What are the best kinds of gift baskets?

This really does depend on the recipient. Consider their personal interests, as well as your relationship with them, and the situation at hand. While food items are always fun and appreciated, it’s also a nice idea to consider a basket where some element (even if it’s the basket itself) is a keepsake that they can use for years to come, notes Jusich.

What should you add to a DIY gift basket?

“A fun tip is to include something that you love and want to share with the recipient. Think about something like your favorite tried and true beauty products, a gift card to your favorite restaurant, a candle that’s always burning in your home, or a bottle of wine you recently enjoyed,” suggests Hayes.

The 18 Best Places to Buy Gift Baskets

Mark our words, there’s truly no situation where a gift basket isn’t a good idea. It’s a gift that works both for people you’re super close to and for people whom you might not know as well. Looking for a small token of thanks for your officiant? Gift basket it is. Future parent-in-law's birthday coming up? Check. Want a fun array of snacks and treats to have on hand for your bridal party during wedding day prep? Done. And let’s not forget to mention that, because they’re already all packaged up for you, there’s no wrapping required.

The bottom line: You can’t go wrong with a gift basket. When picking out a gift basket, consider the theme (food, beauty items, wine products, etc.), the quality of the products included, and the overall presentation. “You only get one first gift impression, so make sure that the presentation of the basket itself is reflective of your overall aesthetic,” say gifting experts Darcy Jusich and Kate Hayes.

To help take the hassle out of your search, we've researched the best options with these features in mind. Looking for something sweet to give someone special? We recommend shopping from eCreamery or Harry and David. If you're looking for a celebratory engagement gift, Fountain and Bifties have everything you need.

Read on for the best gift baskets.

In This Article

Our Picks
What To Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Brides

Gift Tree Veuve Clicquot Tasting Gift Basket

Courtesy of Gift Tree

View On Gift Tree

We appreciate that this site has an extensive list of both budget-friendly and splurge offerings (as well as lots of options in between). The beautifully selected food and wine baskets offer something for all occasions—don’t miss their adorable The Royal Treatment or Cheers! Gift Box.

Knack Relaxation Box opened on white table

Courtesy of Knack

View On Knackshops.com

The focus for this company is ‘modern gift-giving,’ so it makes sense that not only can you shop by theme, recipient, or occasion, but also by ethos. For example, shop for products from brands that give back or are run by female entrepreneurs.

Regardless, there are so many choices, ranging from food and drink to housewares to journals to bath salts—just to name a few. The ready-made baskets are spot-on, though you can also create your own, with the help of some convenient guidelines and suggestions found on the site.

Courtesy of eCreamery

View On Ecreamery.com

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. This is exactly why it’s a great idea to gift someone a box full of the sweet stuff. While, yes this technically doesn’t arrive in a gift basket per se, trust us, whomever you send this to will be so happy they won’t even notice.

Personalization is the name of the game, with adorable sets of four pints touting sweet sentiments on the label. You can also personalize any pint, and even create your own flavor if you want to make things special and personal.

Courtesy of Harry and David

View On Harry & David $20

Arguably the most classic destination for online gift baskets, this site is a staple for good reason. There’s truly a mind-boggling list of choices, though they’re easily categorized by food types and even by price points (as well as a convenient feature that gives you options based on recipient, occasion, and budget).

Take your pick from everything from fresh fruits to chocolate to dips to baking mixes and much, much more. No matter which one you choose, all are gorgeously packaged and sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

View On Mouth

Presented with a fun and modern take on classic food baskets, this company offers a litany of snacks and beverages, all made by small-batch artisans across the country. There’s no shortage of ways to gift, either. You can choose from a vast array of pre-made baskets for any and every occasion or create your own custom one.

Select the items you want, perhaps sticking with a theme—think a variety of different hot sauces, types of potato chips, or even items that are all from a favorite state. There are also subscription options (three, six, and 12 months) for several different baskets if you want to give a gift that keeps on giving. Also nice: You can easily filter items based on any dietary restrictions your recipient may have.

Courtesy of Man Crates

View On Mancrates.com

We’re willing to bet that the majority of women would agree that the men in their lives are notoriously difficult to shop for. Enter the beauty of this brand, which offers gift baskets (wooden crates, actually) filled with all kinds of things guys want and need—think everything from grilling essentials to a crate full of tools.

The crates even come with a crowbar for opening purposes—very manly indeed. Don’t miss the plenty of personalized gift options, too…can you say groomsmen gifts?

Courtesy of GiftBasket

View On Gift Basket

The name says it all. No matter the occasion or recipient, you’ll be able to find the ideal gift on this site—they even have adorable options for kids and babies. And, if for some reason, none of the pre-made options strike your fancy, you can take the DIY route and create your own, picking from food items, spa goodies, candles, and more. As an added bonus, you can even select the exact type of basket it comes in.

Food52

View On Food52

The website is known for mouth-watering recipes and a gorgeous selection of kitchenware. It also happens to have a selection of sophisticated gifts for food lovers, including several upscale sets. Think a gift box of small-batch organic chocolates, or an wooden crate of homemade jams. Their subscription offerings are also unparalleled—where else could you find a seasonal pasta of the month club to give the carb-lover in your life?

Courtesy of Bifties

View On Bifties.com

If you're looking to support Black-owned businesses, this site offers up an amazing assortment of brands, perfectly packaged for your gift. Create your custom box from a range of products, including everything from eco-friendly candles and soaps to cute, graphic journals. Bifties also offers curated boxes for special occasions like birthdays and engagements.

