How Much Wrapping Paper Do I Need? A Simple Size Guide

Running out of paper with one gift left is a holiday tradition nobody wants. Here’s a quick way to work out how much wrapping paper you need, and what each of our three roll sizes will cover.

The quick measuring rule

For a box:

• Length of paper = once all the way around the box (two widths plus two heights), plus 2 inches of overlap.
• Width of paper = the length of the box, plus one and a half times its height.

Example: a shirt box 15 inches long, 10 inches wide and 2 inches high needs a piece about 26 inches by 18 inches.

What each roll size covers

All of our paper is 30 inches wide. The amounts below are estimates for boxed gifts and will vary with the shapes you’re wrapping.

Roll	Paper area	Roughly wraps
30” × 36”	7.5 square feet	2 to 3 medium gifts, such as shirt boxes or books
30” × 72”	15 square feet	5 to 6 medium gifts, or one large box plus a few small ones
30” × 180”	37.5 square feet	12 to 15 medium gifts: a family Christmas or a whole season of birthdays

Which size should I buy?

• One special gift: the 30” × 36” sheet is enough for most single presents up to a boot box.
• A birthday or shower: go for 30” × 72” so you have paper left for the card envelope and a second gift.
• Christmas: the 15-foot roll is the best value per foot, and one pattern across the whole pile looks deliberate.

Three ways to make paper go further

1. Wrap on the diagonal. Turning a box 45 degrees on the sheet can cover a box that a straight wrap won’t.
2. Measure before you cut. Roll the paper around the box first and mark it; guessing wastes the most paper.
3. Save the offcuts. Strips make gift tags, belly bands for plain boxes and lining for envelopes.

A note about the edges

Our sheets have a narrow white strip with a small printed code along the top and bottom edge. Trim it off or fold it under as you wrap; the sizes above already leave room for it.

Pick a pattern and a size in the wrapping paper shop, or see our shipping details.