22 Best Hostess Gifts for Every Occasion—and Budget
Updated: Apr. 06, 2023Be a good guest: Shop the best hostess gifts to bring to any party, and we guarantee you’ll get an invite back.
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The best 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, even those impossible to shop for people. 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 stylish alternatives to scented candles and beyond.
For happy hour hosts: Bamboo Cheese Board Set
Skip the boring snacks and bring this beautiful bamboo cheese board set. It’s a wow-worthy addition to any wine-and-cheese gathering—and one of the best hostess gifts that’s also budget-friendly. There’s a slide-out tray with slicing tools, and built-in compartments and grooves for pretzels, fruit and other yummies. It’s a fast-shipping Amazon Prime gift, which means you can scoop this one up for last-minute invitations.
For the one with heirloom recipes: Our Place Always Pan
The Our Place Always Pan is one of the best frying pans we’ve ever met. It’s a do-it-all cookware staple that takes all the best recipes and gives them the TLC of non-toxic stick-free ceramic and high style. We think it makes one of the best hostess gifts ever thanks to the expanded color range and easy cleanup. The likelihood that your host will proudly use it for years to come makes it a shoo-in for best-gift-ever territory.
For brunch buffs: Wildgrain Baked Goods Box
If fresh, hot bread and pastries sounds appealing, this mouth-watering Wildgrain box is sure to be a hit. Brimming with patisserie-quality items like croissants and sour dough loaves, it’s hard to decide which item is best. Each no-commitment subscription box contains enough baked joy to feed a crowd. These freezer-to-table wonders are ready in just 25 minutes. No thawing necessary—just unwrap and pop them in the oven for a few minutes. They take the guesswork out of the next morning’s breakfast for overnight guests, too!
For tea drinkers: DavidsTea Matcha Essentials Kit
Spending time together is totally your cup of tea, so the fill their cups with high-quality matcha. The DavidsTea Matcha Essentials Kit contains everything they’ll need to make authentic, slightly-frothy matcha in just minutes. It can be served hot or cold, and there’s enough for several guests. It comes in a beautifully packaged gift box, making it one of the best gifts for tea lovers.
For luxury lovers: Quince Ribbed Cashmere Throw
This ultra-soft Quince cashmere throw is one of the best throw blanket options ever thanks to its 100% real cashmere. The budget-friendly price makes it one of the best hostess gifts, and a front-runner for everyone’s holiday wish lists. While you’re shopping, pick up the brand’s top-selling, affordable cashmere sweater.
For the one who needs a break: Brooklyn Candle Studio Santorini Reed Diffuser
Let them escape the chaos and noise of being the hostess with the mostest—even if just for a few minutes. The uplifting, vacation-worthy scent of this Brooklyn Candle Studio diffuser is enough to set anyone’s mind at ease. It strikes the right balance between minimalist design and fancy room perfume. If you really want to soothe your host’s soul, try adding one of the brand’s best-selling scented candles to your gift package.
For anyone who needs help winding down: Cleverfy Shower Steamers
Hey, hosting is a lot of work! These aromatherapy-focused Cleverfy shower steamers come as a packaged gift set perfect for encouraging a little bit of zen. Available in sets of six, 12 or 18 steamers, these soothing home spa products are fun to give on their own or bundled with other self-care gifts.
For gardeners: Ferry Morse Complete Indoor Growing Seed Starting Kit
Prepare to be invited back in about 90 days, or just after the first vegetable harvest this Ferry Morse indoor seed kit offers. It comes with everything they need for a homegrown veggie kingdom, including seeds, pellet starters, heat mapping and grow lights. This hands-on idea also makes a brilliant gift for a grandpa or grandma with green thumbs.
For the one who deserves a high five: Glasshouse Fragrances Hand Duo Gift Set
When you’re not sure what to give and need one of the most universal hostess gift ideas, a hand soap and lotion set is always a winner. This luxuriously scented Glasshouse Fragrances gift set boasts a full size hand wash and a rich, creamy hand lotion that delivers hours of hydration. With fresh, warming notes of hyacinth, apple blossom and sandalwood, it’s a versatile beauty gift that offers daily-use appeal.
