The best time to order Christmas packaging for your shop or online business is before the festive rush begins, so start planning in September or October. Printed paper carrier bags, wine bottle bags and mailing bags all take time to design, approve and print, so a simple checklist now saves stressful decisions in December.
Below is a practical guide for UK retailers, gift sellers and e-commerce brands on choosing, ordering and using printed paper bags for the busiest trading period of the year.
Why plan Christmas packaging early?
Demand for packaging peaks in the run-up to Christmas, and so does demand on couriers and postal services. Royal Mail publishes its Christmas posting information each year, and it is worth checking those dates before you promise customers a delivery deadline. Ordering bags early gives you time to proof artwork, receive stock and pack a few test orders before the first big weekend of gift buying.
Planning ahead also protects your margins. Rushing an order at the last minute often means settling for whatever is in stock rather than the bag that best suits your products.
Choose the right bag for your festive products
Different products call for different formats. Here is a quick way to match stock to purpose:
- Gifts, clothing and boutique items: custom printed paper carrier bags give customers a sturdy, reusable way to carry purchases home.
- Bottles and hampers: printed wine bottle bags are a popular choice for gifting wine, spirits and oils.
- Online orders: printed paper mailing bags suit lightweight items such as clothing, textiles and soft goods.
- Treats and dry goods: paper stand-up pouches work well for seasonal food and snack products.
If you are unsure about dimensions, our paper bag sizing guide explains how to measure your products. For handle styles, see twist handle vs tape handle paper bags.
Kraft or white: which looks best at Christmas?
Kraft paper has a natural, rustic look that suits traditional festive branding, while white paper gives a cleaner, brighter finish. Because our printing is full-colour CMYK water-based inkjet onto the paper stock, and there is no white ink, any white in your artwork simply shows the colour of the paper itself. That is worth remembering when you design: a light area on a kraft bag will look kraft brown, not white.
Our guide to kraft vs white paper bags goes into more detail on how each colour affects your design.
Keep your festive design simple and print-ready
Fast Printed Bags prints onto pre-manufactured stock paper bags, with a design area on the front panel and, if you wish, the back panel. This suits clean, confident festive branding: a simple emblem, a seasonal icon beside your logo, or a short line of text. Heavily detailed all-over patterns are not part of the service, so aim for a design that sits neatly within the printable area.
A few tips for a Christmas design that prints well:
- Use one or two strong colours rather than a busy scene.
- Remember that colours look warmer and slightly darker on kraft paper.
- Keep fine detail large enough to read clearly at bag size.
- Supply print-ready artwork, as we print what you send and do not offer a design service.
Our step-by-step guide to supplying print-ready artwork covers file formats and common mistakes.
Design once and use it beyond Christmas
Seasonal packaging can be an expensive one-off, so consider a design that works into January sales and beyond. A simple leaf, star or wreath mark combined with your logo can be swapped out later, while a neutral emblem lasts all year. For a realistic view of budgets, read how much custom printed paper bags cost.
Check your obligations and sustainability claims
If you sell packaged goods in the UK, you may have responsibilities under Extended Producer Responsibility. Our article on packaging EPR for UK retailers is a good starting point, and the government's own EPR for packaging guidance has the official detail. If you plan to promote your bags as eco-friendly, make sure the wording is accurate; our explainer on recyclable, biodegradable and compostable packaging helps you choose the right terms.
A simple Christmas packaging timeline
Work backwards from the date you need bags in hand:
- Decide products, quantities and bag types.
- Finalise print-ready artwork.
- Consider a sample first if you want to check paper and finish before committing to a larger run.
- Place your order and allow time for printing and delivery.
- Test-pack a few orders before peak trading begins.
Frequently asked questions
When should I order Christmas printed bags?
Ideally in September or October, so there is time for artwork checks, printing, delivery and test packing before December trading begins. Ordering earlier also leaves room to reorder if demand is higher than expected.
Can I print a full festive pattern all over the bag?
No. We print onto pre-made stock paper bags in defined print areas, typically the front panel and optionally the back panel. Full-surface or edge-to-edge printing is not available, so a contained design works best.
Can you print white ink on kraft bags?
No. We do not use white ink, so white areas in artwork show the natural colour of the paper. If you want a lighter look, a white paper bag may suit your design better.
Do you offer foiling or embossing for a premium festive finish?
No. Our service is full-colour CMYK water-based digital inkjet printing on kraft and white paper stock, without foiling, embossing, debossing or spot-UV.
Do you offer a design service?
No, we print the print-ready artwork you supply. Our artwork guide explains how to prepare your files so they print as expected.
Which bag is best for gifting bottles?
Wine bottle bags are made for the job and suit wine, spirits and similar gifts. Check the dimensions against your bottle before ordering.
Get your festive packaging sorted
Ready to plan your Christmas packaging? Browse the full range of custom printed bags at Fast Printed Bags, or visit the Fast Printed Bags homepage to get started while there is still plenty of time before the festive rush.