43 College Graduation Gift Ideas They'll Need (and Actually Want) This Year

By Rachel Fletcher and Terri Williams

New grads are facing enough uncertainty as they enter the world, and there’s no need to play guessing games when it comes to graduation gift ideas. Their hard work deserves celebration and acknowledgement, so if you’re looking for a special something that will inspire, comfort, or set up your favorite Class of 2023 graduate for transitioning into postcollege life, we’ve rounded up gifts that’ll fit all the criteria. From new home essentials, like bedding and mattresses, to wellness tools and tech gadgets, these college graduation gifts will look great and help to set them up for success.

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress

Nectar Sleep

Even if they weren’t sleeping on a dorm mattress for four years straight, it’s safe to assume your grad wasn’t enjoying the benefits of award-winning five-layer memory foam. Plus the mattress comes with everything they need, including a cooling pillow, a mattress protector, and a sheet set.

Caraway Cookware Set

Caraway

Amazon

What better way to encourage healthy eating than with beautiful, nontoxic cookware? A great gift idea for outfitting new apartments, this fancy-schmancy Caraway Cookware Set comes in a variety of colors (including cream, gray, terra-cotta, sage, marigold and navy) with stainless steel handles.

Tuft & Needle Wood Bed Frame

Tuft & Needle

Another investment piece that grads will be endlessly grateful for: the bed frame. No box springs on the floor for your loved one, and this modern design will be in style for years to come. It’s available in oak and walnut.

Casper Down Pillow

Casper

Since your college grad is out of their dorm room, outfit their first apartment with a pair of comfy and Clever-approved bed pillows. These ethically-sourced white duck down pillows with feather outer chambers are like sleeping on a cloud, but also provide enough support to keep the neck comfortable (and they are easily fluffed up). The pillows can even be tossed into the washing machine and dryer for easy maintenance.

Sabre Flatware Bistrot Stainless Steel Ivory

Amazon

After four years of using plastic utensils and paper plates, your giftee will consider this classic 20-piece flatware set one of the best college graduation gifts. The set includes all the utensils your grad will need and comes in several different colors including black, white, navy, red and gray.

Ribbed Glass Table Lamp

West Elm

Imagine your grad’s surprise and delight when they pull this item out of the gift box. It’s a desk lamp, but it’s also a statement piece that will surely be a conversation starter. Available in yellow, amber, green, or blue, this petite lamp will help them make a statement in their workspace.

Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2

Amazon

This smart coffee mug has a built-in battery to keep your hot beverage at the desired temperature for up to three —and on the charging coaster it can keep the drink hot all day. The temperature can be viewed and adjusted on the LED display on the front, but this cool gadget can also be paired with the Ember app to change and customize presets remotely from your phone.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

Cozy Earth Linen Duvet Cover

Cozy Earth

Create a luxurious bedroom in you grad’s new place with this hotel quality duvet cover. The matte linen and bamboo blend fabric is a unique blend that looks crisp and feels cool to the touch but doesn’t have the scratchy feeling that can often come with linen fibers. The duvet cover uses hidden zippers and comforter loops to keep things in place–plus it comes in a variety of lovely neutrals including natural, light gray, olive, navy, and white, and there are also matching sheet sets.

Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Projector

Amazon

This gift is sure to please college graduates moving to their first apartment and it’s also one of the best high school graduation gifts for students moving to a dorm room. In fact we think it could be one of the best mother’s day gifts as well. Who doesn’t love watching movies and TV programs, or even gaming on a giant screen, whether indoors or outside? The Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Projector only weighs two pounds and is the size of a soda can. It can project 120-inch images in 1080p, with 300 lumens of brightness, and the 8W Dolby Digital Speaker provides clear, realistic audio—plus it’s got a built-in battery that lasts two and a half hours. Connectivity options include HDMI, Audio Out, Type-C, and Wi-Fi, and the projector works with Google Assistant and Chromecast.

