Featured in this article
An Excellent Laptop ToteTroubadour Apex Everyday ToteRead more$199 $159 (20% off)
Troubadour
An Affordable, Well-Made BackpackThe North Face JesterRead more$90 $75 (17% off)Amazon
Luxury HeadphonesSony WH-1000XM6Read more$460 $428 (7% off)Amazon
An Electric BikeTrek FX+ 1Read more$2,100Trek
Graduation gifts can be difficult to shop for. Securing a degree is always worth celebrating, but it may feel tough to find a gift that perfectly summarizes how proud you are of your recent grad. With so many gadgets and accessories out there, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and to second-guess whether you're buying the perfect gift. We've compiled a list that might help. These graduation gift ideas range from a luxe tote bag for their first grown-up job to a carry-on so they can plot their next adventure.
Don't see anything here you like? Check out our other buying guides, like the Best Laptops, Best Wireless Headphones, and Best Electric Scooters.
Updated April 2026: We've pared down this guide, added the newest versions of all our favorite recommendations, and checked for accuracy throughout.
An Excellent Laptop Tote
- Courtesy of Troubadour
- Courtesy of Troubadour
- Courtesy of Troubadour
Troubadour
Apex Everyday Tote
$199 $159 (20% off)Troubadour
$199Nordstrom
The Troubadour Apex is our favorite laptop tote thanks to its lightweight, durable, and tear-resistant fabric, which just so happens to be made out of recycled plastic. There are plenty of organizational pockets, including dedicated spaces for laptops, water bottles, accessories, keys, and your phone. There's room for a 16-inch laptop and it's backed by a 5-year warranty.
An Affordable, Well-Made Backpack
Courtesy of The North FaceSave to wishlistSave to wishlistThe North Face
Jester
$90 $75 (17% off)Amazon
$90REI
This North Face backpack is roomy, but not oversize, and has space for a laptop, jacket, snacks, water bottle, and some other necessities. It's very lightweight and breathable. The bungee cord on the back can be used to stash shoes or jackets, and there are organizational pockets for items like your phone or wallet. It's available in dozens of color options, so there should be one your giftee likes. We have more backpack recommendations here.
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Luxury Headphones
Photograph: Ryan WaniataSave to wishlistSave to wishlistSony
WH-1000XM6
$460 $428 (7% off)Amazon
$458 $428 (7% off)Best Buy
$458 $389 (15% off)Walmart
The Sony WH-1000XM6 wireless headphones are the best you can buy. They have industry-leading noise reduction, 30 hours of battery life, multi-device pairing, and clear, stunning sound. They're stylish and comfortable, with a folding design and a sleek case, and they'll last for years.
An Electric Bike
Photograph: Adrienne SoSave to wishlistSave to wishlistTrek
FX+ 1
$2,100Trek
Electric bikes offer a lot of mobility around your grad's new city and campus. The Trek FX+ 1 is our favorite. It's backed by a lifetime warranty, has an extremely easy-to-use charger, and features dedicated turn signal buttons. The range doesn't quite hit the advertised 50 miles, but for a student getting to and from nearby places that doesn't want to rely on public transportation, this ebike is worth considering. We have more recommendations in our Ebike Buying Guide.
An Electric Scooter
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Photograph: Julian ChokkattuSave to wishlistSave to wishlistApollo
Go (2024)
$1,399 $849 (39% off)Best Buy
$1,299 $899 (31% off)Apollo
If your recent graduate doesn't know how to bike, we also love electric scooters. The Apollo Go is our top pick for most people since it strikes an impeccable balance between price and features. It's a little heavy and it doesn't charge as fast as we'd like, but the riding experience is just great. You can customize top speeds if the 28-mph maximum is too much, and there's solid LED lighting and turn signals too.
