27 High School Graduation Gifts That Are Fun and Practical (but Mostly Fun)

Make lounging around their room or heading to the dorm showers feel a little more spa-like with this ultra soft and comfy Turkish cotton robe. Its gauzy feel isn't too stifling for use during the summer months, and it has two hidden side pockets perfect for stowing their toothbrush or other essentials for a quick bathroom visit. And bonus? It's a unisex style that works for every high school graduate you're gifting this year. 

They won't have to lug a flat screen into their apartment or dorm to catch their favorite binge. This tiny projector will cast their favorite movie (or even a group project) onto a blank wall (or an extra twin XL sheet!), and has built-in speakers for an all-in-one solution. 

Help them get comfy when they're studying (or just catching up on their latest binge watch) with this lap desk, which has plenty of space inside to hold pens and study tools (or snacks), plus an adjustable lid that'll hold their book or tablet at the perfect angle for viewing. 

Make trips to the dorm bathroom (or just lounging around their apartment) comfy with fluffy spa slippers. The rubber sole helps keep them clean (even if they take a quick trip outdoors), and the fuzzy footbed features a contoured, memory foam insole that hugs their feet. 

Plug space may be in short supply in their apartment or dorm—so maximize every inch with this petite power strip, which lets you plug two regular plugs plus two USB charges into a single outlet—and protects those precious electronics from electrical surges. 

For the budding coffee connoisseur, this petite kit makes the perfect coffee (or tea) cold brew to power them through whatever the day brings—and one brew cycle can produce enough concentrate to get them through a busy week.  

Ramen and Chinese takeout are practically an entire food group for those newly on their own (and newly trying to test out their fledgling cooking skills). Gift them a perfect bowl that encourages them to use their noodle when they're pulling an all nighter. 

Gear them up for a good time chronicling the high school party scene and their first tastes of adult life with this fresh upgrade of the classic Polaroid camera. It includes a lot of features to create the coolest shots, including auto focus, double exposure and self-timers—along with an array of lens filters to make the image even more vibrant. 

They'll be carting their laptop everywhere for the next few years—help protect that college essential from damage with this sleek laptop case that'll cushion it from impacts, and have a lighter impact on the planet, too. The sleeve is made from 50 percent recycled plastics that would otherwise end up in the landfill. 

String lights are a nearly ubiquitous part of college decor. But you can give them a major upgrade from the standard white twinkles—this sleek band of light can be twisted into fun shapes, then programmed into thousands of colors and animated effects to match their room decor. 

In a tiny dorm or studio apartment, every inch of space matters. This clever chair features ample storage in the seat for nine pairs of shoes (or whatever else they want to hide away), and it collapses nicely to squeeze into a car for packing. 

Noisy dorms or open office spaces can make it difficult to focus—so your grad will be grateful for these top-rated headphones, which can cancel out background noise with silence or their favorite study music. (They can also be set to keep them in tune with their surroundings, if needed.)

The old "posters of your favorite band" aesthetic doesn't quite cut it anymore for dorm or apartment decor. Cool collage kits of vintage prints make for a soothing, Insta-worthy backdrop for their post-graduation adventures.  

A smart display can be a go-to assistant for a newly minted adult. They can track their calendar and to-dos, check weather and commute times, set alarms, play music or videos, and even show off their favorite pics from their Google Photos account. Pair it with a smart bulb so they can turn off the lights without getting out of bed.  

For their post-graduation or gap year adventures, this super-light and super-sturdy backpack will be their essential travel companion. It features heavy-duty compression straps to keep everything in its place (and help it shrink up in size when they aren't carrying a full load); a padded, lockable slot for laptops and other valuables; and stowaway straps to help avoid damage if they need to check it on a flight. 

Stuff gets lost. And stuff seems to get lost quite a lot for those newly out on their own. Help your recent high school graduate keep track of their possessions with these small trackers, which stick easily to keys, backpacks, and more and link to Apple's Find My network for easy finding.

Help them keep their tech close at hand (and fully charged) with this multitasking charger, which works with Samsung, Apple, Google and Qi-enabled products. 

Help them handle every at-home task with this handy tool kit equipped with all of the right gadgets for the job—from hammers and tape measures to pliers and screwdrivers.

Take the sentimental route with this high school graduation present. Encourage them to write letters for the future all at once or throughout their first year at college or in the real world; when they read them in a few years, the letters will serve as a time capsule for this exciting new stage in their life.

If their new, post-grad digs lack a nightstand—or they just have too many literary interests for one nightstand to hold—this sleek pocket makes a great high school graduation gift. They can slip the pouch into their bedframe to keep everything handy, whether that's notebooks or video game controllers.

This sleek ecofriendly bag, crafted from recycled nylon, can be reconfigured to be used as a backpack, crossbody bag, or tote, depending on their mood—and has plenty of pockets to help them keep their phone, laptop, and other gear handy.

Encourage their sustainable leanings with this colorful, reusable silicone straw set, which includes 10 straws, four travel cases, and even some cleaning squeegees—plenty of extras in case they lose a few straws along the way.

College is both a time of messy buns and sloppy ponytails and polished, groomed locks, depending on the occasion (and the day of the week). Help them out a bit with this clever blow-drying brush, which dries and smooths hair at the same time, helping them save time in the morning or before an evening out with friends.

For the grad who fully embraces the snooze button, this innovative bedside lamp from the sleep experts at Casper is a serious game-changer. Glow is a gradually dimming light that helps you wind down before bed, plus it syncs up to the Casper Glow app, a handy program that schedules morning wake-ups.

When it comes to being a proper adult, Real Simple has you covered, thanks to our tell-all guide that tackles tricky obstacles like apartment hunting and negotiating one's salary. Gift any grad with the guide and rest easy knowing they'll reach for it during tough-to-navigate times.

Help her keep track of her goods on the go with this handy leather clutch. Available in nine versatile colors, each accessory boasts enough space for a phone, keys, cards, cash, and chargers, making morning commutes a breeze.

Do your part to kick any feelings of homesickness before they ever set in. This pendant, available in sterling silver or gold and multiple lengths, keeps her home state (quite literally) close to her heart. For an extra-special gift, add a diamond to pinpoint her hometown.