Hostess with the mostess
The best host or hostess gifts express your gratitude at the amount of work that goes into planning a group get-together. Showing up empty-handed is bad form, but don’t reach for the bottle of wine or flowers just yet. You can get more inventive than that, with the help of this comprehensive guide to hostess gifts.
We rounded up hostess gift ideas anyone will love. Whether you’re hunting for gifts for her, gifts for him, or personalized gifts, you’ll find something that says, “thanks for the invite.” Bonus: Most double as thoughtful housewarming gifts too. And because you want to show your thanks without breaking the bank, we’ve highlighted gift ideas for any budget, from throw blankets to a stylish alternative to scented candles and beyond.
Crate & Barrel Monogrammed Serving Board
Best for: The queen of the cheese plate
She can serve cheese, charcuterie, fruit, or just about anything else on this design-forward serving board monogrammed with her family initial. It is composed of mango wood, gorgeous white marble that coordinates with most kitchens, and an oversized letter of your choice in shiny inlaid brass. It’s the perfect gift idea for people who are impossible to shop for.
Artisan Salt Co. Black Truffle Sea Salt
Best for: Home gourmands
If you’re looking for an affordable food gift that goes an extra-luxurious mile, this black truffle sea salt is one of the best hostess gifts to give. It’s made with high-quality sea salt and real Italian black truffles to impart just the right amount of flavor to your hostess’ best home-cooked dishes.
The Company Store Hello Coir Door Mat
Best for: Hosts who roll out the welcome mat
This “Hello” doormat is made of natural coir, a durable material that comes from coconut husks. It’s practical, chic, and eco-friendly. Your hostess will love how useful it is while appreciating its pretty design. If this isn’t the prettiest (and most practical) gift for a sister-in-law who’s hosting this year’s get-together, then we don’t know what is.
De’Longhi All-in-One Coffee & Espresso Maker
Best for: Coffee addicts
This machine does it all: One side offers an authentic espresso, cappuccino, and latte experience, while the other brews delicious standard American coffee. Not only can you make coffee and espresso at the same time, but you can also froth milk for those lattes. This pricier present is the perfect hostess gift idea for coffee lovers when you’ll be staying the weekend (or longer).
Cozy Earth Women’s Stretch-Knit Bamboo Kimono Robe
Best for: Women who prize self-care
Whether you’re encouraging her to wake up late on a weekend morning or just hoping she’ll make time to cozy up in peace, this Cozy Earth robe is an absolute dream. She’ll love wearing it with her best pajamas and settling down next to the fireplace. It’s made of stretch-knit bamboo viscose that makes sizing easy to decipher and machine washing a cinch.
Balmuda The Kettle Electric Pour-Over Kettle
Best for: Tea drinkers
This electric tea kettle is the hot water wonder your hosts will reach for each day when they’re craving a cuppa. It offers an elegant modern design and comes in either white or black, making water for tea or pour-over coffee a cinch. The three-cup capacity is just enough for two large cups without taking up too much valuable counter space.
Berkley Jensen Lazy Susan Serving Set
Best for: Hosts of family gatherings
If the house is going to be full of hungry people, this Berkley Jensen six-piece porcelain serving set is just the ticket—and it’s under $20. It’s a lazy Susan that comes with a bamboo tray and several easily dismantled and reassembled pieces that make serving at the table, coffee table, or even outdoors a breeze. This is a solid gift for Grandma, who hosts the family year after year.
Tea Forte Herbal Retreat Petite Presentation Box
Best for: Tea drinkers
For affordable hostess gifts for tea lovers, shop Tea Forte presentation boxes. This one opens to display a tasting menu and ten pyramid tea infusers that offer delicious, luxurious sips after dinner or while cozying up in the family room. Choose from 12 different boxes with varying tea flavors. With so much variety, the box works as a secret Santa gift idea, no matter who you picked out of the hat.
Home Grown Culinary Herb Seed Vault
Best for: Gardeners
Wow them with this collection of 20 heirloom seeds they can grow into edible herbs. They thrive well year-round on an indoor window sill, on a patio, or outdoors in a garden. The seed pack is one of the best hostess gifts for those who love to garden and cook (we’d suggest they try these fresh-herb recipes once their garden grows).
JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds
Best for: Music lovers
If you’re visiting with kids or dogs—or are conducting a lot of noisy phone calls—these inexpensive wireless earbuds are one of the most clever tech gift ideas. Your hostess will be able to tune out the noise and relax with music, an audiobook, or just about anything else. They come in several fun colors, offer 32 hours of battery life, and are endlessly useful at only $20.
Garrett Wade Grater/Serving Bowl
Best for: Cheese lovers
This combo tool includes a cherry wood serving bowl and a grater that pops out easily for cleaning and serving. Made in Italy, this piece impresses with a timeless design they’ll use for years to come.
The Original Rabbit Corkscrew
Best for: Oenophiles
If you are bringing a bottle or two of your hostess’ favorite wine to the party, make sure you add the Rabbit corkscrew with foil cutter to the bag. This gift for wine lovers is a time-saver that makes opening wine easier than ever, boasting a three-second opening time with a single pull to eject even the toughest corks.
