Store-bought gift tags cost $5 to $10 a pack and all look the same. Printable Christmas gift tags cost almost nothing, match your wrapping paper exactly, and make even a simple brown-paper package look thoughtful. You can design 15 different tags at home in one evening with free tools and a regular printer.
What You Need
A home printer, white cardstock (about $8 for a 50-sheet pack at Walmart or Target), scissors or a paper trimmer, a hole punch, and ribbon or twine. Cardstock matters — regular printer paper tears and flops, while cardstock feels like a real tag. A paper trimmer (about $15) makes cutting 15 tags fast and straight, but scissors work fine.
Design Your Tags in 20 Minutes
Use a free tool like Canva or Google Docs. Start with a 2-by-3.5-inch rectangle, add a small hole mark at the top, and pick a style: classic red and green, rustic kraft with black lettering, elegant gold on white, or playful patterns for kids. Type “To” and “From” lines in a readable font, then add a small graphic — a pine sprig, a star, a snowflake, or a candy cane — from a free clipart library. Keep text large: tiny script fonts look pretty on screen and unreadable on a gift.
15 Tag Designs to Try
1. Classic red truck with a Christmas tree. 2. Gold foil-look star on white. 3. Rustic kraft with pine sprig. 4. Buffalo plaid border. 5. Minimalist black-and-white typography. 6. Watercolor snowflakes. 7. Santa hat pattern for kids’ gifts. 8. Elegant script “Merry Christmas” in gold. 9. Gingerbread house illustration. 10. Reindeer silhouette. 11. Candy cane stripes. 12. Cozy sweater pattern. 13. Vintage postcard style. 14. Funny tags (“Do Not Open Until Dec 25!”). 15. Photo tags with a family picture.
Mix two or three styles across your gifts rather than using one design for everything — a variety of tags looks intentional and festive under the tree.
Print, Cut, and Finish
Print a test page on plain paper first to check colors and size, then print on cardstock. Cut along the guides, punch a hole in each tag, and thread ribbon or twine through. For a polished look, round the corners with a corner punch (about $5) and layer the tag over a slightly larger kraft tag. Write names with a metallic pen — gold on dark tags, black on light ones.
Make Them Reusable and Shareable
Save your tag sheet as a PDF so you can reprint it every year. Share the file with family — grandparents especially love printing the same tags for their gifts. If you sell crafts, a printable tag set also makes a lovely free bonus for customers.
Tips for Tags That Look Store-Bought
Match the tag to the wrapping paper: kraft tags on kraft paper, gold tags on deep green paper. Keep the design uncluttered — one graphic, two colors, and clear writing space. And always print one extra sheet: someone always needs one more tag on Christmas Eve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What paper should I print gift tags on? White or kraft cardstock, 65 to 110 lb weight. It holds its shape, takes ink well, and feels like a real tag.
Can I make gift tags without design skills? Yes. Canva has free gift tag templates — just change the text and colors. A simple rectangle with a border and “To/From” lines already looks great.
How do I keep printed tags from smudging? Let inkjet prints dry for a few minutes before cutting, and avoid touching the printed side. Laser printers smudge less if you have access to one.
Printable gift tags are a small detail with an outsized effect: they turn wrapping into part of the gift. One evening, one pack of cardstock, and every present under your tree looks like it came from a boutique.