Kraft paper shopping bag
Twisted handle kraft200 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA kraft paper shopping bag is a flat-bottom carrier made from 90 to 120 gsm natural kraft with twisted paper handles glued under a reinforced top fold. We produce them from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof, one color flexo or full color. The most common sizes are 8 by 4.75 by 10 and 10 by 5 by 13 inches.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a kraft shopping bag for a shop counter, a market stall, a pop-up or an event where the bag walks out the door in someone's hand and gets seen on the street. One color on natural kraft reads as small-batch and honest. It also suits gift shops and bakeries that need something a folded box cannot do, which is carry two or three things at once without an extra step at the register.
Choose a laminated euro tote when the bag itself is part of the gift, since kraft creases and marks in a way art paper does not. Choose a merch bag with flat handles when you are handing out hundreds at a conference, because flat handles pack tighter and cost less to ship in bulk.
Specifications
| Board | 90, 100 or 120 gsm natural or white kraft |
|---|---|
| One or two color flexo, or full color offset | |
| Finish | Uncoated kraft, optional matte varnish on white kraft |
| Closure | Open top, optional fold-over with sticker |
| Insert | Cardboard bottom board, 350 gsm, fitted to the base |
| Handles | Twisted paper, natural or dyed to match, 8 inch loop |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, in bundles of 25 |
| Sizes we run | 5.25 x 3.5 x 8.25 in 8 x 4.75 x 10 in 10 x 5 x 13 in 13 x 7 x 17 in 16 x 6 x 12 in any size from 5 x 3 x 8 to 18 x 7 x 18 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
What weight of kraft should I pick?
For anything under about 5 pounds, 100 gsm is the safe middle. 90 gsm is fine for light retail like apparel and cards. Go to 120 gsm for jars, bottles or books, and ask for the 350 gsm bottom board on any bag over 10 inches wide. The handle patch is reinforced on all three weights.
Can you print full color on kraft?
Yes, but the brown shows through. Full color on natural kraft mutes everything, so pale tints go muddy and white does not exist unless we print white ink first. If you want a photograph or a bright brand color, use white kraft. One or two color flexo on natural kraft is the cleaner choice.
Do the handles come in colors?
Twisted paper handles come in natural brown, white, black and about a dozen dyed colors. We match the closest stock shade to your brand color and show it on the proof. Matching a handle to a Pantone exactly means a custom dye lot, which pushes the minimum up and adds around a week.
How much weight will the bag hold?
A 100 gsm bag with a bottom board carries about 8 pounds on the twisted handles without the patch tearing. A 120 gsm bag carries 12 to 15. If the load is a single heavy item like a 750 ml bottle, we recommend a wine bag with a narrower base so the bottle cannot swing.
Is it recyclable?
The kraft body, the paper handles and the paper bottom board are all recyclable as mixed paper. Water-based inks do not change that. If you add a matte varnish it is still recyclable in most curbside programs, but we would not print a recycling claim without checking your local rules first.
How is the kraft paper shopping bag different from the merch bag?
The shopping bag is the all-round retail carrier: 90 to 120 gsm kraft, twisted paper handles, a 350 gsm bottom board, and one or two color flexo or full color offset. The merch bag is wide and shallow with flat paper handles, built to hold a folded tee, a cap or a 12 inch record, and it packs tighter in a case, printed one or two color flexo. Both start at 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. Shops and bakeries carrying mixed items suit the shopping bag; merch tables and events suit the merch bag.
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Ready to price your kraft paper shopping bag?
Send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day. Your digital proof follows, usually within one business day of your artwork. Design help and the Swatch Book of materials are free.