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This guide breaks down how to become an expert gift wrapper, including what to look for when shopping for wrapping paper, how to personalize presents to make them extra meaningful, and how to make a gift bag out of wrapping paper.
Sometimes, presentation matters. Being a great gift wrapper isn’t just a holiday skill. It matters for birthdays, hostess gifts, and making those little just-thinking-of-you presents feel all the more meaningful. In fact, a recent study by Talker Research found that half of Americans say presentation matters when receiving a gift—but only a third claim to be excellent gift wrappers.
So we’re here to help close that gap. In this article, the stationery experts at Minted share everything you need to know to take your gift wrapping skills to the next level, from how to shop for high-quality wrapping paper (it matters, trust us!) to how to tackle wrapping uniquely shaped items.
What Makes the Best Gift Wrapping Paper
Not all wrapping papers are created equal. Here’s what to look for when shopping for gift wrap:
- Medium-weight wrapping paper will allow you to get clean cuts and create sharp edges when wrapping—anything too thin will tear, and anything too thick will be challenging to fold.
- Having a mix of wrapping paper rolls and single sheets of wrapping paper in your stash means you’ll be ready to wrap gifts of all sizes. When buying sheets, look for those that are generously sized, so they can be cut down and used across multiple gifts.
- High-quality finishes such as foil-pressed and glitter details shouldn’t rub off or flake when wrapping.
Where to Buy Wrapping Paper
Wrapping paper is available to shop online and in most major stores, as well as specialty stationery shops. If you’re looking for wrapping paper that doubles as art, check out Minted’s selection of wrapping paper rolls and sheets, which feature designs created by independent artists around the world printed on highly durable paper made from finely ground stones instead of trees.
Birthdays and Beyond: How to Choose The Right Wrapping Paper for the Occasion
Every great gift giver has a stash of wrapping paper that they can dip into for every occasion. So, if you’re working on rounding out your gift-wrap library, here’s what we recommend.
Children’s Birthdays
When it comes to wrapping children’s gifts, look for paper that is playful and fun. Having a few rolls of paper in patterns with bold colors, fun animals, and quirky “happy birthday” typography is a great way to make the birthday boy or girl feel special.
Baby Shower Gifts
When wrapping a baby shower gift, go for wrapping paper inspired by classic nursery themes — think storybook-inspired prints, soft pastels, and super sweet design details.
Adults’ Birthdays
Look for wrapping paper designs that feature a grown-up take on birthday iconography — think polka dots that are reminiscent of confetti, birthday candle motifs, or fun checkered patterns.
Wedding Gifts
When wrapping a wedding gift, we love the idea of choosing a wrapping paper that matches the aesthetic of the wedding invitation stationery you’ve already received, so look out for styles in coordinating colors or patterns. If you can’t find anything that matches the wedding’s theme, go for bridal-inspired white paper.
Hostess Gifts
Make your gift feel as sophisticated as the hostess you’re giving it to by going with gift wrap that doubles as art and features elevated foil-pressed details.
Just-because Gifts
Keep a few seasonally inspired rolls of wrapping paper in your stash to help make random gifts feel extra special. Look for springtime-inspired florals, wintergreen patterns for non-holiday gifts, fall textures, and vibrant summer patterns.
Holiday Gifts
We love the look of presents piled up in a few different complementary wrapping papers. So look for two or three designs that share the same color palette, but feature different textures or motifs. It’s also a good idea to have a more neutral, holiday-inspired wrapping paper on hand if you plan to give gifts to those who may not celebrate the same holidays as you. (For more ideas on how to wrap your holiday gifts, check out our complete holiday gift wrapping guide.)
Unique and Personalized Gift Wrapping Paper
One of the most fun ways to make a gift feel extra special is to invest in personalized gift wrap and accessories. Wrapping paper that features a photo of the person you’re giving the gift to, your family’s monogram, or even a beloved pet is a great way to elevate even the smallest gift into something your recipient will remember for years to come.
Gift wrap accessories, including gift tags and stickers, are another great way to easily personalize any gift. Invest in a few custom family gift tags (think one for holidays, one that features your child’s name that you can use for your never-ending calendar of birthday parties, and one that works for any occasion) that can be threaded onto bows and ribbons.
Wrapping Paper Designs & Trending Styles
Wrapping paper is a great way to express your personal style. Here are a few of our favorite wrapping paper designs and trends to watch out for when shopping.
Modern & Minimalist
Clean lines, sparse patterns, and neutral color palettes are a chic option for gift wrap. We love pairing more minimal wrapping paper designs with a bow in a bold color to keep things feeling festive.
Whimsical
From storybook-inspired illustrations to cute motifs, whimsical wrapping paper is perfect for children’s gifts and just-because presents alike.