For florals fans: The Bouqs Sunglow Bouquet
Rich, golden hues make this appealing bouquet from The Bouqs a popular hit. You’ll love it for the bold, expensive-looking punch that it packs for an under-$50 price. It delivers right to their door to lighten your load and comes with enough shades of happiness-inspiring yellow guaranteed to make your host smile. The company made our list of the best online flower delivery services, so you know these blooms will arrive in tip-top shape.
For the long-term hostess: Brooklinen Towel Bundle
If your hostess is taking you in for more than a few days, a bigger gift is certainly necessary. This Brooklinen towel bundle is a perfect way to lighten their laundry load, restock a favorite household item and leave something valuable behind. Made of ultra-soft Turkish cotton, this set will be put to good use over and over again, even when the house is emptied out. These plush bathroom essentials are sure to be well-received, especially if you gift them to college students.
For anyone standing on their feet all day: Mise Standard Kitchen Shoes
These gender-neutral, supportive Mise shoes were designed with pro chefs in mind to offer cushioned comfort that feels more like a slipper than anything else. They’re the best hostess gifts for anyone known to stand for hours on end preparing meals and hosting loved ones. A unique, removable insole makes them easy to clean. Plus, durable bottoms make them great walking shoes, too.
For the elevated hostess: Artisan Salt Co. Black Truffle Sea Salt
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 premium sea salt and real Italian black truffles to impart just the right amount of flavor to your hostess’ home-cooked dishes. It’s bursting with high-end flavor at a budget-friendly price, making it one of the best coworker gifts as well.
For coffee lovers: De’Longhi Coffee & Espresso Maker
This De’Longhi coffee machine does it all. One side offers an authentic espresso, cappuccino and latte experience, while the other brews delicious standard American Joe. 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).
For women who prize self-care: Cozy Earth Bamboo Kimono Robe
Whether you’re encouraging her to wake up late on the weekend 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 over 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.
For overnight hosts: Sijo LuxeWeave Linen Sheet Set
If you’re staying more than a night or two and are looking for hostess gift ideas that really make an impression, buy a luxe set of sheets. This Sijo French linen set offers an elevated take on an old classic. Grab an extra set while you’re at it, they make great gifts for mom.
For home chefs: Room Essentials Kitchen Textile Set
If you’re working with a tight budget but still want to bring something incredibly useful, this seven-piece kitchen set from Target’s in-house Room Essentials brand is sure to please. It rings in at just $12 and boasts two matching kitchen towels, two dishcloths, two pot holders and one oven mitt.
For microwave mavens: Anyday The Starter Set
Not every host is a master chef. Show appreciation for your microwave-loving hostess with this beautiful Anyday dish set made of frosted borosilicate glass. It comes with the perfect deep and shallow dishes to cover all cooking and reheating needs.
For winos: PureWine The Wand Purifier
Hostesses who are prone to overindulging (hey, she planned the shindig, so let her enjoy it!) will love these handy PureWine sticks, which may lessen next-day hangovers. They’re one of the best gifts for wine lovers who get headaches 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 for parties.
For chocoholics: Seattle Chocolate Jcoco Tasting Experience Box
This brightly-hued Seattle Chocolate Jcoco gift box of high-end chocolates is sure to get you invited back. It features five three-ounce chocolate bars, plus a flavor wheel to guide tasters through each bite with all five senses. It also makes one of the sweetest teacher gifts for educators putting in overtime.
For the hostess sending you home with leftovers: Member’s Mark Food Storage Set
This Member’s Mark 24-piece glass food storage set is a practical present any hostess will appreciate. The all-natural, durable glass construction is leakproof and dishwasher-safe. It also comes with BPA-free plastic snap lids that venture between the freezer and oven with ease. Shatter-resistant glass at such an affordable price is hard to come by, so you should probably pick up an extra set for yourself while you’re at it.
For gourmands: Misen Dutch Oven
Hunting for hostess gifts for the woman whose favorite room is the kitchen? This colorful Misen Dutch oven is a durable workhorse thanks to four layers of enamel. It’s great for soups, stews and stove-to-oven dishes. A lifetime warranty and free returns make it a safe gift idea, too. When it comes to best friend gifts, this one says, “I love you, thanks for hosting, now feed me.”
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