Yes, It Is Possible to Wrap a Gift Without Tape — Here's How

Melanie Yates
·2 min read
hand holding gift wrapped without tape
How to Wrap a Gift Without TapeMelanie Yates


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Once you've mastered the art of gift-wrapping books, candles, and wine bottles, you're ready to learn how to wrap a gift without tape. This next-level project takes a little bit of practice to get just right, but it's well worth the effort for those who are trying to take a more minimalist and less wasteful present-wrapping approach.

We found that this gift-wrapping hack works best with rectangular or cube-shaped items. For rounded or irregular-shaped gifts, you can package them in a homemade wrapping-paper gift bag (which, unfortunately, will require you to use tape).

While wrapping a gift without tape may not make sense for every item or recipient, it's a nice thing to do for anyone who likes to save and reuse wrapping paper instead of simply tearing and tossing it. For the person who delights in every detail, here are the step-by-step instructions on how to wrap a gift without tape.

scissors, gift wrapped box, measuring tape
scissors, gift wrapped box, measuring tape

How to Wrap a Gift Without Tape

Supplies:

  • Wrapping paper

  • Measuring tape

  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. First, measure the front, back, and two sides of the gift. Cut your wrapping paper into a square that's equal to the total length of your gift's measurement.

  2. Position your paper into a diamond shape in front of you. Place your gift in the center of the paper.

  3. Fold down the top corner of the paper over the gift so that the gift's bottom corners are completely covered by paper. Reposition the gift on your paper as needed until you've achieved this.

  4. Fold up the bottom corner of your paper over the gift, then fold the excess paper in, so it's flush with the top edge of the gift.

  5. Starting on one side of the gift, hold the edge of the paper and guide the excess paper inward as you fold it right on top of the gift. This fold should be flush with the bottom edge of the gift.

  6. Repeat step 5 on the other side, so both sides of the paper are folded right on top of each other.

  7. Take the top part of the paper and crease it inward as needed so that it'll be easier to fold over. Guide both sides in at the same time, tucking excess paper underneath the flap until the paper is folded evenly over the front of the gift.

  8. To finish wrapping the gift, tuck the overhanging flap right into the two layers of folded paper underneath. Crease all of the corners and sides of the gift to help it stay put.

Product credits: Paper Source Blue & Green Tile Wrapping Paper, Scotch Precision Scissors, KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera, editor's own measuring tape.

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