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The Spruce / Sabrina Jiang
Best Overall: Williams Sonoma
A fan-favorite that has something for everyone on your list, their options range from European cheese and charcuterie "hampers" to chocolate confections galore.
Best Classic: Gourmet Gift Baskets
This raved-about destination offers a comprehensive selection of different baskets for virtually any occasion, including weddings, anniversaries, and more.
Best for Foodies: Mouth
Surprise your favorite foodie with a curated gift box or subscription from this quirky site, which sources all of its goods from small-batch makers across the U.S.
Best Packaging: GiftTree
You can't go wrong with these classic food baskets, which range from gourmet grilling baskets to cheese, wine, chocolates, and more.
Best for Hosts: Stonewall Kitchen
Gift the host a delicious breakfast basket from this specialty food company, which has been around for more than 30 years.
Best Fruit Basket: The Fruit Company
Choose from different fruit baskets featuring both uncommon and traditional seasonal fruit, including sweet cherries and French d'Anjou pears.
Best Ice Cream: Jeni's
If they haven't already tried everyone's new favorite ice cream, now's the time—delivered straight to their door.
Best for Local Favorites: Goldbelly
Shop local with this comprehensive site, which lets you shop by region, diet, and food type. (The site also offers meal kits and live cooking classes!)
Best Baked Goods: Milk Bar
Ship pies, cakes, and cake truffles from this famed NYC bakery, known for turning familiar desserts "upside down and on their heads."
Best Custom: Knack
Create a custom basket with premium packaging, messaging, and gift options—or just choose from a selection of pre-arranged options.
Best Specialty: Harry & David
You can’t go wrong with this classic gift company, which offers options ranging from snack boxes to a tower of chocolates.
Best Variety: Olive & Cocoa
With bows and a sophisticated presentation, chic gift baskets feel like they were curated from a specialty boutique.
Best Cheese: Jasper Hill Farm
Send a gourmet assortment of cheeses from this well-known dairy farm in Vermont.
Best Care Packages: Spoonful of Comfort
Choose from care packages including teas, soups, and baked goods to send comfort to a loved one.
Gift baskets don’t have to feel like thoughtless presents someone else put together. Because many of the brands on the market have such unique options, today's gift baskets feel personal and like they were curated especially for that special someone in your life. Whether they love the typical fruit and cheese baskets to more obscure finds, there’s truly something for everyone.
When you're shopping for gift baskets, consider assortment, pricing, delivery, and what the intended recipient will appreciate. Many gift basket websites have options for specific diets (such as gluten-free and vegan foods), and most places will ship all over the U.S.
Ready to get started? Here are the best gift baskets for everyone on your list.
Best Overall: Williams Sonoma
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Baskets for every palette
Includes DIY cooking and meal kits
Over a dozen different brands of foods
Few options under $30
Whether you want to send a more traditional meat-and-cheese gift basket or are looking for something with a unique theme (hello, DIY sushi kit), Williams Sonoma has what you're looking for. Themed gifts include a ravioli-making basket, a basket full of picks for Instant Pot lovers, and even beverage-based baskets for gin and kombucha drinkers.
There's a great selection for every price range. So even if you don't have a big budget for your gift, you can still get something really special shipped right to their door. You can also filter by delivery, with options for next-day delivery and even in-store pickup. Perishable items arrive within one to two weeks, and some perishable items incur an additional charge to guarantee perfect arrival.
"I was gifted the ham and cheese and chocolate croissants this holiday season, and they were a wonderful surprise. My family ate them on New Year's Day morning, and they tasted so fresh and delicious. I highly recommend these as a restaurant-quality present for anyone on your list."—Dwyer Frame, VP, Commerce
Best Classic: Gourmet Gift Baskets
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One-stop shop for buying multiple gifts
Lots of themed baskets for different occasions
Delivery time is guaranteed
No options under $35
Want to stick to a classic food basket? Gourmet Gift Baskets has all the popcorn, fruit, and sweet treats you can imagine to send to anyone on your list. It's a smart place to shop if you need to buy multiple gifts because you can get everything from a breakfast-themed gift basket to a beer gift basket all in one place.
As far as delivery goes, Gourmet Gift Baskets stands out for actually guaranteeing delivery times (most places give a window), except during the holiday season. The simplest baskets cost around $30, while the most expensive gifts cost well over $200. No matter your budget, you're sure to find something.
