The Right (and Wrong) Way to Regift, According to Etiquette Experts

The holidays raise an age-old question: Is it OK to regift?

"I think regifting can absolutely be done with kindness and care," says Myka Meier, etiquette expert. "I see it as a thoughtful way to give an item a home where it will truly be loved, rather than letting it sit unused or just thrown away, which is wasteful."

So yes, you can regift. But there are some basic rules.

Give Something You'd Actually Buy for That Person

"You want to treat regifting as shopping through your own stash of items and making a selection that would benefit the recipient," says Elaine Swann, etiquette expert. "If someone is not a candle person, then don't regift them a candle."

Don't just unload something you don't want on someone who also doesn't want it.

Meier recommends asking yourself: Will this person truly enjoy it? Does it align with their taste and lifestyle? Does the gift feel as though it was chosen with them in mind?

"If the answer to any of these is no, then it is better to hold onto the item or donate it rather than risk giving something that feels impersonal," Meier says.

Keep Social Circles Separate

"Be sure the person you are regifting to is in a totally different social circle than the person who originally gave the gift to you to avoid hurt," Meier advises.

Don't regift Aunt Susan's fruitcake to your cousin who sees Aunt Susan every Sunday. That's how you get caught.

Keep track of where gifts came from. Don't regift to people who appreciate sentimentality or for milestone celebrations. "The goal is always to make the recipient feel appreciated," Meier says.

Check the Item Carefully

Look it over. Check expiration dates on food, beauty products, and candles.

Packaging should be pristine - nothing crumpled or missing. Check for gift tags or notes tucked inside. "You want the gift to feel fresh and thoughtful—not like it was pulled from the back of a cupboard," Meier says.

If it's a book, peek inside for personalized notes on the cover or first few pages.

Nothing screams "regift" like finding "To Sarah, Love Always, Mom" written inside a book you're giving to Mike.

Don't Regift Personalized or Homemade Items

It seems obvious, but don't regift something customized for you. A scarf with your initials embroidered, for example.

Less obvious: Swann says don't give away homemade presents. "If someone made something for you, then the giver really had you in mind. Try not to regift those types of items."

Grandma knitted you a sweater? Keep it or donate it. Don't regift it to your coworker.

Rewrap It

Pick out your own gift bag or paper. "If you receive something in a gift bag, my recommendation is to place it in another gift bag unless the size of the bag is some sort of specialty, or to present it differently," Swann says.

This helps with regifting guilt. "When you repackage it, you get a sense of newness as well," Swann says. Fresh wrapping makes it feel less like handing someone your leftovers.

The Reality

Regifting is fine if you do it right. Give something you'd actually buy for that person. Make sure they're in a different social circle than the original giver. Check for expiration dates, personalized notes, or gift tags. Don't regift monogrammed or homemade stuff. Rewrap it fresh.

Treat regifting like actual gift-giving, not cleaning out your closet. If you wouldn't buy this for them, don't regift it. Check inside books for messages. Check food for expiration dates. Make sure the packaging isn't beat up.

Done right, regifting is resourceful. Done wrong, it's just offloading your unwanted stuff and calling it a gift. Your recipients will know the difference.

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