33 Best High School Graduation Gifts for Him: 2023

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 high school graduate this year. Congratulations!

Graduation day is such a milestone for kids as well as parents. You’re probably bursting with pride at all the hard work your boy put in, 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 or a gift card is always welcomed by grads, but there are times that you really want to give a memorable, useful or sentimental gift to your favorite young man. Here are some tried and true graduation gift ideas for him that he will love and use for years to come.

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Top High School Graduation Gifts for Boys in 2023

Here are 22 most wanted unique graduation gifts ideas for boys that they will love and actually use. These graduation gifts are practical, useful and some are just plain fun!

Looking for the perfect gift for your daughter? Check out this post on my favorite graduation gifts for girls.

1. North Face Backpack

If you’re looking for a practical graduation gift that will get a lot of use out in the real world, why not a backpack? This is a super popular backpack choice on college campuses 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. You’ll want to make sure your gift makes it through years of college life.

2. Apple Watch

This Apple watch does just about everything you can imagine probably and more. It can track his sleep (or what little sleep he will get…), exercise, steps, heartrate, you name it.

This watch is a perfect graduation gift for him. They come in several colors with lots of choices for watch bands. If only Apple would guarantee that your son would return your texts right away it would be perfect! 😉

3. 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.

Being able to unwind with new friends is a great way to relax after a hard day of class. Plug it in and stream whatever subscriptions you like.

4. 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.

The simple lines of this backpack would be perfect for summer internships as well as toting their stuff to and from class.

5. 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.

Fossil makes quality products so you don’t have to worry about the leather wearing thin, or having the watchband come loose. It’s just a great timepiece.

6. 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 a thoughtful gift that will help them stay focused on those sleepless nights pulling all-nighters. Students even wear them to the gym. This is always one of the top graduation gifts for boys or girls.

7. 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.

Get one that meets the requirements for carry on luggage and your student won’t be waiting at baggage claim – they’ll get in and out of the airport a lot faster.

8. 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 to different colors with the music.

Every time they play their music, they’ll think of you, which makes it a great grad gift for guys and girls alike! These also come in other colors if the multicolor variety isn’t his thing.

9. 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.

The side pockets come in handy to stuff chargers and small items. With a nice thick shoulder strap and shorter handles that snap together, it’s perfect for a weekend home. If you’re looking for a useful gift that will get lots of use during the next school year this is a great gift.

10. 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, credit cards, and some cash.

If you’re looking for a unique gift for future minimalist college boys, this is a special gift.

11. 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.

12. 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.

It’s the perfect size to carry all his personal care products when he comes back home to visit. The small size fits easily in any duffle bag or suitcase.

13. Portable Charger

I never wanted my kids to be stranded with a dead phone so they both have one of these. This Anker portable charger is small enough to carry anywhere and strong enough to charge nearly any device multiple times. It’s definitely a must-have!

Every kid needs one of these in their backpack.

14. Lanyard with Detachable Keyring

This gift is a fun way to help them show off their college pride or their favorite sports teams. 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!

15. 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, backpack, suitcase, 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.

16. Instant Pot for Cooking All the Things

It 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.

If your recent grad is moving into a new apartment for the first time, this multi-purpose gadget will be the perfect graduation present. And you’ll be happy knowing that they won’t be starving on their next advanture.

17. 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.

18. 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.

It pairs easily with apps like Spotify so music and podcasts are just a moment away.

19. 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 much easier than an iron and ironing board, it’s compact and powerful.

So even if your son just rolled out of bed, he doesn’t have to look like it. It works equally well for sprucing up for special occasions.

20. 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.

So whether he’s putting together an IKEA bookshelf, or tightening a screw on his skateboard, it’s a great graduation gift idea that you know will get used year after year.

21. Dorm Room Icebreaker Game

One of the best things about a new chapter of life in a new place is all the new friends they’ll make. 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.

22. Spikeball

This game is a blast to play on the quad on a nice day. Go to any campus and you’ll see college students gathered around playing Spikeball. This is a cool kit that folds up into its own bag.

Perfect for campus, park, camping or the beach. It’s easy to tote here and there and tons of fun – what better way to blow off some steam between classes?

23. Single Cup Coffeemaker

If you’re looking for practical high school graduation gifts, look no further than this coffee maker. This is one of the best drip coffee makers out there, doesn’t take up much space, and makes coffee in a snap. Perfect for those early morning classes or late night study sessions.

24. Eno Portable Hammock

These are perfect to string up between trees on a sunny day to get that required reading done. Super popular with both campers and college kids, it collapses super small, and its made to last.

There’s nothing like getting homework done outside on a spring day.

25. Kindle Paperwhite

Kindles are the best graduation gift for high school seniors who love to read for fun. It’s easy to download all kinds of books (fiction, non-fiction, magazines, even textbooks for some classes). What I like about this is if you have a library card, you can download the Libby app to download books for free.

One of the best parts of reading is that it allows you to calm your mind and chill out when things get stressful. This version doesn’t require an extra book light so reading at night won’t disturb any roommates.

26. Apple AirPods Pro

If your son doesn’t already have a pair of these high quality wireless headphones, they make the ideal gift for graduation. They are a bit pricy, but your new grad will use them all the time, whether at the gym, walking to class, or just hanging around.

These comfortable padded ear phones have noise cancellation and a long battery life.

27. The Naked Roommate Book

This book is both funny and practical. Full of all kinds of advice to help your new college student navigate problems they’ve never had to deal with!

This is a great book to pair with a gift card and makes a funny but practical grad gift.

28. 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. If you’re looking for sweet keepsake gifts to remind them to look on the bright side of life, this is a special graduation gift.

29. HydroFlask Water Bottle

This high quality water bottle keeps drinks cold all day. It’s a must when you’re away from the dorm all day long at class and studying. They come in lots of bright colors, have different lids and straw combos, and come in lots of different sizes.

If your graduate doesn’t already have one of these, it would make a great practical graduation gift.

30. Apple MacBook Pro

If you’re a family member willing to spend a little bit of money, you can’t go wrong with an Apple MacBook. If you’ve ever had a Mac you know just how great they are, how long they last and what an important tool a new computer will be as your high school graduate moves on with their future.

These laptops are for more than just computing. Your grad can Facetime, message, and stream movies and TV shows.

31. Portable Safe

This one might seem weird, but you can never be too careful, especially if your new grad is heading off to the dorms. It’s never a good to leave valuables behind, even if your dorm room is locked. But if you have to, think about getting one of these dorm room safes.

A small safe like this one can be used to stash cash, jewelry, or other expensive items and keep them safely in his room.

32. Wireless Charger for Apple Products

It’s amazing how many electronics kids have these days. This wireless charging station eliminates the clutter on desks and nightstands. There’s a place for an iPhone, Apple Watch, and a set of headphones.

No more searching for the right charging cable if you make this your graduation gift.

33. YETI Tumbler

Does your son love coffee, tea or other hot drinks? This popular YETI mug will keep any drink piping hot, or refreshingly cold for hours. This mug is built to last out of stainless steel and has quality double-wall vacuum insulation.

They come in all kinds of sizes, colors and handle configurations. Some are made to fit in a car’s cup holders. It’s a great gift that he’ll use every day and will last through all four years of college.

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.  This may seem like the end of an era, but it’s just the beginning of their next adventure.

As you get closer to that big day, remember your graduate may have jointed the ranks of full-fledged young adults now, but they will always need their family, and for that, I am truly grateful!

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