The Holiday Collection
The short answer: The prettiest Christmas gift wrapping ideas are usually the cheapest: plain kraft paper with twine and a sprig of greenery, a color code for each person, fabric tied in a knot, or a reusable tin that becomes part of the gift. A basic wrap station costs about $15 to $30 and covers dozens of gifts.
Our picks for gift wrapping ideas
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Below are 25 ideas, which wraps are actually recyclable, and a simple system for wrapping as you go so Christmas Eve isn't a midnight tape marathon.
Kraft paper ideas
Plain brown kraft paper is cheap, sold in big rolls, and looks good with almost anything.
- Twine and greenery. Baker's twine plus a sprig of rosemary, pine or eucalyptus.
- Stamped paper. A star or snowflake rubber stamp and red ink.
- Hand-drawn patterns. White paint pen dots, stripes or snowflakes.
- Names written on the paper. Skip the tag and write the name right on the wrap.
- Cinnamon stick and orange slice. Tie a dried orange slice and a cinnamon stick under the twine.
- Black-and-white plaid. Draw a simple grid with a marker and ruler.
- A candy cane topper. A cheap, edible bow.
Color and theme ideas
- One color per person. Everyone gets their own paper or ribbon color, so tags can't fall off.
- Monochrome. All white, all red or all green with natural twine.
- Number the gifts. For families who open gifts in order, number each package.
- Photo tags. A small printed photo of the recipient instead of a name tag.
- Mix-and-match paper. Use up leftover rolls on purpose: one pattern for boxes, another for ribbon bands.
When the season ends, here's how to store wrapping paper so it's ready next year.
Paper-free and reusable ideas
- Fabric wraps. Place the gift in the middle of a square of fabric and tie the opposite corners. A scarf or dish towel becomes part of the gift.
- Reused gift bags. Save bags and tissue every year.
- Tins and jars. Cookie tins and mason jars hold small gifts and baked goods.
- Baskets and bins. A storage bin or basket for a themed gift set. See our Christmas gift baskets guide.
- Newspaper or old maps. Free, recyclable and surprisingly pretty with red twine.
- Kids' artwork. Big drawings on plain paper make the most personal wrap there is.
- A pillowcase or tote. Great for big, awkward gifts.
Ideas for awkward shapes
- Cereal boxes. Turn soft or lumpy items into neat rectangles.
- Oatmeal canisters and tubes. Perfect for socks, scarves and rolled items.
- The "candy" wrap. Roll the gift in a tube of paper and twist the ends.
- The bag-in-a-box. Put a small gift in a big box to throw off the guesser.
Finishing touches
Finish each package with our free printable Christmas gift tags, with two full-color sheets and a color-your-own sheet you can print at home.
- Handwritten cards. I love giving and receiving cards, and I keep the ones people write me. A two-line note on the tag is the part of the wrapping someone might keep.
- A tiny extra. A jingle bell, a mini ornament or a tea bag tied to the ribbon.
Which wrapping is recyclable?
| Material | Usually recyclable? | Better option |
|---|---|---|
| Plain kraft paper | Often yes | Reuse first, then recycle |
| Newspaper | Often yes | Great free wrap |
| Shiny, metallic or glitter paper | Usually no | Choose plain paper |
| Ribbons and bows | No | Reuse, or use twine |
| Tissue paper | Varies by city | Reuse it next year |
| Gift bags and boxes | Reusable | Save them every year |
The EPA's recycling guide notes that shiny or laminated gift wrap often isn't recyclable and suggests reusing gift bags, boxes and tissue, with newspaper as a good alternative. Michigan's environmental agency, in its gift wrap recycling page, lists glitter, metallic paper and ribbons as not recyclable, while plain kraft paper is, and notes that Americans create 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day than any other time of year. Check your own city's rules, since recycling programs vary. The EPA's broader waste reduction tips also suggest wrapping in recycled or reused paper.
A wrap station on a budget
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Large roll of kraft paper | $8 to $15 |
| Baker's twine or jute | $3 to $6 |
| Tape | $3 to $5 |
| Gift tags (or cardstock you cut) | $0 to $5 |
| Tissue paper | $3 to $5 |
| Total | About $15 to $30 |
Keep everything in one bin with scissors and a pen, and wrap gifts as they arrive instead of all at once.
