How to Wrap a Large Gift for a Baby Shower

Last Updated on June 28, 2021

So you found the perfect gift. It's big. Wait, no, it's huge. It's absolutely **just right**, but now that it comes time to wrap it, you're at a loss.

Well, not to worry. At All Gifts Considered, we think through these things so you don't have to.

Read on for our Large Gift Wrapping Guide!

We'll cover a wide range of ideas and gift sizes. Some will involve creative (and possibly super-cheap!) do-it-yourselfisms, other options are specialty gift wrap products designed specifically for your need.

General size ranges include:

• Oversized (large toys and plug-in appliances)
• Extra-Large (carseats, strollers, bicycles, BBQs)
• Crazy Big (cars, kayaks, refrigerators)

We'll use those terms to describe how big the gift can get, and where possible we'll include actual physical dimensions.

Ready? Let's go!

How to Wrap Large Gifts

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XL Gift Bags

Oversized gifts: 18″ or less

Here is your basic gift bag in an "extra-large" size. This will hold any gift measuring up to about 17″ x 12″ x 5″. The gift can be longer that 17″ if you cover it with tissue or a blanket/sheet.

Double Up & Overlap the Wrapping Paper

Oversized to XL gifts: Larger than 30″ (box-shaped)

Most wrapping paper rolls are about 30″ wide. If you have a gift that is much larger than that, but still box-shaped, you can wrap it in multiple stages.

Roll the paper all the way around one half or one third of the gift. Cut and tape, then move down and do it again until you reach the end.

It takes a bit more effort, but this method looks pretty good (apart from the seam(s)) and can be done using the wrapping paper you have on hand.

Upcycle Old Newspapers

Oversized to XL gifts: any size, as long as you have enough newspaper

Reduce, reuse, and recycle that old newspaper. Just keep plastering on until the gift is covered. Works best with gifts in a box, but you can really get creative with this.

You may also enjoy: 9 Cute DIY Gift Wrap Ideas

48″ Wrapping Paper

Oversized to XL gifts: 48″ (or larger if you overlap)

This is the "go big or go home" option. These 48″ wide paper rolls go on and on for 200 feet, meaning that you'll never run out.

Per foot, this is just about the cheapest wrap you can buy, and it presents a blank slate for you to decorate depending on the season, holiday, or occasion.

Oversized Gift Sacks

XL gifts: 36″ x 56″ or less

These jumbo-sized gift bags measure 36″ x 56″ and are ideal for wrapping oversized presents like kitchen appliances, sporting goods, bedding sets, and much more.

Plus, they won't set you back much more than about five bucks.

Garbage Bags or Sheet Plastic

Oversized to XL gifts: 2′ or less, more if you double-bag

Yes, the classic gift wrap technique perfected by broke college students. If you are even remotely open to this option, you're probably already done wrapping your present and never laid eyes on this post. Well done.

The rest of you, move along.

Disposable Tablecloths

Oversized to XL gifts: 50″ x 25″ or less (unless you are using multiple tablecloths)

Go to the dollar store and pick up a couple of plastic tablecloths. They cover your table just fine, why not your oversized gift?

This will help you quickly wrap your large gift without having to spring for expensive wrapping paper. All it takes is a couple bucks and a quick trip down the street.

Just don't get sidetracked by the cheap candy isle.

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Drop Cloths and Tarps

XL to crazy big gifts

Same idea as the tablecloth, but even bigger. You probably have something like this laying around the house. Pull it out, cover your gift, and maybe tie some twine around it or put a large bow on top.

Thrift Store Sheets or Blankets

XL to crazy big gifts

Once again, you probably have a set of bed sheets or a blanket lying around the house.

Gosh, I hope you have a set of sheets… if you don't, what are you doing buying large and expensive gifts?! Get your sheets together, people!

JK. But if you don't have extra sheets or blankets or if you are worried they might get ruined, stop by a local thrift store and pick up a set of sheets for a few dollars.

Fabric

Oversized to XL gifts

Many sewing, craft, and fabric stores will have reams of inexpensive fabric on sale. Simply purchase yards of it and wrap it around the gift.

If your skill set includes sewing, it doesn't take too much work to create a large gift bag.

Mailing Tubes

XL gifts: 3-4″ x 20-48″

Long and narrow gifts can present a problem for the casual, non-professional gift wrapper. Things like baseball bats, video stabilizers, javelins, golf clubs, and more have a unique shape that is difficult to wrap and hide. If this is your situation, consider using a mailing tube.

Cake Cover Style

XL to crazy big gifts: 3′ x 6′ or so

Get an old box from an appliance store and cut off the top flaps. Place the box over the gift from the top, like you are covering a cake with a cake cover tin.

