25 Popular High School Graduation Gifts for Him (2024)

High school graduation is one of life’s significant accomplishments and one that friends and family will want to celebrate with a gift. This list includes our favorite gift ideas for guys and consists of sentimental and practical choices. Are you shopping for your son’s best buds? Here are some wonderful ideas for grad gifts for your teen’s friends.  If you have girls on your list, here are some of our favorite grad gifts for the young women in your life. Note: Grown and Flown is reader-supported, and we receive compensation when you order through some of the links in this post.  

High school graduation gifts for him

1. College Fan Gear (Fanatics)

Your new grad will love to receive college gear, and Fanatics is the #1 site to shop for officially licensed logo clothing and accessories from more than 500 colleges and pro teams. T-shirts, hats, hoodies, sneakers, and more make THIS site your go-to for collegiate gear.

2. T-Shirt Quilt (Project Repat)

project repat Take that stack, OK… a drawer full of t-shirts from camp, class days, sports teams, and more, and send them off to Project Repat so they can make a unique, highly-personal gift for your son. The t-shirt quilt, a helpful ice-breaker at college, can be hung on the wall or on his bed. Available to custom-order in several sizes.

3. Bedding (Pottery Barn Teen)

There are dozens of places to shop for twin xl bedding, but one site you should explore is Pottery Barn Teen. The high quality, a wide range of price points, and sustainable practices that go into the manufacturing of Pottery Barn items make it an excellent destination to shop for dorm essentials and decor. 

4. The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College (Amazon)

Naked roommate The closest thing to a “college instruction manual” is the New York Times bestselling book, The Naked Roommate. Author Harlan Cohen has been in the college-advice business since he was a student. He stays current by visiting college campuses and talking to students and administrators nationwide. This is a book your son can keep on the shelf and refer to often about ANY questions he has in college, including a “naked roommate.”

5. Bath Towels (Pottery Barn Teen)

Get your teen a fresh set of bath towels for college. This set from Pottery Barn Teen is quick dry, machine washable, and comes in several colors. It includes a hand towel, bath towel, and washcloth. 

6. Anker Phone Charger (Amazon)

Anker charger College students are on the go, from their first classes in the morning to dinner, homework, and socializing at night. While finding a plug to recharge a phone can often be inconvenient, this lightweight and portable battery charger can come to the rescue to help keep his phone working 24/7.

7. Conair Handheld Steamer (Amazon)

shirt steamed

My son loves this steamer he borrowed from a roommate for graduation and only wished he had taken one to school with him as a freshman. Dry clothes can sit in the dryer for hours before they are reclaimed from the laundry room, and the only hope for looking ironed is this steamer. (See above for the steamed side vs. the one with all the wrinkles.)

8. Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…and Maybe the World (Amazon)

Make your bed Admiral William H. McRaven (Ret) wrote one of the all-time best commencement speeches he delivered at the University of Texas. His speech was later made into a slender book that quickly became a New York Times bestseller. His wise words will give your son all the advice he needs to launch into the next phase of his life — college, work, or the military.

9. 1MORE SonoFlow Noise Cancelling Headphones (Amazon)

Dorms (and roommates) are noisy, and having a great set of earphones will help your son concentrate when he is trying to study in his room. These are the top-rated in a lower-priced tier.

10.  Back Rest Pillow (Target)

Dorm beds are uncomfortable to sit on as most do not have headboards. An oversize pillow like this one from Target is a great grad gift, and your son will be grateful whenever he tries to study in bed. Available in many colors. 

11. Sentry Safe (Amazon)

sentry safe We like the Sentry compact safe for a wallet, passport, meds, or other valuables since it’s small and has a cable that can be looped around a heavy piece of furniture.

12. Mattress Topper (Amazon)

mattress topper One of my sons said that having a mattress topper was the single most crucial dorm item he owned, and he would even give up his backpack if he had to choose between it and the topper. Lucid’s gel memory foam topper is among the most popular in the Grown and Flown community. It will transform a somewhat gross, brick-like dorm mattress into a comfortable sleeping place.

