Custom Paper Bags: Which Bag Style to Brand First

If you are choosing custom paper bags, start with the bag style that leaves your shop most often: twisted paper handle bags for multi-item orders, SOS bags for takeaway, satchels for bakery items and 2WB flat bags for small items. Brand that one style first, then add others once you know what your customers actually carry out the door.

Key takeaways

• Match the bag style to what you hand over: handle bags for bigger orders, SOS bags for takeaway, satchels for baked goods, flat bags for small single items.
• Pick one style to brand first, the one your customers see most, rather than printing every size at once.
• Twisted handle bags run from Baby to Large; SOS bags run from No.4 to No.20.
• Custom printing with your logo is available on selected products, so check the bag you want on the custom print page or contact us before planning artwork.
• Every bag is sold by the carton, and each product page shows the carton price and price per item.

Which paper bag style should I customise first?

Customise the bag your customers carry most, because that is the one that puts your name on the street. For most cafés and takeaway shops that is either an SOS bag for food orders or a twisted handle bag for multi-item purchases.

A simple way to decide is to look at a normal trading day. If most orders are a coffee and a pastry, a satchel or small SOS bag does the work. If customers regularly leave with several items, a sandwich, a drink and a cake, a handle bag is what they will carry home. Brand that bag first and keep the other styles plain until you see how the first one performs.

When do twisted paper handle bags make sense?

Twisted paper handle bags suit multi-item orders, catering drop-offs and retail counters where customers carry the bag some distance. They are made from recycled paper in brown, and the range runs from Baby to Large.

The Kraft Bag – Brown Twisted Handle Baby (Carton of 500) at 200x140x80mm works for a couple of small items, gift lines or a single boxed treat. The Kraft Bag – Brown Twisted Handle Medium (Carton of 250) at 350x260x100mm fits a mixed lunch order, and the Kraft Bag – Brown Twisted Handle Large (Carton of 250) at 480x400x150mm is the one for catering trays and larger retail orders. Because a handle bag is carried in full view after it leaves the counter, it is a sensible first choice for a logo.

Are SOS bags the right choice for takeaway?

SOS bags are the standard takeaway bag: they have a flat base that stands open on the counter while staff pack the order. They are made from virgin paper, come in brown or white, and the range runs from No.4 to No.20.

The No.4 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 2000) at 127x77x235mm suits a single snack or side. The No.16 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 250) at 240x120x390mm takes a typical takeaway meal with containers, and the No.20 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 250) at 305x175x430mm handles larger family orders. If takeaway is most of your trade, the SOS size you reach for most is the obvious bag to brand. For a wider look at sizes by venue type, see Paper Bags Wholesale: Bakery, Takeaway & Retail Sizes.

What about bakery items and small items?

For bakery items, use satchels; for small single items, use 2WB flat bags. Both are lighter, flatter styles that suit fast counter service.

Satchels come in kraft brown and white. The 1SO and 2SO satchels cover pastries, muffins and sandwiches, and the Bag – White D. Bread Satchel (Carton of 500) at 379x279x61mm is sized for bread. The Kraft Bag – 2WB Flat (Carton of 500) at 200x200mm is a plain flat bag for biscuits, a slice or a single small item. A bakery that sells mostly loaves and pastries will usually get more from a branded satchel than from a branded handle bag.

How do the bag styles compare?

The table below lists one or more sizes from each style, using the carton prices and per-item prices shown on each product page.

Which one should I buy?

Buy the style that matches your main order type, and brand only that one to begin with.

• Takeaway shops and food trucks: start with the No.16 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 250) for meals, with the No.4 Bag – Brown SOS (Carton of 2000) for sides. The No.16 is the one to look at for branding.
• Caterers: the Kraft Bag – Brown Twisted Handle Large (Carton of 250) carries trays and bulk orders; the Kraft Bag – Brown Twisted Handle Medium (Carton of 250) covers smaller drop-offs.
• Bakeries: use the Bag – White D. Bread Satchel (Carton of 500) for loaves and kraft or white satchels for pastries.
• Cafés with a retail shelf: the Kraft Bag – Brown Twisted Handle Baby (Carton of 500) suits beans, gifts and small take-home items, with the Kraft Bag – 2WB Flat (Carton of 500) for single biscuits or slices.

Before you settle on artwork, check whether the bag you picked can be printed. Custom printing with your logo is available on selected products, so go to the custom print page or contact us with the product name and we will confirm what is possible. For more on the printing side, read Printed Paper Bags. You can see every size in the bags range.

Ordering plain bags while you decide

There is no minimum order, so you can order a carton of the plain version first and see how it works in your shop. Delivery is a flat fee set by your postcode, and free once an order passes a set amount; checkout shows the exact cost, and today's rates are on the shipping page. 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). When you know the sizes you need, use quick order to add them in one go.

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

Setting up or restocking your packaging?

Send us your list for a trade quote, or price it yourself in the cost calculator.

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