20 Popular High School Graduation Gifts for Him (2023)

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 ideas for gifts for guys and consists of both 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.Fanatics College Fan Gear

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. Pottery Barn Bedding Bundle

There are dozens of places to shop for twin xl bedding, but one site you should explore is Pottery Barn Teen. The high quality, 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.

Guys can sometimes be less enthusiastic about dorm shopping, so consider gifting this bundle that will cross off many items from his dorm to-do list. It includes a comforter, sham and Twin L sheet set.

3. The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College 

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 himself and stays current by visiting college campuses and talking to students and administrators all over the country.

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.”

4.IKEA Frakta Blue Bag

We cannot say enough great things about these bags. They are our #1 recommendation for college move-in and move-out for ALL FOUR YEARS. They are durable and inexpensive, especially compared with luggage. Your son can store bulky bedding or off-season clothes in one of these bags during the school year.

If you want to add to the gift, fill it with new towels and laundry detergent to encourage him to remember to get to the laundry room from time to time.

5. Anker Phone Charger

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

6. Conair Handheld Steamer

My son loves this steamer that he borrowed from a roommate for graduation and only wishes 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.)

7. Project Repat T-Shirt Quilt

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 his bed. Available to custom-order in several sizes.

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

Admiral William H. McRaven (Ret) wrote one of the all-time best commencement speeches that 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 provide your son with 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

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. Target Sherpa Back Rest Pillow

Dorm beds are uncomfortable to sit on as most do not have any sort of headboard. An oversize pillow like this one from Target is a great grad gift and your son will be grateful whenever he tries ti study in bed.

11. 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

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 one of the most popular among the Grown and Flown community. It will transform a somewhat gross, brick-like dorm mattress into a comfortable place to sleep.

13. 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, which means that cold drinks stay cold for hours.

Teens and young adults will love receiving a YETI mug as a grad gift. Available in the 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. Tool Set

This 39-piece tool set comes with all the accessories that your son can use in his dorm this year and in apartments in his 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

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

16.UE (Ultimate Ears) Bluetooth Speaker 

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

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

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 beverages hot and cold drinks cold for hours.

19. Target Havianas Flip Flops

Flip flops are a must for dorm life, especially in the communal bathrooms. I love the variety of colors and patterns in Havaianas and, since they have slip-resistant soles, they are a great pick for college students.

20. Echo Dot (5th Gen)

Alexa will be there to answer your son’s questions about the weather, the time, and scores, and it will play his favorite songs, audiobooks and podcasts. There is so much more that the Echo Dot does with this 5th gen version that makes it an indispensable assistant to college students.

Haven’t found what you want yet? Here’s more:

Great Graduation Gift Ideas for High School Seniors – Lots!