How Much Wrapping Paper Do You Need Per Gift?

For a box, you need the width of the paper to cover twice the box width plus twice the box height, plus about two inches of overlap. For length, you need the box length plus about 60 percent of its height on each end. One roll here holds two sheets at 20 by 29 inches, which wraps roughly two medium gifts.

Everyone has done the thing. You cut the paper, you fold it over, and there is a three-inch gap of naked cardboard staring at you. Then you tape a second scrap over it and pretend that was the plan.

The fix is thirty seconds of measuring, or one piece of geometry you can do in your head. Either way it saves paper, which matters when the paper is nice.

So here is the math, the shortcut version of the math, and how far a roll actually goes.

How Do You Measure Wrapping Paper for a Box?

Two measurements, both easy.

For the wrap-around direction: add the box width twice and the box height twice, then add two inches for overlap. A box that is 8 inches wide and 3 inches tall needs 8 plus 8 plus 3 plus 3 plus 2, which is 24 inches.

For the end-to-end direction: take the box length and add about 60 percent of the box height to each end. That 8 by 3 inch box, if it is 12 inches long, needs 12 plus about 2 plus about 2, so roughly 16 inches.

So that gift needs a piece roughly 24 by 16 inches. A 20 by 29 inch sheet covers it comfortably, with a strip left over for a second small gift or a hand-cut tag.

The shortcut, if you do not want to measure

Set the box on the paper and roll it over one full rotation plus a bit. Where it lands is your cut line. For the ends, the paper should come at least halfway up the side of the box when folded. If it does not, you need more.

How Many Gifts Does One Roll Wrap?

Each roll holds two sheets at 20 by 29 inches, so here is a rough guide.

• Small gifts (a book, a mug, a tea towel): about 4 to 6 per roll
• Medium gifts (a shoebox, a sweater box): about 2 per roll
• Large gifts (a bulky box): 1 per roll, sometimes with piecing

If you are wrapping a stack of similar-sized things, buy one more roll than you think you need. Leftover paper gets used. Running out on the last gift does not.

The wrapping paper collection is where to stock up, and the bundles are worth a look if you want a few coordinating patterns at once.

What to Do With the Scraps

Do not throw them out. Matte paper scraps are genuinely useful.

Cut them into gift tags and punch a hole in the corner. Use a strip as a band around a plain kraft box. Line the inside of a gift bag so the tissue has something to sit against. Wrap a small jar of jam. Fold a little envelope for a gift card.

I keep a shoebox of scraps under my wrapping station and it is one of the more useful boxes in my house.

When You Should Skip the Paper Entirely

Some gifts are not worth the fight. Anything round, anything with a handle, anything shaped like a bicycle helmet.

For those, use a gift bag and put your effort into the tag and the tissue instead. Or wrap the gift in a tea towel, which turns the packaging into part of the present and requires zero geometry.

Measure Once, Cut Once

The two-measurement method takes less time than fixing a gap, and it means one roll goes further. That is the whole post.

Browse the wrapping paper collection when you are stocking up.

For more, read How to Set Up a Gift Wrapping Station at Home, How to Wrap a Birthday Gift So It Looks Like You Tried, and Wrap a Gift in a Tea Towel: Reusable Fabric Gift Wrap.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you calculate how much wrapping paper you need?

For the wrap-around direction, add twice the box width plus twice the box height plus two inches of overlap. For the end-to-end direction, add the box length plus roughly 60 percent of the box height at each end.

How many gifts can you wrap with one roll of wrapping paper?

Each roll holds two sheets at 20 by 29 inches. That is roughly 4 to 6 small gifts, about 2 medium gifts, or 1 large one. Buy one more roll than you think you need.

What size are the wrapping paper sheets?

Each sheet measures 20 by 29 inches, and every roll contains two of them. The sheets are matte rather than glossy, which means they take tape cleanly and photograph without glare.

What can you do with wrapping paper scraps?

Cut them into gift tags, use a strip as a band on a plain box, line a gift bag, wrap a small jar, or fold a gift card envelope. Keep a scrap box near your wrapping supplies and it will earn its keep.

Should you wrap round or awkward gifts in paper?

Usually not. Round shapes, handles, and irregular objects fight flat paper. A gift bag or a fabric wrap like a tea towel handles them better, and lets you put the effort into the tag and finish instead.