“Gifts within gifts are always fun,” says Clay Carpenter, co-owner of I Crave Cars, a men’s gifting site. “Everyone loves the Christmas stocking or extra surprises.”
Best for Foodies: Mouth
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Unexpected and quirky gift baskets
Food subscription boxes available
Can be shipped to all 50 states
Some options tend to sell out quickly
No gift options under $30
Want to get the recipient something unexpected? Turn to Mouth, an innovative company with a wide array of regional and handmade snacks as well as unusual treats that your special someone will be obsessed with. The simplest gifts start at around $40, with most options costing between $60 and $100.
For a one-off gift, try the Birthday In A Box or The Great Guest. If you want to get someone a monthly gift you have plenty of fun options, such as the Pickles Every Month club or Indie States of America, which is a box that centers on a different region each month. Shipping depends on location, with most states able to be shipped to in one to three days.
"If you're gifting to someone who loves snacks, cocktails, or other treats, you can really find the best choice based on the recipient's personality here. Picking the right basket was almost as fun as getting one myself—I ended up gifting friends two cocktail kits based on their favorite spirits, so I knew the baskets would be put to good use."—Kate Geraghty, Editorial Director
Best Packaging: GiftTree
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Ideal for wine or champagne lovers
Includes some non-food items
Free standing shipping
Expensive
If you want to wow them, pick out a basket from GiftTree. Here, you'll find wine, fruit, flowers, and snack baskets that can suit an array of recipients all in sleek packaging. It also has an assortment of non-food gifts if you think the recipient would enjoy a fresh flower arrangement, embossed journal, or an engraved wine tool.
If you're working with a budget, beware that prices start at $60 and go up to $400. Delivery dates are not guaranteed, but standard shipping is always free—a huge perk that many other places do not offer.
Best for Hosts: Stonewall Kitchen
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Gourmet hors d'oeuvre and breakfast options
Free standard shipping over $50
Mostly spreads, syrups, and boxed mixes
Proper host etiquette dictates giving a gift after spending a weekend at someone's house. Why not show your praise with a bountiful breakfast from Stonewall Kitchen? This classic New England store makes some of the best pancake mixes, jams, and syrups out there—and prices start at just $10 and cap off at $200.
The Farmers Market basket has everything they need for a hearty feast—farmhouse pancake and waffle mix, a delicious assortment of jams, balsamic fig dressing, roasted garlic peanut sauce, spicy corn relish, and so much more. Stonewall Kitchen also has grilling, Bloody Mary, and salsa themed gifts. Most orders arrive within seven to 10 business days, but delivery date is not guaranteed.
Best for Local Favorites: Goldbelly
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Unique options from local businesses
Food subscription boxes are available
Can search by diet
Shipping guidelines are not guaranteed
Have a homesick college student or a friend who is a foodie? Goldbelly can deliver local favorites across the country to satisfy any type of customer. From the famous banana pudding from New York's Magnolia Bakery to deep dish pizza from Gino's East in Chicago, you can pretty much send it all. Keep in mind that perusing all of the options will leave you hungry.
Prices range depending on vendor and item, with the most affordable gifts starting around $30. Delivery time is not guaranteed, but many products offer free shipping.
"I've gifted bagels, hot dogs, and lobster rolls to many family and friends this year, and they all have had rave reviews. I've personally ordered Pat's cheesesteaks, and it is as close to real Philly deal as you can get."—Dwyer Frame, VP, Commerce
Best Baked Goods: Milk Bar
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Arrives in cute pink and white gift boxes
Gluten-free offerings
Not a ton of variety
You don't have to live by Christina Tosi's Milk Bar to delight in one of her outrageous treats—you can just ship them across the country. Known for their "birthday cake" flavor, as well as the highly addictive Milk Bar Pie, these sweet treats and baking mixes are sure to brighten anyone's day. All of the sweets arrive in a cute gift box, too.
Take note that Milk Bar is fairly expensive—prices start at $22 for an assorted cookie tin, while cakes start at $52. There is a flat-rate shipping fee of $15. And although you can't pick a delivery time, you can specify the date you'd like your treat to be delivered.