Wrap as you go, with a list
The wrapping marathon happens when you lose track of what's bought, what's arrived and what's still in a closet somewhere. The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99) gives you a gift list with a budget for every person, a stocking stuffer page and an Online Order Tracker, so you can mark each gift bought, wrapped and tagged. Add your wrapping supplies as a line in the holiday budget too. For the whole season, the Holiday Season Bundle ($15.99, $25.94 if bought separately) adds sinking funds, meal planning and a cleaning schedule. Browse all our holiday planners.
Still deciding what goes in the boxes? Our christmas gift ideas guide sorts gifts by person and budget. Running the wrap table? Our Gift Wrap Station Manager tee is for the person in charge of bows and paper.
Want a free page first? The Holiday Budget Starter Kit is three US Letter pages we email you after you join our list.
See also
The Holiday Collection
Give every person a limit and watch what's left
The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner adds up every list for you: a budget for each person, a log of each purchase and the amount left to spend, plus printable gift, card, menu and to-do pages.
- Spreadsheet for Excel and Google Sheets
- 11 printable pages, US Letter + A4
- Instant download, 14-day fix-or-refund promise
Planning the whole season? See the holiday sets from $7, with early prices through Cyber Monday
Frequently asked questions
What are some easy Christmas gift wrapping ideas? Kraft paper with twine and a sprig of greenery is the easiest pretty wrap. Other simple ideas: a color code for each person, reusable gift bags with tissue, fabric wraps tied with a knot, and handwritten tags instead of stickers.
What is the cheapest way to wrap Christmas gifts? A big roll of plain kraft paper is usually the cheapest way to wrap Christmas gifts. Dress it up with baker's twine, a rubber stamp or a drawing, and reuse gift bags, boxes and tissue you saved from last year.
Is Christmas wrapping paper recyclable? Plain paper wrap is often recyclable, but shiny, metallic, glitter or laminated wrap usually isn't. The EPA notes that shiny or laminated gift wrap often can't be recycled, and Michigan's environmental agency lists glitter, metallic paper and ribbons as not recyclable while plain kraft paper is.
How do I wrap a gift without wrapping paper? Use fabric, a scarf, a dish towel, newspaper, a map or a reusable tin. Fabric wrapping (tie the opposite corners in a knot) makes the wrap part of the gift, and the EPA suggests newspaper as a wrapping alternative.
How do I keep track of which gifts are wrapped? The Christmas Budget & Gift Planner ($4.99) keeps a gift list for every person in one place. Mark each gift bought, wrapped and tagged on the list, and the Online Order Tracker page shows which packages haven't arrived yet.
How can I tell whose gift is whose without tags? Give each person their own wrapping paper or ribbon color. A color code means tags can't fall off, and kids can find their own gifts on Christmas morning without reading.
How do I wrap an oddly shaped gift? Put it in a box, a bag or a cylinder first, or wrap it in fabric. A cereal box, oatmeal canister or paper towel tube turns almost anything into an easy shape to wrap.
How much should I spend on Christmas wrapping? Plan on about $15 to $30 for a basic wrap station: one big roll of kraft paper, twine, tape, tags and tissue. Add it as a line in your holiday budget so it doesn't hide inside 'miscellaneous.'
How do I set up a gift wrapping station? Gather paper, tape, scissors, twine, tags and a pen in one bin or on one table. Wrap in batches by person, tag each gift right away, and keep a donation box nearby for packaging you'll reuse.
How far ahead should I wrap Christmas gifts? Wrap gifts as they arrive instead of saving it all for Christmas Eve. Wrapping a few each week in December keeps the job to 15 minutes at a time and makes it easy to spot anything still missing.
Free printable
Get the free Holiday Budget Starter Kit
A one-page holiday budget, a gift list with a spending limit for every person, and a 6-week countdown so December stays calm and paid for. You'll also get our weekly HomeBase email with simple holiday planning, budgeting and hosting tips.
Sources
- EPA: How do I recycle common recyclables epa.gov
- EPA: What you can do to reduce waste epa.gov
- Michigan EGLE: Gift wrap recycling michigan.gov