The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

10 best letterbox gifts for sending a lovely present in the post, from flowers to cocktail kits

From self-care to stationery, these perfect presents can be delivered direct to your giftee’s door

Helen Wilson-Beevers
Monday 12 February 2024 08:02 EST
Pop a thoughtful present in the post, whether it’s to celebrate a special occasion or let a family member or friend know you’re thinking of them
Pop a thoughtful present in the post, whether it’s to celebrate a special occasion or let a family member or friend know you’re thinking of them (The Independent )
Our Top Picks

Sending someone you love a surprise is a thoughtful gesture, whether that’s to mark their birthday, an anniversary or if they’ve landed a new job or had a baby. A present also serves as a lovely way of letting a friend or family member know you’re thinking of them if they’re going through a difficult time.

With most of us leading busy lives, shopping online and sending an item directly to your gift recipient offers speedy simplicity. But it can be tricky to tell if they’ll be at home to receive your special delivery.

This is where letterbox gifts come in handy, should you want to send a bouquet of flowers, a self-care treat, chocolates, a cocktail kit, jewellery or stationery that will land directly on their doormat.

From sets created specifically for fitting through the letterbox to gifts that come in usefully compact packaging, we’ve rounded up our pick of top postables.

Keep scrolling for our comprehensive list of the best letterbox gifts, covering food and drink, pampering picks and much more.

How we tested the best letterbox gifts

We spent several weeks reviewing a selection of products, looking at their packaging and contents, and considering how suitable they are for different present preferences. Read on to see the tried and tested buys that made our best letterbox gifts edit.

The best letterbox gifts for 2024 are:

  • Best letterbox gift overall – Spacemasks addict 7-pack letterbox set(jasmine scented): £24.15, Spacemasks.com
  • Best stationery letterbox gift – Ohh Deer Papergang squiggle stationery box: £19.95, Ohhdeer.com
  • Best letterbox gift for coffee-drinkers – Coffee & Kin mini coffee and chocolate gift hamper: £15, Coffeeandkin.co.uk
  • Best letterbox flowers – Bloom & Wild the Anna letterbox bouquet: £26, Bloomandwild.com
  • Best letterbox cocktail kit – NIO letterbox cocktails: £19.50, Niococktails.co.uk

Spacemasks addict seven-pack letterbox set (jasmine scented)

Spacemasks.png
  • Best: Letterbox gift overall
  • Number of items: 7
  • Next-day delivery available: No
  • Delivery cost: Free 48-hour delivery
  • Why we love it
    • Soothing
    • Jasmine scent

Gift them some well-deserved relaxation with this letterbox-sized set of Spacemasks. There are seven self-heating eye masks included in the box, and they work by warming up as soon as you open the individual sachet in which they’re packaged.

We’ve been using Spacemasks for several years, and we’re huge fans of how soothing they are for everything from headaches to a busy mind. Simply unwrap the masks, hook the integral loops around your ears for secure wear without any slippage, and let the warming effect kick in.

We love using them while listening to music, before bed and when seeking a 20-minute break from the daily grind.

Back to top

Ohh Deer Papergang squiggle stationery box

Papergang ohh deer stationery box.jpg
  • Best: Stationery gift
  • Number of items: 6
  • Next-day delivery available: Yes
  • Delivery cost: Standard UK delivery £2.95, next-day delivery £7.95, free standard delivery for orders over £50
  • Why we love it
    • Excellent quality

This vibrant Papergang stationery box by Ohh Deer contains a selection of fun goodies, including a planner, gift wrap sheets, two cards, a ballpoint pen and washi tape. Every item features the same floral and squiggly pattern, and we were impressed by the excellent quality of each piece, from the notebook planner to the A6 birthday and best wishes cards. We enjoyed discovering the contents of this letterbox gift, and using all the different goodies on a daily basis. It’s an ideal buy for all ages, too.

If you’re interested in looking at different designs, other Papergang boxes Ohh Deer offers include a bon voyage stationery box (£19.95, Ohhdeer.com) and a happy news stationery box (£19.95, Ohhdeer.com).

