If you run a Shopify store, chances are your customers have asked about gift wrapping — especially around the holidays. Offering gift wrap as an option at checkout is one of the simplest ways to improve customer experience and increase your average order value.
Here's how to get it done.
Why offer gift wrapping?
Gift wrapping isn't just a nice-to-have. It's a revenue opportunity:
- Higher average order value. Customers are happy to pay a few extra dollars for the convenience of having their gift wrapped and ready to go. We break down the numbers in Gift Wrapping as an Upsell.
- Better customer experience. A wrapped gift feels more personal and thoughtful than a plain box.
- Fewer returns. When an order is marked as a gift, customers are less likely to return it for a refund.
- Repeat business. A great gifting experience brings customers back. They'll remember your store the next time they need a present.
The options available
There are a few ways to add gift wrapping to Shopify:
1. Manual workaround with cart notes
You can enable the cart note field in your theme settings and ask customers to write "gift wrap please" in the notes. This is free but unreliable — customers forget, instructions get missed, and there's no way to charge for the service.
2. Custom development
You can hire a developer to build a custom solution with line item properties and Liquid templates. This gives you full control but requires ongoing maintenance and can break when you change themes.
3. A dedicated gift wrapping app
The easiest approach is a purpose-built app like GiftWrapStack. It handles everything — multiple wrap options, per-item or per-order wrapping, gift messages, pricing, and analytics — without any code changes to your theme.
What to look for in a gift wrapping app
Not all solutions are created equal. Here's what matters:
- Per-item and per-order wrapping. Some customers want to wrap individual items; others want the whole order wrapped. The best apps support both.
- Custom gift messages. Let customers write a personalised note that your fulfilment team can include in the package. See our guide to gift messages and receipts for best practices.
- Multiple wrapping options. Offer different styles, materials, and price points. Think tissue paper, premium wrap, branded boxes.
- Theme compatibility. The widget should work with any Shopify theme without manual configuration.
- Analytics. Track how many customers choose gift wrapping, what options are popular, and how much revenue it generates.
Getting started
The quickest path is to install a Shopify app that handles the heavy lifting. With GiftWrapStack, you can be up and running in under five minutes:
- Install the app from the Shopify App Store.
- Add your wrapping options — set names, descriptions, images, and prices.
- The widget appears automatically on your product pages and cart.
No theme edits. No code. Your customers see the gift wrapping options on your store immediately.
Tips for maximising gift wrap revenue
Once you've got gift wrapping set up, here are a few ways to get the most out of it:
- Price it right. Most stores charge between $3 and $8 for gift wrapping. Test different price points and see what your customers respond to.
- Add seasonal options. Christmas paper, Valentine's Day ribbon, birthday themes. Check out our holiday gift wrapping ideas for inspiration.
- Include a gift message option. Even if wrapping is free, a personalised message adds perceived value.
- Promote it. Mention gift wrapping in your product descriptions, email campaigns, and social media. Customers can't buy what they don't know about.
Gift wrapping is one of those small additions that punches well above its weight. It makes your store feel more premium, gives customers a better experience, and adds revenue with almost no extra effort.