De’Longhi La Specialista Espresso Maker

Amazon

Those miniature espresso makers might be necessary for small dorm rooms, but coffee-loving grads with a little more space will appreciate this barista-style espresso maker, which has a compact design but is loaded with high-end features. It includes a built-in conical burr grinder with eight grind settings for perfectly ground coffee beans, and there’s even a barista kit, consisting of a dosing funnel and tamping mat. With three temperature settings, and 15 bar pump pressure, the machine delivers a smooth-tasting cup of coffee. In addition, the professional steam wand creates a silky milk foam that’s ideal for creating latte art.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

Cuisinart Microwave Oven and Grill

Cuisinart

Amazon

A microwave that’s also a toaster oven that can also convection bake, roast, and grill? Yes, please! Regardless of how your grad prepares their meals, this brushed stainless steel microwave oven and grill has an interior that’s designed to resist food odors and is easy to use.

Monos Hybrid Trunk

Monos

Whether your new grad is traveling to New York or a new country, they’ll do so in style with the Monos Hybrid Trunk. The retro design of this 13.2 pound trunk (29.9" x 15.7" x 14.3") is spacious without being bulky. It has a water-resistant aerospace-grade German polycarbonate hard shell, anodized corner guards, and an adjustable telescopic handle. Other features include two TSA-approved combination locks, and an antimicrobial fabric lining interior. The trunk is available in different colors, such as champagne, silver, and obsidian. Monos also makes a matching hybrid carry-on, of which we’re big fans.

Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Grill, 2nd Gen

Amazon

Grads moving into their first apartment may not have a lot of space for various kitchen appliances. However, the Ninja Foodie Smart XL 6-in-1 Grill 2nd Gen can do it all. The stainless steel six-quart smart cook system can grill using 500 degrees cyclonic air, along with grill plates—let’s face it, those grill marks make food taste beter. It also has an air crisp function that uses up to 75% less oil when you compare the air fryer feature to deep frying. The 6-in-1 grill can also broil, roast, bake, and dehydrate, and includes a thermometer that meaures the temperature of the food.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

Amazon Kindle Scribe

Amazon

Both the Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus Tablet and the Amazon Kindle Scribe are great gift ideas for graduates. However, the new Kindle Scribe is the first model designed for both reading and writing, so you can takes notes when digitally reading books or documents. The 10.2-inch Kindle can also be used to write to-do lists, create notebooks and journals, etc. The premium pen (which attaches magnetically and has a dedicated eraser) has four brush types for writing or sketching, and the screen has adjustable light settings. Instead of hours, battery life for the device extends to months when only reading and weeks when writing—and the pen doesn’t have to be charged.

De'Longhi TrueBrew Drip Coffee Maker

Amazon

Your grad will never go back to Starbucks if you gift them this TrueBrew Drip Coffee Maker. In addition to making a pot of coffee in the stainless steel carafe, they have the option to personalize coffee sizes and styles. The coffee maker has five brew styles: light, gold, bold, espresso-style and over-ice, and six brew sizes: three ounces, 8 ounces, 12 ounces, 16 ounces 24 ounces, and 40 ounces. The coffee maker also has a built-in conical burr grinder for freshly ground coffee. Best of all, the intuitive design includes a touch display that makes it easy to control the functions.

Burrow Nomad Leather Sofa with Ottoman

Burrow

One of the best graduation gifts for those moving to a new apartment is high-quality furniture they likely wouldn’t be able to afford on their own. A comfy, durable investment piece, like this Burrow Block Nomad sofa and ottoman, will make sure the recent grad in your life starts post-grad life on the right foot. The sofa is customizable, with three leather options, six leg finishes, and three armrest heights, in addition to upgrades like a moveable chaise and bolster pillows—other options include a matching Arch Nomad Club Chair. The Nomad collection is also available in various fabric choices and in a variety of configurations including sectionals and loveseats. This particular Burrow collection is also tried and true by Clever staff, and it’s on our short list of the best sofas.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

All-Clad Slow Cooker

Amazon

Recent grads who will be homesick for mom or dad’s cooking can slow-cook their own hearty meals with the All-Clad stainless steel and ceramic slow cooker. The nonstick insert can even be removed and used to serve on the table. With an easy-to-read display and large push button controls, it’s easy to use the 6.5 quart appliance, which has a 20-hour programmable timer and two cooking temperatures. In addition, prepared food can be kept warm for up to six hours.

