43 best college graduation gifts for him

A sleek wallet he can keep forever

Bellroy wallets last pretty much forever, which is one reason why they take the top spot in our buying guide to the best men's wallets. This Note Sleeve is a best-seller. It's compact but big enough for 4-11 cards — the most important cards go in the easy-access slots and the rest can be stored in a pull tab.

Find out more about why we love these wallets in our Bellroy review.

A popular, stylish suitcase

Away The Carry-On

An Away suitcase is a particularly thoughtful gift for grads living far from home or planning future travel. The cult-favorite luggage has 360-degree wheels for no-hassle travel and weighs only 7.6 pounds.

Read our full Away luggage review for more details.

A pleasant way to wake up every day

Hatch Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock

Help them transition to earlier mornings with an alarm clock that wakes them up by mimicking sunlight.

A fresh pack of socks

Bombas Men's Running Quarter Sock, 6-pack

You know you're an adult when you get excited about new socks. If he isn't going to splurge on them himself, do it for him. Bombas makes some of the best socks around. They're high-quality, super comfortable, and sure to become mainstays in his collection.

Learn more in our Bombas socks review.

A toiletry bag to use at home or for travel

Rains Hilo Wash Bag

Rains is a Denmark-based company chiefly known for making high-quality, stylish raincoats. This wash bag is of the same spirit. It's completely waterproof, which is a necessity for any good toiletry bag. The pouch features adjustable buckles that enable him to alter the volume of the bag to his needs.

A 6-in-1 kitchen gadget

Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer

After years of getting fed at the dining hall, adjusting to making his own food at home is no easy feat. Whether he loves to cook or can't fry an egg, an air fryer is a great addition to his kitchen. It's super versatile and can be used to cook proteins, veggies, and more with ease. It's pretty much a foolproof gadget; the Instant Vortex Plus is our favorite because it's affordable, easy to use, and has a viewing window so he can make sure he's not burning anything.

See why this product is the top pick in our best air fryer guide.

A spa-like robe

Parachute Cloud Cotton Robe

A high-quality robe makes lounging at home and getting ready feel like main events. This gauzy option from Parachute is soft, airy, and lightweight. Learn more in our tested guide to the best men's robes.

A pair of cozy slippers

L.L. Bean Wicked Good Slipper

If his slippers got battered up in college, or he doesn't yet have a pair in his repertoire, the L.L. Bean Wicked Good Slipper is a classic. These slippers are incredibly plush, cozy, and durable. Read more in our guide to the best slippers for men.

A handheld massager

Theragun Mini Massage Gun

For the college grad who loves exercising and cares about recovery, a Theragun Mini makes a great gift. This travel-sized device may be compact, but it delivers big on benefits. He can use it to relieve muscle pain, soothe tension, and help his body recover after a hard workout.

A framed photo of their friends

Framebridge Custom Picture Frames

Most of us appreciate some nostalgia; frame a photo of the graduate's friends or some of their favorite memories from school, so they can take them anywhere they call home.

A facial cleanser

Foreo LUNA 3 for Men Deep Facial Cleansing Tool

This facial cleansing brush has left both male and female reporters on our team with clear, smooth skin. This particular model works as a state-of-the-art facial scrub brush, pre-shaving, and anti-aging tool.

Supporting the "fewer, better" mentality, the FOREO Luna 3 Men has a lifespan and level of quality that justify the price tag — so they can make great use of your gift for years to come.

A great weekend bag

Dagne Dover Landon Carryall

Dagne Dover has earned a spot as one of our default recommendations for great bags. Their weekender/carry-on Landon Carryall is made out of a cool neoprene material and has ample organization. It has an internal laptop sleeve, an exterior phone pocket, and a detachable key leash, plus a few other helpful design features.

Read our full Dagne Dover Landon Carryall review.

A Fitbit he can use while exercising

Fitbit Sense 2

If he loves being active, a Fitbit will keep track of interesting metrics such as heart rate, sleep quality, and exercise stats for him. We like the Fitbit Sense 2 the most, but you may find another option that works best for your graduate.

You can read about all of the best Fitbits in our tested guide.

A pair of joggers he can wear anywhere

Lululemon ABC Jogger

These joggers look nice enough to wear to work or out to dinner, but feel comfortable enough for lounging. They're sweat-wicking, wrinkle-resistant, and quick-drying to boot.

