Something the host does not have to deal with on the spot. Flowers need a vase while the food is on the hob. A bottle needs a decision: open it now or not? A small wine accessory in the £10–30 range asks nothing — it goes on the worktop and gets looked at later. That is the whole point of a host gift.
Last updated 4 September 2026 · Written by the Lindner & Co editorial team
The right level: £10–30
Below £8 it reads as a token. Above £45 it creates discomfort, because the host did not plan on an exchange of gifts.
Prices checked 4 September 2026.
| Gift | Price | Retailer | Does it create a job? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome champagne stopper | £4.95 | Wineware | No |
| Lindner & Co serving tongs | £9.95 | Lindner & Co | No |
| Plastic cooler / ice bucket | £9.50 | Wineware | No |
| Pulltex bottle cooler bag | £12.95 | Wineware | No |
| Vacu Vin Wine Saver, pump + stopper | £13.50 | Wineware | No |
| Vacu Vin Rapid Ice cooler sleeve | £15.95 | Wineware | No |
| Vacu Vin champagne saver | £15.95 | Wineware | No |
| Pulltex AntiOx preserver | £19.50 | Wineware | No |
| Lindner & Co wine stopper | £19.99 | Lindner & Co | No |
| Lindner & Co wine opener | £19.99 | Lindner & Co | No |
| Lindner & Co stainless steel ice cubes | £22.95 | Lindner & Co | No |
| Lindner & Co chiller stick | £29.99 | Lindner & Co | No |
| Bunch of flowers | £15–35 | Florist | Yes — needs a vase now |
| Bottle of wine | £10–25 | Supermarket | Yes — needs a decision |
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The rule: no jobs for the host
Your host has six things going at once when you arrive. A gift that demands action — a vase, a judgement, space in the fridge — adds a seventh.
That is why flowers, the classic host gift, are among the weakest. They need trimming, water and a spot, right in the busiest quarter of an hour the host has.
A small wine accessory goes on the worktop. It is fully dealt with the moment it is handed over.
What about bringing wine?
It is common and perfectly fine, but be explicit that it does not need opening. Say nothing and the host has to decide whether to serve it — and if the menu is already built around a different wine, that becomes a small dilemma.
If you want to give something drinkable without that problem, a bottle together with a stopper or a chiller stick is a better combination. Then it is obvious the gift is for later. We have written about what to give instead of wine.
For Christmas dinners and bigger occasions
The level rises a little, to £20–35, because the occasion is bigger. A wine chiller stick works well here: it arrives ready as a gift, asks nothing of the host, and solves a problem they have every time they have people over.
Staying under £30? The whole field at that level is here.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a hostess gift cost?
£10–30 for an ordinary dinner. For Christmas or a big occasion, £20–35.
Are flowers a bad hostess gift?
They are lovely, but they hand the host a job at the busiest moment. Something that can be set down is kinder.
Do I need to say the wine is not for tonight?
Yes, say it. Otherwise the host has to decide whether to serve it, and that can clash with the menu.
Is it acceptable to arrive without a gift?
For close friends and casual dinners, yes. For a formal invitation with a laid table, something small is generally expected.
What do I bring if the host doesn't drink?
Something for the table instead: serving tongs, a nice bowl, or something edible that keeps.
Can I give the same thing to both hosts?
Yes. A host gift is for the home, not for one person — which is exactly why wine accessories work so well.