Host and Hostess Gifts for Thanksgiving and Holiday Parties
- 13 gift ideas
- From under $20 to under $100
The best hostess gifts are small, easy to use and ask nothing of the host on the night. Good choices include a cheese board with knives, a set of cotton dish towels, a box of assorted chocolates, a seasonal tea and a holiday scented candle. Pick something that fits how your host entertains.
Quick picks
- Best overall: A cheese board with matching knives A board with its own knives goes to work at the next party. Idea 1
- Best under $20: A countertop salt cellar A small, low-cost upgrade for a host who cooks from scratch. Idea 2
- Best to share: A box of assorted chocolates Easy to pass around after dinner or to save for later. Idea 7
- Best for wine lovers (21+): An electric wine opener For hosts age 21 and up who serve wine often. Idea 9
- Best splurge: A holiday scented candle A holiday scent the host can light at the party or keep for later. Idea 10
Bringing something for the host is a small way to say thank you for the invitation. These hostess gift ideas, from Thanksgiving hostess gifts to picks for a December party, are grouped by how the host will use them, so you can match the gift to the evening.
Skip anything that needs attention mid-party, like flowers that need a vase or a bottle the host feels obliged to open. If you are shipping a gift, check the delivery date at checkout before you pay. A short handwritten note makes any of these feel personal.
Ideas 1 to 6
Host gifts for the table and the kitchen
Gifts for the table and kitchen suit hosts who cook and entertain, and they stay in rotation long after the party.
1. A cheese board with matching knives
A cheese board with its own tools suits a host who loves to entertain, because it goes straight to work at the next gathering and looks nice on the counter in between. Look for a board that is easy to wipe clean, a size that fits a small table and knives that store with the board so nothing gets lost in a drawer. Add a wedge of cheese if you want a ready-to-use gift.
Tip: Wood boards usually need hand washing, so tuck in a card with simple care instructions.
2. A countertop salt cellar
A salt cellar with a swivel lid keeps salt within reach of the stove, which suits a host who cooks from scratch and reaches for a pinch all evening. It sits on the counter and replaces a box that is awkward to open with messy hands. Check that the lid opens easily with one hand and that the size suits how much salt the host uses. It is an easy, low-cost thank-you.
Tip: Fill it with a coarse salt from your own pantry so it is ready to use.
3. A set of cotton dish towels
Dish towels are what a host reaches for after a big dinner, so a set suits anyone hosting Thanksgiving or a holiday meal. A printed set reads as a gift rather than a chore, and cotton floursack towels are generally absorbent and soften with washing. Look for a set of three or more, tie them with ribbon and add a small bar of soap or a wooden spoon for a fuller present.
Tip: Choose colors that go with the host's kitchen, and roll the towels with a ribbon.
4. Reusable beeswax food wraps
Hosts end up with leftovers and half-used cheese after a party, so reusable wraps suit someone who wants to cut down on plastic wrap. A roll can be cut to size, which means one purchase covers bowls, bread and cheese. Wraps are usually washed gently in cool water, so include the care instructions on a card with the gift.
Tip: Pair the roll with a loaf of bread or a wedge of cheese so it arrives with a use.
5. A fine citrus and cheese zester
A fine zester suits a host who loves to cook, since it handles lemon zest, hard cheese and chocolate shavings with one tool. It is small enough to tuck into a gift bag next to a lemon or a wedge of hard cheese, and it is likely to end up in the drawer the host opens most. Choose a style with a comfortable handle and check the care instructions.
Tip: Wrap it with a lemon or a small wedge of hard cheese for a ready-made pair.
6. A set of stone coasters
Coasters suit a host with a nice wood table, because they protect the surface when guests set down drinks and stay out as decor between parties. Absorbent stone styles soak up condensation, and a cork backing helps keep them from sliding. Check how many come in the set, since a party of six needs at least that many, and pick a color that works with the room.
Tip: Check how many coasters come in the set before you order, and pick a color that suits the room.
Ideas 7 to 9
Treats and sips to share at the party
Edible gifts can be opened on the night or saved for later, so the host never feels pressured to serve them.
7. A box of assorted chocolates
A box of assorted chocolates suits almost any host, since it can be passed around after dinner or saved for later, and it asks nothing of them. An assorted box makes it easy to please guests with different tastes. Check the box for nuts if you know the host or a guest has an allergy, and mention what is inside so the host can decide how to serve it.
