BFCM20 20% off every kit, applied at checkout · Black Friday is Fri Nov 27 See the Stack →
ForgeKits

Home/Guides/Content

How to make a holiday gift guide that sells (with a free structure)

Gift guides work because buyers want someone else to make the list. Here's how to make one for your shop in an afternoon, and where to post it.

By ForgeKits · Updated October 31, 2026 · 2 min read

The structure: a cover that says who it's for, 6–8 product pages (one product, one line, one price each), a "how to order by Christmas" page and a clear last page with a link. Post it from mid-November and again in early December.

Pick the angle first

"Gift guide" alone doesn't get clicks. Pick a buyer or a budget: for her, for the coffee lover, under $25, stocking stuffers, last-minute (instant download). Make one guide per angle rather than one giant guide.

Sizes you'll need

WhereSizePages
Instagram carousel1080×1350Up to 20 slides; 8–10 works best
Instagram / TikTok stories1080×19203–5 frames with a link sticker
Pinterest pin1000×15001 pin per angle; link to the guide or product
Email header1200×6001 image, then the products as text links
Printable / PDFUS Letter or A42–4 pages for in-person markets

What goes on each slide

  1. Cover: "Gifts for {who} under {price}" plus your shop name.
  2. Product slides (6–8): one product photo, a 6-word reason, the price. "For the friend who's always cold. $32."
  3. A "best seller" slide with a short review.
  4. Order-by slide: your last shipping date, or "instant download" for digital items.
  5. Last slide: "Tap the link in bio" or "Shop the guide" with the code if you have one.

Skip the blank page: Holiday Content OS · $39

Nov 10 to Dec 20 calendar, 60 captions, 30 ready-to-post graphics. Instant download. 20% off with BFCM20 until Dec 1.

See the Holiday Content OS

Write it fast

  • Cover headlines: "The under-$25 gift list", "Gifts they'll actually use", "Stocking stuffers that aren't junk", "Last-minute gifts that arrive tonight".
  • Product lines: who it's for + the result, not the features.
  • Caption: the angle, 3 favourites named, and the deadline.

When to post it in 2026

  • Nov 16–22: first post, before Black Friday (Nov 27). Pin it to your profile.
  • Nov 27–30: repost with the sale price.
  • Dec 1–14: budget and recipient versions, plus shipping cutoffs.
  • Dec 15–24: the last-minute/instant download version.

Graphics without a designer

Canva (free plan), Google Slides and PowerPoint all export at these sizes. Pick 2 fonts and 3 colours and use them on every slide. If you'd rather not build posts from scratch, Holiday Content OS includes 30 ready-to-post holiday graphics in these sizes and 60 captions.

FAQ

When should I post my holiday gift guide?

First in mid-November (Nov 16–22, 2026), then again on Black Friday weekend and in early December with budget and last-minute versions.

What size should an Instagram gift guide be?

1080×1350 for a carousel. Use 1080×1920 for stories and 1000×1500 for Pinterest pins.

How many products should a gift guide have?

6–8. Fewer products with a clear reason each beats a long list.

Can I make a gift guide in Canva for free?

Yes. Canva's free plan supports all the sizes above. Google Slides and PowerPoint work too.

Free: 50 holiday Instagram captions

Ten holiday moments from the Black Friday warm-up to New Year's Eve, five captions each. Copy, fill the brackets, post.

Get the free captions