A Coffee Upgrade
- Courtesy of Ninja
- Photograph: Tyler Shane
Ninja
Luxe Café Premier
$600Amazon
$600Ninja
If your grad loves their cup of joe, give them a coffee upgrade. This is our favorite beginner-friendly machine. It has a touchscreen that's intuitive to navigate, along with two nonpressurized baskets that let the machine know whether you're making an espresso or coffee-based beverage. Based on that information, it will then recommend the grind size depending on the previous drink's performance. It also has an integrated coffee scale that doses out the right amount of coffee grounds. And to top it off, there's an automatic steaming wand for frothing milk and milk alternatives. —Brenda Stolyar
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A Reliable Electric Kettle
-(blue)-(beige)-(green)-Offwhite-Background-SOURCE-Walmart.jpg)
Courtesy of WalmartSave to wishlistSave to wishlistBeautiful by Drew Barrymore
Electric Kettle
$48Walmart
We recommend an electric kettle for tea lovers, though they can come in handy for just about anybody, and this is one of our top picks. It has an insulated, double-walled body, four preset programs (for oolong, white, and green tea, along with a button for boil), along with an auto shutoff and “keep warm” mode. It also has a really cute look, with a matte finish that's available in adorable colors like cornflower blue and sage green. We also love that the buttons on the touch-activated display only appear when the kettle is in use, so it looks super sleek and unobtrusive on countertops when it's turned off. —Brenda Stolyar
A Coffee Subscription
Courtesy of Trade CoffeeSave to wishlistSave to wishlistTrade
Coffee Subscription
$17Trade (11 Oz Bag)
$132Trade (6-month gift subscription)
Daily coffee runs can get expensive, especially for new grads living on that entry-level salary. Using a coffee subscription can make a difference. We love this one from Trade Coffee. You can personalize it to their taste and preferences via a questionnaire, and they can make notes about the coffees they like after trying them. Trade also has a huge selection, with over 400 coffees to pick from and more constantly being added. So, there's always plenty of variety. Check out our Best Coffee Subscription Services guide for more. —Brenda Stolyar
A Tried-and-True Suitcase
Photograph: AwaySave to wishlistSave to wishlistAway
Carry-On
$295Amazon
$275Away Travel
The Away Carry-On is great for any traveler. It's available in a huge array of colors, it's lightweight, it looks good, and it performs well. It has a built-in TSA-approved lock and it comes with a laundry bag too. Whether they're going on spring break or just visiting home for the holidays, it'll come in handy.
A Smartwatch for iPhone Owners
- Photograph: Michael Sawh
- Photograph: Adrienne So
- Photograph: Adrienne So
Apple
Watch Series 11
$399 $299 (25% off)Amazon
$399Apple
$399 $299 (25% off)Best Buy
$399 $299 (25% off)Walmart
Fancy analog watches are nice, but smartwatches are full of features more useful than telling the time. The Series 11 is the best Apple Watch for iPhone users. The battery finally lasts a full day, and it has a full suite of health-tracking features including blood oxygen levels, hypertension notifications, fall detection, and the typical workouts and sleep. I personally didn't think I'd get much use out of my Apple Watch, and now I can't imagine life without it.
A Smartwatch for Android Owners
- Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
- Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
- Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
- Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Google
Pixel Watch 4
$400Amazon (45 mm)
$350Best Buy (41 mm)
$350Amazon (41 mm)
$350Google Store (41 mm)
If your grad has an Android phone, we recommend Google's Pixel Watch 4. We like the modern design and we love the fact that it's repairable. The performance is solid, the display is easy on the eyes, and there are all of the features your grad could want, including fitness and sleep tracking and long-lasting battery.
Or a Smart Ring
- Photograph: Simon Hill
- Photograph: Simon Hill
- Photograph: Simon Hill
- Photograph: Simon Hill
Oura
Ring 4
$349Oura
$399Amazon
$349Best Buy
$499Oura (Ceramic)
Smartwatches are great, but some people simply don't like the aesthetic. If your giftee falls under this category, a smart ring is a great alternative, specifically the Oura Ring 4. It's the top pick in our Best Smart Rings guide. As with a smartwatch, it tracks your heart rate, activities, blood oxygen levels, body temperature, and sleep. This model is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, with a wider size range and tougher finishes. It also comes with Oura's Smart Sensing platform that continuously tracks your data throughout the day. —Brenda Stolyar
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Distraction-Free Reading
- Photograph: Nena Farrell
- Photograph: Nena Farrell
- Courtesy of Amazon
Amazon
Kindle Paperwhite (2024, 12th Generation)
$160 $135 (16% off)Amazon
$200 $165 (18% off)Amazon (Signature)
Bookish grads will appreciate the Kindle Paperwhite—our favorite Kindle. This model has a 7-inch display, the highest contrast ratio of any Kindle (for sharp text and images), and up to three months of battery life. It's also the thinnest model yet. It comes in two versions: the standard and the Signature Edition. The Signature Edition comes with auto-adjust brightness, wireless charging, and double the storage at 32 gigabytes. The standard version should be more than enough, but if your grad listens to a lot of audiobooks, you'll want to consider the latter. You can tack on some fun Kindle accessories like a clear case and stickers or a cute sleeve. —Brenda Stolyar
A Basic iPad
- Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
- Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Apple
iPad (2025, A16)
$349 $300 (14% off)Amazon
$349Walmart
$349Apple
The best thing about a tablet is its versatility. Most models can be used as a laptop, digital notebook, TV, and a gaming console all in one. The 2025 iPad is our favorite overall. It has a modern design with uniform, slim bezels around an 11-inch LCD screen, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, a USB-C port, and a 12-MP selfie camera with 1080p video quality. Thanks to the A16 chip, it's also great for both work and play. It can be used with a keyboard and mouse for basic tasks (with the ability to also use it as a secondary display) or to watch TV and play mobile games. It doesn't support Apple Intelligence, but that might be a boon for some people. —Brenda Stolyar
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A Setup for Success
- Photograph: Nena Farrell
- Courtesy of Roterunner
Roterunner
Purpose Planner
$30Amazon (B5)
$25Amazon (A5)
$30Roterunner (B5)
$25Roterunner (A5)
This affordable paper planner has monthly and weekly spreads, plus two blank pages per week, and it's undated which means it'll remain flexible if your grad takes a break or needs some more space. There are checklist sections for every month and week section as well, perfect for chronic to-do-listers.