Botanical
From pop-art inspired to painterly patterns, there are plenty of ways to get in on the botanical wrapping paper trend.
Classic & Traditional
Keep gifts feeling polished with wrapping paper that features traditional design codes: think classic patterns like stripes and plaids, wallpaper-inspired florals, and delicate foil accents.
How to Wrap a Gift with Wrapping Paper, Step by Step
Wrapping gifts can feel intimidating, but it’s more science than art. Start by measuring out the paper you’ll need, cut it, then make angled folds to wrap it seamlessly around corners. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Measure out the paper you’ll need by placing your gift on the sheet or roll. Then, roll your gift over three times to ensure you cut enough paper.
- Pull the wrapping paper tightly over one side of the gift box, creating a sharp crease with your fingers wherever it comes into contact with an edge before securing it with tape.
- Do the same on the other side of the gift box. This should leave you with two open ends of your box.
- Secure the open ends by pushing the sides of the paper inward along the shorter edge of your box, creating a sharp crease along each side.
- Once your paper is pushed inward, you should be left with two longer flaps. Tuck in any excess paper by creating 45-degree angles at each corner.
- Fold the top flap of the wrapping paper down, creating a sharp crease along the top edge of the gift box. If you need to, create another crease at the bottom of the box so any excess paper can fold cleanly.
- Repeat this process on the bottom edge of the box, and secure it with tape.
- Then, repeat steps 4-7 on the other side of the box.
- Add a bow by cutting a piece of ribbon to be about five times as long as your gift box.
- Lay the box face-down in the center of your ribbon before pulling the ends up and bringing them right over left.
- Pull the ribbons width-wise so they cross, creating a grid shape.
- Turn the box over and thread each side of the ribbon under the perpendicular piece of ribbon already in place.
- Double-knot, then thread on your gift tag, if you’re using one.
- Tie a bow using your fingers to create the loops.
- If needed, trim the ends of your ribbon down to fit your box.
Wrapping Irregularly-shaped gifts
The process we just covered should work with modifications for most gifts. Whenever you encounter a corner, be sure to create a sharp crease in your wrapping paper before forming 45-degree angles around corners.
How to Make a Gift Bag Out of Wrapping Paper
It’s easy to create a gift bag out of the wrapping paper you already have at home if you need to wrap irregularly shaped gifts or want to put a few small gifts into a single bag. Here’s how to do it:
- Start with a rectangular piece of wrapping paper that is about three times as long as the gift you want to wrap.
- Fold one side of the paper towards the center, along the longer edge. Repeat on the other side so that it overlaps slightly, then secure with a few pieces of tape.
- To create the bottom of the bag, fold one of the remaining open ends about a quarter of the way up.
- Fold each corner of the flap you just created at a 45-degree angle.
- Open the flap you just made, pushing the 45-degree folds you made at each corner inward to create a diamond shape.
- Fold one side of the diamond slightly over the center line of the bottom, creating a 45-degree angle at the corners. Repeat on the other side, then secure with tape.
- To create the sides of the bag, fold each of the long sides starting at the bottom corner, creating a sharp crease as you go.
- Open the bag by pressing the creases you just made outwards.
- Create a handle by using a hole punch to punch two holes on each side of the bag. Then, thread a piece of ribbon through the holes and secure it by tying the ends together in a knot or bow.
Wrapped with Care
Receiving a beautifully wrapped gift is one of the simplest pleasures in life. So choosing the right wrapping paper — remember, medium-weight with a high-quality design that feels just right for the occasion—is a great way to make gift-giving more thoughtful, whether it’s a birthday, a holiday, or simply a Tuesday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions about wrapping paper? Here’s where you become an expert.
What size wrapping paper roll do I need for most gifts?
Look for wrapping paper that comes in a roll that is 2 ½ feet long. Typically, rolls will list how many yards of wrapping paper they contain — pay attention to that measurement to determine how many rolls you might need to buy to wrap every gift on your list.
Is personalized wrapping paper worth the extra cost?
Personalized wrapping paper is a fun way to make gifts feel tailored to the recipient. If you think you’ll use it on more than one occasion, it is absolutely worth the cost. A gift tag personalized with your name or family monogram is another great way to make gifts feel extra special.
Can I turn wrapping paper into a gift bag?
Yes! Create a gift bag by folding a large, rectangular sheet of wrapping paper into an envelope that is open on one side. Start by folding the long sides into the center and then securing that seam with tape. Then, fold the bottom into a diamond shape and secure both sides to each other to create the bottom of the bag. Fold creases along the long ends of the bag to create sides and use ribbons to create a handle.
