37 Most Useful Gifts for Adulting Made Easy in 2025
For the new college grad or young person making their way into the world, a few thoughtful gifts for adulting can make the transition just a bit easier on them. Leaving the nest is a super exciting time in any young person’s life but it brings a new set of challenges and, of course, the need for a lot more supplies.
Whether you’re looking to send a care package to encourage them or some useful supplies for a new apartment, it’s important to consider what gifts for adulting you might have found necessary back in the day. According to Brigham University, the ages 18-29 are among the most pivotal in one's life. While young adults are increasingly well educated, their lives often lack the structure that previous generations have benefited from.
Use these gifts for adulting to do something nice for someone else, knowing you will feel great about it all day long.
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- Best Practical Gifts for Adulting
- Useful & Unique Gifts for Young Adult Women
- Useful & Unique Gifts for Young Adult Men
- Funny Gifts for Adulting
Best Practical Gifts for Adulting
If you're wondering what some of the best gifts for a young adult are, take a moment to consider their interests as well as their new lifestyle. A new big-girl or big-boy job might bring with it the need for a nice briefcase or something to fuel their coffee habit. Even cute, handmade gifts to bring a sense of home to their new place are sure to be appreciated.
1. Learning How to Cook
Coming from college or home, where meals seem to magically appear, to the world of cooking and washing dishes can be daunting. Cooking is a vital skill that every adult should have. Whether they’re already exploring or don’t know a potato from a parsnip, check out a local cooking class for a practical gift for adulting.
Led by professional chefs, they'll go beyond the basics and learn to cook some incredible meals that will become staples in their at-home cooking. Online cooking classes are also available, so they can learn right at home.
2. Classpop! Gift Card
Want to give the gift of a new skill, but not sure what they'll want to start with? Classpop! Gift Cards are an all-encompassing gift for adulting where the recipient has their choice from experiences like dance classes, art classes, cooking classes and much more.
These make great graduation party ideas or going away gifts because there are offerings in cities across the country and the world, including online options. What better way to explore your new city than with an interactive cooking class downtown?
3. AAA Membership
If you’re a parent to a young adult moving somewhere new, you want to know they are safe and in good hands. This gift for adulting is a little bit like a safety blanket, metaphorically speaking.
Give a AAA Membership or Car Safety Kit to ensure the young adult you love is taken care of in case they have any car trouble.
4. Coffee Gift Subscription
From 8:00 a.m. college classes to early mornings in the office, coffee is an adult necessity. Bean Box offers coffee gift subscription boxes that make a great gift for adulting, with several options to choose from.
Try a coffee road trip through the United States with local roasts from coast to coast or a chocolate and coffee sampler box, featuring dark chocolate bars to pair with different roasts. This is an easy, unisex gift that will fuel a young adult for months at a time.
5. Fitness Tracker
Along with a new job and a generally new lifestyle, a lot of young adults like to maintain their fitness as a priority. A new fitness tracker is a great gift for adulting because it might be a bit of a splurge item that a new college grad wouldn’t necessarily be able to buy for themselves, but they’d love to have one anyway.
There are tons of designs to choose from, so you can stay basic but useful or go all-out with the tech. It's one of the most popular stocking stuffers for adults!
6. Canon Inkjet Multifunction Printer
Even though we live in a digital age, there are still plenty of things that need to be physically printed. Since they can’t print at their college library anymore, a new printer is a natural gift for adulting.
This Canon PIXMA MG3620 Inkjet printer is available at all major stores like Walmart and Best Buy, and it’s super affordable.
7. Home Tool Kit
A home tool kit is the perfect gift for adulting and gift for new homeowners. When you own rather than rent, there always seem to be little things that pop up that need attention, but you never know exactly what tools you might need.
This Character Essential Toolkit covers all your bases in a cool, organized box.
8. Therabody Massage Gun
Adulting can be stressful, to say the least. This relaxation gift doubles as a gift for adulting for those mornings when you wake up with aches and pains that you’ve never had before.
Trips to the spa can be expensive and time-consuming but you can take care of things at home with Therabody Massage Gun. There are a number of tools at different price points, making this an accessible gift for newlyweds or 18th birthday gift idea.
9. Home Security System
A home security system is the ultimate gift for adulting for new homeowners. From motion-activated camera doorbells to cameras on the perimeter, each piece adds an additional piece of mind.
It might not be the first item that comes to mind for a wedding registry or homeowner's gift but it sure is useful.
10. Oral-B Electric Toothbrush
Once you make the switch to an Oral-B Electric Toothbrush, you never go back. Plus, something about taking care of your oral health is just so…mature.