Best Fruit Basket: The Fruit Company
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Subscriptions available
Select baskets qualify for free shipping
May be too simple for foodies
If you're interested in sending a basket of fruit, The Fruit Company is your best bet. You can get an array of different fruit baskets featuring both uncommon and traditional seasonal fruit. The HarvestClub is one of our favorite monthly gift options because it features a beautiful selection of fruits that are in season to send to your loved ones. From the HarvestClub Americana monthly fruit club that's stocked with all the classics (think apples and pears) to more intriguing buys such as the HarvestClub Exotica monthly fruit club which boasts kiwi and pomegranate, there's an option for every palate.
The cheapest option is $49, while the most expensive basket is $299. The only way to guarantee delivery date is by choosing overnight shipping or two-day shipping, and the shipping cost is dependent on product and delivery location. Take note, though, that there's a whole section for baskets that offer free shipping.
Best Ice Cream: Jeni's
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Offers unique, unexpected ice cream flavors
Guarantees ice cream will stay frozen
Dairy-free options available
No options beyond ice cream
Warm their hearts with a cold pint of ice cream. This online retailer delivers ice cream right to the recipient's door and has dozens of fun flavors to choose from, including brambleberry crisp and salty caramel pie, plus some dairy-free options. Send them a few pints or gift them the Pint Club 3 Month Subscription, which delivers four pints of delicious ice cream to their doorstep each month.
Order minimum is four pints at $12 each, or you can order a specific collection starting at $58 for five pints. Shipping cost is dependent on zip code, and all orders will arrive one to two days after being shipped.
"Jeni's is my go-to gift for anyone that I need to mail a gift to. The high-end ice cream is an unexpected treat for the recipient that will last for months in the fridge if they can stop themselves! The brambleberry crisp is a must order!"—Dwyer Frame, VP, Commerce
Best Custom: Knack
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Courtesy of Knack
Best way for curating your own gift box
Can include food and non-food items
Not ideal for pre-assembled options
Looking to create a special basket? Knack can do just that and wrap it all in a gorgeous package for a thoughtful gift. For a custom basket, you can filter based on the recipient (college student, for him, for her), occasion, or interest, and then expert ideas for the basket will appear. If you're short on time, you can also pick one of their best sellers, which are all cleverly packaged and themed.
Prices start at $30, with the most expensive options costing between $150 and $200. Gifts ordered with standard shipping will arrive in two to seven business days, and shipping fees are determined by the type of product and delivery location.
Best Specialty: Harry & David
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Choose your container: baskets, boxes, crates, and totes
Sale boxes offer more bang for your buck
Last-minute gifts with overnight shipping
Expensive shipping
No matter whom you’re shopping for, you can’t go wrong with a gift basket from Harry & David. This company has a plethora of food-centric gifts for every occasion, including sympathy gifts, birthday surprises, and get-well presents. The cheapest baskets cost $30, while the most expensive cost over $200. You can also filter by Two-Day Shipping and International. Shipping costs depend on the order price, but you should expect to spend between $13 and $24 for standard shipping.
While all of the Harry & David picks are great, the World-Inspired Appetizer Assortment is a clear winner. The basket comes with bake-and-serve apps, such as mushroom tarts, three-cheese arancini, and savory spanakopita. It doesn't get any easier, or more delicious, than this.
Best Variety: Olive & Cocoa
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Baskets can also include fashion items and flowers
Seasonal options make for easier gifting
Select gifts include free shipping
Few options under $50
If you want to wow a special someone, Olive & Cocoa curates beautifully arranged gift crates that can include gourmet snacks, fashion accessories (elegant scarves, leather bags, and more), and even flowers. It also has seasonal options that cater to different holidays. Plus, each gift crate comes wrapped in stylish packaging free of charge.
This is definitely a more expensive option, as gift boxes start at $50 and can go up to $300. Expect to spend between $14 and $31 for standard shipping. On the plus side, most orders will ship day-of or the following day.
Best Cheese: Jasper Hill Farm
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Owned and operated by a farm in Vermont
Build your own gift box option
Cheese club membership option
Expensive
Who wouldn't want a nice gift basket of cheese? Jasper Hill Farm, a well-known dairy farm in Vermont, can create the perfect basket of cheese for the ultimate cheese lover in your life. The Vermonter Basket contains everything you need for a delicious cheese spread. It contains three types of Vermont cheese—a Welsh-style cheddar called Landaff, the award-winning soft-ripened Harbison, and an Alpine-inspired variety called Alpha Tolman. Plus, you also get a bag of hearty crackers and maple-roasted nuts.
