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How to Wrap a Hamper (With or Without Cellophane)
To wrap a hamper, stand the filled basket in the middle of a square of cellophane, gather all four sides up over the top and tie them tight with ribbon. That is the whole method. The skill is in cutting the right size and keeping the folds neat. MakeHampers sends every hamper packed by hand in the UK, ready to hand over.
Quick answer: Cut a square of cellophane, stand the hamper in the middle, bring all four sides up over the top, fold the corners into flat pleats and tie it tightly with ribbon. Then trim the top into a neat fan.
What You Need to Wrap a Hamper
You need a roll of clear cellophane, about a metre of ribbon, Sellotape, scissors and a gift tag. A handful of shredded paper helps too. Most of it costs a few pounds from a craft shop.
The size rule: the one number worth knowing is the size of the sheet. Cut a square. Each side should be the basket's width, plus twice its height, plus 20cm for the gathered top. A basket 30cm wide and 25cm tall, contents included, needs a sheet about one metre square.
Short of time? Our gift hampers arrive already packed in a box, basket or bucket, so there's nothing to wrap.
How to Wrap a Hamper in Cellophane, Step by Step
- Settle the contents first. Tallest item at the back, smaller ones in front, shredded paper in the gaps. Lift the basket and give it a gentle shake. If anything moves, add more shredded paper.
- Cut the sheet. Use the size rule above. Too small and it won't meet at the top. Too big and you'll be fighting folds.
- Centre the basket. Stand it in the middle of the sheet, with the best side facing one corner.
- Bring up two opposite sides. Hold them together above the basket in one hand.
- Bring up the other two. Fold the spare at each corner into a flat pleat, like the end of a wrapped present. Keep the pleats at the sides, away from the front.
- Tie it off. Gather everything at the top, give it one twist and tie the ribbon tight with a double knot. Then add the bow.
- Trim and tidy. Cut the top into an even fan about a hand's width above the ribbon. Stick down any loose seam at the back with Sellotape, and wipe off fingerprints with a dry cloth.
1. Cut and centre
2. Bring the sides up and pleat
3. Tie and trim
Two tips: Shrink-wrap bags tighten with a hairdryer on low heat, but ordinary cellophane does not, so check which you've bought. And for a basket with a handle, gather the sheet above the handle and tie it there, so it can still be carried.
How to Wrap a Hamper Without Cellophane
Cellophane mostly keeps things in place for the journey. If you're handing the hamper over in person, you can skip it.
Fabric. Set the hamper on a large square scarf or tea towel, about a metre across. Tie two opposite corners over the top, then the other two. The wrap becomes part of the gift, and there's no plastic.
Kraft paper and string. Best for a box or crate. Wrap it like a parcel and tie it with twine. It hides the contents, so add a tag that says what's inside.
Tissue and ribbon. For an open basket, tuck tissue paper around the contents and tie a ribbon around the handle. Simple, and the food stays on show.
A large gift bag. Fine for a small hamper on the day. Stand bottles upright and lay tissue over the top.
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Which Hamper Wrap to Use
| Wrap | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Clear cellophane | Baskets where you want the food on show | Creases easily and is usually plastic |
| Shrink-wrap bag | Uneven baskets you want tight and glossy | Needs a hairdryer and can squash soft items |
| Fabric square | Plastic-free gifts, where the wrap is part of the present | Needs a square about a metre across |
| Kraft paper and string | Boxes and crates | Hides the contents |
| Tissue and ribbon | Open baskets handed over in person | Gives no protection in transit |
| Gift bag | Small hampers and last-minute gifts | Tall bottles can tip over |
How to Wrap a Hamper for Posting
Cellophane is decoration. It won't protect anything in a courier van. Wrap the hamper as normal, then put it inside a sturdy cardboard box with padding on every side, so it can't slide. Give each bottle its own sleeve. Mark the box "fragile" and "this way up".
Fresh food changes things. Cheese needs a cool pack and next-day delivery, or it arrives warm. This is the point where plenty of people decide to buy one. Every hamper we send is packed for the courier, cheese travels in an insulated cool bag, and a free gift message of up to 240 characters goes in the box.
Already Packed, No Wrapping Needed
Wicker basket
The Celebration
Galvanised bucket
Bucket of Beers
Insulated cool bag
Cheese Cool Bag
Gift box
Baglietti Prosecco Gift Box
Getting the Finish Right
Lift the contents on a bed of shredded paper so the labels sit above the rim of the basket. Put the one best item front and centre. Match the ribbon to the occasion: red or gold at Christmas, something softer for a birthday. A handwritten tag on the ribbon does more than any bow.
For what goes inside, see our guide to what to put in a hamper. Wrapping one for December? Our Christmas hamper ideas sort the contents by person, and our Christmas Eve box ideas for adults cover the night before.
Packed by hand in the UK, with free UK delivery and a free gift message.
How to Wrap a Hamper: Frequently Asked Questions
Stand the filled hamper in the centre of a square of cellophane. Bring two opposite sides up over the top, then the other two, folding each corner into a flat pleat. Gather it all at the top, twist once and tie tightly with ribbon. Trim the top into an even fan about a hand's width above the bow.
Cut a square where each side equals the basket's width, plus twice its height, plus 20cm for the gathered top. A basket 30cm wide and 25cm tall, contents included, needs a sheet about one metre square.
Use a large fabric square, tying opposite corners over the top, for a plastic-free wrap. A box or crate can go in kraft paper and string. An open basket handed over in person only needs tissue paper and a ribbon on the handle.
Keep it on the roll until you cut it, and handle it by the edges with dry hands. Fold the corners into flat pleats instead of bunching them. A sharp crease won't come out, so cut a fresh sheet if the front gets marked.
Not on its own. Cellophane gives no protection in transit. Put the wrapped hamper inside a sturdy cardboard box with padding on every side, sleeve each bottle, and mark it fragile. Fresh food like cheese also needs a cool pack and next-day delivery.
Yes. Every MakeHampers hamper arrives packed in its own gift box, basket, bucket, tray or cool bag, ready to hand over. There is no wrapping to do, delivery is free across the UK, and a free gift message of up to 240 characters goes in with it.