Blueair DustMagnet Tabletop Air Purifier

Amazon

Designed for small and medium spaces like dorm rooms and first apartments, the Blueair DustMagnet Air Purifier 5240i is a great grad gift because it is only 20.5 inches tall and 9.1 inches in width and depth. The dust magnet technology captures dust before it can settle, resulting in less dusting and cleaning. However, the air purifier is also designed to be an end table with a surface that can hold glasses, books, and other small items on top.

Buffy Cloud Comforter

Buffy

Your grad has worked hard, and when they toss that graduation cap and tassel into the air, reward them for all the years they spent in a crummy dorm room with this silky hand-soft comforter from Buffy. Crafted from an eco friendly, cooling sateen weave, it’s a good choice for people who need to sleep well because they’re now working in the real world. It’s one of our most beloved comforter options and we love its soft, breathable comfort.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

Insta360 X3 Waterproof Action Camera

Amazon

This graduation season, one of the best gifts for a grad who is an amateur photog or pro vlogger is the Insta360 X3 Waterproof 360 degree action camera. Yes, we know that Apple’s iPhones take great photos, but who wants to risk dropping an expensive phone trying to take video footage? This action camera is rugged and waterproof. and has flowstate stabilization—so it’s designed for active users. The camera has a 4K single-lens for ultrawide first-person views, and can also mimic drone footage and third person perspectives. There’s even an editing suite for perfecting the video footage.

CB2 Leather Pouf

CB2

Most people need additional seating, and another thoughtful gift for college grads (or even high school grads moving into a dorm room) is this handstitched leather pouf. It’s 18"L x 18"W x 14"H, so it doesn’t take up much space. However, this stylish pouf, which is available in a choice of 2 colors (saddle and black), is not only practical but also adds style to any space.

Galanz Retro Fridge

Amazon

You’d be hard pressed to find a more practical graduation gift that just looks like pure fun. Grads moving into small apartments will have no problem finding space for this retro 10-cubic-feet refrigerator that’s 27.48"L x 23.74"W x 61.71"H. It also comes in a smaller, shorter 3.3 cubic-feet single door fridge (178.6"L x 21.02”W x 35.43"H) for high school grads moving to dorm rooms. Both of the energy-saving retro models have adjustable temperatures, removable glass shelves, door storage, an interior light, and a freezer section. Both are also available in red, black, green, and blue.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

Flexispot Adjustable Standing Desk

Flexispot

When they’re in the real world, your grad may land a new job working from home, at least a few days a week. Instead of trying to balance their laptop on their knees or the kitchen countertop, this Flexispot Adjustable Standing Desk is a thoughtful gift that provides a real workspace. And since it’s a standing desk, they can work standing up and/or sitting down. The desk has a two-motor design, and with the press of a button, it can be raised in height from 22.8 inches to 48.4 inches. The desk is available in either black legs or white legs and in bamboo, fiberboard, solid wood, and chipboard desktop options.

TheraFace PRO Handheld Facial Massage Device

Amazon

Help them look their best in upcoming job interviews—whether on Zoom or IRL—with this luxe facial massage device, which has several skin care attachments: a cleansing ring to remove the buildup of facial dirt, percussive therapy for facial massage, and several LED light therapy rings (LED Blue, LED Red, and LED Red and Infrared Light Therapy) to reduce acne, blur fine lines, and temporarily reduce eye pain and discomfort. The kit also includes four cleaning attachments.

