Bag sizing confuses people because the three numbers are not the three you would guess. This page sets out how the measurement works, the sizes the trade actually uses, and what to check before ordering a size that is not on anyone's standard list.
Reading the three numbers
A paper bag is quoted width x gusset x height. Width is the face you see. The gusset is the folded side panel, and it is the number that decides capacity, since it becomes the depth once the bag is opened. Height is measured from the base to the top edge, not including handles. Two bags with an identical printed face can hold very different amounts if one has a 3 inch gusset and the other a 6 inch one, which is the single most common surprise when comparing quotes.
Sizes in common use
| Type | Approximate size (W x G x H, inches) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Small gift or jewelry | 5.25 x 3.25 x 8.5 | Cosmetics, small accessories, single items |
| Boutique | 8 x 4.75 x 10.25 | The general retail carrier bag |
| Medium retail | 10 x 5 x 13 | Books, homeware, multiple small items |
| Apparel | 16 x 6 x 12 | Folded clothing, shoe boxes |
| 1/8 barrel grocery | 10 x 6.75 x 14 | Takeout and grocery, flat bottom, no handles |
| 1/6 barrel grocery | 12 x 7 x 17 | Larger grocery orders, self standing |
Trade names vary between suppliers, so quote the numbers rather than the name when you compare. A bag described as a boutique size by one supplier may be half an inch different somewhere else.
Handles, paper weight and the failure point
- Twisted paper handles. Glued inside the top hem, the common retail option, adequate for moderate weight.
- Flat paper handles. Wider contact area, spreads load, slightly more comfortable to carry.
- Rope or ribbon handles. Knotted or riveted, used on premium bags, the strongest of the three when reinforced.
- Die cut handle. Cut through the bag itself, cheapest, needs a reinforced top hem to avoid tearing.
Bags almost always fail in the same two places: the handle attachment and the base seam. Heavier paper across the whole bag is the crude fix. The efficient fix is a reinforced top hem and a stronger base, which is where the weight actually goes.
Printing on a bag
The printable area is smaller than the flat sheet, because the gusset folds inward and the top hem folds over. Keep logos on the flat face, away from the gusset fold, and expect a design that runs across the fold to look broken when the bag is standing. Kraft is the common base material and it shifts every ink warmer, so proof colors on the real stock rather than on white.
Speccing a size and getting a price
If your product is an awkward shape, spec the bag from the product rather than from a size chart: measure the widest footprint, add an inch of gusset over that, and set the height so the contents sit below the top hem rather than poking out. Tell us on the quote what you are carrying and how heavy it is, and we will confirm what we can run for you, and be straight about anything we cannot. For boxes with attached handles, which suit heavier or more structured items, see handle boxes, and for retail packaging generally, retail boxes.
Send your dimensions and quantity to our quote form for a written price and a confirmed spec.
