How to Wrap a Christmas Hamper or Gift Basket: Cellophane, Tissue and Ribbon

A hamper sells on how it looks from the doorway. The contents matter, but a crisp cellophane finish, a tidy gather and a good ribbon are what make someone reach for it. This guide walks through wrapping a Christmas hamper or gift basket from the base up, with the cellophane sizes, tissue and ribbon to match. Most gift shops start with BOPP cellophane rolls because they let you cut a sheet to suit any basket.

If you only want one thing to try first, the clear BOPP cellophane sheets, 1000 x 1000mm are a good size for a standard round basket. Read on for how to work out what suits yours.

What do you need to wrap a hamper?

There are five layers, and each one has a job. Get them in this order and the finished hamper looks deliberate rather than stuffed.

The first layer is padding in the base of the basket or box. Scrunched tissue paper works well, and it lifts the contents so everything shows. The second layer is the contents themselves, with the tallest items at the back and the smallest at the front. The third layer is the cellophane that wraps the whole thing. The fourth is the closure that holds the gather, and the fifth is the finish: ribbon, jute or a tag.

Cellophane is the layer people ask about most. Most cellophane sold today is BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene), a clear plastic film that is more moisture and tear resistant than the original cellulose type. Our cellophane guide covers the types in more detail.

Step 1: Line the base with tissue

Lay two or three sheets of tissue in the bottom of the basket, scrunch them loosely and let the edges hang over the rim. This does two things. It props the contents up so they sit high in the cellophane, and it gives you a soft colour behind clear film, which looks far better than the bare bottom of a basket.

Red, white and gold read as Christmas straight away. If the hamper holds anything delicate or something you want to keep from yellowing, our guide to acid-free tissue paper explains when it matters. For most food and gift hampers, standard coloured tissue is fine.

Starter picks for hamper wrapping

Step 2: Choose the right cellophane size

This is where most hamper wrapping goes wrong. Too small and you cannot gather the film without it tearing at the base. Too large and the gather turns into a bulky knot.

You have three formats to choose from. Cellophane sheets come pre-cut in 500 x 700mm and 1000 x 1000mm, which suits shops wrapping a steady number of similar baskets. Rolls run from 300mm to 1000mm wide, so you cut to length for odd shapes or very large hampers. Cellophane bags suit the small gifts that go inside the hamper, such as biscuits, soaps and candles.

For a rough guide to sheet size, take the distance from the centre of the base, up the side, to the point where you will gather, and double it. As a working example (our own estimate, so test one first): a round basket about 300mm across, with the tallest item standing roughly 200mm high, needs a square sheet of about 1000mm. Smaller baskets and boxes can use the 500 x 700mm sheet. If your baskets vary a lot, a roll gives you the flexibility to cut each one to fit.

Step 3: Wrap and gather

Lay the sheet flat, centre the basket on it and bring the film up each side. The rule of thumb in our cellophane guide is that the film should pass around the item about one and a third times, so there is enough to gather without strain.

Gather the film above the tallest item, leaving roughly 150 to 300mm of film above it for the gather. Hold it with one hand, pull the sides taut with the other, and space the natural pleats evenly around the neck. Fold or tuck any raw edge under so every visible line is a clean crease, not a ragged cut.

If the hamper contains food, BOPP cellophane is widely used around bakery items, confectionery and dried goods. For fatty, wet or hot foods, check the specification for your product first, and keep any loose food in its own bag inside the hamper.

Step 4: Close it and finish it

A rubber band or a length of ribbon holds the gather while you finish. For a clean look, use a curling ribbon and curl the tails with a blade or scissors, or use jute rope for a natural look. Both come from the same ribbon and jute rope collection. Tie the bow over the closure so no band shows, then fluff the top of the film so it stands up.

Add a gift tag and you are done. A hamper wrapped this way sits on a shelf or a market table without needing a box, and it carries well in a gift paper bag if the customer wants a handle.

Step 5: Wrap the gifts inside

If your hamper includes boxed gifts or books, wrap those first so the basket stays tidy. Christmas wrapping paper rolls suit this well. For example, the Red Christmas Santa roll is 500mm wide, 60 metres long and 80gsm, which is plenty of paper for a stack of small boxes. Other designs in the collection may differ, so check each product page for its size. A roll of tape completes the kit.

How much should you stock for a run of hampers?

Work from the number of hampers you expect to sell, then add a buffer. These figures are an assumption for a small shop making 50 hampers, not QIS data, so adjust them for your own baskets.

• Cellophane: 50 sheets of 1000 x 1000mm, which is a quarter of one pack of 200. A roll is better if your baskets vary in size.
• Tissue: about four sheets per hamper, so around 200 sheets, which is less than half a pack of 500.
• Ribbon: about 1.5 metres per hamper, so around 75 metres. One 457m roll covers several hundred hampers.
• Gift bags: one per hamper if you sell carry-out.

Buy a little more cellophane than you think you need. The first few hampers are where you learn what size suits, and every spoilt sheet comes out of the count.

When should you order?

Order earlier than you think. QIS ships Australia-wide, and orders placed before 12pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day, but delivery time depends on where you are and regional areas take longer. Check carrier cut-off dates directly with your carrier. Our Christmas packaging order deadlines guide covers the planning side.

Where to go next

The packaging for gift shops and homewares page puts the gift range in one place. If you wrap bouquets as well, see packaging for florists, and if you sell hampers from a stall, the market stalls and farmers markets page covers what to bring. For larger quantities, request a quote.

You can also pick up from our Archerfield QLD warehouse between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, and our 5% price-beat guarantee applies. For help choosing, call 1800 555 343.

Frequently asked questions

What size cellophane do I need for a gift basket?

It depends on the basket. As a working guide, a round basket about 300mm across with contents up to roughly 200mm high suits a 1000 x 1000mm sheet. Smaller baskets and boxes can use 500 x 700mm. If your baskets vary, a roll lets you cut to fit.

Should I use cellophane sheets or a roll?

Sheets are quicker if you wrap lots of similar baskets, because the size is already right. A roll is better when sizes vary, because you cut each piece to length. Rolls run from 300mm to 1000mm wide.

How do I stop cellophane tearing when I gather it?

Use a sheet large enough that the film is not stretched tight around the base, and leave roughly 150 to 300mm above the tallest item for the gather. Pull the film taut by the sides, not from the top.

Can I put food in a cellophane-wrapped hamper?

BOPP cellophane is widely used around bakery, confectionery and dried goods. For fatty, wet or hot foods, check the specification for your application, and keep loose food in its own bag inside the hamper.

What goes in the bottom of a hamper?

Scrunched tissue paper. It props the contents up, gives a coloured backdrop behind clear film, and cushions fragile items.

How early should I order hamper packaging?

As early as you can. Same-day dispatch applies to orders placed before 12pm Monday to Friday, but delivery varies by location, so allow extra for regional areas and check carrier dates with your carrier.