Find your light
This USB-rechargeable LED lamp casts one of 16 colors, with the option for an array of strobe or flash patterns, all controlled by remote.
Dorm rooms aren’t known for their great light, views, or uplifting architecture. In fact, they’re mostly known for cinder block and horrid carpeting. This simple LED Golden Hour Sunset Lamp can make a big difference in the vibes. It’s a little under 10 inches tall, with a swiveling head that casts a warm, yellow, sunset-like light around the room. Versions on the theme abound, but we like this one because it’s USB-chargeable, has a remote to control things like flash, strobe (we’re not fans, but it could be fun for dorm dance parties), and colors—there are 16 color options, but we think the golden sunset is the chillest.
Caffeine delivery
The Essenza Mini makes the same espresso as $400 Nespresso machines but has a smaller footprint and no unnecessary features.
This no fuss Nespresso Essenza Mini, our favorite Nespresso machine, is about as straightforward as they come and produces nice, frothy coffees at the touch of a button. It has a slim countertop footprint, comes in a few different cool colors, and requires nothing more than an outlet and a water source (the dorm bathroom sink, for example) to run. As long as they (or, more likely, their parents) keep the pods in stock, it’s perfect for those late-night study sessions.
The next best friend
Transform a high-res image into a double-take-worthy pet doppelgänger. It arrives in about a week.
These life-sized (or larger) stuffed animals are so realistic, it’s almost as good having your furry friend in the flesh. Simply send in a digital photograph of a pet (or a beloved human) and All About the Vibe will create a 10-, 16-, 22-, or 30-inch-tall stuffed polyester velvet pillow. Though beware: These pillows are so realistic-looking they can be mistaken for the real thing!
Note taker
The cheapest iPad Apple sells has a large screen, fast performance, a USB-C port, and plenty of color options to suit the needs of most people.
College students need computers, but having this 10.9-inch Apple iPad, our favorite tablet, allows them to take notes, record lectures, and access files without lugging a laptop all over campus. The Apple Pencil makes it especially handy for students who need to take notes manually or incorporate drawings or equations. The company’s entry-level tablet ditches the Home button and offers more color options, faster processing power, better rear cameras, USB-C, and an improved FaceTime camera over the 9th-gen iPad (which has been discontinued). Oh, and it streams movies too.
Blingy lights
This inexpensive model has basic controls and special effects available in three lengths, but it’s not as bright or as advanced as other smart light strips.
One of the best things about moving into a dorm room is decorating it to reflect personal taste and style. Your grad will have no trouble finding a Starry Night poster, but they might not think of smart strip lights (which are made of a flexible, rubbery material with LEDs embedded). The WiZ Smart RGBIC LED Light Strip, our budget pick, is a cinch to set up and stick to walls, and it can even be trimmed down with scissors. Your grad can use their smartphone to set timers, change brightness and colors, and even make lights pulse to the beat of music. It’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Matter, and Siri Shortcuts.
Late-night snacks
This simple hot-air popper needs very little tending, and it makes much better popcorn than any microwave options.
Just picture it: Friends crowd a dorm room to indulge in a big bowl of popcorn after a long night at the library (or, ahem, a bar). When it’s made from scratch, popcorn is much tastier than any prefab microwavable option. Of all the methods we’ve tested, the Presto PopLite Popcorn Popper is the best one for a crowd. Stovetop methods require constantly shaking or stirring the kernels … and a stove. And microwaving can result in burnt kernels if it goes even seconds too long. But this air popper blows out the kernels after they pop, and it perfectly produces an entire batch in under two minutes. The Presto PopLite also allows for culinary experimentation: Butter and salt are classic pairings, but for the gourmet grad, we also suggest paprika, olive oil, and pepper.
A dorm cleaner
This cordless handheld vacuum has powerful suction, a long battery life, and a large bin, so tidying up the dorm room is a cinch.
There will be spills. And grit. And grime. And grads headed off to dorm rooms are going to have to deal with those on their own. The cordless Ryobi 18V One+ is our pick for the best all-around handheld vacuum. Our testers appreciated this vac’s powerful suction, quick charging, and useful attachments. Plus, it has a three-year warranty, which may come in handy after everyone on the dorm floor borrows it.
Dorm decorating
This company offers lightweight, fabric-based wallpaper with a tactile, woven finish. It’s easy to install and features crisp printing in multiple styles.
Dorm room walls are invariably bland or painted some awful institutional color. Removable wallpaper could be just the answer to this problem. For temporary room upgrades, we love Milwaukee-based Chasing Paper’s peel-and-stick fabric wallpaper (it will easily last through the school year). This company offers hundreds of designs and patterns, and to narrow it down, your grad can sort by styles like abstract, floral, or geometric. Our testers picked Chasing Paper’s wallpaper for its easy installation and pleasant, tactile feel. The best part: When it’s taken down, there won’t be charges for damage. Be aware that peel-and-stick wallpaper doesn’t work well on textured walls (think cinder blocks), and it can peel off fresh paint.
