Gift baskets are a great way to give a unique gift made just for your friends and family. They can also be a really affordable gift with a few easy DIY gift basket ideas using Dollar Tree items.
You’ll be amazed at what cute and thoughtful baskets you can make for under $10.
These cheap gift baskets will help you save money on gifts for Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Kids’ birthdays, housewarming, teacher gifts, thank you gifts, and more. But the best part is creating a basket filled with items your friends and family will be really excited to open.
Follow along and I’ll teach you how to make Dollar Tree gift baskets with tons of different ideas to inspire you to create the perfect gifts this year. Plus a list of things to put in your gift baskets for each basket theme.
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Top list of DIY Gift Basket Ideas with Dollar Tree
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Who doesn’t love getting a basket filled with unique goodies made just for them? Instead of just one gift, you have tons of fun gift items to open and enjoy.
What you’ll really love is how easy & cheap gift baskets are to make once you have some inspiration. Use this list of DIY gift basket ideas to help you create the perfect present at your local Dollar Tree.
No need to spend tons of money to show your friends and family you care. They’ll love that you took the time and effort to create a basket filled with their favorite things.
If you don’t have time to shop did you know you can order online at Dollar Tree and get free shipping to your local store? This is a game-changer during the busy holiday season.
Tips for Making Gift Baskets
Before we go through the DIY gift basket ideas here are a few tips to help you make a gift basket from Dollar Tree. These are all the commonly asked questions when creating gift baskets.
Decide on a Gift Basket Theme
Before you go to the store have an idea of what type of basket you would like to make. For instance a Coffee Lovers Basket or Spa Day basket. This will help you focus once you’re in Dollar Tree.
What Type of Basket Do You Use
Once you know your theme it will help you decide on the type of basket or bin to use.
For example, if it’s a teacher’s gift try a reusable bin they could also use in the classroom. Or for a kid’s gift a bin with a lid so they can also use it for storage later.
If you want your gift to look pretty use an actual basket, especially for Mother’s Day or Christmas gifts.
How Many Items Should Be in the Basket?
First, find the basket or bin you would like to hold your gifts. You can then decide on how many items you need based on the size of your basket. As you shop add items to your basket or bin to see how they fit.
You can basically have your basket created before you leave the store which is great.
I would suggest that you have at least 3-4 items in a small basket and at least 8-10 items in a large basket.
How to Fill the Bottom of Your Basket
You will want your gifts to show at the top of the basket so adding some fill or bulk at the bottom will help prop them up.
I would suggest you use crumpled-up tissue paper or decorative shred to take up the bulk of the space on the bottom of the basket. You’ll find these near the gift bags and wrapping paper.
Another idea is to use foam floral blocks to fill up the bottom of the basket or bin. These can be found near the fake flower section in the store.
How to Arrange Your Basket
You want to make sure most of your gift items show at the top of the basket. So spread your gifts out with the taller items in the back and shorter items in the front. Use your fill to help fill in any space you need at the bottom.
Shop Instore or Online
The items below I found in the store but you can also buy items online from Dollar Tree. We all have such busy lives ordering online can be a huge time saver.
If you order your items to pick up in-store you won’t pay a shipping fee.
Gift Tags
Save money on greeting cards with these free printable Gift Tag Templates. Print them out and add a ribbon to the gift tag that you can tie to the gift baskets.
The gift tag bundle has 28 pages of cute gift tags for Christmas, Birthday, Thank You, Baby Showers, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Teacher Appreciation, Holidays, and more. Plus blank gift tags to create your own greeting.
Gift Planner
Keep track of your Christmas gifts and what you need to buy with checklists in our Ultimate Christmas Planner.
A 62-page printable planner with everything busy people need to stay organized over the holidays. You’ll find calendars, to-do lists, budget planners, gift lists, kids’ wish lists, Black Friday & Cyber Monday trackers, thank-you lists, meal planners, and more.
Grab it today and make it a stress-free holiday this year.
