How Much Wrapping Paper Do I Need? A Simple Guide to Roll Sizes
How much wrapping paper do you need for Christmas? It's the question everyone asks on the twenty-third of December, usually while holding an empty tube. Buy too little and you're rationing paper by the last gift. Buy too much and you're storing rolls until next year. Here is a simple way to work it out, once and for all.
Wrapping Paper Roll Sizes, Explained
Every Haus of Wrap design comes in three roll sizes, all 30 inches wide. Here's roughly what each one covers, allowing for trimming and a little waste.
| Roll size | Total paper | Roughly wraps |
|---|---|---|
| 30" x 36" | 7.5 sq ft | 2 shirt boxes, or 6 to 8 small gifts |
| 30" x 72" | 15 sq ft | 4 to 5 shirt boxes, or a dozen small gifts |
| 30" x 180" | 37.5 sq ft | 10 to 12 shirt boxes, or a full family tree |
These are estimates. Large boxes, like a boot box, use about twice the paper of a shirt box, and jewellery boxes use a fraction.
How to Measure Wrapping Paper for Any Box
Measuring properly is the single biggest way to make your paper go further.
- Width: wrap a tape measure all the way around the box, then add 1 inch for overlap.
- Length: measure the length of the box, then add the height of the box. That gives you enough to fold the ends neatly.
- Cut a rectangle to those measurements. Any more is waste, and it makes bulky ends.
A standard shirt box of 15 x 10 x 2 inches, for example, needs a piece of paper about 25 x 17 inches.
How Much Wrapping Paper to Buy for Christmas
Count your gifts, then use this guide:
- Up to 10 gifts: one 30" x 72" roll, or two small rolls in coordinating prints.
- 10 to 25 gifts: one 30" x 180" roll plus one small roll for stocking stuffers.
- 25 gifts or more: two or three 30" x 180" rolls in a coordinating set.
Add one extra small roll for the gifts you forgot, the last-minute invitation and the teacher present nobody mentioned until December.
Why Coordinating Rolls Go Further
Buying three coordinating papers instead of one means you can match paper to gift size, using your large roll on the big boxes and a small roll on the stocking stuffers, with far less waste. It also makes the tree look styled. A tartan, a botanical and a simple stripe that share one colour will always work together.
Mix any three rolls from the Haus and save 15%, applied automatically in your cart, or choose The Holiday Wrap Edit, three coordinating papers already chosen for you. Orders over $75 ship free in the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many gifts does one roll of wrapping paper wrap?+
It depends on the roll size and the gifts. A 30" x 72" roll wraps around four or five shirt boxes, while a 30" x 180" roll wraps ten to twelve.
How much wrapping paper do I need for a shirt box?+
A standard 15 x 10 x 2 inch shirt box needs a piece of paper about 25 x 17 inches.
What size wrapping paper roll should I buy?+
For a handful of gifts, a 30" x 36" or 30" x 72" roll is enough. For a full family Christmas, a 30" x 180" roll is the best value.
How do I stop wasting wrapping paper?+
Measure before you cut: wrap a tape measure around the box and add 1 inch, then add the box height to its length. Use large rolls for big gifts and small rolls for small ones.
True luxury is not just what you give, but how you present it.
