DIY gift basket ideas! This list of things to put in a gift basket will give you lots of ideas for easy and affordable presents for any occasion.
In my experience, everyone LOVES to receive a gift basket.
It’s so much fun to give or receive a themed bundle of items that fits a person perfectly.
Gift baskets are such a great way to show that you really thought about the person and what they’d like, because you can add the personal touch of including their favorite things and favorite snacks.
Plus, they’re totally customizable for your gift recipient, budget, and the gift-giving occasion.
Unique gift baskets can pack a really big punch for cheap, and they’re actually really fun to put together!
They can also be a great option to gift to an entire family or a couple if you’re on a budget.
And putting together your own homemade gift baskets is SO much cheaper than buying a premade basket.
Pro-tip: Throughout the year, pick up clearance items you find that might work well for a gift basket. (The Bath & Body Works semi-annual sale is a great example!)
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TheBest Gift baskets are perfect for:
- Christmas and the holiday season
- Birthday gift (for best friend, family member, etc.)
- Mother’s Day or Father’s Day
- Valentine’s Day
- Housewarming gifts
- Teacher gifts
- Baby or bridal showers
- Kids or grandkids
- Sympathy or post-surgery presents
- Raffle prizes
- The person who has everything
You can make it as inexpensive or luxury as your budget allows.
And you can put together corporate gift baskets to give to customers or any group in an office setting.
Here are some easy tips and tricks for how to make a gift basket!
What to put in a custom gift basket
To decide what to put in your own gift basket, start by choosing a theme.
That’ll give you direction, and help narrow down what type of items to choose.
The best gift basket ideas show that you really thought about the recipient, and if they have any particular hobbies or interests.
Or choose one of the diy gift basket theme ideas below!
Pro-tip: Grab a FREE 30 Day trial of Amazon Prime to get unlimited free shipping to make shopping for a gift basket super easy – without even leaving home!
What can you use to make a gift basket out of?
In addition to a regular basket, feel free to get creative with the vessel you use to contain the gift basket items.
You can make a gift basket out of a:
- Traditional basket
- Baking dish
- Nice storage container
- Makeup pouch
- Mixing bowl
- Jar
- Tote bag
- Laundry basket
- Tackle box
- Cooler
- Flower pot
Think about the theme of your gift basket, and if one of the items could be a fun way to pull double duty as container AND part of the gift.
How do you fill the bottom of a gift basket?
If the gift box you’re using is deep, the best way to display the items is to use basket filler so the actual gift items can be displayed nicely.
Ideal basket fillers are soft and decorative. Here are some ideas:
- Tissue paper
- Shredded white or colored paper
- Cellophane
- Straw
- Large confetti
- Cloth napkin
- Kitchen towel
- Newspaper (Use it as filler on the very bottom to make it shallow, then cover with a more decorative topping.)
Pro-tip: The dollar store and thrift stores are great places to buy inexpensive gift ideas for your themed gift baskets. It’s the perfect way to find small items to use as filler.
Okay, let’s dive into these DIY gift baskets!
35 Good Gift Basket Ideas
1. Spa or self care basket:
- Loofah
- Body lotion or hand cream
- Body scrub
- Bath bombs
- Aloe socks
- Candle
- Foot soak
- Nail polish
- Lip balms
- Bubble bath
- Any other beauty products they like
2. Pasta basket:
- Nice bag of pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Italian candies or cookies
- Olive oil
- Italian seasoning
- Parmesan cheese
- Salad dressing
- Italian bread
- Bread dipping seasoning
3. Art basket:
- Coloring books
- Sketch books
- Colored pencils
- Crayons or pastels
- Nice markers
- Paint brush set
4. Date Night in a basket:
- Romantic DVD
- Bottle of wine
- Wine glasses
- Wine bottle opener
- Candle
- Chocolate
You can find out how to make a cute date night gift basket here.
5. Movie basket:
- DVDs or Redbox gift certificate
- Popcorn
- Toppings for popcorn
- Movie theater-style candy
- Hot cocoa mix
6. Baking basket:
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Cupcake liners
- Decorating tips
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutters
7. Basket for a Cook:
- Cooking utensils
- Apron
- Kitchen towels
- Pot holders
- Cookbook
- Seasoning mix
- Olive oil
- Vinegar
- Recipe cards
- Recipe box
Get some inspiration for a cooking gift basket here!