You can use just the box, wrap it, paste newspaper over it, or have kids draw on it for decoration. (They'll want to use it afterwards for a house or fort anyways.)

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This Is What I Think It Is Style

Sometimes it is fun to wrap a large and uniquely shaped object – like a guitar or kayak – with a tight wrap job that shows the exact shape of the gift inside.

Keep in mind that this wrapping technique requires a lot of time, patience, paper, and tape. But the effect is truly memorable!

You may also enjoy: 37 Amazingly Creative DIY Gift Wrap Tutorials

Treasure Hunt (AKA Just Hide It)

XL to crazy big gifts

If the gift is so stinkin' big that you just give up on wrapping it, why, never fear – you can turn it into a game!

Hide the gift somewhere in your house, in the garage, outdoors (depending on time of year), in a shed, on the back porch, or even at a neighbor's house.

Give them an envelope with a clue, which will lead them to another clue, and another and another…

Post It has a fun guide on how to do this here.

"Follow Me" String

XL to crazy big gifts

Another one for when you are just done with all the wrapping.

Write "follow me" on a note and attach it to the end of a string. You can go directly to the gift, or make it a crazy adventure through a spiderweb maze of string.

The string will ultimately lead them to the gift, which will be in the garage, a closet, the backyard, etc.

Car Ribbons & Bows

Crazy big gifts

If your gift is super duper large, extra jumbo super sized and none of these options fit…

Just put a bow on it.

How to Wrap Large Odd-Shaped Gifts

Odd shaped gifts are the most fun to wrap! It takes the most creativity to hide what it is and uses up lots and lots of tape. And when you don't have an extra large box to hide its ridiculous appearance, your creativity as well as these fun ideas are all you have.

You can…

• Bag It Up. Use your favorite decorated bags filled with tissue or use the trash bag method like you read about above.
• Flat Bottom, Folded Top. Simply follow this cool guide to making your own make-shift bag around your gift. Works perfect on any item!
• Wrap It Up. Take your gift and some ribbon (or lights if your festive) and just wrap it around until the full gift is covered! Who cares if it looks weird, that's half the fun. Don't forget to add your bow.

How to Wrap a Large Gift Without Wrapping Paper

Sometimes you don't have time to run to store for wrapping paper and that's okay! We have some alternatives that will work like a charm:

• Trash Bag Method. Simply tie it up in a garbage bag or any oversized gift/shopping/tote bag. Make it unique by adding bows or taping drawings to the bag. Creative, fast, and personal!
• Clothes. Add on an extra gift, like a bed sheet, t-shirt, or scarf (depending on the gift size), and wrap it up in that.
• Newspaper. We all have a memory of a gift being wrapped in the funnies section from the newspaper. Carry on the tradition by wrapping their gift in newspaper! Never fails and they'll get some good laughs out of it.

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How to Wrap a Long, Skinny Gift

Luckily, this problem isn't too hard to solve! All we need is a little ingenuity and these ideas:

• Candy Method. Take your gift and roll it up as much as you'd like in a wrapping paper of your choice, then simple twist the excess ends of the paper and wrap them in ribbon. Ta-da! Now your gifts looks like a piece of wrapped candy!
• Mailing Tubes. Tubes are perfect for long skinny gifts. Just be sure to check the size before you buy! You might also consider old wrapping paper tubes, or document/poster tubes, if you have them available.
• Wrap It Up. This is the same trick for wrapping large, odd-shaped gifts. Take your gift and some ribbon (or lights if you're feeling festive) and wrap it around until the full thing is covered. Add a bow, ribbon, and gift tag and you're done.

How to Wrap a Big Gift Without a Box

We've all been there… box-less. That's why it's helpful to know these tricks to wrapping big gifts when you're missing a box:

• Bags, Bags, Bags. What can I say? This method works for everything. Simply wrap tie it up in a garbage bag or oversized gift bag! Make it unique by adding bows or evening sewing your own bag together with cloth. If it's REALLY big, tape bags together to create your own trash-bag wrapping paper.
• Hide It. Make this a game of hide-and-seek or surprise it with them right when they walk through the front door! After all, not everything needs wrapped.
• Add Duct Tape. We have all heard the phrase "duct tape fixes everything" right? When you don't have a box, add some layers of your trusted duct tape to the wrapping paper and it will create a sturdy structure. Warning if your gift is truly oversized, XL, or crazy big, this may take a lot of duct tape!

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How to Wrap a Large Gift for a Baby Shower

Source: https://allgiftsconsidered.com/how-to-wrap-large-gifts-oversized-xl-crazy-big-presents/

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