Budgeting: How much to spend on a housewarming gift, with ideas for every budget
How much to spend on a housewarming gift depends on how close you are, and most people spend between 15 and 40. Useful, consumable gifts are often the most welcome, and if you're hosting, a simple gathering with shared food keeps the party affordable.
By Wealtie Team · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- How much to spend on a housewarming gift depends on how close you are, and most people spend between 15 and 40.
- Useful, consumable gifts like food, plants or kitchen basics are often the most welcome.
- A housewarming party can be simple, with shared food and drinks rather than a catered event.
- New homeowners often face many costs at once, so gifts that help with everyday needs are appreciated.
How much should you spend on a housewarming gift?
Most people spend between 15 and 40, depending on how close they are to the person moving. A housewarming gift is a small gesture to welcome someone to their new home, not a major present. The host isn't expecting anything expensive, and a thoughtful choice matters far more than the price.
Customs vary. In some places a housewarming gift is traditional, while in others people bring something to share at the party. Follow what's usual among your friends and family.
What's a sensible amount by relationship?
Here's a worked example in round numbers that work in any currency:
| Relationship | Typical gift |
|---|---|
| Neighbour or colleague | 15 |
| Friend | 25 |
| Close friend or family | 40 |
If you're a close relative or helped with the move, you might choose to give more, especially if you know there's something the household needs. If money's tight, a small homemade gift is entirely appropriate.
What makes a good housewarming gift?
Something useful, or something that gets used up. People who've just moved often have boxes of belongings and little space, so practical or consumable gifts tend to be the most welcome.
Gifts under 15
- A potted plant or herbs for the kitchen
- Good coffee, tea or a bottle of something to share
- A loaf of homemade bread or a batch of biscuits
- A set of quality tea towels
Gifts from 15 to 40
- A chopping board or a good kitchen knife
- A cookbook with a handwritten note
- A doormat or a candle
- A basket of local food from a market
Gifts for close family
- A contribution towards something on their list
- A toolkit for a first home
- A voucher for a local hardware or homeware shop
Ask if they need anything specific. New homeowners are often missing everyday items they didn't realise they'd need, like a step ladder, a first aid kit or a fire extinguisher.
Should you give money?
Money is less common as a housewarming gift than at weddings or graduations, but it's welcome in some families, especially for close relatives. If you're unsure, a voucher for a homeware or hardware shop works as a middle ground: it's practical and lets the household choose what they need.
Gifts for renters
If the person is renting, choose gifts that don't need fixing to walls, like a freestanding lamp, a plant or a rug, since many tenancies limit what can be changed. Portable gifts also move with them to the next home, which makes them more useful over time.
How do you plan your own housewarming party?
Keep it simple and set a budget first. A housewarming is a chance to show friends your new home, not a formal event. With moving costs still fresh, there's no need to cater.
Here's a worked example for ten guests:
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Food | 60 |
| Drinks | 40 |
| Total | 100 |
Ask guests to bring a dish or drinks, and serve simple food that's easy to make ahead, like a big pot of something warm, bread and salads. An open house over an afternoon, where people drop in, can be cheaper and more relaxed than a dinner party. How to host dinner on a budget has more ideas.
Should you register for housewarming gifts?
Gift lists aren't usual for housewarmings in most places, and asking for gifts can feel awkward. If friends ask what you need, it's fine to mention one or two things, but most hosts are happy to welcome guests and whatever they bring.
Why do gifts help new homeowners?
Moving usually brings a run of costs at once: deposits, removals, furniture, small repairs and household basics. Even a small gift that covers one of those needs takes a bit of pressure off. It's one reason useful gifts are so well received, and why a plant or kitchen basics often gets more use than a decorative item.
If you can help in person, offering an afternoon to assemble furniture, paint a room or unpack the kitchen can be worth more than anything you'd buy, and it costs only your time.
How does this compare to other gifts?
A housewarming gift is usually smaller than a birthday or wedding gift. How much to spend on a birthday gift covers the other everyday gift moments, so you can plan a year of gifts in one place.
How do you track gifts and party costs in Wealtie?
Give gifts their own line in your expense categories, and log party food and drinks separately, so you can see what each occasion costs. A monthly limit in the budget tracker, with Budget Health, shows whether a month of celebrations is running ahead of the plan.
Questions people ask
Most people spend 15 to 40, depending on how close they are. A thoughtful, useful gift matters more than the price.
A potted plant, herbs, good coffee or tea, homemade bread or a set of quality tea towels.
Yes, especially for close family, though a voucher for a homeware or hardware shop is a more common middle ground.
Set a budget, ask guests to bring a dish or drinks, serve simple make-ahead food and consider an open house.
This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your situation is your own; check the numbers that apply to you before you act on them.
