Custom Paper Bags

Sizing Custom Paper Bags

Paper bags are described by width, gusset and height. Width is the front face, gusset is the side depth that opens out, and height runs from the base to the top edge. Measure your largest common purchase, not your largest product, and make sure it fits with a little room to spare and without pushing against the handles.

Most shops need two or three sizes. A small bag covers jewellery, cosmetics and cards. A medium bag takes folded clothing, books or a couple of jars. A large bag handles shoe boxes, bulky knitwear and multiple items. Ordering every size in the same design keeps the look consistent whatever the customer buys.

If you sell flat items such as prints or calendars, a wide bag with a shallow gusset suits them better than a deep bag, and it is easier to carry under an arm. Our guide to measuring products for packaging covers gusset and handle clearances.

Kraft or White Paper

Brown kraft paper gives a natural, honest look and suits farm shops, bakeries, florists, craft shops and anyone with a handmade style. Dark inks print best on it. White paper gives brighter colours and cleaner photographs, which suits fashion, beauty and gift shops that rely on precise brand colours.

Paper weight affects strength and feel. Lighter papers suit small bags carrying light items, while heavier papers stand up on their own and feel more substantial. For premium boutique bags, a laminated board bag with rope handles gives a crisp, rigid shape, though it moves away from the plain paper look.

Coloured papers, such as black, navy or pastel shades, are another route. A black bag with a white or foil logo looks striking and suits fashion and gift shops that want a darker, more dramatic presence on the street. Paper weights for each colour are listed on the board and finish page.

Print and Finish Ideas

One bold colour on kraft is the classic shop bag, and it is cost-effective because a single ink is quick to set up. Full colour printing suits illustrated or photographic designs. You can print on both faces, the gussets and even inside the top fold, where a short message is seen every time the bag is opened.

Repeating patterns are a smart choice because the logo shows whichever way the bag is carried. A large, simple logo on each face is easier to recognise across the street than lots of small detail. If you want a premium touch, foil on a white bag or a single foil logo on a dark bag gives a polished, gift-shop finish without full colour costs.

Shops and Businesses That Order Them

Our paper bags go to clothing boutiques, gift and homeware shops, bookshops, bakeries and delis, florists, pharmacies, beauty salons, galleries and museum shops, and market traders. Event organisers use them as goody bags for conferences and launches, and brands send them out filled with samples to stockists.

Takeaways and cafés use flat-handle and SOS bags for food orders. If grease is a concern, ask about a greaseproof lining or a coated paper for those bags.

Pop-up shops, artist studios and craft fairs are another common home for printed bags, where a stall has only a few seconds to make an impression on a passing visitor. A bag in a distinctive colour helps people find the stall again later in the day, even in a crowded hall, because they notice other shoppers carrying it and ask where it came from. The twisted and flat handle types are compared on the paper bags with handles for shops page.

Order the Size Your Biggest Seller Needs

Shops that buy three bag sizes at once usually run out of one and sit on the other two. Look at a week of sales, note which items leave the shop most often, and size the first run of bags around them: a shoe shop needs the large carrier, a jeweller the small accessory bag. Put the item in a plain bag of the size you are considering and check the handles clear it by at least 30 mm so the customer is not pressing the bag against their leg.

Send the sizes, handle style, paper colour and print, with rough quantities for each size, and a custom quote reaches you by email within one working day; bags start from £0.25 each and minimums are set per job and kept low. The free proof shows every face of the bag. Production takes 4 to 7 working days after approval and bags are delivered on free tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses in 2 to 3 working days, with torn or misprinted bags reprinted or refunded if reported within 10 days. Hot food and bakery orders suit the flat-bottomed takeaway paper bags for hot food.