Pasolivo Cucina Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Best for: The Mediterranean eater
This luxe bottle is a major win for hosts who drizzle olive oil on just about everything. It’s made from milder olive varietals, creating a soft oil that’s perfect for everyday cooking.
Sijo French Linen Sheet Set
Best for: Overnight hosts
If you’re staying more than a night or two and are looking for hostess gift ideas that really make an impression, buy a high-quality set of sheets. Classic white matches just about every style and this French linen version offers an elevated take on an old classic. Grab an extra set while you’re at it; they make great gifts for Mom.
Room Essentials Seven-Piece Kitchen Textile Set
Best for: Home chefs
If you’re working with a tight budget but still want to bring something incredibly useful, this seven-piece kitchen textile set from Target’s in-house Room Essentials brand is sure to please. It rings in at just $10 and boasts two matching kitchen towels, two dishcloths, two pot holders, and one oven mitt.
Small Packages Women in Food
Best for: Foodies
Entertainers who lay out sweet snack spreads for guests will love this gift box, which includes tasty treats from women-owned businesses. Choose from among three sizes, each containing delicious snacks like sourdough crackers, hazelnut toffee, and gourmet sauces.
Peugeot Paris Salt and Pepper Mill Duo
Best for: Spice girls
This flavor-imparting duo is made of wood, with a classic design that’s welcome on any table or countertop. If you’re willing to spend more on salt and pepper shakers, this sturdy pair will last for years to come.
Anyday The Starter Set
Best for: Microwave mavens
Not every host is a master chef. Show appreciation for your microwave-loving hostess with this beautiful dish set made of frosted borosilicate glass. It comes with the perfect deep and shallow dishes to cover all cooking and reheating needs. Bonus: It’s a gift that gives back, as a portion of the sale goes to charity.
PureWine The Wand Wine Purifier
Best for: Winos
Hostesses who are prone to overindulging (hey, she planned the shindig, so let her enjoy it!) will love these handy sticks, which may lessen next-day headaches. They’re also great for anyone who gets a headache from wine; the company claims the sticks remove histamines and sulfites, which are known to prompt brain aches. They’re cheap, only require a quick stir, and come eight to a pack.
Bath & Body Works Kitchen Lemon Gift Set
Best for: Germaphobes
Tell your hosts that they’re the zest with this lemony hand care gift set. The perfect present to help keep hands happy and healthy, this set includes foaming hand soap, hand cream, and one of the best hand sanitizers, all wrapped in a gift bag that says “You’re simply the zest.”
Wine Insiders Chef Ludo’s Holiday Table Must-Haves Half-Case
Best for: Hosts with a wine cellar
Arriving with a bottle of wine? Expected. Sending half a case of wine ahead of you? Boss-level guest move. The case includes an assortment of European and Californian reds and whites that’ll please even the pickiest of guests. They make the perfect gifts for the brother who’s moved on from beer.
Member’s Mark Glass Food Storage Set by Glasslock
Best for: The hostess who send you home with leftovers
This 24-piece glass food storage set is an affordable find and one any hostess will use time and time again. The all-natural glass construction is leakproof and dishwasher safe, comes with BPA-free plastic snap lids, and ventures between the freezer and oven with ease. It’s also shatter-resistant and extremely affordable.
Misen Dutch Oven
Best for: Home cooks
Hunting for hostess gifts for the woman whose favorite room is the kitchen? This Dutch oven is durable (it has four layers of enamel), practically nonstick, and great for soups, stews, and stove-to-oven dishes. It offers a 60-day trial, lifetime warranty, and free returns. When it comes to best friend gifts, this one says, “I love you, thanks for hosting, and now feed me.”
Breads Bakery Babka Three-Pack
Best for: Carb fiends
This combo pack from one of New York’s most treasured bakeries comes with two chocolate and one cinnamon babka. Your hostess will have a hard time picking a favorite, but one thing is certain: Both flavors are a hit with a hot cup of coffee and a long talk.
mDesign Seagrass Woven Nested Storage Baskets
Best for: Tidy homes
Instead of littering the guest room with your things, bring this trio of gorgeous braided storage baskets and leave them for your host at the end of your stay. They’re an affordable find that won’t disappoint, and boast sturdy carrying handles in case you use them to tote laundry or other heavy items. For more stellar gift ideas, check out these astrology gifts.
Dr. Hempster Bath Bomb Gift Set
Best for: Stressed-out hostesses
Tell your host to unwind and take a load off with these fizzy wonders. These hostess gifts are a colorful, trendy, and fun way to say thank you, all with handmade craftsmanship, hemp seed oil, and essential oils.
Three Spirit The Collection
Best for: Booze-free babes
Great for daytime cocktails and people who prefer a nonalcoholic sip, this trio of ambiance-enhancing drinks will put her in the mood to party responsibly. They combine plants used for centuries to stimulate the palate, mind, and body, and they won’t leave you with the achy aftermath of alcohol. Next, browse the best Star Wars gifts for the Jedi in your life.
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