Tip: Say on the card that it is for the host to keep, so there is no pressure to serve it.
8. A seasonal tea for a quiet morning
A seasonal tea gives the host something warm to enjoy the morning after the party, when the dishes are done and the house is quiet. It suits a host who drinks tea, and a small box takes up almost no space. Spiced holiday blends fit anywhere from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Black tea contains caffeine, so check this if you know the host avoids it.
Tip: Tuck in a small jar of honey or a tea strainer so it feels like a set.
9. An electric wine opener
An electric opener suits a host age 21 or older who serves wine often, because it removes a cork at the push of a button and saves fumbling while guests wait. Pair it with a bottle you choose yourself, or give it alone if you are unsure of their taste. Look for a rechargeable model, and check that it is easy to store in a kitchen drawer.
Tip: Give this only to a host who serves wine, and choose tea or chocolates if you are not sure.
Ideas 10 to 13
Holiday hostess gifts for the host to enjoy later
Gifts for after the guests leave let the host relax and feel looked after, which is its own kind of thank-you.
10. A holiday scented candle
A scented candle with a holiday fragrance suits a host who loves a cozy home, and it can be lit at the party or saved for a quiet evening in December. Choose a scent with winter notes such as pine, spice or cedar, and check the burn time on the label if you want it to last the season. Remind the host to trim the wick before the first burn and never to leave it unattended.
Tip: Pick a scent in the middle, not too sweet and not too strong, so it suits more homes.
11. A boxed bar soap gift set
A boxed set of bar soaps suits a host with a guest bath to stock, because it looks polished on the counter and replaces the half-used bar in the dish. It also works as a treat for the host to keep after the party. Look for a classic scent that most people enjoy, such as almond, lavender or citrus, and avoid strong fragrances if you do not know the host's preferences.
Tip: Pick a mild, classic scent if you do not know the host's tastes.
12. A cookbook about cooking fundamentals
A cookbook that explains how cooking works, not just recipes, suits a host who loves to cook and just served a memorable meal. It is a thoughtful thank-you the host can return to for years, and it is easy to wrap and carry. Flip through the contents first to make sure the style matches how they cook, and write a short note inside the cover about the dinner you enjoyed.
Tip: Write a line inside the cover about a dish you enjoyed at their table.
13. A party word game for the next gathering
A word game gives the host a ready-made activity for their next get-together, and it suits someone who throws game nights. Team games handle bigger groups, and the rules are usually quick to explain between courses. Check the player count and the recommended age on the box against the guests the host usually has before you order.
Tip: Check the age on the box, since the game is meant for older kids and adults.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good hostess gift?
A good hostess gift is small, ready to give and easy for the host to use or set aside. Strong choices include a cheese board with knives, dish towels, a box of chocolates or a seasonal tea. Pick something the host does not have to deal with during the party, and add a short thank-you note.
How much should you spend on a hostess gift?
Spend what feels comfortable, since the gesture matters more than the amount. This guide has host gifts under $25, a few under $50 and one candle under $100. If several guests are chipping in, one shared gift can go further than several small ones, and a note makes any of them personal.
What should I bring to a Thanksgiving dinner as a guest?
Bring something that does not need the host's attention on the day: a box of chocolates, a seasonal tea, dish towels or a candle. Avoid anything that needs a vase, cooking or last-minute prep. If the host asked you to bring a dish, bring that and give the gift separately, or send it ahead of time.
Do you have to bring a host gift to a holiday party?
It is not required, but it is a kind and common way to say thank you for the invitation. Keep it modest and simple to give. If the invitation says to bring nothing, send a short note or a small gift the next day instead, so you respect the host's wishes.
When should you give a hostess gift?
Hand it over when you arrive so the host can set it down in a quiet moment, or send it the next day with a thank-you note. If you are shipping a gift, check the delivery date at checkout and leave extra time in late November and December. For anything urgent, see our last-minute Christmas gifts.
Can you bring alcohol as a host gift?
Only if the host is 21 or older and drinks. If you are not sure, choose something from the table and kitchen or treats sections instead. The wine opener in this guide suits adults age 21 and up who serve wine. Check dietary and religious preferences before you choose any food or drink gift.