A Grown-Up Wallet
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Ridge
Wallet
$95Ridge
Nothing says “adult” more than a wallet that actually works. The Ridge Wallet is that. It's essentially a metal sandwich for their cards. It's durable, stylish, and comes in a ton of different fun designs. Ridge also backs it with a lifetime warranty. They'll use this gift for decades, which is likely a lot longer than the countertop appliance you were considering purchasing instead.
For House Parties
- Photograph: Parker Hall
- Photograph: Parker Hall
- Photograph: Parker Hall
- Photograph: Parker Hall
Soundboks
Mix
$799Soundboks
This Bluetooth speaker is a beast and a behemoth, with intensely loud sound and a replaceable 40-hour battery. Maybe your grad is into music production, or maybe they like to host respectably large gatherings of their peers for beer pong competitions and tailgate parties. It'd make a good gift either way.
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Louryn Strampe is a product writer and reviewer at WIRED covering deals, beauty, home goods, and gifts. She’s written about Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Prime Day, and other shopping holidays since 2013, offering tips and tricks and sleuthing out fact-checked discounts for fun and for a living. She previously covered ... Read MoreWriter and ReviewerTopicsShoppinggift guidesbuying guidesgiftsDeath to Dry Skin. These Humidifiers Are Better Than ChapstickFrom models for traveling to humidifiers that double as planters or air purifiers, we've tested a dozen of them.Matthew KorfhageThe Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled CatsWith these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.Molly HigginsThe Best Fitness Trackers Check Your Sleep, Heart Rate, or Even Your BloodWith almost ten years of hands-on testing, WIRED knows what separates the best fitness trackers from the rest.Adrienne SoThese Are the Essential MacBook Accessories Everyone NeedsFrom charging adapters to external monitors, I’ve gathered the absolute best peripherals for your MacBook.Luke LarsenThe Best Apple Watch AccessoriesYou finally caved and bought an Apple Watch. These are our favorite bands, screen protectors, and chargers to go with your new smartwatch.Adrienne SoThe Best Hybrid Mattresses for the Best of Both WorldsBy combining foam and springs in carefully tuned layers, hybrids hit the sweet spot between soft and supportive. Here are our favorites after extensive testing.Julia ForbesEvery Smart Home Needs Some Voice-Controlled Robotic Window ShadesFrom made-to-measure smart shades to retrofit curtain bots, these are our favorite WIRED-tested drapes for your windows.Simon HillThe Best 5 Pillows for Neck PainNeck pain takes many forms, but these WIRED-tested pillows may save your sleep.Julia ForbesYour Shower Water Might Be Messing With Your Hair and Skin—These Filters HelpI tested leading filtered showerheads to see how well they remove total chlorine from your water.Matthew KorfhageThe Best Lightweight Hiking Boots Won’t Weigh You Down on Your Next MountainEach pair I tested weighs under 2 pounds. Whatever happens on your next adventure, your shoes won’t hold you back.Chris HaslamWhich GoPro Hero Camera Should You Buy?You’re an action hero, and you need a camera to match. We guide you through all the models, plus accessory recommendations and hidden software tricks to try.Scott GilbertsonThese Are Our Favorite Standing Desks to Liven Up Your WorkstationTake your home office to new heights with our favorite motorized standing desks.Nicole Kinning
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