A nice cast iron skillet

Lodge Chef Collection Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

A quality cast iron skillet is the kind of product that lasts a lifetime in your kitchen. For the price, Lodge makes some of the best cast iron products around. This one comes pre-seasoned so it's ready to be used straight out of the box.

A record player for his new home

Crosley Voyager Bluetooth Record Player

For the one who's constantly listening to music, a turntable for his new abode makes for a functional and decorative gift — perfect for setting a good mood in the home and elevating the aesthetic in any room. He can jam out to all of his favorite tunes, whether it's while he cooks in the kitchen or works in the office.

A Disney Plus subscription

Disney Plus Subscription

Graduating from college usually marks the beginning of "adulting," but he'll eventually need a break from being a grownup. With everything from classic Disney movies and shows from his childhood to Star Wars and Marvel movies, a Disney Plus subscription is a sure way to stay entertained.

Read more about the Disney Plus price and perks with a subscription.

A Kindle for post-grad reading

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Learning is an ongoing process, and graduation shouldn't be the end of it. Giving them a Kindle means they'll have the tools to keep being curious in their lives by having the device that makes it an easy and affordable process.

If they already have a Kindle or they read on their phone or iPad, you might look into gifting them a Scribd membership. It's lesser-known than apps like Audible, but it's a better deal and will give them access to hundreds of thousands of books and audiobooks.

See why this is our top pick for the best Kindle.

A fancy messenger bag

Leatherology Henderson Laptop Brief Bag

This Leatherology bag is an option that inspires a bit more confidence than a JanSport. The startup makes great leather accessories for much less than you'd expect to pay, like this $300 messenger bag.

A vibrant plant

The Sill Snake Plant Laurentii

Whether he has a green thumb or not, a nice plant is sure to make his space feel more homey. And plants just make people happy – it's science. This one is easy to care for, making it a great starter option.

A musky candle

Le Labo Santal 26 Classic Candle

A nice candle always makes a great gift, especially this one which smells amazing and doubles as a piece of chic, minimalist decor.

Cereal that feels like childhood but is responsible like adulthood

Magic Spoon Variety Pack

A childlike cereal for grown-ups is a nice transition into adulthood. Magic Spoon tastes like the sugared cereal some of us daydreamed about as kids, but it's high in protein and low in carbohydrates.

A gift card to decorate their home as they choose

Target Gift Card

Pick up a gift card to a store with affordable home goods such as Target so they can organize and decorate their new space with less stress.

A must-read financial guide book

"I will teach You to be Rich" by Ramit Sethi

Instead of skimping on lattes, it's wiser to choose the right accounts and investments so your money grows for you — automatically. Best of all, it frees you up to spend on the things you love.

Executive Editor for Personal Finance Insider Libby Kane says she regularly buys a new copy of this book just to give it away, and it's an excellent introduction to making the most of your personal finances — especially if your graduate is young or new to managing money.

A powerful blender

Nutribullet Pro+ Blender

Whether it's used to whip up morning smoothies, big batches of soup to carry him through the week, or any other culinary creations, a great blender is a kitchen essential that he'll get plenty of use out of. The Nutribullet Pro is affordable and powerful. We love that it comes with to-go lids, so he can make a smoothie and take it to go without dirtying any more dishes.

A Bonobos gift card

Bonobos Gift Card

No matter what he has in store for life after graduation, he'll surely want to upgrade his wardrobe. Bonobos is a high-quality menswear brand that sells everything from chinos, button-ups, and suits for the office to casual styles like jeans, polos, and T-shirts to wear on the weekends.

Read our full reviews of Bonobos' chinos and Bonobos' Chelsea boots.

A toolkit, which they will undoubtedly need in "real life"

Cartman 148 Piece Tool Set

He'll be glad he has the tools to handle whatever life throws at him confidently, and this is one gift he may not immediately buy for himself, but which you really want to have before the very second you need it.

A food delivery gift card

Doordash Gift Card

For the guy who says he doesn't want or need anything, go for a food delivery gift card. Everyone has to eat. This gift will give him the green light to indulge in his favorite eateries and try new dishes too.

A customized business card holder

VITTcustomSTUDIO Personalized Card Holder

While his company will likely give him business cards, he's not likely to already have a business-card holder he can feel good about pulling out of his pocket. A card holder like this monogrammable option from Etsy looks competent and thoughtful.