Christmas Gift Basket
Create a Christmas-themed gift basket to bring when visiting friends and family for the holidays. Try using this Christmas oval bucket if you don’t want to use a traditional basket.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Christmas Ornaments
- Holiday Towels & Oven Mitts
- Christmas DVDs
- Christmas Napkins or plates
- Gingerbread cookie mix
- Holiday mugs or wine glasses
- Nutcrackers or Christmas Character
- Small Christmas Signs
- Cinnamon Potpourri
- Santa Cookie Plate
Get more Christmas Money Saving tips in our DIY Dollar Tree Christmas Decorations & Gift Ideas.
Christmas Baking Basket
A small Christmas basket idea is a holiday baking basket. Try to add items they can use to make a specific type of baking goods. Such as cupcakes with cake mix, frosting, and cupcake liners.
I put this gift in Holiday Tupperware they could use to put the dessert in after they bake it.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Gingerbread Mix
- Cake Mix
- Cupcake liners
- Frosting
- Whisk
- Measuring cups
- Holiday napkins or plates
- Holiday-themed mitts, pot holders
- Christmas Towels
Christmas Wine Basket
Do you have a wine or scotch lover your need a gift for? At Dollar Tree, they have tons of wine glasses and cocktail glasses with cute holiday sayings. Add a few of these glasses to a basket with a bottle of liquor. On the bottle add a festive Christmas ornament.
Tip: You could do this basket for any occasion. They have tons of glasses in store with different sayings other than holidays like Weddings, Birthdays, and Teacher gifts.
Things to Put in the Gift Basket
Christmas Hot Chocolate Gift Basket
Hot chocolate is a great gift basket idea for all ages. Especially when you add the Christmas items they have at Dollar Tree.
Things to Put in the Gift Basket
- Hot Chocolate Bombs
- Santa Coca Mix
- Chocolate Stirring Spoons
- Peppermint Stirring Spoons
- Christmas Cookie Decorating Kit
- Christmas Mug
- Add a few more Christmas candies to fill up the rest of the basket
Movie Lover’s Basket
Family and friends who love movies will enjoy this basket for Christmas, Father’s Day, hostess gifts, and birthdays. You could either put it all in a cute basket or in a large plastic popcorn box.
At Dollar Tree stores they usually have an area with DVDs to buy. They will not be the latest movies so go for more of a throwback movie theme.
Things to put in the gift basket
- DVDs
- microwave popcorn
- skinny pop
- candy
- cracker jacks
- juice box
- water bottles
- soda
- popcorn-themed paper bags for their popcorn
You could also add a beer or bottle of wine for adults but this would not be from Dollar Tree.
Spa Day Basket
Give the mom, friend, or girlfriend in your life the gift of relaxation with a Spa day gift basket. These are great Mother’s Day gifts or Birthday gifts.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Bath salts
- Bath bombs
- Facial Roller
- Towel hair wrap
- Inspirational Candles
- Facemask
- Eyemask
- Body wash
- Pretty sponge
- Nail Grooming Kit
- Artificial nail kit
- Nail polish
- Foot Mask
- Plastic spa comb
Find more spa ideas in our Easy Self Care Gift Ideas for Busy Moms.
Housewarming Cleaning Basket
Welcome friends and family to their new home with a basket of cleaning supplies they can use. We’ve tested Dollar Tree cleaning supplies and they work great! Plus it’s something every new homeowner needs.
Instead of using a basket add the gifts to a plastic carrying tote, which they can use to carry the supplies from room to room. Or put all the supplies in a laundry basket they can use later in their laundry room.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Microfiber Sponges
- Microfiber Cleaning Towels
- LA Totally Awesome All Purpose Cleaner (the BEST disinfectant)
- Window Cleaner
- Paper towels
Get more ideas in our 45 Best Cleaning Supplies at Dollar Tree You Should be Buying.
Baker’s Gift Basket
An easy baking gift basket that even your friends who don’t bake will enjoy. This gift can be added to a cute basket or add items to a mixing bowl they can use while they bake.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Cake Mix
- Cupcake liners
- Frosting
- Sprinkles
- Cookie mix
- Cookie Cutters
- Measuring cups
- Small tray or plate for the cookies
- Cute oven mitt & pot holders
- Kitchen towel
- Whisk
- Spatula
Coffee Lovers Basket
Does your family or friends love their coffee? Create a cute coffee gift basket for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, hostess gift, teacher gifts or Birthdays.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Coffee
- Coffee Mate
- Fun Ceramic Mug
- Reusable travel coffee cups
- Coffee themed kitchen towel
- Coffee Themed Oven Mitt and Pot holder
- Biscuits
- Small coffee cookies
BBQ Gift Basket
A BBQ gift basket is perfect for that hard-to-shop-for man in your life. This would be the perfect father’s day or birthday gift for guys who like to grill. It would work for a housewarming gift too.
