Tis the season for kids to get antsy in school and mamas to get sentimental.
Yes, I’m talking about graduation. If you’re looking for graduation gifts for him that he will love and use, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re reading this, you probably have a graduate this year. Congratulations!
Graduation is such a milestone for kids as well as parents. You’re probably bursting with pride, but also feeling sentimental that your baby is old enough to graduate.
I have been through four graduations now and I have learned what graduation gifts for boys are hits, and which graduation gifts for guys are misses.
Of course, cold, hard cash is always welcomed by grads, but there are times that you really want to give a memorable, useful or sentimental gift to your favorite graduate. Here are some tried and true graduation gift ideas for him that he will love and use for years to come.
This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is sort of boring, but you can find it here.
Top 2022 Graduation Gifts for Boys
Here are 22 most wanted graduation gift ideas for boys that they will love and actually use. These graduation gifts are practical, useful and some are just plain fun!
Looking for a graduation gift for your daughter? Check out this post on my favorite graduation gifts for girls.
- Top 2022 Graduation Gifts for Boys
- North Face Backpack
- Apple Watch
- Roku Streaming Stick
- Backpack for the Minimalist
- Classic Wrist Watch
- Noise Cancelling Headphones
- Rolling Suitcase With Spinner Wheels
- Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
- Large Duffle Bag
- Slim Minimalist Wallet
- Sorel Slippers
- Dopp kit for Easier Travel
- Portable Charger
- Lanyard with Detachable Keyring
- Tile Mate Item Finder
- Instant Pot for Cooking All the Things
- Penny Skateboard
- Digital Assistant
- Portable Clothes Steamer
- Multitool to Fix Everything
- Dorm Room Icebreaker Game
- Seuss-isms! A Guide to Life for Those Just Starting Out
- Save Money All Year with a Student Amazon Prime Account
- More Great Info If You Have A College Student
North Face Backpack
This is a super popular backpack choice for college guys. It is well made, with a padded laptop sleeve and lots of pockets for keys, water bottle, and small electronics. I definitely recommend a backpack that seems like an investment, because it will last for four years until graduation.
Apple Watch
This Apple watch does just about everything you can imagine probably and more. This watch is a perfect graduation gift for him. If only Apple would guarantee that your son would return your texts right away it would be perfect! 😉
Roku Streaming Stick
Gather round the TV for some bonding time with their new dorm friends. The Roku streaming stick turns any television into an entertainment center. With the dorm room wireless, your student has access to tons of shows and movies on Netflix, hulu, Amazon prime and more.
Backpack for the Minimalist
This bargain priced backpack has all the cool features your graduate needs without the trendy name or price tag. It has a laptop sleeve, and multiple compartments and even comes with its own combination lock. The sleek minimalist design comes in several great, neutral colors that look modern for the no-fuss teen.
Classic Wrist Watch
If your son isn’t the Apple watch type, there’s nothing better than a classic watch with a good looking leather band. This is the watch my son prefers. Not too big, not too fancy – it’s just a good looking timepiece! A classic wrist watch is one of my favorite graduation gift ideas.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
At first glance, you may wonder why these are on the list when most kids have a set of earbuds in their pocket all the time. But these are more than just headphones. Great for studying, the noise cancellation blocks out all the external noise and distractions. And there are tons of distractions in the dorm room and even quiet places like the library. This is always one of the top graduation gifts for boys or girls.
Rolling Suitcase With Spinner Wheels
If you buy this graduation gift for your son, make sure to get one with spinner wheels. It makes navigating an airport laden down by backpacks and carry-ons so much easier. Pick a color that’s easy to spot on the carousel for when they decide to check their luggage. This one only weighs 7 pounds, has a TSA approved lock, meets the required TSA dimensions and has a 10-year warranty.
Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Music is SO important to our kids. My daughter loves this speaker because it’s portable, waterproof and has a long battery life. This one was her choice because it has 360 degree sound AND it has a cool looking light show effect that changes with the music. Every time they play their music, they’ll think of you, which makes it a great graduation gift for guys and girls alike!
Large Duffle Bag
My son always travels with a duffle bag. For some reason, he rarely chooses his cool roller suitcase. This duffle bag holds a ton and looks nicer than the sports duffle bags you’ve seen. It looks like a grownup duffel bag and will last for years.