Bose Smart Soundbar 600

Amazon

BOSE

The perfect gift for a design-conscious grad who is also an audiophile is the Bose Smart Soundbar 600. It has Dolby Atmos to make every movie sound like they’re in the theatre (and Truespace for content that is not Atmos-encoded.) But the soundbar isn’t just for movies and TV shows. The Bose Music app via Wi-Fi can be used to listen to integrated music services. And songs can also be streamed via Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay2, Spotify Connect, or Chromecast Built-in. In addition, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant can also control the soundbar.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

YETI Rambler Beverage Bucket w/Lid

YETI

Yeti manufactures a variety of drinkware items that also make great personalized gifts. Their latest offering, the Yeti Rambler Beverage Bucket, is made of 18/8 kitchen grade stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation to keep ice in solid form and keep drinks cold for hours. The beverage bucket has a sturdy rubber grip handle and non-slip rubber bottom, and it can hold six cans or three wine bottles. Color choices include navy, high desert clay, white, and stainless, and you can also add your favorite grad’s name, monogram, or an image, such as graduation caps. Other Yeti options include the waterproof Yeti tote.

Saatva Luxury Cooling Graphite Memory Foam Topper

Saatva

It’s on our list of the Best Mattress Toppers, and we think the Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper is also one of the best graduation gift ideas for a first apartment. The luxe topper has a three-inch layer of memory foam that’s been infused with cooling graphite to keep your grad cool at night. It has also been treated with an antimicrobial treatment designed to fight the growth of bacteria and mold. The mattress topper also hugs the sleeper while providing pressure relief. It’s ideal for side sleepers, but also for back and side sleepers as well.

Quince Nappa Leather Duffle Bag

Quince

Whether traveling to job interviews or on weekend excursions, the Quince Nappa Leather Duffle Bag will help the graduating giftee move in style. Made of 100% full-grain Nappa leather with a 100% cotton canvas lining and a dust bag, the carry-on has a detachable leather shoulder strap (with padded shoulder support) and double top hands. Interior pockets, exterior slip pockets, and a keyclip make it convenient and easy to fit three to six outfits and accessories inside. Color choices include dark brown and black.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

Bissell ICONpet Turbo Cordless Stick Vacuum

Amazon

The Black+Decker Powerseries Extreme Cordless Stick Vacuum is a space-saving tool that can also save grads from extra work. It can easily clean carpets and hardwood floors, and the anti-tangle brush bar ensures hair won’t get wrapped round it. This item also has LED floor head lights, which makes cleaning in dark spaces easier. In addition, it can convert to a handheld vacuum to provide more functionality.

Yeedi Vac 2 Robot Vacuum

Amazon

Graduation season often leads to legions of youngsters now responsible for cleaning their own apartments. However, with a robot vacuum, they won’t need to lift a finger to clean. This Yeedi model can vacuum and mop at the same time, and it’s intelligent enough to recognize whether the vacuum is on hard floors or carpet. It can be customized to clean specific rooms and areas, it has a 200-minute runtime before the vacuum needs to be recharged, and it resumes cleaning after it has finished recharging.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Headphones

Amazon

Grads will love these Urbanista Los Angeles Solar Powered Bluetooth Headphones that automatically charge when exposed to light, but can also use USC Type-C charging. The headphones have an 80-hour battery reserve, use hybrid active noise cancelling and ambient sound, and are compatible with Siri and Google Voice Assistant.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

Innocn 27” Computer Monitor

Amazon

A computer monitor can relieve the stress associated with small laptop screens, and the Innocn 27" computer monitor makes it a lot easy to work from home (or play video games). The monitor is compatible with laptops, tablets, phones, and gaming consoles and includes two integrated speakers, so it’s a great gift idea that’ll also let grads comfortably view Netflix and other streaming services.

Troubadour Embark Duffel

Troubadour

The Monos Metro Duffel will help grads move in style, whether they are commuting to work, traveling to job interviews, or flying for weekend excursions. The water-resistant carry-on is available in nylon and vegan leather and there are enough zippered compartments and side pockets to hold all of the essentials, including a laptop or tablet, water bottle, and compact umbrella, in addition to clothing and other essentials.