A made-to-measure suit

Indochino Gift Card

Suits — especially the nice ones — are a large yet ultimately useful expense for most men, even if it's only for special occasions rather than his everyday job. This is one gift he'll likely wear for years to come — and something he will likely need before he has the budget to afford it.

A pillow that pays homage to their alma mater

Embroidered College Pillow

They may have graduated, but their school spirit will last forever. These decorative pillows are covered in university logos, mascots, and icons. It's a sweet gift that helps them embark on their next chapter of adulthood, while also keeping a part of their last chapter close.

An Amazon gift card

Amazon Gift Card

If what you really want to do is just give cash but are looking for a nicer equivalent, an Amazon Gift Card is a subtle way to accomplish the same freedom and utility. Amazon has virtually everything a new grad could desire (really, there is everything), so you know that no matter what they'll be getting something they genuinely want — which, in a lot of cases, is best since they know what they needbetter than anyone.

An Amazon Prime membership

An Amazon Prime membership is one of those things that immediately make life easier and ultimately better. If you decide to gift one, the recipient will enjoy free two-day shipping; access to the Prime Now app, which provides free two-hour delivery on tens of thousands of items; Prime Video, Amazon's streaming video service; Prime Music; the Kindle Lending Library; Prime Reading; Prime Audible Channels; unlimited photo storage, and more.

Read about Amazon Prime member benefits here.

A wireless charging pad

Courant Catch:3 Wireless Charger

He can toss his phone or AirPods onto this tray that doubles as decor and their tech will charge without being plugged in.

A weighted blanket

Bearaby Cotton Napper

The real world can be stressful. While you can't really control that, you can gift them pieces that help soothe their mind and body, like a weighted blanket. The Bearaby Napper is one of the most good-looking weighted blankets out there, and thus our pick for the best weighted blanket overall.

An even easier way to make pasta

Microwave Pasta Pot

When boiling water sounds like too much effort, there's this easy-to-use gadget. All he has to do is add his favorite noodles, water, and then press go. He can even drain and eat it straight from the pot. This gadget ensures he'll always have something good to eat, in literally an instant.

A durable mug made for camping and beyond

Yeti 14 oz. Rambler

The Yeti Rambler is a vessel that can do it all, from holding his morning coffee in the office or a bowl of oatmeal while camping. The durable construction, featuring a magnetic lid to keep things spill-free while on the move, makes this easy to tote around just about anywhere. With double-wall vacuum insulation, hot food and beverages stay piping while cold contents stay cold.

A new skincare routine

Brickell Men's Daily Advanced Face Care Routine

If he hasn't already, post-college is the perfect time to get a good skincare routine going. With a face wash, exfoliating scrub, and moisturizer, this set covers all the basics.

A small but powerful speaker

Sonos Era 100

Sonos makes some pretty great speakers for recent grads. They work well, can be used as a sound system, have useful features like a morning alarm that may sound more pleasant than their phone, and aren't so expensive that they can't possibly build upon their collection. If he's planning on entertaining friends, the Sonos Era 100 is a great option, especially since it connects with Amazon Alexa.

A Brooklinen gift card for new sheets

Brooklinen Gift Card

Your graduate may appreciate an upgrade in bedding to match their new chapter or their new space.

Brooklinen is a common recommendation for us — you get premium, can't-wait-to-go-to-bed bedding at relatively affordable prices.

Read our Brooklinen sheets review for more information.

An electric pressure cooker

Instant Pot DUO 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Just in case the idea of tossing tons of ingredients into a pot in the morning and coming home to a nicely cooked meal appeals to him, the Instant Pot is every recent graduate's best friend.

Ultimately, if they spend most of their day at work or commuting, the last thing they'd want to do is come home to devote two of their three free hours to making a lavish dinner for one. Plus, it cuts down on how many dishes he'll have to wash.

We even rank this Instant Pot as the best budget option in our guide to the best electric pressure cookers.

A speaker that talks to you

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)

From music and radio stations to trivia and much, much more, your graduate will have ample distractions and helpful, hands-free info (like the weather or quick measurement conversions) while they're busy running around their place.

A fun mug

Playful sports mug

Just because they've graduated college doesn't mean they're too old to play with their food. This mug lets them do just that. From dunking their cocoa puffs to scoring goals with marshmallows, this dish is guaranteed to make mealtime more fun.