Slim Minimalist Wallet
This leather wallet is popular with guys because it’s flat and small enough to fit in the front pocket of their jeans. It has a clear window for a driver’s license and enough room for an ATM card, their student ID, and some cash.
Sorel Slippers
Even boys need cozy slippers. These fleece lined slippers will keep his feet toasty and keep his bare feet off the gross dorm hallway and nasty bathroom floors. They come in lots of colors too for a great graduation gift idea.
Dopp kit for Easier Travel
This water-resistant travel kit is simple but has lots of features that my son loved. It has a hook so you can hang it up and a handle so it’s easy to carry. The best part is it unzips on top, so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for without having to dig to the bottom of the bag.
Portable Charger
I never wanted my kids to be stranded with a dead phone so they both have one of these. This portable charger is small enough to carry anywhere and strong enough to charge nearly any device multiple times. It’s definitely a must-have!
Lanyard with Detachable Keyring
This gift is a fun way to help them show off their college pride. This key lanyard is perfect because it can be worn around their neck, but it also has a detachable key ring your son can stash in his pocket. Keep their dorm keys and key cards safe and easy to find – believe me, you don’t want to have to pay for a replacement when they lose their dorm keys!
Tile Mate Item Finder
If your kids are anything like mine, they are always losing their stuff. This Tile Mate is a cool little gadget you can put on anything you want to be able to easily find like car keys, charging cable, or anything you want to keep track of. Using the phone app, you can quickly find your item. Can’t find your phone? You can use one of the tiles to find it too.
Instant Pot for Cooking All the Things
Instant Pot for Cooking all the ThingsIt sounds crazy, but my daughter uses hers ALL the time! She lives in on-campus housing that is like an apartment, with a lite-kitchen. Meaning there are a refrigerator and sink, but no stovetop and no oven. She uses her instant pot to make ramen, scramble eggs, cook oatmeal, make soup, bake potatoes…..this little workhorse does about a bajillion things. It’s something they will use now and for years to come.
Penny Skateboard
This small skateboard transported my son from his dorm to the music building on the other side of campus every day. It’s small enough to slip under their desk or under their feet in a lecture hall so it won’t get in the way of schoolwork. This fun graduation gift idea comes in lots of cool colors too.
Digital Assistant
A device like this Amazon Echo can stream music, answer research questions, find out the weather, read the news, play podcasts, set an alarm, act as a speakerphone and more.
Portable Clothes Steamer
If you have a son who does his laundry, but never folds it, he’ll need a portable steamer! This steamer is small and heats up fast. You can use plain tap water in it and it works on all kinds of fabrics. So even if your son just rolled out of bed, he doesn’t have to look like it.
Multitool to Fix Everything
Everyone needs one of these multitools! Just about any tool they might need in their dorm or apartment, that folds down into a size that’s easy to stow anywhere. It’s a great graduation gift idea that you know will get used year after year.
Dorm Room Icebreaker Game
This super fun, creative game is a great one to play with new dorm friends as an ice breaker. Soon your student will be bonding, laughing and getting to know all their new friends.
Seuss-isms! A Guide to Life for Those Just Starting Out
This sentimental graduation gift for boys is a book of wisdom that will remind both of you of the days when you used to read together.
Save Money All Year with a Student Amazon Prime Account
With an Amazon Prime Student Account, your student can get textbooks, class supplies, laundry detergent, and pretty much anything else you can think of – all with FREE two-day shipping. They can also stream movies and video for that much-needed downtime after a long week studying. My son got nearly all of his textbooks on Amazon – gone are the days of waiting in line laden down with stacks of textbooks at the college book store.

Take a deep breath and be a proud mama! All those years of math homework and carpool drives have been worth it. Your graduate may be a full-fledged adult now, but they will always need their family, and for that, I am truly grateful!
More Great Info If You Have A College Student
- Ultimate College Packing List
- 10 Simple Items to Make Dorm Move In Day Easier
- Amazing Graduation Gifts for Girls
- How to Make the Best Finals Care Package
- What to Put in a Sick Care Package
- Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide for College Girls
- 10 Gifts to Delight Your College Student