Back to top

Treatbox pink bliss ready to go box

Treatbox.jpg
  • Best: Self-care gift
  • Number of items: 8
  • Next-day delivery available: Yes
  • Delivery cost: Free 48-hour delivery, £4.50 for tracked and £8.50 for special or Sunday delivery
  • Why we love it
    • Can be personalised

Treat someone to some self-care, with this box of pampering goodies, containing a pair of cute socks, a vegan-friendly biscuit, facial oil, a satin sleep mask, some daisy seeds, an encouraging “you will do great things” postcard, a sheet mask and a notebook. We appreciated how well-presented this gift box is, from the wording on the inside flap to the pink shredded tissue paper. You can also personalise the gift with a message for the lucky recipient of this thoughtful present.

Depending on the occasion, there are several letterbox gift options to choose between, including those created to mark a pregnancy, birthday or other significant celebration.

Back to top

Bloom & Wild the Anna letterbox bouquet

Bloom & Wild Anna bouquet
  • Best: Letterbox flowers
  • Number of items: 15 flower stems
  • Next-day delivery available: Yes
  • Delivery cost: Free for Royal Mail next-day delivery or from £5 via DPD
  • Why we love it
    • Lovely mix of blooms

For a classic letterbox gift, you can’t go wrong with some gorgeous flowers. Bloom & Wild’s the Anna bouquet fits neatly through the letterbox and comes complete with instructions for arranging the stems in a vase. This pretty bunch of flowers features alstroemeria, carnations and solidago, and the mix of pastel shades offers an uplifting effect, whatever the occasion. As with all Bloom & Wild flowers, they quickly perked up after delivery.

It’s worth knowing Bloom & Wild also offers other letterbox gifts, including the extra-special letterbox brownies, containing 12 dinky milk chocolate brownie squares with edible flower and berry sprinkles (£22, Bloomandwild.com), and the letterbox pick-me-up, which includes motivational biscuits by Kitsch Hen and an uplifting candle from Hopscotch (£29, Bloomandwild.com).

Back to top

Coffee & Kin mini coffee and chocolate gift hamper

coffee and kin.jpg
  • Best: Gift for coffee drinkers
  • Number of items: 2
  • Next-day delivery available: No
  • Delivery cost: £3.95 or free for orders over £35
  • Why we love it
    • Good choice of coffee formats

Perk up their day with the ultimate uplifting bundle: coffee and chocolate. This mini hamper from independent Northumberland-based business Coffee & Kin includes coffee in the format of your choice – whether that’s beans, ground or compostable pods – and a bar of milk or dark artisan chocolate. We plumped for the 150g packet of coffee beans and have been taking in its expert blend every morning.

There’s no doubt about it – this coffee is a caffeine-boosting treat to sip. Plus, the chocolate is special, too – the yummy bar that arrived through our letterbox had cranberry notes and a rich, creamy aftertaste. This is an excellent way of upgrading someone’s elevenses.

Back to top

Seol & Gold pearl choker necklace

pearl necklace.jpg
  • Best: Jewellery gift
  • Number of items: 1
  • Next-day delivery available: No
  • Delivery cost: From £1.95 for 48-hour tracked or free for orders over £30
  • Why we love it
    • Timeless gift

Should you be looking to send jewellery, Seol & Gold specialises in earrings, necklaces and bracelets that fit through your letterbox. We’ve been wearing this chic pearl choker necklace on repeat, and it’s available in both sterling silver and gold vermeil options. The necklace arrived presented in a tiny cotton bag complete with pink and green branding, safely packaged in a small, flat cardboard box.

This timeless piece looks stylish worn alone or layered with other necklaces, and the single bead adds a unique twist too. Whether for a birthday or anniversary, a stunning necklace arriving on the doormat is sure to win you bonus present points.