There isn't a huge variety, and curated gift sets are expensive—the most affordable option is $84, while the most expensive is $195. All orders under $99 have a flat-rate shipping fee of $30 ($15 if you live in the surrounding states), and most orders will arrive in one to two business days. (Take note that there is no Saturday delivery.)
Best Care Package: Spoonful of Comfort
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Thoughtfully designed care packages
Gluten-free and vegan options
Can include non-food self-care items
Not a lot of options for celebratory occasions
If you have a loved one who's extra stressed this season, send them a cozy care package filled with soup, rolls, cookies, and more—or pick from one of Spoonful of Comfort's other gift baskets that aren't soup-based at all. This service offers an array of gift baskets that can either take away the stress of having to make dinner for the night or create a fun, dessert-based memory. (There's a cute caramel apple care package that's perfect for a late fall date night.)
Prices start at $25, although the majority of baskets cost $80. In most cases, orders placed before 7 p.m. during the week will ship the same day and take about three days to arrive.
If you're looking for a quality gift basket, you can't go wrong with one of Williams Sonoma's options (view at Williams Sonoma). The site sells all types of gourmet food and beverage-themed baskets at good prices, including DIY kits for more adventurous gifts. If you want a more traditional gift basket, we recommend Gourmet Gift Baskets (view at Gourmet Gift Baskets), which sells tons of themed baskets for specific occasions.
What to Look for in a Gift Basket
Assortment
They say variety is the spice of life, and having an assortment of food items the recipient can sample (and share if they’re feeling generous) is all part of the fun.
“By giving multiple small gifts, you're increasing the likelihood of giving them at least a couple items that they'll really like (especially if you're giving to someone who is difficult to shop for),” Carpenter says. “Typically, gift baskets are a bit indulgent, which is always a nice surprise—it's always nice to give people things that they wouldn't necessarily ‘splurge’ on themselves.”
Pricing
Gift baskets are an excellent gifting choice because there’s an option for every budget, ranging from $20 to $200. However, be sure to factor in shipping costs, which can be free or tack on an extra $7 to $15 or more. (And if you need overnight or two-day shipping, the price can easily double.)
Carpenter says that when choosing a box, it’s important to consider its value. “I've seen a lot of gift baskets with a significant mark-up just because of the nice arrangement/presentation of the items,” he explains. “One example is the price of candy ‘bouquet’ gift baskets. I would definitely be cautious of the visual appeal of those vs. what you're actually getting.”
Delivery
In addition to determining shipping costs, it’s important to read up on the company’s delivery statement: Does it deliver in the area/country the recipient is located? How do cold items arrive, and how long can they safely stay in the box? Does someone need to be home to receive or sign for the package? When sending a gift box around a major holiday, you’ll want to check for delivery times, too. Lots of sites have time tables and order-by dates to give you a pretty accurate estimate. In general, the earlier you place your order, the more likely it’ll arrive on time.
“I would also pay attention to how the gift basket will be shipped,” Carpenter adds. “A lot of times the pretty picture that is shown on the website is very different from what will arrive. (They'll just put everything into a box and not arrange it.) Fortunately, the company usually states this, but it's in the fine print or near the end of the product listing.”
Intended Recipient
Because there are many options available, you really can’t go wrong with sending a tasty gift basket to just about anyone. Edible gifts are especially fitting for people who are difficult to shop for because everybody loves treats of some kind. Plus, it’s not a present that’ll clutter up the house (or end up in the giveaway bin), and anything they don’t like in the basket can be shared with friends or family.
Consider the recipient's lifestyle or whether they’re experiencing a life event. Does a big move warrant a bottle of celebratory champagne? Would they like to curl up with some comforting baked goods when the weather outside is frightful? Are they especially busy with a new baby and in need of some stress-free meals? Could they use some host hors d'oeuvres to entertain guests? Sending a basket that not only is delicious but is thoughtful and useful will make the recipient appreciate it that much more.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was researched and written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer who has written for The Spruce since 2017. With a background in interior design, she’s an expert on all things home and has ample experience shopping for gifts and popular products. To make this list, Camryn considered packaging and food type as well as editor insight.
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