A portable chair
You can stow this featherlight, compressible chair in a backpack or even a work bag. But it’s not as comfy as our other picks.
For outdoor concerts and impromptu hangouts, a portable chair will keep your graduate seated more comfortably than if they had to rough it on damp grass. And a low-to-the-ground model will ensure they’re not blocking anyone’s view or awkwardly looming over their friends. We think the Helinox Chair One’s tiny size and weight (just 2 pounds and about the size of a liter bottle) make it great for quad hangouts or campus get-togethers. It’s not as comfortable as larger, heavier chairs, but it’s super easy to set up, relatively roomy and sturdy (holding up to 320 pounds), and boasts pretty good back support.
Stylish flip-flops
These no-nonsense rubber sandals are durable, grippy, and squeak-free when wet.
These no-nonsense rubber sandals are durable, grippy, and squeak-free when wet.
Whether your graduate will be sharing a gross dorm bathroom or just a regular bathroom with gross roommates (or perhaps moving to the tropics), they’ll want an excellent pair of flip-flops to protect their feet. Our favorites are the Havaianas Top Flip Flops. They don’t squeak when wet, they’re grippier on wet surfaces, and they’re available in seemingly endless color options. You’ll get big bonus points if you pair them with a ticket to an island destination.
A mask for shut-eye
This eye mask’s snug-yet-soft cup shape makes it the best room-darkening version we’ve tried.
Since your grad will be sharing a room (maybe for the first time), they’re going to discover the hard way that people operate on very different sleep schedules. Whether they’re paired with a night owl or a morning lark, a comfortable, light-blocking eye mask will help them snooze through whatever’s happening. The lightweight Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask—our favorite—fits comfortably, and it effectively blocks light on a wide variety of face shapes. Plus, the deep eyecups allow eyes to flutter during sleep.
A wrinkle remover
This lightweight, foldable steamer is portable and well priced—and unlike many other travel steamers, it doesn’t leak (at any angle). But its water tank provides only nine minutes of steaming time, so it’s best for smaller jobs.
It’s probably fair to say that many Gen Zers have never picked up an iron. But that doesn’t mean they have to traipse around as rumpled as an unmade bed. With our fabric steamer travel pick, your grad can relax those wrinkles in way less time than it takes to assemble a clunky ironing station. The Beautural Portable Clothes Steamer works best for travel and occasional use—and, let’s be honest, that’s probably what it’s going to get from most college students. Still, it will come in handy before that formal or job interview, and it won’t take up a lick of space in the meantime, considering it folds down flat to 8.5 by 3 by 5 inches.
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Find your light
This USB-rechargeable LED lamp casts one of 16 colors, with the option for an array of strobe or flash patterns, all controlled by remote.
Dorm rooms aren’t known for their great light, views, or uplifting architecture. In fact, they’re mostly known for cinder block and horrid carpeting. This simple LED Golden Hour Sunset Lamp can make a big difference in the vibes. It’s a little under 10 inches tall, with a swiveling head that casts a warm, yellow, sunset-like light around the room. Versions on the theme abound, but we like this one because it’s USB-chargeable, has a remote to control things like flash, strobe (we’re not fans, but it could be fun for dorm dance parties), and colors—there are 16 color options, but we think the golden sunset is the chillest.
Caffeine delivery
The Essenza Mini makes the same espresso as $400 Nespresso machines but has a smaller footprint and no unnecessary features.
This no fuss Nespresso Essenza Mini, our favorite Nespresso machine, is about as straightforward as they come and produces nice, frothy coffees at the touch of a button. It has a slim countertop footprint, comes in a few different cool colors, and requires nothing more than an outlet and a water source (the dorm bathroom sink, for example) to run. As long as they (or, more likely, their parents) keep the pods in stock, it’s perfect for those late-night study sessions.
The next best friend
Transform a high-res image into a double-take-worthy pet doppelgänger. It arrives in about a week.
These life-sized (or larger) stuffed animals are so realistic, it’s almost as good having your furry friend in the flesh. Simply send in a digital photograph of a pet (or a beloved human) and All About the Vibe will create a 10-, 16-, 22-, or 30-inch-tall stuffed polyester velvet pillow. Though beware: These pillows are so realistic-looking they can be mistaken for the real thing!
Note taker
The cheapest iPad Apple sells has a large screen, fast performance, a USB-C port, and plenty of color options to suit the needs of most people.
College students need computers, but having this 10.9-inch Apple iPad, our favorite tablet, allows them to take notes, record lectures, and access files without lugging a laptop all over campus. The Apple Pencil makes it especially handy for students who need to take notes manually or incorporate drawings or equations. The company’s entry-level tablet ditches the Home button and offers more color options, faster processing power, better rear cameras, USB-C, and an improved FaceTime camera over the 9th-gen iPad (which has been discontinued). Oh, and it streams movies too.
Blingy lights
This inexpensive model has basic controls and special effects available in three lengths, but it’s not as bright or as advanced as other smart light strips.
