General Gift Wrapping Tips

• Find a large, clean, flat surface: Clear a space to wrap before you begin. Choose a clean area to limit the amount of dust that gets caught in the tape. The larger the space, the better—wrapping projects often take up more space than you might expect.
• Remove the price tag: If you’re wrapping a store-bought item, always take off the price tag beforehand. It’s considered impolite to keep the tag on.
• Put the gift in a box: A box is the easiest shape to wrap, and the smaller the box the fewer supplies you’ll need to use. For these reasons, it’s best to use the smallest box you can find to accommodate your gift.
• Measure—don’t estimate: Don’t guess how much paper you’ll need and then cut an amount that you think will work. Instead, follow this guide’s calculations to specify the exact amount of paper to cut. This way, you’ll limit paper waste.
• Keep the paper taut: Always pull the paper as taut as you can when wrapping. The more closely the paper adheres to the shape of the gift, the more professional the wrapping job will look.