How to tie a bow with ribbon on a present, wreath or tree
Step-by-step bows for presents, wreaths and the Christmas tree, with the knot trick that stops a bow sitting crooked and the ribbon lengths for each job.
A ribbon bow is a shoelace knot tied with ribbon, and the same small trick that keeps shoelaces tied stops a bow sitting crooked. This guide covers the classic two-loop bow for presents, the multi-loop florist bow for wreaths and trees, how to tie ribbon round a box, how much ribbon each job takes, and three ways to put ribbon on a Christmas tree.
How to tie a bow with ribbon: the classic two-loop bow
This is the bow for presents, gift bags, jars and small tree bows. Wired and grosgrain ribbon are the easiest to learn on: they are stiff enough to hold a loop.
- Cross the two ends of the ribbon and tie a single knot. Pull it tight against the box, the bag or the branch.
- Make a loop in each end, both the same length. On a present, keep the loops short enough that they do not hang over the sides of the box.
- Cross the loops, then tuck the top loop behind the other one and up through the hole in the middle, as you would with shoelaces.
- Pull both loops out sideways at the same time to close the knot.
- Tug each loop and each tail until the two sides match.
- Cut the tails at an angle or into a dovetail (see below).
Why a bow sits crooked
If the finished loops point up and down along the ribbon instead of lying across it, the first knot and the bow were tied in the same direction. That is a granny knot, and it also works loose more easily. Untie it, tie the first knot the other way round (right over left instead of left over right, or the reverse) and make the loops exactly as before. The two stages are now crossed in opposite directions, a reef knot, and the bow sits straight.
How to tie a ribbon bow so it does not come undone
- Use the reef version above. In a reef bow, tension on the knot pulls it tighter; in a granny bow, the same tension works it loose.
- Choose a ribbon with some grip. Satin slides, so with satin tie the first knot twice before you make the loops.
- On a present that has to travel, stick a small square of double-sided tape under the knot.
- On a branch or a banister, tie the bow on with florist wire or a pipe cleaner rather than the ribbon itself, so the weight hangs on the wire.
How to tie a bow on a present
A box with a lid takes ribbon better than a soft parcel, because the corners hold the ribbon in place. Put anything squashy in a Christmas gift box first, and cover it in Christmas wrapping paper before the ribbon goes on.
Tie the ribbon round the box first
- Lay the ribbon on the table and put the wrapped box face up in the middle of it, with the ribbon running along the length of the box.
- Bring both ends up to the centre of the lid and cross them over each other.
- Take each end down the two remaining sides, under the box and back up to the centre.
- Tuck one end under the point where the ribbons cross, pull both ends up firmly and tie the first knot over the crossing.
- Tie the two-loop bow with the ends.
How much ribbon for a present
For a ribbon that crosses both ways, cut twice the length plus twice the width plus four times the height of the box, then add the bow. A two-loop bow needs four times the loop length plus twice the tail length, plus about 5 cm for the knot. A single band round the box needs only twice the width plus twice the height, plus the bow.
| Box (L × W × H) | Ribbon crossing both ways | Bow (loops / tails) | Total to cut | Single band with bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mug or jewellery box, 10 × 10 × 10 cm | 80 cm | About 40 cm (5 cm / 8 cm) | About 1.2 m | About 80 cm |
| Shoebox, 33 × 20 × 12 cm | 154 cm | About 55 cm (7 cm / 10 cm) | About 2.1 m | About 1.2 m |
| Large box, 50 × 40 × 15 cm | 240 cm | About 70 cm (9 cm / 14 cm) | About 3.1 m | About 1.8 m |
Wrap the box before you measure: our guide on how to wrap a present covers the folds. Some of the kraft paper sets in our gift wrapping range come with jute twine and tags, and twine ties the same two-loop bow.
How to make a bow with ribbon for a wreath or a tree
A wreath or a tree topper needs a fuller bow than a shoelace knot can give. The florist’s method below builds the loops one by one and holds them with wire. Use wired ribbon if you can: the wire inside the edges lets each loop keep the shape you give it.
- Leave a tail the length you want, then pinch the ribbon between thumb and forefinger.
- Wrap a small loop round your thumb and pinch it at the centre. It hides the wire later.
- Make a loop to one side and bring the ribbon back to the pinch. If the ribbon has a right side, give it a half twist at the centre so the right side faces out on the next loop.
- Make a matching loop on the other side and twist again.
- Keep going, each pair a little longer than the last, until you have the number of loops in the table below.
- Cut the ribbon, leaving a second tail.
- Push a 30 cm length of florist wire or a pipe cleaner through the small centre loop, fold it round the pinch, pull it tight and twist the two wire ends together at the back.
- Pull each loop out, shape it, and use the wire ends to fix the bow to the wreath or the tree.
Wreath bow size and ribbon length
A bow between a third and a half as wide as the wreath keeps it in proportion. The ribbon estimates below use a bow 45% of the wreath’s width and wired ribbon about 6 cm wide. The formula is the number of loops times the bow width, plus both tails, plus 10 cm for the centre.
| Wreath diameter | Bow width | Loops | Each tail | Ribbon to cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 cm | 14 cm | 5 | 18 cm | About 1.2 m |
| 40 cm | 18 cm | 7 | 23 cm | About 1.8 m |
| 50 cm | 23 cm | 9 | 29 cm | About 2.8 m |
| 60 cm | 27 cm | 9 | 34 cm | About 3.2 m |
| 75 cm | 34 cm | 11 | 43 cm | About 4.7 m |
Top, bottom or side of the wreath
All three work. A bow at the top leaves the tails to fall over the greenery. A bow at the bottom keeps the top of the wreath clear round a door knocker. A bow at about four or eight o’clock gives an off-centre look that suits a wreath with a cluster of cones or berries on the opposite side. Our guide on how to make a Christmas wreath covers the wreath itself.
