What to Do With Unwanted Gifts: 8 Practical Options

An unwanted gift often comes with two problems: the object itself and the guilt attached to it. Perhaps it does not fit, you already own one, or it is simply not something you will use. Keeping it at the back of a cupboard will not make the giver's kind intention more meaningful.

There are better options. The right one depends on the condition of the item, whether it can be returned, who gave it to you and how likely it is to be useful elsewhere. This guide helps you decide what to do with an unwanted gift while treating both the giver and the item with care.

Before you decide, check four things

Can it be returned? Look for a gift receipt, order email or retailer label. Check the return period before removing tags or opening sealed packaging.

Is it safe and suitable to pass on? Food, cosmetics, medicines, safety equipment and personalised goods need more care than a book or unopened homeware item.

Does it have sentimental value? A handmade or inherited gift may deserve a conversation or a little time before you make a decision.

Would someone else genuinely want it? Moving clutter from your home to another person's home is not a successful regift.

1. Return or exchange the gift

A return is usually the simplest choice when the gift is new and the retailer allows it. A gift receipt may let you exchange the item or receive store credit without revealing the price. If you need information from the giver, be direct but appreciative: “I love that you chose this for me, but the size is not quite right. Do you happen to have the receipt so I can exchange it?”

Policies differ between shops, particularly for sale goods, personalised products and purchases made through third-party sellers. Check the retailer's current terms rather than assuming an item can be returned.

2. Regift it to the right person

Regifting is considerate when the item is unused, in excellent condition and genuinely suits the new recipient. It is less about concealing an unwanted object and more about recognising that it belongs with someone else.

Remove the original card and personal wrapping, check the box for notes, and avoid passing it to somebody in the same close social or workplace circle. Never regift a personalised, handmade or visibly used present. Most importantly, do not invent a story about buying it yourself if the subject comes up.

3. Donate it where it is needed

Charity shops, shelters, community projects, schools and local appeals may welcome new or nearly new items. Before travelling, check the organisation's current donation list. Storage, hygiene and safety rules mean that even useful-looking goods cannot always be accepted.

Match the gift to the organisation rather than treating donation as disposal. Unopened toiletries might suit a hygiene bank; toys may fit a seasonal family appeal; office supplies could help a community group. If the item is unsuitable for donation, choose another route.

4. Sell it

Selling can make sense for valuable, specialist or in-demand items that you will not use. Photograph the actual item, describe its condition honestly and keep any proof of authenticity. Account for platform fees, postage, packaging and the time involved before deciding whether a listing is worthwhile.

If you would feel uncomfortable with the giver seeing the advert, use a specialist trade-in service, wait until the occasion has passed or choose a private alternative. Avoid selling anything recalled, unsafe, counterfeit or restricted by the marketplace.

5. Swap it

A swap gives two unwanted items a chance to become useful. Friends can arrange an informal exchange after Christmas, and local communities sometimes run clothes, books, plants or children's item swaps. Agree that everything should be clean, working and freely offered, with no pressure to take something home.

Workplace swaps need a little judgement. Keep participation optional, do not display who originally gave an item, and avoid products that are personal, age-restricted or likely to cause embarrassment.

6. Repurpose or upcycle it

Some gifts can be useful in a different form: fabric can become cushion covers, a decorative container can organise a desk, and an unwanted hamper basket can be reused for storage. Choose this option because you have a realistic use for the result, not because every object needs to become a craft project.

Do not alter electrical items, children's products or safety equipment unless you have the appropriate expertise. Creative reuse should not make an item unsafe.

7. Recycle or dispose of it responsibly

An item that is broken, expired or unsafe should not be donated or regifted. Check local recycling guidance for textiles, electricals, batteries, packaging and household chemicals. Retailer take-back schemes may accept some products that kerbside collections do not.

Separate reusable components where local rules allow, remove personal data from electronic devices and never place batteries or electrical goods in general recycling unless your council explicitly accepts them.

8. Keep it for a defined trial period

You do not have to decide immediately. If you are uncertain, set the gift aside for a month or a season and make a note to revisit it. You may discover a use for it once the pressure of the occasion has passed.

Give the trial a deadline. “I might use this one day” is how an object becomes permanent clutter; “I will decide by the end of February” is a plan.

How to thank someone for a gift you do not want

You can be truthful without reviewing the object. Thank the person for thinking of you, acknowledge the occasion and focus on the relationship:

“Thank you for remembering my birthday. It was lovely to hear from you.”

“That was so thoughtful of you. Thank you for making the celebration feel special.”

“Thank you for thinking of me and for taking the time to choose something.”

Avoid claiming that you love, wear or use the item if that is not true. A warm thank-you recognises the gesture without creating a story you must maintain. For more examples, see our guide to what to write in a thank-you card .

What about unwanted gifts at work?

Workplace gifts can be particularly awkward because colleagues continue to see one another and there may be organisational policies to consider. If a client or supplier gave the item, check your gifts and hospitality policy before keeping, sharing, donating or selling it. Some organisations require gifts above a stated value to be declared or refused.

For team gifts and Secret Santa exchanges, People Ops and Office Managers can prevent much of the problem in advance:

Make participation genuinely optional and set a modest spending limit.

Invite people to share interests, practical preferences and anything they would rather not receive.

Avoid assumptions about alcohol, food, religion, health, family circumstances or personal care products.

Offer a card-only, charitable donation or team-treat alternative for people who prefer not to exchange objects.

A shared appreciation card can sometimes say more than another desk item, particularly when colleagues add specific messages about the person's contribution.

Frequently asked questions

Is it rude to regift an unwanted present?

Not if the item is unused, appropriate for the new recipient and passed on with genuine thought. It becomes inconsiderate when the aim is simply to remove clutter or when the original giver is likely to be embarrassed.

Should I tell the giver I returned their gift?

You usually do not need to announce it. If you need a receipt or the item is likely to come up in conversation, a kind, direct explanation is better than an elaborate excuse. Focus on fit, duplication or practical use rather than criticising their taste.

Can charity shops accept opened or used gifts?

It depends on the item and the charity. Many accept clean, saleable used goods but cannot take certain toiletries, safety equipment, electrical items or incomplete products. Check before donating.

What should I do with a personalised unwanted gift?

Personalised items are rarely suitable for return, resale or regifting. Consider repurposing the material, keeping the meaningful part, recycling it where possible or discussing it gently with the giver if similar gifts are likely in future.

Let the gift become useful somewhere

The giver's kindness is not stored inside the object. You can appreciate the thought and still decide that the item belongs back at the shop, with another person, at a charity or in the correct recycling stream. Make the decision carefully, then let the guilt go with the gift.