Fitbit Sense 2 Smartwatch

Amazon

If you’re trying to save a few bucks when getting a smartwatch for your new grad, one alternative to an Apple watch is the Fitbit Sense 2 Smartwatch. It has a six-day battery life, tracks activity and sleep, heart rate, skin temperature, and stress. In addition, the smartwatch stores and plays music, provides text, call, and app notifications, has a built-in GPS, and can be used with Alexa and Google Assistant.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

Marshall Minor III Earbuds

Amazon

These Marshall Minor III True Wireless Earbuds, which use Bluetooth 5.2, are a viable alternative to AirPods Pro and have a comparable 24+ hour battery life. They’re also comfortable and have intuitive touch controls for music and phone calls, while the custom-tuned drivers ensure a crisp, clean sound. For athletic grads, check out our list of the best headphones for working out.

Casper Sleep Weighted Blanket

Casper

For homesick grads struggling to sleep in a new city, the Casper Weighted Blanket uses microbeads to provide a cozy and calming effect, which can help to induce sleep. We think it’s one of the best weighted blankets for deep sleep, and it comes in three weights and four colors.

Ring Alarm 8-Piece Security System w/Echo Show

Amazon

Help grads protect their new apartment with the Ring Alarm Pro Security System. This eight-piece kit contains a keypad, base station, four contact sensors, motion detector, and a built-in Eero 6 mesh router that provides 2.5GHz and 5GHz connections. Installation is easy and everything can be controlled on their smartphones.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

Marshall Middleton Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Amazon

We can always make room in our gift guides for more speakers because they’re such a popular gift idea. This small speaker is lightweight, but don’t let the size fool you. It’s an ideal grad gift because it doesn’t take up much space but produces a loud sound that is crystal clear. The Bluetooth speaker is also durable and rugged, and it has an IPX7 water-resistance rating, which means it can be submerged in up to three feet of water for 30 minutes. The battery lasts at least 20 hours, and the speaker has a bidirectional control knob that makes it easy to turn it on and off, adjust the volume, and play, pause, or skip tracks.

Leatherman Charge Plus Multitool

Amazon

When they turn the tassel on their graduation cap, your grad is about to get a taste of what life on the other side feels like. This Leatherman Charge Plus Multitool can help them be prepared for anything that might need to be fixed. The tiny tool kit includes 19 tools, including pliers, wire cutters, scissors, bottle openers, and more. And all of the parts will safely lock into place for added peace of mind.

Porter Bundle Ceramic

W&P

Style meets function in the Porter Bundle by W&P. The borosilicate glass, ceramic, and silicone materials combine in a ceramic porter bowl, 12-ounce porter mug, 20-ounce porter bottle, and 15-ounce porter glass with a matte silicone sleeve. The grad giftee will appreciate that these food storage items are microwave and dishwasher safe and available in several colors, including blush, mint, slate, charcoal, and cream.

By Morgan Goldberg

By Nicolas Milon

By Sara Barragán del Rey

Coyuchi Air Weight Bath Towels

Coyuchi

Another move-in must, a fresh set of towels will make a post-grad’s new place feel instantly fresh. Coyuchi’s 100% organic cotton towel collection is super-absorbent and includes bath towels, hand towels, wash cloths, and bath mats. There are also plenty of colors to choose from, such as fog, dusty coral, dusty aqua, and shadow.

Brooklinen Organic Hardcore Sheet Bundle

Brooklinen

This Brooklinen Organic Sheet Bundle is on our list of the best college graduation gifts because it includes everything needed to upgrade their bedding: a duvet cover, fited sheet, flat sheet, and four (yes, four) pillowcases. The 100% GOTS-certified organic 300 count percale cotton set has been washed to make it even softer and more comfy. Available colors are blue marina, warm clay, vanilla, solid white, and desert stripe.

CIGA Design Black Hole Watch

CIGA Design

For grads who are not into the Apple Watch—or smart watches in general, this CIGA Design Black Hole Watch is an unique analog option that’s inspired by the concept of time in a black hole. It has a 100-degree slope structure, and a 0.5-millimeter carving depth. The watch also has a concave bridge-shaped sapphire crystal glass that resists scratches. Titanium orange, steel blue, and steel black are the three color choices for this waterproof watch, which includes a stainless steel Milanese strap and a fluororubber strap.

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