Empty Gift Baskets & DIY Basket Supplies

Choosing a Container: Baskets, Crates, Boxes and More

The container sets the tone, decides how well the gift travels and, if you choose well, becomes part of the present. Here's how the common options compare.

Wicker and woven baskets

The classic choice. Handles make them easy to carry, and they're reusable for storage or picnics. On the downside, open tops need a secure wrap, and loose weaves can snag cellophane.

Wire baskets

Modern and farmhouse-friendly, with contents visible from every side. Line them with fabric or paper, since the gaps let small items slip through.

Wooden crates

Rugged and roomy, ideal for heavy jars, bottles and tools. They weigh more to ship, and rough edges should be sanded or lined.

Gift boxes

The most dependable option for mailing: lids protect everything, boxes stack, and they fit inside a shipping carton. They're less dramatic on arrival, so dress them up with tissue and a wide ribbon.

Tins and buckets

Tins keep cookies and popcorn fresh; galvanized buckets suit barbecue, beach and garden themes. Both are sturdy and reusable, though heavy contents can make a bucket top-heavy.

Totes and containers that are part of the gift

A canvas tote, a picnic basket, a cooler, a colander, a watering can or a small laundry basket gives the recipient a second present. These work best when the container matches the theme.

How to pick the right size

Lay out everything you plan to include, arranged roughly as it will sit, and measure that footprint. A basket about the same size or slightly smaller keeps items snug; one that's much bigger needs mountains of filler and still looks sparse. For height, a rim that reaches a third to halfway up your tallest item lets the contents show above the edge. If you're stocking up, nesting sets in three sizes cover most gifts.

A quick word on basket materials and weaves

Gift baskets are woven from willow, rattan, seagrass, water hyacinth, bamboo or paper rope, or built from thin wood strips. Tighter weaves hold their shape and look more formal; looser weaves are lighter and more casual but let small items slip. Whatever the material, check for splinters and a firmly attached handle, and line the basket before adding any unwrapped food.

The Supplies That Make a Basket Look Professional

You don't need much, but each of these has a job:

• Base filler: crumpled kraft paper, newspaper wrapped in tissue or an upside-down box to raise items above the rim. It gives the basket height and saves shred.
• Crinkle paper shred: the visible top layer that hides the base and fills gaps. Pick colors that match the theme.
• Tissue paper: lines the container and softens hard edges.
• Cellophane bags or rolls: a clear wrap that holds everything in and gives a finished look. Bags are easier; rolls handle odd shapes.
• Shrink wrap bags: tighten with heat for a snug, secure finish, which is ideal for baskets that travel.
• Ribbon and bows: wired ribbon holds its shape, pull bows are fast and curling ribbon is the budget option.
• Tags and card holders: a hole-punched tag on the ribbon or a clear card pick tucked into the shred.
• Hidden helpers: glue dots, double-sided tape, twist ties and a few clear zip ties for anchoring bottles.

How big a cellophane bag do you need?

Measure the filled basket. For a flat bag, the width should be at least the basket's width plus its depth. For the length, add the full height to the top of the tallest item, half the depth and about 6 to 8 inches for gathering and tying. Between sizes? Go bigger, because a bag that's too short can't be fixed.

How to Assemble a Gift Basket, Step by Step

1. Lay everything out. Group items by height and decide which side of the container will be the front.
2. Build the base. Fill the bottom third to half with crumpled paper or an upside-down box so items will sit at or just above the rim, then cover it with a thin layer of shred.
3. Place the anchor item. Stand the largest or most important piece — a bottle, a tin, a boxed candle — at the back center.
4. Layer tall to short. Work from back to front with labels facing out: tall items behind, medium in the middle, small treats in front. Tilt flat boxes slightly so they're visible.
5. Fill the gaps. Tuck shred and small items into every gap. Give the basket a gentle shake; if anything moves, add filler or a glue dot.
6. Secure heavy pieces. Tie bottles to the handle or the weave with ribbon or a clear zip tie.
7. Wrap it. Slide the basket into a cellophane or shrink bag, gather the top above the tallest item and fasten it with a twist tie. Heat shrink bags evenly, keeping the heat moving.
8. Finish with a bow and a card. Cover the twist tie with a bow and attach a tag. Need wording? Our gift basket card messages are ready to copy.

Mailing it? Pack the basket snugly inside a shipping box with padding on every side. Cellophane keeps out dust, not the bumps of a delivery truck.

Theme Ideas to Build Around

A clear theme makes shopping faster and the finished basket more memorable. A few that work especially well with an empty container:

• Seasonal: fill a pastel basket with Easter basket treats, or an orange-and-black bucket for fall boo baskets.
• Care packages: snacks, comfort items and notes from home in a lidded box that ships well; our care packages page lists what to include.
• Fundraisers: schools and clubs often build dozens at once, and our silent auction basket ideas cover themes, anchors and display.
• Everything else: from coffee lovers to new parents, our list of gift basket ideas has more than 60 themes with what to pack in each.

Budget Tips for DIY Gift Baskets

• Reuse and repurpose. Save sturdy baskets, tins and boxes from past gifts, and check thrift stores, where good baskets turn up often.
• Buy supplies in multipacks. Cellophane bags, shred and bows cost much less per basket when you buy for several gifts at once, such as a season of teacher, neighbor and holiday presents.
• Spend on the anchor, save on the fillers. One excellent item and a few small extras look better than a dozen forgettable ones.
• Use filler that's useful. A dish towel, a scarf or a pair of socks fills space and adds value at the same time.
• Shop seasonal clearance. After holidays, containers, ribbon and shred in neutral colors are often marked down.
• Make something. Homemade cookies, granola or spice blends cost little and mean a lot.

Is DIY actually cheaper?

Not always. For a single basket, the container, filler and wrap can cost about as much as the markup on a ready-made one, especially if you buy supplies you won't use again. DIY pays off when you're making several baskets, want very specific contents or already have supplies on hand. To compare finished options, start with gourmet food gift baskets or read our guide on how to choose a gift basket.

Making Several Baskets at Once

Teacher gifts, neighbor treats, client thank-yous and fundraiser tables often mean a dozen baskets or more. An assembly line keeps them consistent and saves hours:

1. Standardize the container. Identical baskets or boxes let you buy supplies in bulk and pack every gift the same way.
2. Prep before you build. Cut the ribbon, fold the tissue, stuff the base layers and write the tags first.
3. Set up stations. Base and shred, then items, then wrap, then bow and tag. With two or three helpers, each person owns a station.
4. Build one sample first. Photograph it so everyone can match the layout.
5. Store finished baskets somewhere cool. Keep them away from sunny windows and radiators, especially if they hold chocolate.

Food Safety and Freshness for Homemade Baskets

A few precautions keep a homemade basket as good to eat as it looks:

• Keep perishables such as soft cheeses, sliced deli meats and cream-filled pastries out of baskets that will sit unrefrigerated for more than a couple of hours.
• Wrap homemade treats individually in food-safe bags, and add a label with the date and the ingredients so anyone with allergies can check.
• Don't let unwrapped food touch unlined wicker, wood or paper shred.
• Keep chocolate away from heat, including warm cars, sunny windows and the heat gun while you shrink-wrap.
• Pack scented candles and soaps apart from food, since strong fragrances can transfer to cookies and chocolate.