How Much to Spend on a Housewarming Gift
$25 to $50, and nothing is fine too. The Emily Post Institute says a housewarming is about presence, not presents: gifts are optional and range from a plate of cookies to a houseplant. In Ally's 2023 survey of 1,000 people, the median housewarming gift was $25 from an acquaintance, $50 from a close friend and $75 from family.
| Who you are | Median gift | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Acquaintance or neighbor | $25 | Ally, 2023 |
| Close friend | $50 | Ally, 2023 |
| Family | $75 | Ally, 2023 |
| Anyone | Optional: cookies or a houseplant will do | Emily Post Institute |
Good to know
- Across everyone in Ally's survey, half spent $40 or less on a housewarming gift and a quarter spent $75 or more.
- Hosts shouldn't set up a registry or wish list for a housewarming, the Emily Post Institute says; a guest asking what's needed is another matter.
Housewarming Gifts under $50
Questions
Do you have to bring a housewarming gift? No. The Emily Post Institute says housewarming gifts are optional and can be as simple as a plate of cookies or a houseplant.
How much do people spend on a housewarming gift? In Ally's 2023 survey of 1,000 people the median was $25 from an acquaintance, $50 from a close friend and $75 from family.
Is $20 too little for a housewarming gift? No: gifts are optional, and the median from an acquaintance in Ally's survey was $25.
Sources
Checked October 2026. A survey is named with its year.
- Ally, survey of 1,000 people (2023), medians rounded up to $5
- Emily Post Institute, All About Registries
Other budgets
Secret Santa · Coworker · Teacher · Wedding · Baby Shower