9 Practical & Trendy Gift Ideas for Your Hard-to-Shop-For College Kid — From a Mom Who Knows All Too Well
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When the kids head off on their own and are no longer sleeping under your roof every night, it can be hard to keep up with what they’re coveting. As a mom of a college kid myself, it’s something I know all too well. Since I know I can’t be the only one who feels this way, this holiday gift guide has been assembled with gift ideas straight from the source.
We tapped a bunch of real-life college kids to understand what they’d love to be on their holiday list this year and picked out a few gift ideas that are both practical and cool. When it comes to gifting those hard-to-shop-for people on your list, especially when its your college-aged kids, it’s all about finding a balance between trendy, useful, and something they’ll truly appreciate.
From candle warmers to the most highly coveted sweatshirt of the year, here are the best gift ideas for college kids in 2025. Check those out below.
Candle Warmers
BEST GIFTS FOR COLLEGE KIDS IN 2025
Modern Candle Warmer Lamp with Timer
Open flames are a big dorm no-no, but there are plenty of ways around that. Candle warmers, which activate the fragrance without the fire are where it’s at. This version has a handy two, four, and eight-hour automatic shut off. It was also purchased over 20,000 times in the last month.
Owala Water Bottles
BEST GIFTS FOR COLLEGE KIDS IN 2025
Owala Free Sip Sway
The water bottle of the moment changes faster than AI rules at college (Stanley, Hydroflask we hardly knew you…) but now the spotlight has firmly landed in the Owala camp. And that’s a good thing, since liquids stay cold for 24 hours, it fits perfectly into car cup holders, it doesn’t leak, and it comes in an array of great colors.
Longchamp Tote Bags
BEST GIFTS FOR COLLEGE KIDS IN 2025
Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote
Gone are the days when your kid needs to carry 25 pounds of books in a super roomy backpack. Since everything is in the Cloud, the use-cases for their daily bag have changed a lot, too. Laptop storage, water bottles, gym clothes — all perfect for a grown-up looking tote.
Parke Sweatshirts
BEST GIFTS FOR COLLEGE KIDS IN 2025
Parke Hometown Varsity Mockneck
None of the kids have any idea what “Parke” means (it’s the middle name of founder Chelsea Parke Kramer) but that doesn’t stop them from wanting everything from this women-owned brand. The oversized mock necks are especially cute.
UGG Slippers
BEST GIFTS FOR COLLEGE KIDS IN 2025
UGG Tasman Baxter Slipper
For walks to class or to the dining hall, these UGG slippers are basically the collegiate footwear uniform for everyone. Don’t let the name fool you, these are 24-hour fashion choices on all college campuses.
JBL Speaker
BEST GIFTS FOR COLLEGE KIDS IN 2025
JBL Go 4
You never know when you’ll have an impromptu need to blast some music. From frisbee on the quad to a dorm room pre-game, these little JBL speakers are portable, economical, and pack huge sound.
Cleat Bag
BEST GIFTS FOR COLLEGE KIDS IN 2025
Aērcase Cleat Bag
Even if they’re not playing D1 sports, they will need a place to put gross shoes. Whether that’s the sneakers they wear to the frat parties or the ones they wear for pick up soccer – no one, especially the roommate, wants those kicks out in the open. That’s where the cleat bag comes in. This is basically a gift for everyone around your kid.
Jewelry Charms
BEST GIFTS FOR COLLEGE KIDS IN 2025
Roxanne Asoulin Mini Puffy Heart Necklace
Charms are in again in a big way — necklaces, bracelets, bag tags — the works. This mini puffy heart comes in an array of colors and in a just-right size for daily wear.
Pet Pillows
BEST GIFTS FOR COLLEGE KIDS IN 2025
The Pet Pillow Custom Shaped Pet Pillow
What a handsome boy. These best friends may be sleeping far apart these days, but a quick snuggle is always an option when you have the photo realistic version nestled on your bed.
Before you go, check out our top foolproof holiday gifts for absolutely everyone on your list: