Upcycling Old Maps into Gift Wrap

Old maps bring a visual quality that standard wrapping materials rarely offer, combining the linework, typography, and color palettes of cartography into packaging that feels detailed but not cluttered—and often printed on paper that already carries a sense of age and intention.

Wrapping with maps sits at the intersection of resourcefulness and design. The material is also inexpensive and easy to find through secondhand shops, estate sales, or old collections.

Additionally, maps allow for a level of personalization that ordinary wrapping paper can’t match, such as choosing a city someone loves, a region tied to a shared memory, or a place they plan to visit. This all adds meaning!

So, below, we take a closer look at simple methods for preparing and using maps as your next wrapping material.

Why Use Old Maps for Gift Wrap?

Maps suit specific themes and gift types particularly well. Their visual character and associations make them a natural fit for:

• Travel-related gifts, such as luggage tags, passport holders, travel journals, or experience vouchers

• Farewell or bon voyage presents for someone relocating or embarking on a trip

• Homecoming or housewarming gifts, especially when the map features the recipient's new location

• Anniversary or relationship milestones where a shared place holds significance

• Gifts for geography or travel enthusiasts, history buffs, or collectors

• Book packaging, particularly for travel writing, atlases, or adventure fiction

• Outdoor and adventure gear, such as compasses, camping equipment, hiking accessories

• Educational gifts for children learning about the world

• Retirement presents marking a career spent in a particular region or celebrating future travel plans

• Wedding or engagement gifts where the couple met or married in a specific place

Map paper also tends to be sturdy, folds crisply, and holds its shape better than thinner wrapping papers. 

How to Upcycle Old Maps for Gift Packaging

So, how can you upcycle some old maps and make your next gift presentation truly shine? Let’s get started.

Step 1: Source Your Maps

Look for maps at secondhand bookshops, thrift stores, estate sales, or library sales. Old atlases often contain dozens of usable pages. Road maps from gas stations, transit maps, nautical charts, and topographical surveys all work. Personal collections—maps kept from past travels—can also add meaning when the location connects to the recipient.

Step 2: Assess the Map’s Layout

Before cutting or folding, look at what the map offers. Identify sections with strong visual interest, such as coastlines, mountain ranges, city grids, or areas with dense place names. Note where typography sits and whether any regions hold particular relevance to the recipient.

Consider scale as well. A map of an entire country may lose detail when wrapped around a small box. Yet, a city street map might offer the right density for a compact gift but appear too busy on a larger surface.

Step 3: Measure and Cut

Measure your gift and add enough margin for folding and securing—typically two to three inches on each side. Cut the map cleanly using a ruler and craft knife or sharp scissors. Straight edges matter here; they make the final wrap look intentional.

If the map is too small, multiple sections can be joined with a thin line of glue or tape on the underside. Slightly overlapping edges further create a seam that disappears once wrapped.

Step 4: Wrap with Clean Folds

Fold the paper around the gift as you would with standard wrapping paper. Keep edges aligned and corners tight. Map paper holds creases well, so take time to press each fold firmly.

Position the map so a visually interesting section—a recognizable city, a coastline, a region with strong typography—faces upward on the top surface. This becomes the focal point when the gift is presented. And make sure you do this before taping!

Step 5: Secure the Wrap

Standard tape works but remains visible on the matte surface of most maps. So, we recommend using double-sided tape for the cleanest finish. 

For a fully paper-based approach, a small amount of glue stick along the seams holds without adding bulk.

And make sure to tuck and fold the ends as you would with any wrapped box, pressing corners flat and securing them underneath.

Step 6: Add Finishing Details

The wrap can stand on its own, but simple additions complete the look. For example, natural twine suits the vintage character of most maps. A plain tag—kraft paper or cardstock—provides space for the recipient’s name without competing with the map’s detail. 

Alternatively, a small compass charm, a wax seal, or a sprig of dried greenery can reinforce the travel or adventure theme if appropriate.

Step 7: Consider the Recipient

A final check before presenting: Does the map section visible on the wrap connect meaningfully to the recipient or occasion? If you sourced a map specifically for its relevance, positioning matters. A map of Paris wrapped around an anniversary gift means more when Paris faces upward! 

Ultimately, this attention to placement transforms the wrap from a material choice into a personal gesture. So, make your next gift stand out from the rest; try the above steps to bring your gift packaging to life, commemorating a specific location that brings about even more meaning to your recipient.