Things to put in the gift basket
- BBQ sauce
- BBQ seasoning
- Pickles
- Cute BBQ themed towel or oven mitt
- Basting brush
- Metal tongs
- Metal spatula
- Checkered basket liners
Teacher Appreciation Basket or Bin
Say thank you to your child’s teacher with a fun Teach Appreciation Gift. Give this teacher gift basket at the Holidays, End of the Year, or teacher appreciation week.
You can either give the gift in a cute basket for the teacher as pictured above. Or add the gift items to a reusable bin they can use in the classroom later. Both will look cute and are sure to be a hit with the teacher.
School supplies are always a welcomed teacher appreciation gift. You can ask your teacher what they need or just add a bunch of school supplies you pick up at dollar tree.
I added to this basket a cute Inspire table sign for the teacher too.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Markers
- Crayons
- Paper
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Glue sticks
- Scissors
- Index cards
- Dry erase markers
Another idea is to use a Plastic Tumbler and fill it with a few school supplies. Then add a gift card to Starbucks or Target so they can get a little something for themselves too.
Get More Teacher Gift Ideas in our Cheap Teacher Appreciation Gifts Under $20
Easter Gift Baskets for Kids
There are tons of items at Dollar Tree to stuff a fun Easter Basket for your Kids. Make sure to go at least a month before the holiday to find the best Easter-themed items.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Easter Candy
- Chocolate Easter Bunny
- Stuffed Animals – Bunny or Ducks
- Small Games
- Card Games
- Easter Stickers
- Easter coloring book
- Playdough
- Slime
- Disney Figures or Kids Movie Figures
- Matchbox Cars
Find more unique Easter Basket Ideas for Kids of All Ages they’ll be so excited to get from the Easter bunny. If you have boys make sure to check out these Super Cool Easter Basket Gifts for Boys.
Kids Gift Basket Ideas
There are tons of fun DIY gift basket ideas you can create for kids at Dollar Tree. Here are a few ideas to give you a place to start when creating your basket for Birthdays, Christmas, or family vacation.
Once you get in the store look around the kid’s section and you can find items tailored specifically to what your child likes.
If you’re planning a birthday party make sure to visit our Dollar Tree Birthday Supplies, Decorations & Goody Bag ideas. Why not save some money on their birthday party too?
Kids Activity Basket
Create a fun activity basket for kids’ birthdays or Christmas this year. This can be a mix of toys, activity books, art projects, games, sports balls, and more.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Bubble Popping Fidgets
- coloring books
- Small toys
- Small character figures
- Barbies
- Cars
- Army men
- Sports balls
- Cards
- Small games
- Crayons
- Markers
- Construction paper
- Playdoh
- Squish ball animals
Find more Kids Activity Ideas check out our Easy DIY Outdoor Games for kids with Dollar Tree Items.
Themed Gift Buckets
Check the kid’s section or seasonal section to see if there are any themed buckets you can fill for the kids.
Above is a Dinosaur bucket I found the kids loved and I just filled it with fun kids games & activities.
Travel Gift Basket
Headed on a vacation? Give your kids a travel bucket filled with fun things to do on a road trip.
Lots of families are giving experience gifts now for Christmas or birthdays. If you are trying that this year it would be a great addition to a travel experience gift.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Travel Games
- Coloring books
- Crayons
- Bubble Popping Fidget
- Books
- Activity books
- Small Toys
- Small characters
Find tons of travel activity ideas in our 15 Best Travel Games for Kids at Dollar Tree. Includes Busy Bag ideas too!
Sports Baskets
For your sports-loving kids, you’ll find tons of small balls, basketball hoops, tennis rackets, and more at Dollar Tree. Fill a basket with lots of different balls and games.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Football
- Baseballs
- Small baseball bat and ball
- Wibbly balls
- Bouncy balls
- Basketball hoop, tennis racket, paddle ball
Artist Gift Caddy
Give the gift of art with a fun Artist Basket to kids for birthday and Christmas. You can include items you’ll find the in school supply aisle and the craft aisle in Dollar Tree.
