With graduation season quickly approaching, finding the perfect gift for your special graduate can be a fun challenge. A gift basket is a fantastic option! With endless possibilities to personalize, you can fill it with anything from college essentials to indulgent snacks, or even relaxing spa products. It’s a thoughtful and affordable way to make your grad feel extra special.
Whether they’re heading to college, trade school, or starting a new job, a DIY high school graduation gift basket wrapped with care will bring a smile to their face! Plus, what’s not to love about a basket filled with hand-picked goodies just for them? Here are 19 creative and thoughtful DIY high school graduation gift basket ideas to inspire you!
For Coffee Lovers
When you’re in college, noon is practically “early!” That’s why most college students become coffee drinkers (even if they swore they never would). Between early mornings and late-night study sessions, coffee is their best friend. Have some fun with this basket idea by including a bag of coffee (of course), along with a few of their favorite snacks, a cute mug or coffee cup, and anything else you think your coffee-loving grad would adore! It’s the perfect pick-me-up for their busy college life!
Late-Night Snack & Study Basket
A college survival kit like this is sure to bring some laughs to your graduating senior! This basket is packed with everything they’ll need for late-night study sessions and snack breaks. Fill it with their favorite snacks and drinks, along with something personal, like a coffee tumbler. Don’t forget to add a few messages of encouragement to help them stay motivated and ace those tests!
DIY College Survival Kit with FREE Printable Card
If your grad is heading off to college, a survival kit gift basket (complete with an adorable FREE printable card) is guaranteed to put a huge smile on their face! Just picture their reaction when you hand them this thoughtful and fun basket packed with all the essentials they’ll need for college life!
The Tassel Was Worth the Hassle Basket
Here’s a festive basket we absolutely love, and we’re sure your grad will too! You can color-coordinate the basket with your grad’s college colors or create a custom theme. Fill it with whatever you think they’ll love! We especially like the “The Tassel Was Worth the Hassle” cup with gold confetti—it’s the perfect fun touch. This gift will definitely stand out on the gift table!
Tiered Cake for Grads
We absolutely love this fun and creative tiered “cake” design for grads! It’s a clever way to stack all their study supplies, along with college essentials like Ramen noodles and an energy drink for those late-night study sessions. Tie each layer with a colorful wide ribbon and use strong double-sided tape to keep everything in place. It’s both practical and playful—your grad will adore it!
“Take Time for YOU “Personalized Basket
Whether your grad is heading to college, taking a gap year to travel, or starting a new job, life transitions can be stressful. This “Take Time for YOU” personalized basket is a perfect reminder for her to prioritize self-care, no matter how busy life gets. Fill it with things she loves, like lavender bar soap, bath salts, lotion, and body spray. Complete the theme with a matching pillow, loofah, candle, and a beautiful bow. Your grad will absolutely LOVE it!
New Beginnings Basket
New beginnings are always exciting! Whether your grad is off to college or starting a new job, they’re going to need a lot of essentials. Celebrate this exciting new chapter in their life by helping them get prepared! This basket is packed with a thoughtful variety of supplies, from laundry detergent and markers to a stapler and Ramen noodles. The chocolate, ribbon, and sunflower add the perfect finishing touches to make it extra special!
New Apartment Supplies Kit
For grads stepping into apartment life, this New Apartment Supplies gift is the ultimate starter kit they’ll appreciate! From toilet paper and paper towels to cleaning supplies and storage bags, this thoughtful and practical gift has everything they need to settle into their new place. Any apartment-bound grad will love this fun and useful gesture!
Charming Sentiments
We just LOVE the look of this charming grad basket, filled with sweet messages and heartfelt touches. It’s easily adaptable for both girls and guys, and with a little creativity, you can personalize it with a variety of items that carry warm, meaningful sentiments. This thoughtful basket is sure to make your grad feel extra special!
Shower Caddy Gift Basket
Every college-bound student needs a shower caddy! This practical gift is perfect for both girls and guys. Fill it with essential shower and bath products like shampoo, conditioner, razors, shower gel, a brush, a comb, and more. It’s a thoughtful and useful way to help them get ready for dorm life!
Guys Essentials Basket
This cute container (perfect for desk or bath supplies!) holds a little bit of everything your special guy will need. From shaving cream and razors to body wash and laundry detergent, he’ll put all of these essentials to good use, whether he’s heading off to college or starting out on his own! And of course, we’re sure the Oreo cookies will be a huge hit too!
The Ultimate Grad Candy Basket
Add some fun to your grad’s basket by including a selection of candy bars with witty and clever sayings! Need some inspiration? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Specialty Basket Just for Guys
Don’t be fooled… guys love a bit of pampering just as much as anyone else! This “just for him” basket is a thoughtful way to remind him that a little relaxation goes a long way when life gets busy. Fill it with his favorite personal care items—like Axe body wash, specialty soap, cologne, and shaving cream—along with a soft face towel. He’ll appreciate this personalized basket made just for him!
College Survival Kit with FREE Printable
This is one of the cutest little baskets we found, and what we absolutely love about it is how easy it is to put together—simple enough for even a younger sibling to make! It’s packed with all sorts of college essentials that any grad will appreciate. Use this as inspiration or personalize it with everything your favorite grad will love!
Dollar Store Grad Basket
DIY high school graduation gift baskets don’t have to be expensive! You can create a thoughtful and affordable graduation basket using finds from your local Dollar Store. For under $15, you can fill it with everything from desk supplies and household essentials to snacks, candy, and cute knick-knacks. Add a personal touch by tying it all together with colorful wrapping, tissue paper, or a festive bow for the perfect finishing touch!
Beach-Bound Basket
Got a grad heading to the beach? Whether they’re off to college in sunny California or Florida, or starting a new job on a coastline across the globe, they’ll love this beach-bound basket! Fill it with seashell-shaped soap, a sea breeze candle, a cute sign, and fragrant “ocean-inspired” hand lotion. It’s the perfect way to send them off with a little coastal charm!
Sorority Basket
If you have a daughter or a special grad heading into sorority life, this could be the perfect basket for her! Get creative by filling it with her favorite spa products, sorority logo items, and even a cozy throw like the grey one shown here. Add a personalized sign or any other thoughtful touches, and this is one basket she’ll treasure and never forget!
Off to College Basket
Make your grad’s transition into college fun and exciting with this vibrant “Off to College” gift basket! Fill it with their favorite snacks, dorm essentials, and all the little necessities they’ll need to settle in. From practical items to fun surprises, the sky’s the limit when it comes to customizing this basket to make it special and memorable!
“Time to Put on Your Big Girl Panties” Basket
When it comes to DIY high school graduation gift baskets, this one takes the cake… literally! Your grad will be thrilled with this fun tower of gifts! Packed with everything from notebooks and pens to Ramen and energy drinks, this tower is a perfect collection of college essentials to help them power through exams. You can use any sign you like, but we think this one really says it all!
