Creek Packing Cubes (Amazon)
This packing set helps them stay organized while moving into the dorm and helps students keep things orderly in their new space. Eagle Creek gets top reviews and has a lifetime warranty.
20. Pottery Barn Teen Quick Dry Robe (Pottery Barn Teen)
This robe is perfect for walking to or from the showers or relaxing in the dorm after showering. With two roomy pockets, this robe might be all your teen needs to carry toiletries to the communal bathroom in the dorm. It’s soft, machine-washable, and available in eight colors.
21. Faux Fur Saucer Chair (Amazon)
There is NEVER enough seating in a dorm room when friends visit, and this folding chair can be stored flat if not needed. It’s a comfy spot for studying, reading, or chatting with friends. Available in many great colors and upgrade to a chair with a footrest.
22. Fanatics College Gear (Fanatics)
Your student’s college has a bookstore, and they will want to shop for game-day t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and more. Did you know Fanatics has officially licensed merchandise from more than 500 colleges? It is a fantastic site to shop for unique apparel and gifts that the bookstore may not offer.
23. Mattress Topper (Amazon)
If your graduate is heading to college this fall, help them get their best sleep with a mattress topper. College dorm mattresses are often worn and uncomfortable, but a mattress topper provides a barrier and is cozy and comfy. This one is gel-infused memory foam.
24. Rechargeable Selfie Light (Amazon)
This rechargeable light can be clipped onto a mobile phone, laptop, iPad, tablet, or mirror for optimal lighting during Zoom calls, making TikToks, or taking selfies.
25. AirTags (Amazon)
If your teen is constantly losing things, get them a set of AirTags so that their wallet, keys, or backpack are easily locatable.
26. Anker Portable Charger (Amazon)
A portable charger is a must-have for any teen heading off to college this Fall. During long days on campus, sometimes they will not have time to charge their phone, which is why a portable charger is a necessity. This one has a built-in lightning connector, making it easy to charge Apple devices without having to carry an extra cable.
27. Levoit Air Purifier (Amazon)
If your grad will be living in the dorms this fall, an air purifier is essential to help them with allergies or contracting airborne illnesses. This one is compact and keeps noise levels as low as 25dB which is ideal for a shared dorm room.
28. Laundry Backpack (Pottery Barn Teen)
This laundry backpack will make carrying their clothes to and from the laundry room much easier. This is something your graduate will use all four years of college and beyond. This one from PB Teen is customizable so you can add their name or a monogram. Comes in 8 colors.
More Grad Gift Ideas
High School Grad Gifts for Girls
High School Grad Gifts for Guys
Grad Gifts for Your Teen’s Friends
