Brown Paper Bags Wholesale: Flat, SOS and Handle Bags

Packery sells brown paper bags wholesale, in bulk by the carton, in flat, SOS (square bottom) and handle styles, starting with the Kraft Bag – 2WB Flat (Carton of 500) at $9.05 per carton, or $0.02 each. Use flat bags for single items, SOS bags for packed takeaway orders and handle bags when customers carry a full order out the door.

Key takeaways

• Flat bags suit single items: the Kraft Bag – 2WB Flat is 200x200mm, $0.02 each, in a carton of 500.
• SOS bags open to a square base and come in numbered sizes, from the No.4 (127x77x235mm, $0.05 each) to the No.25 (540x360x165mm, $0.41 each).
• Handle bags range from $0.14 each for the Kraft Bag – Brown Flat Handle Extra Small to $0.40 each for the Kraft Bag – Brown Takeaway Twisted Handle.
• Every brown SOS bag in the range can be custom printed with your logo, as can the flat bag and the larger twisted handle bag.
• No minimum order. Delivery: a flat fee by postcode, free over a set order amount (see shipping).

What is the difference between flat, SOS and handle bags?

A flat bag is a simple paper sleeve with no base, an SOS bag opens into a square bottom that stands up on the counter, and a handle bag is a carry bag with twisted, flat or die cut handles. The right choice depends on how much goes in the bag and whether the customer carries it by hand.

Flat bags are the quickest to fill. Slide in a pastry, a sandwich, a doughnut or a cookie, fold the top and hand it over. The Kraft Bag – 2WB Flat (Carton of 500) is brown paper, 200x200mm, and costs $0.02 each. It is also available with custom printing, which makes it a low-cost way to put your logo on every single-item sale.

SOS bags are the standard brown takeaway bag. Because the base is square, the bag holds its shape while you pack it, so containers, cups and wrapped items sit upright. You roll or fold the top to close it.

Handle bags are for larger orders, catering drops and retail. They cost more per bag, but customers can carry several containers comfortably and the bag doubles as a carry bag for the trip home.

What does SOS mean and which size do I need?

SOS is short for self-opening sack: the bag pops open into a square bottom with one shake, which is why it is common at takeaway counters. Sizes are numbered, and a higher number means a bigger bag, so match the number to your typical order.

Here is how the brown SOS sizes in the range line up:

• No.4 (127x77x235mm) – single items such as a muffin, a few biscuits or a pair of spring rolls. The No.4 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 2000) is $0.04 each.
• No.6 (150x90x270mm) – chips, a burger or a small hot food serve. The No.6 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 2000) is $0.06 each.
• No.8 (157x100x310mm) and No.12 (330x178x112mm) – a meal for one or two, or a loaf of bread.
• No.16 (240x120x390mm) – a couple of takeaway containers plus sides. The No.16 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 250) is $0.15 each.
• No.20 (305x175x430mm) – family-size orders.
• No.25 (540x360x165mm) – the biggest SOS size listed here, for bulky or multi-container orders. The No.25 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 100) is $0.34 each.

All brown SOS bags here are virgin paper. If you want a cleaner look for a bakery or deli, the No.4, No.6, No.12 and No.16 sizes also come in white: for example the No.16 Bag – White SOS (Carton of 250) is $34.45 per carton, $0.14 each.

When should I use a handle bag?

Use a handle bag when an order is too heavy or too bulky to carry by the top of an SOS bag, or when the bag needs to look good leaving your shop. Handle bags are the usual pick for catering orders, multi-meal pickups and retail items such as coffee beans or gift packs.

Handle bags come with flat, twisted or die cut handles:

• Flat handle – the Kraft Bag – Brown Flat Handle Extra Small (Carton of 250) is recycled paper, 300x240x100mm, $0.14 each. A practical everyday carry bag for one or two items.
• Twisted handle – the Kraft Bag – Brown Twisted Handle Takeaway Medium (Carton of 250) is recycled paper, 305x305x175mm, $0.20 each. For bigger orders, the Kraft Bag – Brown Takeaway Twisted Handle (Carton of 150) is 320x350x225mm, $0.40 each, and can be custom printed.
• Die cut handle – the Kraft Bag – Brown Die Cut Handle (Carton of 500) is virgin paper, 275x280x150mm, $0.23 each, with the handle cut straight into the bag.

How much do brown paper bags cost per bag?

Brown paper bags in this range cost from $0.02 (see the product page for the current price). Each product page shows the carton price and the price per item.

When comparing, look at the price per item rather than the carton price. A carton of 2000 small SOS bags costs more up front than a carton of 100 large ones, but each bag is a fraction of the cost.

Which one should I buy?

Choose by what leaves your counter most often. A simple starting range is one flat bag, one or two SOS sizes and one handle bag.

• Cafés and bakeries: the Kraft Bag – 2WB Flat (Carton of 500) for pastries and sandwiches, plus the No.4 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 2000) for muffins and small multi-item sales.
• Fish and chip shops and burger bars: the No.6 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 2000) for single serves and the No.16 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 250) for orders with several containers.
• Restaurants doing takeaway and delivery: the Kraft Bag – Brown Twisted Handle Takeaway Medium (Carton of 250) for multi-meal orders.
• Caterers: the Kraft Bag – Brown Takeaway Twisted Handle (Carton of 150) for large drops, or the No.25 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 100) when you need a big bag without handles.
• Food trucks and market stalls: the Kraft Bag – Brown Flat Handle Extra Small (Carton of 250) for a compact carry bag alongside a small SOS size.

If you want your logo on the bag, choose a size marked for custom printing; the printed paper bags guide covers how that works. For white bags and other paper styles, see the paper bags wholesale guide, or browse every option in the bags range.

How do I order brown paper bags wholesale?

Order by the carton through quick order or from each product page. There is no minimum order. Delivery takes 3–5 business days to capital cities and 4–6 business days regional. All orders are prepaid online. Damaged or faulty items are replaced or refunded free; unopened stock cartons can be returned within 7 days of delivery (10% restocking fee, return delivery at your cost).

See also: paper bag size chart: every paper bag we stock with its size and price per bag.

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No minimum order · free delivery over $750 (metro) / $1000 (regional) · damaged items replaced free · Delivery details