This gift for adulting will change the game when it comes to fresh breath and white teeth, boosting their confidence every day.
11. Nespresso Deluxe Coffee Maker
The importance of coffee cannot be overstated in a young person’s life, and a Nespresso Coffee Maker is a thoughtful gift for adulting so they can finally curb that Starbucks habit.
With tasty seasonal pods in both regular or espresso sizes, they can become their own barista with ease.
12. Aluminum Pill Box
This chic gift for adulting makes taking your vitamins easy. Designed with travel in mind, your loved one can keep their medications and supplements organized for the week ahead, even on the go. The Vern Pill Organizer might not be the most glamorous of gifts, but it is one they'll use every day.
Useful & Unique Gifts for Young Adult Women
13. Art Classes
Give the gift of creativity to the young adult women in your life. This gift for adulting offers an artistic outlet to relieve the stress of a new job plus a great opportunity to meet new people.
From basic painting techniques classes to more advanced tuition on composition, there are lots of options when it comes to local art classes. Social aspect aside, they offer a great opportunity to create some beautiful handmade art that will add coziness to a new space.
14. Stitch Fix Custom Style Box
What better way to get excited for a new job than with a new work wardrobe? Making the change from college clothes to grown-up clothes can take some time, but a Stitch Fix Custom Style Box is a great gift for young adult women who want to nail their style while dressing appropriately for work or school.
15. Set of Stemless Wine Glasses
A set of stemless wine glasses is a must-have gift for adulting. Accidents can happen, but they’re not quite as messy since these chic glasses won’t break quite so easily.
Perfect as a hostess gift or 21st birthday token, she will be ready for wine and the Bachelor night with her friends or a responsible glass of red with dinner. A Glasvin stemless set is a sophisticated pick that will withstand the test of time.
16. Papier Planner
Organization is essential and this gift for adulting nails it in a super chic way. Papier planners are a great small gift idea for young adults to set them on the path to success, whether with work or school. With tons of patterns and designs to choose from, they’re a useful gift for both men and women.
17. Barnes & Noble Gift Card
A Barnes & Noble gift card is like a free ticket to relaxation, plus it also makes for an easy 21st birthday gift idea. With endless options from puzzles to board games and every kind of book you could dream of, there’s something for everyone.
Decorative coffee table books or a new fiction novel to get lost in, nurture their curiosity and give them a reason to spend a whole afternoon looking around the store.
18. Brooklinen Luxe Sheet Set
Moving out of a college dorm and that twin XL bed calls for some nice sheets to go on a big-girl bed. This gift for adulting can really help a new place feel cozy and homely.
With tons of choices for colors and patterns, whatever her style is, there’s a Brooklinen luxe set of sheets made for her.
19. Hatch Bedside Sleep Guide
There’s something that feels very mature about having a bedside alarm clock that isn’t just your phone. The Hatch Bedside Sleep Guide is a great choice that wakes you up gently by imitating the rising sun. This useful gift for young adults will help them wake up feeling peaceful and refreshed, ready to tackle whatever lies ahead.
20. Cherry Measuring Spoons
For the avid home baker, these adorable cherry-shaped measuring spoons also come with a built-in egg separator disguised as a leaf. This cute gift for adulting makes baking or cooking even more of a joy. It’s an easy way to bring a smile to someone’s face.
21. Work From Anywhere Set
With so many remote jobs nowadays, gifts for adulting can now include remote office supplies, like this work-from-anywhere set. With the bare essentials that might otherwise be forgotten, this little kit will have them working in style, wherever they may be.
22. New Luggage
No more throwing items into a messy duffel bag or scuffed-up suitcase. Chic new luggage will have her feeling like a responsible adult in no time. From wheeled weekender bags to heavy-duty checked suitcases, trusted brands like Calpak offer a fun yet useful gift for adulting.
Plus, with clean new stuff, it’s the perfect excuse to throw out any old, ripped bags that were on their last leg anyway.
Useful & Unique Gifts for Young Adult Men
23. Traeger Portable Grill
For the young man who grew up watching his dad barbecue or grill, a Traeger portable grill is an exciting gift for adulting.
With his new outdoor gadget, he can get to work hosting parties and barbecuing all his favorites. It’s a nice gift for married couples, too, and for young women who might want to try a new recipe on the grill.
24. Starter Cookware Set
Take the guesswork out of stocking up the kitchen by gifting a starter cookware set, the perfect gift for young adult men or cooking gift for the home chef. A good set of pots and pans will last them for years to come. Now that’s a useful gift for adulting!
25. Leather Portfolio
A gorgeous leather portfolio screams gift for adulting. The perfect office organization tool, great for interviews, everyday work or traveling, it will have any young professional brimming with confidence.
