29 Most Fun Hostess Gift Ideas for 2024

Looking for the perfect hostess gift idea? The long-honored tradition of gifting those who invite us into their homes is often one of the hardest things to navigate.

What do you bring for dinners, outdoor barbecues or birthday celebrations? What is too much? What is too little? It’s a fraught decision, especially for new friends and strangers, but even the most familiar friends and casual occasions can pose a challenge. 

So, what is a customary gift to bring on a visit to someone's home? Whether it's a formal gathering or a casual get-together, we’ve rounded up a few ideas for hostess gifts that suit all occasions, friendships and interests.

Here you'll find the best hostess gift ideas the year, including everything from great experiential gifts to small, inexpensive gestures for the everyday. 

Jump to Section

• Creative Hostess Gift Ideas
• Foodie Hostess Gift Ideas
• Unique Hostess Gift Ideas
• Luxury Hostess Gift Ideas
• Inexpensive Hostess Gift Ideas
• Hostess Gift Etiquette

Creative Hostess Gift Ideas

1. Art Classes or Craft Workshops

An easy last-minute hostess gift idea is giving your hostess the chance to take an exciting art or craft class. This gift keeps giving long after the party, through both the class and whatever your hostess makes and learns during it.

Art classes usually offer workshops at all levels in subjects like watercolor, oils, printmaking and jewelry making. You can find great wherever you are, including art classes in San Diego, art classes in Portland or art classes in Chicago.

2. Paint and Sip

A boozier alternative to a conventional workshop, paint and sip puts a social spin on art-making endeavors, allowing participants to both learn and socialize over a few cocktails or wine.

You can find a number of paints and sips near you, including paint and sips in Portland, paint and sips in Los Angeles and paint and sips in Orange County.

3. Pottery Classes

Encourage your host to explore a creative new hobby to fill their home with handmade pottery, sculpture other ceramics.

Give your hostess enrollment in a ceramics or pottery class near you, including pottery classes in Minneapolis, pottery classes in Portland or pottery classes in NYC.

4. Jewelry Kit 

A fun and engaging hostess gift idea that fosters both creativity and ends with a keepsake finished product is one of many handmade jewelry kits.

They typically include supplies and materials needed to get started making your own earrings, bracelets and pendants. Great ideas include metal stamping kits, beadwork kits and charm-bracelet kits. 

5. Candle Making Kit

Candle making is a very beginner-friendly endeavor, which makes a candle kit a perfect hostess gift idea that is both cozy and home-centered.

Most kits will include wax, scented oils, containers and wicks to make your own creations. When finished, the hostess has a candle to remind her of the gathering.

6. A Pretty Journal 

Journals and blank books serve all sorts of purposes from diaries and scrapbooks to planners and to-do list-making spots.

A gorgeous bound journal or planner makes a great hostess gift idea, particularly if your hostess loves writing or journaling. Include an inscription on the inside front cover to commemorate the occasion. 

7. Paint by Numbers Set

These fun little sets include everything you need to make a masterpiece and are great hostess gift ideas even for the untrained.

You can find kits for all tastes in art, from masterworks to more fun and kitschy renderings of pop culture favorites and kittens.

Foodie Hostess Gift Ideas

8. Cooking or Beverage Classes

A good hostess gift for foodies will always cater to their curiosity and desire to add more to their personal cooking or bartending repertoire. Grant your hostess a chance to learn the perfect way to roll sushi or how to make their own salsa.

You can find a wealth of cooking classes near you, including cooking classes in Dallas, cooking classes in Boston and cooking classes in Washington, D.C.

The perfect gift for cocktail lovers, you can also find a number of beverage-making or mixology classes that make great hostess gift ideas for a cocktail party, both in person and online, including virtual wine tastings and online mixology classes.

9. Herb Garden Starter Set

If your hostess doesn’t have an herb garden already, this gift is a great option to set her up with one. Numerous ready-made starter kits are available from various retailers or you can fashion your own in a gift basket of seed packs, containers, tools and a gardening how-to book.

Great seeds to start include rosemary, sage and oregano.

10. Sushi Rolling Kit

One of the trickiest culinary treats to master, sushi is always a favorite. A great hostess gift idea is a ready-made sushi kit that comes with instructions, tools and materials to help you out. 

11. Tea Towels or Linens

No kitchen ever has enough potholders or pretty tea towels, so these make excellent options for a small hostess gift idea.

Opt for humor or favorite patterns/colors for close friends or pick up more classic and stylish options in stripes and checks for those you are still getting to know.

12. Sauce Samplers

This perfect hostess gift idea will be used long after the party is over. From flavored dressings and oils to barbecue sauces, they offer an excellent opportunity to sample new flavors and combinations. 

13. Cookbook

Even though there are a wealth of recipes available online, there is still a certain amount of charm to a printed cooking manual for both use and display.

Find out what your hostess loves and pick up a book with some of their favorite recipes and cuisines. You can also personalize the book with a thank you inscription on the inside page. 

Unique Hostess Gift Ideas

14. Dance Classes

Dance classes are a fun way to enjoy activity and movement and pick up new steps. You can find a wealth of dance classes near you, including dance classes in Las Vegas, dance classes in Orlando or dance classes in Nashville.

Wherever you are, you can also find online dance classes teaching everything from salsa and line dancing to ballet and ballroom-style dancing.

15. Flower Arranging

A more fun and engaging alternative to just showing up with a bouquet is to gift your hostess enrollment in a flower arranging class, where they can learn to assemble their own gorgeous arrangements.

You can find flower arranging workshops at florists and community centers or take advantage of some great virtual flower arranging classes wherever you are.

