Ways to Wrap Oddly Shaped Gifts With a DIY Gift Bag & More

Download Article

Find unique gift wrapping ideas to make gift wrapping easy

Co-authored by Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: December 31, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Gift Bag Method
|
• Envelope Method
|
• Video
|
• Tips
|
• Things You'll Need

|Show more |Show less

Are you about to wrap a bunch of presents, but realize you don’t have any boxes on hand? Don’t fret, because we’ve got good news—it’s possible to wrap a gift without a box using 2 simple methods that are currently trending on TikTok. Keep reading to find a step-by-step guide to gift wrapping by creating a DIY gift bag and wrapping oversized or soft items like clothing using the envelope method. Plus, you’ll find tips, tricks, and a list of things you’ll need to wrap the most epic presents ever.

How to Wrap a Gift by Making a Gift Bag

1. Measure and cut the wrapping paper.
2. Fold either side of the paper into thirds so it overlaps, and secure it in place.
3. Create the bag’s base by folding up the bottom 2 inches (5 cm).
4. Press both sides in to make a diamond shape; fold in the top/bottom so they meet.
5. Open the bag and place the gift inside, along with any other material.
6. Fold the top flap down and punch 2 holes to slide a ribbon through for your bow.
7. Add any other decoration, like ribbons, bows, or gift tags (optional).

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Wrap a Gift Without a Box Using the Gift-Bag Method

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Measure and cut the wrapping paper to size. Before wrapping your present, place your gift on a flat surface to measure its dimensions. Measure additional wrapping paper for the folds, overlap, and bag depth. The final piece of wrapping paper should be a large rectangle.

   • Width: Add 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 centimeters) for the seam where the sides of the bag join and slightly overlap.
   • Height (length): Add 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) to the total height to include space for the bottom fold and the top closure.
   • Avoid trying to make a gift bag without having the gift, so you can measure its dimensions.
2. 
   2
   Fold both sides of your wrapping paper into thirds. Take the left and right sides of your wrapping paper and fold them into the middle so they overlap slightly, and are folded into thirds. Tape along the seam in one or 2 places so your rectangle becomes a loop.

   • Use double-sided tape or a glue stick if you want to conceal the tape completely.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Bend up and fold the bottom section like an envelope to create the bag's base. Pick up the bottom edge of your folded wrapping paper and fold it up 2 inches (5 centimeters) to create the bottom of your gift bag. The size of the bottom fold itself is usually about one-third of the width of the bag.

   • Be sure to fold far enough so the bag will hold your gift.
   • It’s better to have a little extra space than not have enough room.
4. 
   4
   Press both sides of the base towards each other to create a diamond shape. Take each side of the folded bottom section in your hands. Open them by pressing both side edges in towards the center to create a flat diamond or kite shape. Crease the 4 corner seams so they stay in place.
5. 
   5
   Fold the top and bottom ends so they meet in the center. One at a time, pick up the top and bottom ends of the diamond and fold them both in towards the middle so they meet at the horizontal center crease (without overlapping). Crease the top and bottom seams and secure the bottom base in place with tape.

   • Double-check your seams and add extra tape if you want to secure them further.
6. 
   6
   Open the bag and place the gift inside. Turn the bag right side up and hold it in one hand while you gently place your other hand inside to flatten the base against a flat surface. Take your gift and place it inside the bag exactly how you want to position it.

   • Stuff some tissue paper into the gift bag if you want to fill extra space around the gift itself.
   • Avoid placing anything breakable into the bag without some kind of padding or extra gift wrap/tissue paper for protection.
7. 
   7
   Create a top flap and secure your bag with a ribbon. Fold down the top of the bag about 2 inches (5 centimeters) to create a flap. Use a hole punch to create 2 holes about a third of the way in from each end. Slip a ribbon through the 2 holes and tie it in a bow.

   • If you don’t have a hole punch, make 2 small holes with a thin pair of scissors.
8. 
   8
   Add any additional decoration to your bag (optional). You can curl your ribbon or add bows to the bag, or add a gift tag. Now is the time to get creative so your DIY gift bag looks its best!

   • Try making a larger gift bag that you can fit a few small items into all at once. Avoid placing anything too heavy in the bag to prevent it from tearing.
   • Always remember that practice makes perfect—once you make a few gift bags, it’ll become easier and they’ll start to look amazing!
Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Envelope Method to Wrap a Gift Without a Box

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Measure and cut your wrapping paper to size. Place the item in the center of your wrapping paper. Hold the paper about halfway up along the sides of the item and loosely fold the paper around the item to make sure you have enough room for one inch (2.5 centimeters) of overlap, plus about 2 extra inches (5 centimeters) along the top and the bottom.

   • Avoid too much excess paper so your gift wrap looks neat.
   • Use the grid lines on the inside of the wrapping paper as a guide so you can cut as straight as possible.
   • If you’re gift wrapping clothing, fold it neatly before placing it in the wrapping paper.
2. 
   2
   Fold each side of the paper over the gift. Place the gift in the center of the paper. Pull one long side of the paper over it and tape it down as close to the other end of the gift. Pull the remaining side of wrapping paper over the gift and tape it down, making sure that the 2 sides overlap. Pull the paper taut before securing it with tape in 3 places. The taped seam should look like a flat, envelope fold.
3. 
   3
   Fold the short sides inward to seal the ends. Turn the gift to the side, so the short side is facing you. Fold the corners inward to create small triangles on each end. Fold the short side in a straight line, covering about 1.5 to 2 inches (3.8 to 5 centimeters). Fold it the same way again and tape the short side in a few places. Repeat with the other short side of the gift.

   • Once again, pull the wrapping paper taut before taping it down so the gift stays snug in its packaging.
4. 
   4
   Add ribbon or a bow to your gift. You can tie one piece of ribbon across the horizontal side of the gift or cross it in the middle and tie it around the gift vertically, as well. Tie a bow, curl the ribbon with scissors, or add another bow to the gift.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Tips

• Alternatives you can use when you don’t have gift boxes include baskets or crates, totes or canvas bags, jars or tins, and storage bins.
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Other gift wrapping methods you can try include wrapping with tissue paper, Japanese-style gift wrapping, and wrapping cylinder-shaped gifts.
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Additional gift wrapping hacks include wrapping presents without tape, wrapping small gifts by making a box with a greeting card, or wrapping a gift using fabric.
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement

Things You'll Need

• Wrapping paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• Hole punch (gift bag method only)
• Ribbon
• Additional bows, tags, or tissue paper (optional)