Commercially, it first peaked in 2015 at positions 56 in Switzerland, 72 in the Netherlands, and 35 in Sweden, where it received a Gold certification.
[3][4] Initially released on the Epic Records-issued extended play I'll Be Home for Christmas (2014), the song also later appeared on the Japanese and special editions of her debut major-label studio album Title (2015).
[5][1] Time's Nolan Feeney included "I'll Be Home" on an article called "5 Depressing Christmas Songs from 2014 That Will Totally Bum You Out", and noted it as a positive change of sound compared to Trainor's other work, writing "there are no handclaps or upright bass sounds on 'I'll Be Home.'
[4] Writing for Entertainment Tonight, John Boone also made note of the song's difference from Trainor's breakout hit "All About That Bass" (2014), highlighting "Santa called to make sure I'm prepared / He said ‘Wrap the gifts with all your love and care’ / The wind blows the snow up in the sky / But I won't let the wind delay my flight" as his choice lyrics.
[7] According to Fuse's Jeff Benjamin, it is "an original heartfelt winter ballad about promising to be home for Christmas",[8] while Emilee Lindner of MTV News thought that "I'll Be Home" sees Trainor "shak[ing] off her signature sass and show[ing] off her sweet vocals".