One of the best things about moving into a dorm room is decorating it to reflect personal taste and style. Your grad will have no trouble finding a Starry Night poster, but they might not think of smart strip lights (which are made of a flexible, rubbery material with LEDs embedded). The WiZ Smart RGBIC LED Light Strip, our budget pick, is a cinch to set up and stick to walls, and it can even be trimmed down with scissors. Your grad can use their smartphone to set timers, change brightness and colors, and even make lights pulse to the beat of music. It’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Matter, and Siri Shortcuts.
Late-night snacks
This simple hot-air popper needs very little tending, and it makes much better popcorn than any microwave options.
Just picture it: Friends crowd a dorm room to indulge in a big bowl of popcorn after a long night at the library (or, ahem, a bar). When it’s made from scratch, popcorn is much tastier than any prefab microwavable option. Of all the methods we’ve tested, the Presto PopLite Popcorn Popper is the best one for a crowd. Stovetop methods require constantly shaking or stirring the kernels … and a stove. And microwaving can result in burnt kernels if it goes even seconds too long. But this air popper blows out the kernels after they pop, and it perfectly produces an entire batch in under two minutes. The Presto PopLite also allows for culinary experimentation: Butter and salt are classic pairings, but for the gourmet grad, we also suggest paprika, olive oil, and pepper.
A dorm cleaner
This cordless handheld vacuum has powerful suction, a long battery life, and a large bin, so tidying up the dorm room is a cinch.
There will be spills. And grit. And grime. And grads headed off to dorm rooms are going to have to deal with those on their own. The cordless Ryobi 18V One+ is our pick for the best all-around handheld vacuum. Our testers appreciated this vac’s powerful suction, quick charging, and useful attachments. Plus, it has a three-year warranty, which may come in handy after everyone on the dorm floor borrows it.
Dorm decorating
This company offers lightweight, fabric-based wallpaper with a tactile, woven finish. It’s easy to install and features crisp printing in multiple styles.
Dorm room walls are invariably bland or painted some awful institutional color. Removable wallpaper could be just the answer to this problem. For temporary room upgrades, we love Milwaukee-based Chasing Paper’s peel-and-stick fabric wallpaper (it will easily last through the school year). This company offers hundreds of designs and patterns, and to narrow it down, your grad can sort by styles like abstract, floral, or geometric. Our testers picked Chasing Paper’s wallpaper for its easy installation and pleasant, tactile feel. The best part: When it’s taken down, there won’t be charges for damage. Be aware that peel-and-stick wallpaper doesn’t work well on textured walls (think cinder blocks), and it can peel off fresh paint.
A portable chair
You can stow this featherlight, compressible chair in a backpack or even a work bag. But it’s not as comfy as our other picks.
For outdoor concerts and impromptu hangouts, a portable chair will keep your graduate seated more comfortably than if they had to rough it on damp grass. And a low-to-the-ground model will ensure they’re not blocking anyone’s view or awkwardly looming over their friends. We think the Helinox Chair One’s tiny size and weight (just 2 pounds and about the size of a liter bottle) make it great for quad hangouts or campus get-togethers. It’s not as comfortable as larger, heavier chairs, but it’s super easy to set up, relatively roomy and sturdy (holding up to 320 pounds), and boasts pretty good back support.
Stylish flip-flops
These no-nonsense rubber sandals are durable, grippy, and squeak-free when wet.
These no-nonsense rubber sandals are durable, grippy, and squeak-free when wet.
Whether your graduate will be sharing a gross dorm bathroom or just a regular bathroom with gross roommates (or perhaps moving to the tropics), they’ll want an excellent pair of flip-flops to protect their feet. Our favorites are the Havaianas Top Flip Flops. They don’t squeak when wet, they’re grippier on wet surfaces, and they’re available in seemingly endless color options. You’ll get big bonus points if you pair them with a ticket to an island destination.
A mask for shut-eye
This eye mask’s snug-yet-soft cup shape makes it the best room-darkening version we’ve tried.
Since your grad will be sharing a room (maybe for the first time), they’re going to discover the hard way that people operate on very different sleep schedules. Whether they’re paired with a night owl or a morning lark, a comfortable, light-blocking eye mask will help them snooze through whatever’s happening. The lightweight Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask—our favorite—fits comfortably, and it effectively blocks light on a wide variety of face shapes. Plus, the deep eyecups allow eyes to flutter during sleep.
A wrinkle remover
This lightweight, foldable steamer is portable and well priced—and unlike many other travel steamers, it doesn’t leak (at any angle). But its water tank provides only nine minutes of steaming time, so it’s best for smaller jobs.
It’s probably fair to say that many Gen Zers have never picked up an iron. But that doesn’t mean they have to traipse around as rumpled as an unmade bed. With our fabric steamer travel pick, your grad can relax those wrinkles in way less time than it takes to assemble a clunky ironing station. The Beautural Portable Clothes Steamer works best for travel and occasional use—and, let’s be honest, that’s probably what it’s going to get from most college students. Still, it will come in handy before that formal or job interview, and it won’t take up a lick of space in the meantime, considering it folds down flat to 8.5 by 3 by 5 inches.
The 31 Best High School Graduation Gifts of 2025
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