16. Art Museum Membership or Passes

A perfect hostess gift idea for someone who enjoys arts and culture is to purchase a museum membership or passes for them to enjoy at a later date.

Not only is it an unexpected treat, but will also be remembered long after the occasion. Whether it’s an art museum, natural history museum or historic site, there is something to capture every interest.

17. Pet Treats or Grooming 

In many homes, pets take center stage. What better way to honor your hostess than by bringing treats or toys for her favorite pet? You can create a pet-themed hostess gift basket or give a voucher for a visit to the groomer or pet spa. 

18. Custom DIY Frame

A one-of-a-kind small hostess gift idea is to create a custom frame as a gift commemorating the occasion. With a glue gun, some decorative elements and a simple wood frame, you can create a fun piece of memorabilia.

The hostess can later print out and add a photo of the evening’s festivities, making a great keepsake. 

Luxury Hostess Gift Ideas 

19. Luxe Throw Blanket

A useful hostess gift idea is a luxurious throw for the home, which will not only keep them warm and cozy but make them think of the occasion long after.

Throw blankets are one of those things we use in abundance, but never really purchase for ourselves. Many come in extravagant in fabrics like linen, velvet and cashmere.

20. Scented Oil Dispenser

A great housewarming gift idea for a hostess is an essential oil dispenser, which will make a new home rich in lovely scent and ambiance.

You can choose a variety that uses oils or wax inserts to release scent on a timed basis that can be used to foster a calming, energetic or cozy environment in any room.  

21. Spa Day

One of the most luxurious hostess gift ideas for a friend is to treat your much-tired hostess to a pampering day at the spa, either alone or with you, making it a perfect gift for best friends.

You can find vouchers and passes online for various spas or include a spa day pass with more utilitarian objects like some pretty bath oils or salts.

22. Glassware or Barware

For a housewarming party, new glassware or barware is a great hostess gift idea, particularly since filling a new home requires some fresh additions. You can go as big or small as you like, including dish/glassware sets or individual pieces.

23. Artwork

If you are well-acquainted with your hostess's tastes and aesthetics, a great hostess gift idea is a piece of original artwork. Consider framed originals or photographs, intricate pottery or fine glass sculptures. 

Inexpensive Hostess Gift Ideas

24. Baked Goods

A perfect inexpensive hostess gift idea that is both personal and heartfelt is sharing some homemade baked goods. Whether you are gifting brownies, pies or fresh-made cookies, decorative touches and pretty packaging can make them an easy and tasty gift. 

25. Flowers or Plants

A simple bouquet or a favorite plant can be a wonderful inexpensive hostess gift idea that gives a lot of bang for little bucks. Plants, bushes and trees are great for longevity, but even bouquets and cut flower arrangements can be beautiful in their fleetingness.

You can even choose your flowers to match the flowers to the occasion with this list from Iowa State University, perfect as hostess gift ideas for baby showers, birthdays and other special occasions.

26. Candles

Always a tried and true small hostess gift idea, no one can ever have too many candles. They are particularly great as housewarming gifts. Choose a favorite scent or color that suits the hostess' home or the occasion.

Price points can vary between more luxurious brand-name candles in gorgeous pottery or less expensive varieties available at retailers. If you’re crafty, consider making a batch of custom candles in pretty packaging to use as hostess gifts in general. 

27. Wine or Booze

Available almost everywhere, it’s very easy to pick up a bottle as a last-minute gift idea that is always a crowd-pleaser. Plus, most alcohol will make a perfect gift under $50.

There are varieties to suit every occasion, from fine wines, which make a great gift for wine lovers, to a more casual 12-pack of bottles, or from cocktail mixes to small-batch bourbons. 

28. Tea or Coffee

For another beverage option for an inexpensive hostess gift idea, give a pound of richly flavored coffee or a pretty box of teas. These are always a hit, especially for those who don’t drink alcohol or love hot beverages.

Hot chocolate is another fave, particularly in the winter and for holiday occasions. You can also pair them with a cool mug that will serve as a keepsake. 

29. Sweet Treats

If your hostess has a known sweet tooth, a box of their favorite candy can be one of the easiest and most inexpensive gift options.

A box of fine chocolates or a basket of gummy treats can be devoured during the party or saved to be heartily enjoyed later after the house has emptied. 

Hostess Gift Etiquette

When is a Hostess Gift a Good Idea?

While different regions and even different families have varying ideas on the customary practice of bringing a little something to thank your host or hostess for opening up their home to you, there is some common advice regarding hostess gift giving.

Great occasions for gifts include dinner parties, brunches, lunches and cocktail parties, as well as everyday visits, particularly if it’s a longer, weekend stay or you are visiting a new home.

What Do You Give as a Hostess Gift?

The goal is to bring something that is a thank you gesture but requires minimal expectation of the hostess amid the event to have to address or unwrap the gift immediately during the bustle.

If giving flowers, it may help to bring them in a ready-made container, for example. If giving food or drink, try not to present it with the expectation it needs to be immediately consumed, particularly if it conflicts with the planned menu.

How Much Should I Spend on a Hostess Gift?

This answer will of course vary, depending on the occasion and the relationship. A good rule is the more casual the occasion, the less expense.

When Should You Not Bring a Hostess Gift?

Usually, large formal dinners where you do not know the host well do not necessitate gifts If going to a birthday celebration, shower or graduation party, a gift for the recipient is usually enough, though you may also bring a small something if the host of the party is someone else.

The perfect hostess gift ideas can be a great thank you gift and a fun way to connect with your hosts. From small and inexpensive gestures to more luxurious options, a hostess gift is always sure to be a hit.

For even more fun gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!