How to Wrap a Present Like a Pro

Wrapping a present is a kind gesture that can show someone how much you care, and it can make the gift feel even more special to your loved one. Luckily, you can wrap a present in just a few simple steps, and it’s pretty easy to do once you get the hang of it. We’ll take you through the entire process step-by-step, and we’ll go over some unique touches like bows and embellishments, as well. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

Section 1 of 5:

How to Wrap Presents

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1
Place your gift in a box. It's much easier to wrap something that has a square or rectangular shape. Sometimes, the gift itself will already come in rectangular packaging—in that case, you can skip this step. However, if your gift is an unpackaged item like clothing or a stuffed toy, you’ll need to place it into a gift box, which you can usually find in the same store aisle as the wrapping paper.^{[1]
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- Remove the price tags from your gift at this point, as well. This is considered good etiquette, since the recipient doesn't need to know how much you spent. If you can’t remove the tag, get a pen and black out the price.
- Make sure to secure any fragile items, like glass drinkware or candles, so they don’t move around and break. Wrap these items up in some tissue paper before placing them in the gift box.
- If you don’t have a gift box and don’t have time to buy one, an old shoe box from somewhere around your house can work in a pinch. You can also make your own gift box using cardstock or felt.
Work on a flat surface, like a hardwood floor or table. Unroll the wrapping paper until you have a section that’s about twice the length of the box, but don’t cut it yet. Place the box in the middle of the paper (about halfway between the edge of the wrapping paper and the roll of wrapping paper) with the top facing down.^{[2]
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Take the edge of the wrapping paper and wrap it around so it covers about half the box. Then, pick up the tube end of the wrapping paper and cross it over to estimate how much you’ll need. As a rule of thumb, your wrapping paper should be long enough to cover the box completely, and the two sides should overlap by about an inch or two.^{[3]
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Cut the paper so that the two sides slightly overlap. Once you’ve eyeballed about how much paper you’ll need, it’s time to make your cut. Using your scissors, cut a straight line across the upper layer of wrapping paper, separating it from the rest of the roll.^{[4]
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- ”When you want to cut a straight line with scissors, it’s best to have a guide,” says arts and crafts specialist Amy Guerrero. “You can use a ruler to lightly draw a line with a pencil and then cut over the line.”
- Or, if your wrapping paper has a repeating pattern, you can “find a part of the pattern to follow in a straight line to help your cut stay straight,” Guerrero recommends.
5
Tape one side of the paper to the box. Once you’ve cut the paper to the right size, grab your tape. Make sure your gift box is still centered, then lift up one side of the wrapping paper and fold it over the box (it should reach about halfway across it). Secure the paper to the bottom of the box with a piece of tape.^{[5]
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- If you don’t have any tape, you can still wrap your gift, but it’s a bit of a different process. Check out this helpful guide on how to wrap presents without tape if you’re in this situation.
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Fold over the other side of the paper and tape it down. Fold the other side of the paper over the top of the box. It should overlap slightly with the paper you just taped down. Place a piece of tape on the center of the box, securing the top layer of paper to the bottom layer.^{[6]
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Research source} If you’re wrapping a large gift, you may need to use a few pieces of tape along the edge to make sure everything stays in place.
- The edge of this piece of paper will be visible on the outside of your gift wrap. If you didn’t cut a super straight edge, you can fold the edge of the paper inward by about a half inch (1.2 cm) to create a clean line before taping it down.^{[7]
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- If you don’t want your tape to be visible on the outside of the gift, opt for double-sided tape instead.
Two sides of the box will still have unfolded paper sticking out. Starting on one end of the box, push both sides of the paper inward, so they hug the corners of the box.^{[8]
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Folding the paper inward will create two triangle-shaped folds/flaps. Use your fingers to crease each fold so that it holds its shape.^{[9]
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At this point there should be two triangle-shaped flaps at the end of the box. Fold the top flap down, making sure it is flat against the box. Next, fold the bottom flap upward so it’s overlapping the top flap. Secure this in place with a piece of tape.^{[10]
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Research source} This side of the box should now be fully concealed by wrapping paper.^{[11]
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Repeat on the other side. Turn the box around and repeat the exact same process on the other side. Press the wrapping paper at the box's corners inward. Crease the triangle-shaped wings, then fold the upper flap downward and the lower flap upward. Secure the folds with tape.^{[12]
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- And that’s it! You’ve completed a basic gift-wrap. You can stop at this point, or you can add some embellishments to make your gift stand out even more, which we’ll cover below.

Section 2 of 5:

Adding Embellishments

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When adding embellishments, you want to work on the top side of the box (the side with no tape or seam). Flip the box over, so the top side is facing upward.
2
Add a To/From tag. It's always a nice touch to add a To/From tag on a package to give it a personal touch. You can use store-bought tags, or you can make your own by cutting decorative cardstock into the shape you’d like, writing the recipients name and your name on it, and taping it onto your gift.^{[13]
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- Many store-bought gift tags are stickers, so you can easily stick them onto your gift. There are also tags that you can tie onto your gift with ribbon or string.
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Tie a ribbon around the gift. Use a thick ribbon, which you can purchase at a department store or somewhere like Target. Turn the present upside down, so the seams you taped earlier are facing upward. Tape down the end of the ribbon in the center of the box, near where the two ends of wrapping paper are taped together. Loop the ribbon around the package length-wise until it circles the package completely. Cut the ribbon and tape down the other end.
- If desired, you can also repeat this process and wrap the ribbon around the package width-wise to create a nice criss-cross effect.
For an extra pretty touch, add a stick-on bow to the top of the gift. These bows have an adhesive sticker on the bottom, so you can secure them directly to the wrapping paper.^{[14]
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You can buy fake berries and herbs at a local gift shop or craft store. Hot glue these onto your presents as a fun, festive embellishment. This works great for winter holidays in particular, when things like red berries and holly are traditional decorations for the season.^{[15]
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EXPERT TIP

Amy Guerrero
Arts & Crafts Specialist
Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement.