View On Uncommon Goods

Uncommon Goods has long been one of our go-to destinations for unique presents and their wide assortment of gift boxes is no exception. Choose from foodie sets like a curated tea lover's box, or try out one of their many spa-inspired boxes to gift some extra self-care and relaxation.

Courtesy of Hearth & Hammer

View On Hearthandhammer.co

This modern general store in Batavia, Illinois is a neighborhood favorite; happily, they ship their curated assortment of perfectly giftable items nationwide. Those looking for a completely customizable option will appreciate that you can pick and choose exactly what you want to include in your box.

Pick from food, beauty, home, and even fashion items, and be sure to check out their own handmade line of literary-inspired candles. Simply click the ‘gift box wrap’ add-on and they’ll do the manual labor for you, packaging everything up beautifully.

View On Pottery Barn

If you want to think slightly outside the traditional gift basket box, consider a ready-to-go picnic basket, like this one. It houses everything you need for picnic service for two: plates, napkins, wine glasses, and a corkscrew. All that’s missing is the checkered blanket...and a bottle of wine, of course.

Courtesy of Wine Country

View On Winecountrygiftbaskets.com

No matter whether your giftee prefers red, white, or rosé (or all three), you’ll be able to find a great choice for them here. You can send wine alone, for sure, but since wine always pairs better with snacks there’s a great mix of baskets with all kinds of yummy noshables, too. (Just keep in mind that wine shipping laws vary state-by-state.)

View On Williams-Sonoma

Created in the 1730s—yes, you read that correctly—and sold all across Europe, this classic ‘hamper’ is now available stateside, exclusively through Williams Sonoma. (And isn’t ‘hamper’ such a fun alternative to the word ‘basket,’ too?) Inside you’ll find an array of goodies made in the UK, think biscuits, shortbread, marmalade, and more, sure to please any couple that can’t get enough of anything and everything British-related.

Courtesy of Wisconsin Cheesemart

View On Wisconsincheesemart.com

This comprehensive site is the perfect place to shop for any cheese lover. There are almost 20 different selections of baskets to choose from, and all feature—you guessed it—Wisconsin cheese.

Fun fact: Did you know that Wisconsin cheese is repeatedly recognized internationally as some of the best in the world? In fact, in this year’s World Cheese Championship, the state took home nearly one-third of all the awards. In other words, this is good stuff. There are boxes with meats, with cheese that pair perfectly with beer, and even a macaroni and cheese gift box.

Courtesy of Eataly

View On Eataly.com

As much as we might like to, it might not be realistic to gift someone a trip to Italy. The next best thing? A basket of authentic Italian food. The olive oil, pasta, honey, and sauce offerings are sure to transport anyone to the Italian countryside; all that’s missing is the Aperol spritz. We’re especially partial to the "Italian Pantry Basket", which is chock-full of everything anyone could need to create an authentic Italian meal.

Courtesy of Happy Cabbage

View On Happycabbagegifts.co

This female-owned, Chicago-based company is all about creating beautiful gift baskets for any and every occasion and recipient, weddings included. Their custom gifting program is an incredible option—the co-founders will help you select from a wide array of options for a totally personalized gift—although this pre-made basket is ideal for weddings or engagements. A bottle of champagne, couple's cookbook, candle, and heart-shaped ring dish come in a beautiful basket that recipients can then easily repurpose.

Courtesy of Fountain

View On Fountaingifts.com

Gift baskets make both choice wedding and engagement gifts; this option is perfect for the latter. Fun and whimsical, there’s the requisite bottle of champagne, a cheeky candle, a bag of yummy popcorn, and jewelry wipes to help the bride-to-be keep her new ring in tip-top shape. Add a card and you’re good to go.

Meet the Expert

Darcy Jusich and Kate Hayes are gifting experts and the co-founders of Happy Cabbage, which offers customized gifts as well as pre-curated selections.

What To Look For in a Gift Basket

The quality of the products

A gift basket truly is a sum of its parts, so make sure that each of the products included is high-quality, unique, and sourced from reputable vendors. It's also a good idea to take the recipient's general interests and tastes into consideration, as this will help you determine which type of gift box you should go for. If they're an avid foodie, look for baskets curated with trusted food brands and delicious items. Are they a self-care queen? Gift them a beauty gift set featuring popular brands.

The overall presentation

Of course, you'll want to find a gift basket that is not only high-quality but also beautifully curated and organized. Whether it's wrapped neatly in plastic with a sparkling bow or it's a woven basket filled with treats, the presentation is what will take this gift to the next level and make it memorable.

FAQ

What are the best kinds of gift baskets?

This really does depend on the recipient. Consider their personal interests, as well as your relationship with them, and the situation at hand. While food items are always fun and appreciated, it’s also a nice idea to consider a basket where some element (even if it’s the basket itself) is a keepsake that they can use for years to come, notes Jusich.
What should you add to a DIY gift basket?

“A fun tip is to include something that you love and want to share with the recipient. Think about something like your favorite tried and true beauty products, a gift card to your favorite restaurant, a candle that’s always burning in your home, or a bottle of wine you recently enjoyed,” suggests Hayes.

Why Trust Brides

Brides contributor Melanie Rud has nearly 15 years of journalism experience covering the beauty and lifestyle space for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She’s also a bride-to-be, currently planning her wedding, and sourcing ideas for custom gift baskets to give to her closest family and friends who will be spending the weekend with her at her wedding venue.