49 Best Gifts for 18-Year-Olds That Are Useful and Fun 2024
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There are so many important milestones in a young adult’s life, and the best gifts for 18-year-olds can make them that much more exciting. But “best” doesn’t necessarily need to be big. An amazing gift could be a piece of wear-it-forever jewelry (a great high school graduation gift), or a humble, cereal-shaped candle to celebrate their completion of the SAT. While checks and gift cards are always appreciated, something tailored to the teen and their interests can mean a whole lot more. If you’re looking for a gift for a college student, wrap a pair of noise canceling headphones to keep them company during late night study sessions. Sentimental gift are also winners, like a customized locket so they can keep you close if they start to feel homesick.
Below, shop the best gifts for 18-year-olds sure to show them you care about the person they are and the person they’re becoming. We’ve thrown in a few viral picks they’ll recognize and adore. And for more thoughtful gift ideas, check out our curated gift guides here.
The best gifts for 18-year-olds, at a glance:Best Overall: Frigidaire Gaming Light Up Mini Beverage Refrigerator, $45Best Sentimental Gift: Perimade Custom Engraving Photo Locket, $33Best Personalized Gift: MintedGiftShop Custom Dog’s Tour Tee Shirt, $33Best Tech Gift: Kodak Mini Shot 2 Retro 4PASS 2-in-1 Instant Digital Camera, $120Best Fitness Gift: Feierdun Adjustable Dumbbells, $150Best Beauty Gift: Laneige Icon Set, $351/49
Frigidaire Gaming Light Up Mini Beverage Refrigerator
A well-stocked snack fridge that has LED lights to match their room vibes makes for uninterrupted gaming or bingeing their favorite shows from bed.
25/49
JW PEI Women’s Gabbi Ruched Hobo Handbag
This “It” bag comes in a divinemix of colors and a few styles like a magenta faux fur or a lime green shade with crystal embellishments. The design is timeless yet totally on-trend. It’s a luxury gift that they’re going to use for many years to come.
26/49
PersonalizedPassion Personalized Plush Robe
Level up their lounging with a personalized robe, made of a cozy micro-fleece material. It’s a whole spa day without leaving the bean bag.
27/49
Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender
Whipping up smoothies before class is a breeze with a personal blender that comes with a spouted lid for sipping on the go. Your teen can also use it to make sauces and frozen drinks if they’re feeling extra ambitious. New hobby unlocked.
28/49
Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System and Multi-Styler
Shark’s Flex Style is a must-have for before-school styling, whether she wants curls, waves, or pin-staight strands. The tool comes with four attachments for a super customizable blowout experience.
29/49
ROSSIE Home Acacia Wood Easel Lap Desk with Storage
Whether you’re stocking them up with room accessories college, or kickstarting it’s a start-of-12th-grade treat, this lap desk with built-in storage will make for more comfortable and organized study sessions.
30/49
iLikePar Cereal Bowl Candle
This hyper realistic cereal candle smells dreamy and looks even cuter on their desk. Just remind them the real cereal is downstairs.
31/49
Scattergories 30th Anniversary Edition
You and your teen love a good game night, and when you want to take a breather from Monopoly, introduce them to Scattergories. The challenging but so satisfying word game will keep the laughs going and the gears turning.
32/49
Topicals Faded Under Eye Brightening & Clearing Eye Masks
Cooling hydrogel patches will help with dark circles and puffiness and may come in handy as they crank through midterms and college acceptances. The patches are powered by superhero ingredients glycerin, caffeine, and niacinamide.
33/49
Kate Spade Heart of Gold Idiom Bangle
Grown-up, beautiful, and simple, the Kate Spade Heart of Gold Bangle is a sweet gift for any jewelry-loving 18-year-old. The inside of the bangle is engraved with the phrase “heart of gold” to remind her how special she is.
34/49
Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light
Having a roommate freshman year means “lights-out” isn’t always in your teen’s control. So, when they’re not done with their reading sesh but the dorm room’s gone dark, a neck light is a godsend. How else are they going to catch up on their BookTok reading list?