How to tie a bow with two colours of ribbon
- Stacked: lay a narrow ribbon on top of a wider one, right sides up, and treat the pair as one ribbon. This works for the two-loop and the florist bow.
- Alternating: in the florist bow, make the loops with one ribbon, then wire a second ribbon’s loops in between.
- Layered: make two bows, a larger one in a patterned ribbon and a smaller one in a plain ribbon, and wire the small one on top of the large one.
How to cut ribbon ends
- Diagonal: cut each tail at about 45 degrees for a neat, finished end.
- Dovetail: fold the tail in half lengthways, then cut at an angle from the fold, a few centimetres up from the end, down to the open edges. Opened out, the end has a V notch.
- Fraying: sharp fabric scissors give the cleanest edge, and a fray-stop liquid from a haberdashery counter seals woven ribbon.
- Saved ribbon: trim creased or frayed ends with a fresh diagonal or dovetail cut before you tie it again. Wired ribbon can be smoothed flat between finger and thumb.
How to put ribbon on a Christmas tree
Ribbon goes on after the lights and before the baubles, so the baubles can hang in front of it. Wired ribbon 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) wide is the usual choice in the tutorials we compared, because it holds a curve.
Three ways to do it
| Method | The look | How |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfall | Strands that tumble from the top to the bottom | Strips pinned in a series of loose loops down the tree |
| Diagonal swags | Ribbon that runs across the tree at a slant | Strips of 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 in) laid diagonally, both ends tucked into the branches |
| Tufts and bows | Puffs of ribbon dotted all over | The same strips tucked in at both ends and in the middle, so each one makes two puffs (longer pieces of 60 to 90 cm suit a sparse tree), or small bows tied to branch tips |
Step by step: the waterfall
- Cut the ribbon into strips about an arm’s length long, and cut the ends into dovetails.
- At the top of the tree, scrunch the end of the first strip and fix it to a branch with a bobby pin, a pipe cleaner or florist wire.
- Let the ribbon fall about 20 to 25 cm, gather it, and pin it to a branch about 13 cm in from the tip, so the ribbon between the two points bows out in a loose C.
- Repeat down the tree: each strip takes three or four fixing points.
- Start the next strip where the last one ends, step back, and fill any gaps.
How much ribbon for a Christmas tree
Ribbon-heavy trees take a lot. A Fynes Designs tutorial suggests 27 to 37 m (30 to 40 yards) for a 6 to 7 ft tree. The Lovely Etc. tutorial used two 7.6 m (25 ft) rolls of each ribbon on a 7.5 ft tree, and suggests three rolls, about 23 m, if you use a single ribbon. For a few strands among the baubles, start with half and add more. The baubles and hanging decorations in our tree decorations collection go on once the ribbon is in place.
Frequently asked questions
How do you tie a bow with ribbon step by step?
Tie a single knot, make a loop in each end, cross the loops and tuck the top one behind and up through the middle, then pull both loops sideways to tighten. Even up the loops and tails and cut the ends at an angle. If the bow sits crooked, retie the first knot the other way round.
How do you tie a ribbon bow so it does not come undone?
Cross the first knot and the bow in opposite directions, which makes a reef knot that tightens under tension instead of working loose. With slippery satin, tie the first knot twice, and on a parcel put a square of double-sided tape under the knot.
How do you cut the end of a ribbon for a bow?
Cut each tail at about 45 degrees, or make a dovetail: fold the tail in half lengthways and cut at an angle from the fold down to the open edges, which leaves a V notch. Sharp fabric scissors give the cleanest edge.
How long should you cut ribbon for a wreath bow?
Multiply the number of loops by the width of the bow, then add both tails and 10 cm for the centre. A 23 cm bow with nine loops and 29 cm tails, sized for a 50 cm wreath, needs about 2.8 m of wired ribbon.
How big should a bow be on a wreath?
Between a third and a half of the wreath’s diameter, so about 17 to 25 cm across for a 50 cm wreath. Very large wreaths take a bigger share: the wreath maker Vickerman recommends a 36 by 45 in bow (about 91 by 114 cm) for a 60 in (152 cm) wreath, so use the widest wired ribbon you can find.
Do you put a bow on the top or bottom of a wreath?
Either works. A bow at the top lets the tails hang over the greenery, while a bow at the bottom keeps the top clear round a door knocker. An off-centre bow at about four or eight o’clock suits a wreath with decorations clustered on the other side.
Are bows in style for Christmas?
Yes. Livingetc named bows the big Christmas decorating trend in December 2023, and in October 2025 Ideal Home reported that the bow motif was still dominant, with oversized velvet and satin bows, stripes, gingham and organza among the newer looks. In September 2026 Ideal Home picked out tartan and gingham bows as the latest version of the trend.
How do you tie a bow with two colours of ribbon?
Lay a narrow ribbon on top of a wider one and tie them together as if they were a single ribbon. For a fuller look, make two separate bows, a large patterned one and a smaller plain one, and wire the small bow on top of the large one.
