Meal bags fail in public. A bag that splits in a lobby, or arrives with a grease patch and an open top, is seen by the customer before the food is. So the specification list for a delivery bag is shorter than for a box, and every item on it matters.
Size from the load, not the menu
- Assemble a typical full order in its containers.
- Measure the footprint the containers occupy when placed side by side, not stacked, because stacked hot containers crush.
- Measure the height of the tallest item, including a drink cup with a lid if drinks travel in the same bag.
- Add enough headroom to fold or seal the top without pressing on the food.
The most common sizing error is designing to the average order and then discovering the busiest orders need two bags. Size to a large order and accept a little slack on small ones, or run two sizes.
Handle choice carries the weight
| Handle | Load character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Twisted paper handle | Strongest of the paper options | The default for heavy hot orders |
| Flat paper handle | Moderate | Comfortable to hold, less tolerant of a heavy corner load |
| Die cut handle in the bag wall | Lightest | Clean look, all paper, not for a full hot order |
| No handle, flat bottom | Carried in a courier bag | Fine when the bag never leaves an insulated carrier |
Whichever you choose, ask how the handle is attached and whether the attachment point is reinforced. That is where bags tear.
The two specifications people forget
Grease resistance. A paper bag that darkens within minutes looks like old food even when the food is perfect. If anything on the menu is fried, oiled or sauced, ask for a grease-resistant specification and confirm direct food contact requirements for your market through your own supply chain.
Tamper evidence. Delivery customers increasingly expect a sealed bag. A tamper-evident sticker across the fold is the simplest approach and can carry branding. A die cut locking top is neater and needs to be designed into the bag rather than added later.
Print and material
Kraft is the workhorse: strong, cheap in volume, and it reads as food-appropriate. Bleached white gives a brighter print surface for photographic artwork. Keep the print simple if the bags get wet or greasy, because heavy ink coverage shows handling marks more than a light design does. A flat bottom base stands upright on a counter and holds containers level, which matters more than most people expect during handover.
Ordering
Minimum order is 100 units, and pricing starts from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes, confirmed on your written quote. Die and plates, design support, US shipping and a digital proof before anything prints are included. Turnaround is stated per product in three lanes: rush with expedited production and air freight, standard by air, cost saver by sea, from about 7 business days, plus 2 to 5 for delivery. Specialty imported items can run up to about 12 weeks. Production is in West Chicago and Guangzhou.
This page is the guide. Meal packaging bags is the product page and the place to order. For the heat and steam side of the same problem, read how to keep food warm in packaging. Send your largest typical order, in containers, when you request a quote.
