Wrap a book by fitting paper around its closed rectangular shape, fastening the overlapping paper edges together, and folding in the two open ends. Keep tape off the cover, dust jacket and pages. For a fragile, unusually shaped or valuable book, put it in a suitable protective box before gift wrapping.
Prepare the book and work surface
Clear a flat, dry table and remove anything that could scratch the cover. Close the book normally, keeping its dust jacket aligned and any loose inserts inside. Do not bend a paperback backward to make it lie flatter. If the book will not stay comfortably closed, a gift bag or appropriately sized box may be easier than pulling wrapping paper tightly around it.
Choose paper you can fold easily
Use flexible gift wrap that is strong enough to handle a crease. Very stiff paper can be awkward around a thin book, while flimsy tissue alone may tear at the corners. Gather scissors, tape and an optional ribbon before you begin. A plain color or small irregular pattern is forgiving if this is your first attempt; a large directional pattern takes more attention to alignment.
Fit the paper before cutting
Lay the book on the unprinted side of the sheet. Bring one side of the paper around the book, then bring the opposite side over it to check that the edges overlap. At the book’s top and bottom, leave enough paper to fold over the thickness and overlap the opposite flap. Test the folds while the paper is still loose. Exact allowances depend on the book’s thickness, so use the object itself as your guide.
Trim excess away from the book
Mark where the sheet needs to end, move the book aside and cut on the table. Keep scissors away from the cover and page edges. Too much paper at either end produces thick bundles that are hard to flatten; too little leaves exposed corners. If you are unsure, trim conservatively and perform another loose test before making the final cut.
Join the long seam paper to paper
Place the front cover face down so the main seam will sit on the back of the finished package. Bring the paper around the book without pulling hard. Turn under a narrow raw edge if you want a cleaner seam, overlap it on the other paper edge and tape those two layers together. Hold the first flap with your hand rather than anchoring it to the book with tape.
Close the first end
At one open end, press the side portions inward against the narrow edges to form triangular folds. Fold one broad flap down, then bring the remaining flap up to cover it. Adjust the diagonal creases until the corners sit neatly, and tape the final flap to the surrounding wrapping. Repeat at the other end. Crease the paper with light fingertip pressure rather than pushing a hard tool against the book.
Check corners before adding decorations
Turn the package over and look for exposed page edges or a flap that has sprung open. A small loose seam can often be secured with another short piece of tape on the paper. If a large corner is missing coverage, reopen and reposition the wrap or use a larger sheet. Pulling the other corners harder usually creates a new problem instead of fixing the gap.
Add a ribbon without squeezing
An optional ribbon should hold its shape without digging into the cover edges. Tie it around the wrapped package, keeping the knot outside the book. Do not use a tightly stretched elastic band to force a bulky package closed. Put a gift tag where it is easy to see, and make sure a separate card cannot slip out during carrying.
Include a bookmark thoughtfully
A handmade bookmark makes a useful companion gift. Place it in a separate small envelope under the ribbon, or tuck a thin, fully dry bookmark inside the book before wrapping. Avoid putting raised beads or thick decorations between pages. Our cardstock bookmark guide explains how to keep one flat.
Use a box or bag when the shape fights back
A stack of different-sized books, a delicate dust jacket or a book with protruding accessories may be better in a box. Keep the contents from shifting with appropriate clean cushioning, then wrap the box. For a gift bag, see how to arrange tissue paper. Decorative wrapping alone is not protective shipping packaging.
Technique reference
Hallmark’s rectangular-present wrapping tutorial illustrates fitting paper, overlapping seams and folded ends. This book-specific approach keeps tape on the paper rather than on the gift.
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