Gift wrapping: ideas, paper and a plan for every gift
Plan who gets which wrap, see how much paper, ribbon and tape it all takes, and get one shopping list. Plus the guides for every shape.
Your wrap plan
Add the people you are wrapping for. Each one gets a colour, so you can tell the gifts apart under the tree.
Names stay on this device. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Choose your wrap
Which wrap suits which gift?
From classic paper to cloth and gift bags, here is how to pick the best wrap for each kind of present.
See all wrapping ideas
- Boxes: the classic box wrap with the seam underneath. A box with square corners is the quickest to wrap neatly.
- Bottles, balls and soft toys: awkward shapes need a gathered top or a tube, not a box fold.
- No tape in the house: wrap a present without tape with folds that lock.
- Gift bags: tissue paper in a gift bag, fanned so it hides the gift.
- Fabric you can use again: furoshiki, a square cloth tied with 2 knots.
- The finishing touch: how to make a bow with ribbon.
- Wrapping as a party game: the saran wrap ball game hides small prizes in layers of plastic wrap.
Not sure about the size of the sheet? The wrapping paper calculator shows the cut for one box and how many gifts one roll wraps.
BoxesThe classic choice for most gifts.
Bottles and odd shapesSimple ways to wrap the tricky ones.
Gift bagsQuick, tidy and easy to reuse.
In clothBeautiful, with less waste.
More wrapping tools
Tools to help you wrap with less stress.
How to wrap a present
Lay out the paper
Put the box upside down in the middle of the paper.
Tape the seam and ends
Fold a small hem, tape the seam, then fold and tape both ends.
Tie the ribbon
Run it under the box, cross it on top and tie a knot.
Finish with a bow
Tie a neat bow over the knot.
Wrap with less waste
Cloth, kraft paper and string can all be used again, and plain paper is easier to recycle.
Ideas for less waste
Answers to common wrapping questions
How much paper do you need for everyone?
Add up the gifts, not the people.
Add up the gifts, not the people. A 30 in × 10 ft roll wraps about six shoe boxes, and many more books. The plan counts the paper for each color from the sizes you add, so you buy the right number of rolls per color.
Can you wrap without throwing paper away?
Yes: cloth, kraft paper or folds without tape.
Mostly, yes. Wrap in a scarf or tea towel you already have with furoshiki, reuse last year's paper and bags, or fold the paper so it needs no tape. Glitter and foil papers usually cannot be recycled; plain paper often can, but check what your local collection takes.
Does the plan keep the names private?
Yes. Names stay on this device.
Yes. Names and gift notes stay in your browser on this device. The share link carries the colors, sizes and progress only, so the person you send it to types the names again.