35/49
Anker Magnetic Portable Charger
Their phone is always dying—and it’s driving both of you up the wall. Spare everyone the pain with this magsafe Anker Charger, which snaps onto their phone for wire-free charging.
36/49
Abercrombie & Fitch Essential Popover Hoodie
Hoodies are pretty much the anchor of any teen’s wardrobe (remember?). This supersoft oversized pick from Abercrombie is a cozy, stylish option that comes in so many versatile colorways.
37/49
Lululemon Uplifting Scrunchie Big Bow
Right now, bows are having a moment, and Lululemon is always having a moment. This Bow Workout Scrunchie is chic enough to take her from daytime wear to the gym, where the grip is firm enough to keep hair in place during a tough workout.
38/49
Uncommon Goods 100 Movies Scratch Off Poster
Calling all movie buffs. If your teen is an aspiring film major, this 100 Movies Scratch-Off Poster is a must. It doubles as decor and a checklist to keep track of which classics they’ve seen.
39/49
Birthstone Wishing Ball by Jill Henrietta Davis
Help your little cousin set their goals and intentions throughout the year with this birthstone wishing ball. There’s a different color glass for each month, and each kit comes with 52 slips of paper for them to write a goal or wish for each week of the year.
40/49
Manta Sleep Mask
Help the 18-year-old in your orbit develop healthy sleep habits with a light-blocking mask. This one from Manta has hollow eye cups to ease pressure or to keep lash extensions intact.
41/49
The Ordinary The Acne Set
Even in early adulthood, acne can be a real pain. However, the Ordinary’s The Acne Set can lend a helping hand with its super affordable trio of Glucoside Foaming Cleanser, Salicylic Acid 2% Solution Serum, and Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan.
42/49
Almost Adulting: All You Need to Know to Get it Together (Sort Of) by Arden Rose
Nothing will compare to the advice you give your 18-year-old (you seasoned pro, you), but this cute guide can help equip them with some real-world smarts. The book includes tips on how to put together an outfit on a budget, how to manifest a healthy relationship, and more.
43/49
Victrola Vintage Record Player
For the music-enthusiast teen, a record player is an all-time gift. This one from Victrola has a fun retro vibe, is portable, and has built-in Bluetooth speaker capabilities, so they can play their favorite album while the vinyl they ordered is still in transit.
44/49
Jellycat Amuseable Pair Of Marshmallows Bag Charm
Your loved one may have long quit playing pretend with their stuffed animals, but that doesn’t mean they’ve lost their love for soft, cute things. Jellycat makes the most aww-inducing plushies and keychains, and this Marshmallows Bag Charm is irresistible.
45/49
Keurig K-Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker
Perfect for coffee-loving college freshmen, this little Keurig makes a single cup of coffee at a time and takes up minimal counter (or desk) space. To seal the deal, wrap up a bundle of K-cups.
46/49
Mejuri Flat Curb Chain Necklace
This timeless Mejuri Flat Curb Chain goes with everything and looks good doing it. Grab this necklace in hollow 14K gold or solid sterling silver as a thoughtful 18th birthday gift idea.
47/49
Coach Leather Card Case
He has to put her cards somewhere, so it may as well be this handsome Coach Leather Card Case. It’ll last him forever and will look even better with age.
48/49
Moft Transformable Laptop Bag/Stand
They can keep their favorite gadget protected with this slim laptop case that converts to an angled stand when they’re ready to work. Sleek and practical—what’s not to like?
49/49
Fjallraven Backpack
It’s always a good time for a new backpack, be it at the start of the school year or halfway through. Fjallraven’s sturdy, square construction is iconic and can withstand endless wear and tear.
Nykia Spradley is a beauty journalist with over 10 years of experience. She has held posts as the deputy editor at Seventeen, interim beauty director at Elle.com, commerce editor for Allure, and beauty editor at Essence. Nykia’s writing has also appeared in ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Coveteur, TZR, and more…. Read more
Annie Blackman is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor. Previously, Annie was a content update editor at The Spruce and People Magazine. She studied English Literature and French at Kenyon College in Ohio and then moved to New York, where she’s also a singer-songwriter, profiled in Rolling Stone. Annie is… Read more