Back to top

M&S Colin the caterpillar letterbox gift

colin caterpillar letterbox gift.jpg
  • Best: Letterbox sweets
  • Number of items: 7
  • Next-day delivery available: Yes
  • Delivery cost: £3.99
  • Why we love it
    • Fun gift for those with a sweet tooth

Whether you’re sending goodies to a child or to an adult who’s still sporting a serious sweet tooth, this Colin the caterpillar set will make them smile. The contents include mini Colin the caterpillar cakes, two white chocolate Colin the caterpillar faces, and a four-pack of Colin the caterpillar jelly sweets, including sour, rainbow and raspberry and milk flavours. It all arrives wrapped up in Colin the caterpillar tissue paper, too.

This joyful bundle is a fun gift, and every item offers delicious sugary flavour, perfect for a party, sharing with friends or simply keeping as their own stash of Colin the caterpillar goodies.

Back to top

NIO letterbox cocktails

letterbox cocktails.jpg
  • Best: Cocktail kit gift
  • Number of items: 3+
  • Next-day delivery available: No
  • Delivery costs: Calculated at checkout per order
  • Why we love it
    • Choice of cocktails, including low-alcohol and alcohol-free options

With prices starting from less than £20 for three letterbox cocktails, you can tailor this kit from NIO to your recipient’s preference. The cocktails come in a slimline but sturdy sachet, ready and waiting to be poured into a glass, and you can choose up to nine to send. Options cover low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks, as well as standard cocktails, including classics such as a whiskey sour, margarita, old fashioned, and a negroni. We enjoyed sipping these special drinks, which taste just like a cocktail we could’ve ordered in a bar.

Whether someone needs cheering up or is planning a party, this cocktail kit is a convenient way of taking care of the drinks.

Back to top

Chummys Bakery brownie and cookie selection box

Chummys bakery.jpg
  • Best: Gift for cookie-lovers
  • Number of items: 12
  • Next-day delivery available: No
  • Delivery cost: Nominated-day delivery charge calculated at checkout according to location
  • Why we love it
    • Tasty treats that stay fresh for up to a fortnight
  • Take note
    • Doesn’t quite fit through the letterbox

If your gift recipient appreciates a gooey brownie or fancy cookie, they’ll be thrilled to receive this scrumptious selection box. It’s packed with a bundle of baked goods that can stay fresh for up to a fortnight, and we enjoyed tucking into these melt-in-the-mouth treats.

While we have to point out that this gift didn’t quite fit through our letterbox, it is a readymade surprise direct to their door, if you know your friend or family member will be in on the day of delivery – perhaps if they’ve just had a baby or work from home. We’ve included the box because of just how delicious its contents are. Standout favourites we devoured include the Ferrero Rocher brownie, lotus biscuit cookie, Nutella brownie and white chocolate and raspberry cookie.

Back to top

London Sock Co simply sartorial socks

London Sock Co simply sartorial socks
  • Best: Letterbox socks
  • Number of items: One
  • Next-day delivery available: Yes
  • Delivery cost: £3.50 for standard delivery, £6.50 for next-day delivery
  • Why we love it
    • High-quality socks
    • Good range of colourways

These punchy midnight-blue socks from London Sock Co are sure to shake up your giftee’s sock drawer. Knitted mostly from Scottish Lisle cotton (which has a lightweight feel) with a rib-knit finish, it was clear as soon as we slipped these onto our feet that they’d become a favourite pair. We also noticed the stretchy feel and how soft and breathable they were against the skin, assuring us they’re a high-quality pair.

Sitting securely and comfortably around our mid-calf, where they’re designed to, the cuffs around these socks didn’t slip towards our ankles throughout the day. We love the bold midnight-blue hue of this pair, but you can also choose from more than 30 other colourways, which are sure to go down a storm with your giftee’s sartorial taste.

Back to top

The verdict: Letterbox gifts

Our best buy overall is Spacemasks’ addict seven-pack letterbox set, as it offers a moment of well-deserved relaxation. Meanwhile, if your giftee has a sweet tooth, you can’t go wrong with M&S’s Colin the caterpillar letterbox gift. Alternatively, an extra-special letterbox-sized gift option is Seol & Gold’s pearl choker necklace. Finally, you can’t beat Bloom & Wild’s Anna letterbox bouquet for a floral surprise through the post.

Got a friend who’s just moved? These are the best housewarming gifts to buy

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in