The right leather folio makes a thoughtful gift for young adult men, whether it be for a promotion, a new job or a birthday.
26. Custom Cologne Gift Subscription
Nice cologne is a true sign of maturity, but bottles can be spendy. This custom cologne gift subscription is a super affordable and unique gift for adulting.
With Scentbox, the recipient gets one or two miniature-sized colognes of their choice each month. They can choose from thousands of designer brand fragrances and figure out which ones they love.
27. Outdoorsman First Aid Kit
Men don’t always prioritise safety when doing things. This outdoorsman first aid kit is perfect for accidents and a gift for adulting that a young adult man might not think to buy for himself. You never think accidents are going to happen but it’s best to be prepared for when they do.
28. Men’s Skincare Products
Establishing a skincare routine early in life is essential to aging well, and it’s important for men and women. This gift for adulting will set a young man up with Lumin's great skincare basics like cleansers, moisturizers and even under-eye cream for dark circles, he can begin to take good care of his skin.
29. Car Cleaning Kit
A car is a point of pride for many young men and this car cleaning kit from Chemical Guys makes it easy to keep it looking its best. A great gift for adulting, this kit contains everything he will need to wash and detail his car inside and out from home. Choose from a small or large bundle of products to get him started.
30. Instant Pot
Anyone can become a gourmet chef with the help of an Instant Pot. This gift for adulting is equivalent to numerous kitchen tools rolled into one. Along with the cookbook, it will turn any young adult's kitchen into a gourmet station for delicious and nutritious food.
31. National Parks Fill-In Poster
This National Parks poster allows them to keep track of their bucket list trips through the United States. A cute gift to go along with an adventure-themed graduation party idea, it’s a good reminder to stay adventurous and a reminder of how important it is to spend time in nature.
If their walls are looking a little stark, this affordable gift for adulting is a great dorm room idea for guys and also doubles as a decorative piece for a bedroom, bathroom or office.
Funny Gifts for Adulting
32. “I Can’t Adult Today” Candle
This lighthearted gift for adulting is a perfect coffee table or desktop token. The cheerful Fruit Loops-inspired adulting candle from Candier is perfect for burning when they need a day of rest or say no to going out in favor of staying in and watching their favorite show.
With over 60 hours of burn time, they'll get lots of enjoyment out of this affordable candle. It makes a great and funny gift for friends, too.
33. Poo-Pourri Gift Set
Though the premise might be funny, a Poo-Pourri gift set is incredibly useful, especially for young adults who may have roommates or live in a dorm.
From tiny, travel-size spritzers to a dual-pack for the home bathroom, it’s a great gift for adulting that would make anyone smile. With optional fun, 3D packaging, give the set as a hostess gift or a “congrats on the new place” token.
34. Couch Coaster
This funny but useful gift for adulting is aimed specifically at those people who try (and fail) over and over again to successfully place a drink on their couch arm, never seeming to learn that it’s not a stable enough surface.
The Couch Coaster attaches to the arm and offers a single, sturdy spot for a drink of choice.
35. Positive Affirmations Gift Set
These funny positive affirmation cards from Knock Knock Stuff are a cute gift for adulting and go perfectly on a bathroom counter, next to the coffee maker or on a desk.
With five sets to choose from, all of which are very affordable, you could even give all five for over 250 positive affirmations to turn somebody’s day around. A fun gift for young adults, they can look forward to a new affirmation each morning.
36. Funny Adulting Books
A funny adulting book is a creative gift for adulting that also contains nuggets of wisdom. The added humor keeps the reading light, but there is plenty of good information in there that a young professional or new homeowner could benefit from.
Barnes & Noble has an incredible selection of these books to choose from. Add them to a homeowner's gift basket or turn them into a birthday gift.
37. Unstable Unicorns Card Game
This hilarious game is based on trying to build an army of unicorns before any of your friends. Along with a little betrayal, some strategy and lots of laughs, Unstable Unicorns is a great way to spend a Friday night with friends or as a slightly competitive 18th birthday party idea.
Setting out into the real world is an exciting time in a young person’s life, and getting set up for their first apartment or home can be an intimidating task.
You can get by without very much but thoughtful gifts from friends and loved ones can make the new space and general life transition a lot easier and more enjoyable.
There are tons of great gifts for adulting for everyone, from the coffee aficionado to the newly hired work-from-home businessman or the travel junkie.
Whether it be a mailed care package or an in-person delivery, these thoughtful gifts for adulting will make their day and are designed to be both fun and useful in everyday life.
For even more fun gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