For this gift basket, I would use a caddy so they can carry their art supplies to a table to work and have somewhere to put them away when they’re done.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Markers
- Crayons
- Colored pencils
- Scissors
- Glue
- Glue sticks
- Water paint
- Coloring books
- Construction paper
Girls Gift Basket
Create a girly basket for Christmas and birthdays this year. Put it all in a bin that has a top so they can store all the toys when they’re done.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Fashion Dolls
- Dollhouse collection
- Stuff animals
- Playdoh
- Tea set
- Princess jewels
- Bead crafts
- Small Disney figures
- Small games
- Puzzles
Find more girl gift ideas in our 45 Hottest Tween Girl Gift Guide for 2023.
Boy Gift Baskets
Create a basket just for your son that he’ll be excited to open and play with this year.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Sports balls
- Basketball hoops
- Kids games
- Stuff Animals
- Puzzles
- Cars
- Army men
- Books
- Coloring books
- Superhero figures
- Dinosaurs
Find more boy gift ideas in 35 Best Gift Ideas for Boys in 2023
Tween & Teen Gift Basket
Make those tweens & teens in your life happy for birthdays or Christmas with a cool gift basket just for them.
Things to put in the gift basket
- Earbuds
- DVDs
- Coloring books for adults
- Books
- Candy
- Snacks
- Bath bombs
- Spa day products
- Sports balls
- Indoor basketball hoop
I hope you have found a few DIY gift basket ideas to give to your friends and family for Christmas, birthday, and throughout the year. It really is an easy and cheap gift to give that you can make unique for your friends and families personalities. These gift baskets are sure to be your new go-to gift!
More Ways to Save at Dollar Tree
Check out these Dollar Tree articles and find more places to save money this year.
How to Make Cheap Fall Decorations From Dollar Tree That Look Expensive – Easy DIY Ideas for Halloween & Thanksgiving
Cute DIY Dollar Tree Christmas Decorations and Gifts – Cheap holiday decorations that look expensive
45 Best Cleaning Supplies from Dollar Tree That Actually Work. You will be amazed at how many awesome cleaning supplies you can get for $1.
17 Genius Dollar Tree DIY Organization Hacks. Declutter & Organized Your Whole house.
15 Best Travel Games for Kids at Dollar Tree Keep the kids busy & entertained on upcoming family road trips.
Fun & Cheap Birthday Party Decorations for Kids at Dollar Tree – What to buy at Dollar Tree to save money on party supplies & decorations.
Affordable Gift Ideas for Whole Family
If you’re shopping for holiday or birthday gifts visit our Holiday Page or Gift Ideas page filled with more cool gift ideas for adults and kids.
Cheap Teacher Appreciation Gifts Under $20 in 2023 – What Teachers Really Want this year
Hottest Tween Girl Gift Ideas for 2023 – What girls really want this year
35 Best Gift Ideas for Boys Age 10-12 Years Old – Coolest gifts for boys in 2023
Funny White Elephant Gift Ideas Under $20 for Kids & Adults – Hilarious gifts for your holiday gift exchange this year.
Unique Subscription Box Gift Ideas for Kids – Boxes for Sports, STEM, Art, Books, Kids activities, Cooking & More
Hostess & Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas from Dollar Tree – Cute Gifts to bring to any Holiday Party without breaking the bank this season.
Easy Self-Care Activities & Gift Ideas for Moms – Fun Relaxation Gift ideas.
Keep track of all your Christmas gifts, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and your holiday budget with the Ultimate Christmas Planner. Stop stressing about remembering everything!
The 44-page planner will get parents ready for a stress-free and fun family Christmas. You’ll also get Christmas checklists, calendars, meal planners, party planners, Christmas card lists, and Things to Do lists, plus a bonus of 7 Printable Family Christmas games.
Check out the Christmas Planner and see if it will be a game-changer for your holiday planning this year.
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Bonus, you’ll get a free printable Gift Tags to use on your gift baskets. Just print it out and tie a ribbon to your basket with your gift tag and your present is ready.
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