Grown-up wish lists have a problem that children’s lists don’t: the details matter. A sweater could be any colour, size, or price, and a well-meaning relative can easily buy the wrong one. This template is designed for adults and older teens who want to make gift-giving easy for everyone else. Each wish has room for where to buy it, the size or colour, the price, and how much you want it. There are also boxes for the gift cards you’d use and the things you would rather not receive.
Candy Canes and a Budget Tag
The page is US Letter portrait, 8.5 x 11 inches, on crisp white. A candy-cane stripe of red and white runs down the full left edge, edged with a thin red line, and a narrower candy-cane band repeats along the bottom of the page. At the top, Christmas 2026 is set in spaced green capitals above the title My Christmas Wish List in red DM Serif Display, with the line Links, sizes and prices, so nobody has to guess. On the right, a green gift tag hangs on a string from the top of the page, tilted slightly, with Budget: $25-$100 written on it.
Below the header are fields for who the list is for and who you are sharing it with, then the main table, with columns for #, Item, Where to Buy/Link, Size · Color, Price, and Priority. It has sixteen rows, a red header, and pale pink stripes. Under the table are a star key, a pink Gift cards I would use box, and a pale green Please, no… box. Our logo sits on a small white pill in the striped footer band.
The Priority Stars Explained
The Priority column uses stars so relatives can see at a glance what matters most:
- ??? Top wish: the things you would be genuinely delighted to receive.
- ?? Would love: strong favourites, but no disappointment if they don’t appear.
- ? Nice to have: smaller or fun items, good for people with a lower budget.
A good adult list mixes all three, so a generous parent and a cousin with a small budget can both find something. The sample has two top wishes (noise-cancelling headphones and a merino wool sweater), two would love items (a cast-iron skillet and a hiking backpack), and two smaller ideas (a cookbook and a candle set).
Adding Links That Actually Work on Paper
Long web addresses don’t fit neatly in a table cell and can’t be clicked on a printout. A few ways around that:
- Name the store and the product clearly instead: Outdoor shop – 28 L daypack, grey. Most people can search for that in seconds.
- Use a link shortener to turn a long address into a short one that fits the column.
- Write “Link: see note”, as the sample does for the sweater, and send the full links in the message you share the list with.
- Share the PDF rather than a printout, and paste links into the message alongside it.
Always include the details that make the product unique: model number, size, colour or edition.
A Message to Send With Your List
Hi everyone! A few of you asked what I’d like for Christmas, so here’s my list. Everything has a store and a price, and the stars show my favourites. Sizes: sweaters M, shoes 10. Please don’t feel you have to spend a lot. Honestly, the small things make me just as happy. Links for the starred items are below. Love, Dan
How to Edit the List
- Click the title, the For and Share with fields, and the budget tag to change them.
- Double-click the table to open the editor’s Edit Table Data window. Type your items, stores, sizes, prices, and stars into each cell; use + Row if you have more than sixteen wishes (we hope not!).
- If your list lives in a spreadsheet or a notes app, save it as a CSV and bring it in with Import CSV in the same window.
- Edit the two boxes under the table: the gift cards you’d use, and the things you’d rather not get.
- The candy-cane stripes are grouped shapes. Change the red to green or navy for a different look.
The price column is for guidance; the table doesn’t add up totals, and that’s intentional: a wish list isn’t a shopping bill.
The “Please, No…” Box: Tactful and Useful
It can feel awkward to say what you don’t want, but relatives usually appreciate it. Keep it light and general: clutter, scented lotions, more mugs, anything that needs dusting. It is also the right place for allergies or sensitivities, like fragranced products or nuts in food gifts. The sample keeps the tone friendly and short.
Sending the List to Family
For sharing, download a PDF (sharp for printing) or a PNG (easy to send in a chat). To print, choose US Letter at actual size or fit to A4; the red stripes print best in colour. A printed copy tucked into the Christmas card you send to family is a nice old-fashioned touch.
Keeping the List Up to Date
Adults often share one list with several groups: parents, siblings, in-laws and a partner. Update it as gifts are bought so nobody doubles up. A simple way is to keep the master copy in the editor, delete or strike through items once someone tells you they have them covered, and re-share the new PDF. If you prefer surprises, ask one person, perhaps a partner or sibling, to keep track for you and quietly steer relatives towards the lines that are still open.
Adult Wish List Questions
Is it rude to include prices?
Not on a list people have asked for. Prices help givers choose something within their budget.
Can a couple share one list?
You could add a column for whose wish it is, but our couples wish list template gives each person their own side.
What paper size is this?
US Letter, 8.5 x 11 inches, portrait.
Make It Easy to Get It Right
Where to buy it, which size, how much, and how much you want it: with those four details on every line, your relatives can shop with confidence, and you’ll get gifts you really use.