Amy Guerrero
Arts & Crafts Specialist

Finish off a present with a fun decor element. After tying the package with string or ribbon, consider tucking foraged plant foliage under the ribbon, adding a pom pom or tassel, or a handmade clay tag. These unique embellishments will ensure a beautiful result.
String some bells through your ribbon before wrapping it around the present to add some flare. This is another great embellishment for the holiday season.^{[16]
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Section 3 of 5:

Wrapping a Cylinder-Shaped Gift

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1
Measure your object. Measure the circumference of the object using a measuring tape. Add 4 inches (10 cm) to the circumference. Then, measure the rough length of the object from top to bottom and the diameter of the flat side.
- To measure the circumference, wrap the measuring tape around the curve of the object.
- To measure the diameter, measure the flat side of the object from one end to the other.
- If an object has one flat side that's bigger than the other, measure the diameter of the bigger side.
2
Cut out your tissue paper. Cylinder objects should be wrapped in tissue paper instead of wrapping paper. Cut the tissue paper into the shape of a rectangle. The rectangle's width should be the object's circumference plus 4 inches (10 cm). Its height should be the diameter plus the length.
- For example, say a circle's circumference was 5 inches (13 cm), its length was 8 inches (20 cm), and its diameter was 4 inches (10 cm). Your rectangle would be 9 inches (23 cm) by 12 inches (30 cm).
Spread your paper out on a flat surface. Place the object in the rough center point of the paper.
Wrap one side of the tissue paper at a time around the rounder side of the cylinder. One side of the paper should overlap the other side slightly. Tape the upper layer of tissue paper to the lower layer at the midpoint of the object.
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Twist both ends to enclose the cylinder. The paper on the flat side of the cylinder should still be sticking out. Starting on one end, pinch the paper at the base of the object and twist it around two or three times. Then, wrap a piece of tape around the twist to secure it. Repeat on the other side.^{[17]
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- The wrapping job should resemble the wrapping of a piece of candy, like a Tootsie Roll.
- This doesn’t apply for wine bottles (even though they are sort of cylindrical). Certified wine consultant Murphy Perng recommends wrapping one or two pieces of tissue paper around the bottle then placing the whole thing into a wine bottle gift bag.

Section 4 of 5:

Why is this a good skill to have?

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Wrapping gifts shows people that you care. Your loved ones will be excited to receive any gift from you, but they’ll be even more excited and impressed if the gift is beautifully wrapped. It shows them that you actually sat down and took the time to make the gift look its best, which is a big sign that you care.
- Plus, once you learn how to wrap a gift once, you’ll pretty much have the skill locked in forever.
- This means that you can impress friends and family with neatly wrapped, aesthetically-pleasing presents for many more birthdays, holidays, baby showers, and weddings to come.

Section 5 of 5:

When is gift wrap not needed?

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For example, things like gift cards or paper receipts for an experience (a spa day, a weekend getaway, etc) don’t need to be gift wrapped.^{[18]
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Research source} Just place these inside whatever greeting card you’re using for the occasion, and seal it up in the envelope. You can also forgo wrapping paper for bigger gifts like bouquets, giant stuffed animals, appliances, or bicycles. Try tying a large bow or using a stick-on bow for these items, instead.

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Question

What can I use instead of wrapping paper?

Amy Guerrero
Arts & Crafts Specialist
Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement.

Amy Guerrero

Arts & Crafts Specialist

Expert Answer

If you'd like to forego wrapping paper, use a tea towel, scarf, or bandana to offer a beautiful and practical presentation.

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How do I make a gift look really special?

Amy Guerrero
Arts & Crafts Specialist
Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement.

Amy Guerrero

Arts & Crafts Specialist

Expert Answer

After you tie the package with string or ribbon, consider tucking foraged plant foliage under the ribbon, adding a pom pom or or tassel, or a handmade clay tag.

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How do you wrap a cylinder?

Community Answer

The easy way is to roll it in tissue paper, then twist the ends, candy wrapper style. The more professional way is to roll it in sturdy paper, leaving room on both ends. Cut the loose ends into strips going from the edge of the paper to the item inside. Fold these into the center one by one to make a fan fold, tape, then repeat on the other side.

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Things You'll Need

Wrapping paper
Scissors
Tape
Tissue paper
Bows
Ribbons
To/From tags
Optional: Measuring Tape, Bells, Fake Berries/Leaves, anything else to make your gift extra festive!

Printable Wrapping Paper

Printable Patterned Wrapping Paper

Printable Flower Wrapping Paper

Printable Heart Wrapping Paper

Tips

Clear postal tape is the best for wrapping gifts that are going through the mail, or that will be wrapped far in advance.

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You can prevent leftover gift wrap from unrolling by cutting an old toilet paper roll and sliding it around the gift wrap roll.

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