8. Pizza Night basket:
- Package of pizza dough mix
- Pizza cutter
- Italian seasoning
- Pizza stone
- Jar of pizza sauce
9. Sundae basket:
- Ice cream scoop
- Sprinkles
- Hot fudge, caramel, or strawberry topping
- Jar of maraschino cherries (or fresh fruit like bananas)
- Cute ice cream bowls
- Ice cream cones
10. Basket for Book Lovers:
- Reading light
- Good book(s)
- Gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble
- Mug
- Tea
- Bookmark
11. Basket for a Gardener (anyone with a green thumb):
- Gloves
- Hand-held gardening tools
- Seeds
- Bulbs
- Kneeling board
- Liquid fertilizer
- Watering wand
- Hose nozzle
- Live plants
12. Housewarming gift basket (new house or new homeowner):
- Kitchen towels
- Candle
- Cleaning supplies
- Cutting board
- Kitchen utensils
- Wine
- Extension cord or surge protector
- Wall hanging kit
- Command hooks
13. Basket for Teenage Girl:
- Body wash
- Loofah
- Body spray
- Fuzzy socks
- Makeup brushes
- Earbuds
- Gift card
14. Basket for Teenage Boy:
- Wireless earbuds
- Candy
- Gift card
- Hat
- Socks
- Sunglasses
- Body spray
- Soda
15. Get Well Soon gift basket:
- Tea (such as Throat Coat)
- Chicken soup mix
- Mug
- Bath soak
- Soft tissues
- Throat lozenges
- Vicks
- Chapstick
- DVD
- Essential oils
- Emergen-C
16. Chocolate Lover gift basket:
- Hot cocoa
- Chocolates
- Brownie mix
- Hot fudge
- Chocolate coated spoons
- Chocolate covered pretzels
17. Basket for a College Student:
- Comfy socks
- Snacks
- Gum
- Reusable water bottle
- Coffee tumbler
- Pens and pencils
- Gift card for fast food or gas
18. Gift basket for Golf Lover:
- Golf Balls
- Tees
- Golf towel
- Practice wiffle balls
- Golf club brush
- Collapsible cooler
- Golf gloves
19. Fitness gift basket:
- Workout DVD
- Sweat towel
- Socks
- Yoga block
- Protein bars
- Earbuds
- Light dumbbells or ankle weights
20. Snow Day gift basket:
- Warm socks
- Hot chocolate
- Soup mix
- Snowman kit
- DVDs
- Popcorn
- Small game
- Jigsaw puzzle
- Chapstick
21. BBQ Grilling bift basket:
- BBQ sauce
- Seasoning set
- BBQ tools
- Apron
- Grill cleaning spray
- Burger patty press
- Meat thermometer
22. Travel gift basket:
- Hanging travel bag
- Emergency sewing kit
- Travel mug
- Gas gift card
- Sleep mask
- Neck pillow
- Travel bottles
23. Car Care gift basket:
- Car wash gift card
- Glass cleaner
- Interior wipes
- Car wash soap
- Air freshener
- Microfiber cloths
- Tire gauge
24. Picnic in a gift basket:
- Durable plates, napkins, utensils
- Collapsible cooler
- Ice packs
- Crackers
- Picnic blanket
- Wine
25. Coffee Lover gift basket:
- Flavored coffee
- Coffee beans
- Cute mug
- Milk frother
- Flavored creamer
- Chocolate covered spoons
- Coffee stirrers
- Disposable cups
Here are some fun ideas to include in your coffee lovers gift basket.
26. Cozy Night at Home gift basket:
- Slippers
- Hot cocoa mix
- Candle
- DVD
- Chocolates
- Popcorn
- Cozy blanket
27. Pet gift basket:
- Toys
- Pet’s favorite food
- Treats
- Leash
- Pet vest
28. Teacher gift basket:
- Snacks
- Gift card
- Hand sanitizer
- Insulated tumbler
- Mints
- Flavored coffee or creamer
29. Fishing Enthusiast gift basket:
- Small travel rod
- Lures
- Fishing line
- Hooks
- Bobbers
- Sunglasses
- Fillet knife
- Rubber gloves
- Travel mug
30. Cleaning basket:
- Disinfecting wipes
- Cleaning brushes
- Sponges
- Dishwasher tabs
- Glass spray
- Daily shower spray
- Cleaning gloves
- Duster
- All purpose spray
31. Breakfast basket:
- Pancake mix
- Maple syrup
- Spatula
- Pancake flipper
- Champagne or sparkling cider
- Kitchen towel
- Coffee
- Flavored creamer
- Apple juice
- Jam
32. Summer gift basket:
- S’more ingredients
- Marshmallow roasting sticks
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Beach towel
- Flip flops
- Beach toys
- Sidewalk chalk
- Lemonade mix
33. Kids’ Craft kit basket:
- Crayons and markers
- Gel pens
- Friendship bracelet kit
- Pipe cleaners
- Colorful feathers
- Popsicle sticks
- Pom-poms
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Washi tape
- Stickers
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Paint
- Clay
34. Kids’ Dress Up Box:
- Scarves
- Age-appropriate makeup
- Sunglasses
- Fancy hats
- Glow bracelets
- Funny masks
- Crown or tiara
- Temporary hair dye
35. Christmas-Themed basket:
- Holiday movie
- Sugar cookie mix
- Holiday cookie cutters
- Christmas sprinkles
- Ornaments
- Holiday mug
- Cozy socks
- Twinkle lights
- Scented candle
Ready to try making a homemade gift basket?
I hope these ideas for things to put in a diy gift basket has given you inspiration for putting together some fun presents.
The perfect gift basket idea is the on that shows you went the extra mile and really thought of the little things.
Your gift recipient will just love to receive a cute basket that you put together with them in mind.
What are your favorite gift basket ideas?