13. Tumbler (YETI)

yeti tumbler If your son is a coffee drinker and wants to savor a hot cup of coffee FOR HOURS, the YETI mug is for him. It is stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation, meaning cold drinks stay cold for hours. Teens and young adults will love receiving a YETI mug as a grad gift.

Available in iconic stainless or vibrant hues, look for one that matches your son’s college colors. There are also personalization options with initials or college logos. This is a tremendous and long-lasting gift!

14. Apollo Tool Set (Amazon)

 

This 39-piece tool set comes with all the accessories your son can use in his dorm this year and in apartments in the future. This is considered one of our must-haves to make move-in day go smoothly, so keep it close at hand when it is time to pack.

15. Monogrammed Wallet (Leatherology)

thin wallet This is an upgrade to a more adult carrying money and cards style. This handsome bi-fold wallet from Leatherology is super-thin and will last him for years. Plus, personalization is such a nice touch for ANY gift.

16. UE (Ultimate Ears) Bluetooth Speaker (Amazon)

We love these Bluetooth speakers for their audio quality, design, colors, and durability — they are waterproof, dustproof, and can withstand an accidental drop. This is the top Bluetooth speaker recommended by the New York Times.

17. Spikeball (Amazon)

spike ball Spikeball is very popular on many campuses, and if your son had a set to take to college, he would likely find other Spikeball sports enthusiasts reasonably quickly.

18. Hydro Flask Water Bottle (Amazon)

Hydro Flask College campuses have water bottle stations where students can fill their bottles, vastly reducing the use of disposable plastic bottles. Hydro Flask bottles come in many sizes and colors and keep hot and cold drinks at their temperature for hours.

19. Nike Slides (Nike)

Shower shoes are a must for dorm life, especially in communal bathrooms. These ones are soft and comfortable with traction patterns on the sole to help with wet surfaces.

20. Phillips Electric Shaver (Amazon)

An electric shaver is very useful for college guys to make shaving much quicker and easier. This one follows the face’s contours, creating smooth contact with the skin. It can be used for a dry shave, with gel or foam, or even in the shower.

21. Bedside Caddy (Amazon)

A bedside caddy is necessary for living in a college dorm room because most dorms don’t come with a bedside table. This one is waterproof and can hold books, a laptop, pens, cellphones, water bottles, snacks, and drinks.


22. Napkin Finance (Amazon)
Napkin Finance

Give the gift of financial literacy with this book that ranges on topics from credit scores to paying off student loans to economics and blockchain. This book will benefit your son throughout college and beyond.

23. Laundry Backpack (Amazon)


A laundry backpack makes moving clothes to and from the laundry room so much easier. This extra large laundry backpack is durable, has soft padded shoulder straps, and comes in 4 colors.

24. LEVOIT Air Purifier (Amazon)

While living in the dorms, it is very common for students to get sick from airborne infections. However, with an air purifier, allergens, odors, and contaminants can be limited. This one comes equipped with 3-stage filtration to ensure top-notch air purification.

25. Apple AirTag (Amazon)

 
If he is always losing his keys, wallet, or backpack, he can put an AirTag on it so that it will be easily locatable.

Haven’t found what you want yet? Here’s more: Great Graduation Gift Ideas for High School Seniors – Lots! f you're looking for the BEST high school graduation gifts for guys, then this list has it all. If you're looking to make your graduate happy, and want the best grad gift ideas, you'll find it right here. #giftideas #highschoolgrad #graduation #graduationgifts #gradgifts #graduationgiftideas

About Lisa Endlich Heffernan

Lisa (Endlich) Heffernan is the co-founder of Grown and Flown, the #1 site for parents of teens, college students and young adults, reaching millions of parents every month. Lisa is a New York Times bestselling author.
She started the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook Group and is co-author of Grown and Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family, and Raise Independent Adults (Flatiron Books) now in paperback.

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