7 Free Graduation Thank You Cards

Graduation Thank Yous and Advice for What to Write in Them

By Stacy Fisher

Updated 11/26/18

Graduate holding a gift
Vstock LLC / Getty Images

Sending out a graduation thank you card to anyone who gave you a gift or attended your ceremony or party is a must-do. It's important to get your graduation thank you cards in the mail as soon after the ceremony or celebration as you can. Within the week is expected but sooner is even better.

These graduation thank you cards are all free and they can all be customized with text and photos before or after you print them. It's the final step of graduation and makes sure that your friends and family feel appreciated and loved.

If you want to create your own graduation invitations, here are some ​free graduation templates that look just as good as ones you buy at the store or through the school. This graduation clipart might be a fun addition too.

If you're looking for a more casual card or just something a little different, here are some free thank you cards that you can print out and mail to the people you want to thanks. There are also free graduation congratulations cards that you can give to your friends who are graduation along with you.

What to Write in the Graduation Thank You Card

Here's what you should write in your graduation thank you card:

  1. Say thank you. Say thank you for the gift, thank you for attending, thank you for their support, thank you for cleaning up after the party, and so on. Anything that they did for you or gave you, you need to say thank you for.
  2. Be specific about the gift. If you are thanking someone for a graduation gift, mention what they got you specifically and then tell them how you plan to use it.
  3. Add something personal. This is the place to express how much they mean to you, how glad you were to see them, how sorry you were that they couldn't make the party but still send a gift, or anything else that makes the thank you card feel less generic. 

Re-read the thank you card as if you were receiving it. If it sounds personal and sincere then you're all ready to get it in the mail. Here are some free envelope templates and address label templates if you need them for your cards. 

  • 01 of 07

    Graduate Thanks From Greetings Island

    A Graduation thank you card with a blue grad hat on it
    Greetings Island

    Here's a free, printable graduation card thank you card that features the phrase "Thank You" with gold stars and a graduation hat. It's a simple card that's great for any age of grad.

    This card prints 7"x5" and can be customized with 7 different layouts, customizable inside text, and the option to add stickers or photos. ​

  • 02 of 07

    Black and Gold From Canva

    A black graduation thank you card with white and gold dots
    Canva

    The black background of this graduation thank you card really makes the gold "thank you!" and white and gold dots pop. 

    You can customize the text of the card with the class year and name of the graduate. It downloads as a PDF file that you can print or save.

  • 03 of 07

    Photo Thank You From Greetings Island

    A custom grad thank you card with a photo of a smiling woman
    Greetings Island

    This free graduation thank you card lets you add your own photo of the graduate. To the right of the photo is a place for the class year and graduate's name. It's available in four colors, gray, light blue, black, and plum. 

    All text can be customized and if you can print it out or send it as an e-card.

  • 04 of 07

    Thank You! Photo Card From Canva

    A blue and green photo graduation thank you card
    Canva

    Here's another graduation card that lets you add a photo before printing. The left side is designed in deep blue and green and leaves room for a message.

    This card would make a great postcard to send out to everyone to say thanks for their support. 

    Continue to 5 of 7 below.
  • 05 of 07

    Black and White Graduation Thank You Card From 101 Greeting Cards

    A black, white, and gray thank you card for the graduate
    101 Greeting Cards

    This free graduation thank you card is more formal, with black and white stripes along with some text. 

    All elements of this card can be edited including the year, message, name, and date. A custom message can be added to the inside of the card before or after printing. 

  • 06 of 07

    Graduation Gift Thanks From More Thank You Notes

    A white, black, and gold card
    More Thank You Cards

    There are actually four printable graduation thank you cards here, each with a different style and design. 

    These cards can't be customized before printing, but you can add a handwritten message on the back of the card before sending it to the recipient.  

  • 07 of 07

    Simple Thanks From Microsoft

    A black and white thank you card for graduation
    Microsoft

    Here's a simple graduation thank you card. It's from Microsoft, but you can use any word processor to open and edit the card. 

    A simple black and white card, that says "thank you", can be customized with the class year and any other text or photos you'd like to add.