Custom printed paper bags in the UK typically cost between 19p and a little over £2 per bag excluding VAT, and the single biggest factor is the size of the bag. Printing both the front and the rear panel adds roughly a quarter to the unit price, and larger orders bring the cost per bag down automatically. For most independent retailers, a realistic budget is somewhere between 30p and £1.20 a bag once size, print area and quantity are settled.
The trouble with "how much do printed bags cost" is that the honest answer is a range, not a number. This guide breaks that range into the parts you can actually control, so you can work out your own figure before you order.
The short answer: current starting prices
These are the entry prices across the Fast Printed Bags range, all excluding VAT and all for a printed bag rather than a plain one:
- Tape handle paper carrier bags - from £0.19 each. The cheapest way to put your brand in a customer's hand.
- General use paper bags - from £0.26 each. Handle-free bags for counter service, bakery and takeaway.
- Standard duty paper mailing bags - from £0.55 each. For posting lighter, non-fragile items.
- Twist handle paper carrier bags - from £0.80 each. The classic retail bag with a rope-style paper handle.
- Wine bottle paper carrier bags - from £0.89 each.
- Heavy duty paper mailing bags - from £1.42 each.
- Paper stand-up pouches - from £1.44 each.
Those are starting prices for the smallest size in each range. Work up through the sizes and the price climbs steadily, which is why picking the right size first tends to save more money than any other decision.
What actually drives the price
Size is the biggest lever
Bigger bags use more paper, so they cost more. On twist handle carrier bags, a small 190 x 80 x 210mm bag in brown kraft starts at £0.80, the mid 240 x 110 x 310mm size is £1.32, and the large 320 x 140 x 420mm size is £1.67. That is roughly double the price from smallest to largest for the same bag style and the same single-panel print.
This is where people overspend. Ordering one large size so everything fits means paying the top price on every transaction. Two sizes is usually cheaper overall than one oversized catch-all. If you are unsure which dimensions suit your products, our paper bag sizing guide walks through how to measure for it.
How many panels you print
You can print the front panel only, the rear panel only, or both. Front only and rear only cost exactly the same, so there is no saving in choosing one over the other - pick whichever suits your design.
Printing front and rear adds about 25% to the unit price. On that small twist handle bag, front only is £0.80 and front and rear is £1.00. Whether that is worth it depends on how the bag is carried: one seen from both sides on a busy high street earns its keep, whereas a bag going straight into a car boot probably does not.
Paper colour, which is not as predictable as you would think
Natural kraft brown and white sulphite are both offered, and the price difference between them varies by size rather than following one rule. On the smallest twist handle bag, white is dearer at £0.91 against £0.80 for brown. On the mid size, white is actually cheaper at £1.14 against £1.32. It is worth checking both on the product page rather than assuming one is always the budget option.
Colour affects how your artwork prints as well as what it costs, which we cover in our comparison of kraft and white paper bags.
Quantity
Bulk pricing is applied automatically at the cart, so the per-bag price falls as the quantity rises without you needing to request a quote. For orders above 1,000 units there is a separate trade service that goes considerably further on price.
The costs people forget to budget for
The setup fee on smaller orders
Orders under £100 excluding VAT carry a one-time setup fee of £49.95. Above £100 there is no setup fee at all. This matters enormously at the small end: a £60 order effectively costs £110, while a £110 order costs £110. If your basket lands just under the threshold, adding stock is close to free money.
The fee is waived on re-orders of the same product using the same artwork, so it is a first-order cost rather than a recurring one. The full terms are on the personalisation information page.
VAT
Prices are shown excluding VAT with the inclusive figure alongside. Printed paper bags are standard rated, so 20% VAT is added: an £0.80 bag is £0.96 including VAT. If your business is VAT registered you will reclaim it, so budget on the exclusive price. If you are not registered, the inclusive price is your real cost.
Artwork
Press-ready artwork needs to be supplied, as there is no in-house design service beyond minor adjustments such as resizing. If you already have a usable logo file this costs nothing. If you do not, factor in a designer's time as a genuine line in the budget. Our guide to supplying print-ready artwork sets out the formats and resolution needed, which is worth reading before you commission anything.
What you will not be charged for
- Delivery. Standard delivery is free on a 6 to 10 working day lead time, with faster options available.
- A printed proof. You approve a full printed sample of your bags before production begins, at no extra cost. This excludes single printed sample orders.
- The carrier bag charge. Retailers in England must charge at least 10p for single-use plastic carrier bags, but paper bags fall outside that requirement. There is no levy to collect or account for, which removes an admin cost as well as a per-bag one.
A worked example
Say you run a gift shop and want 500 small twist handle bags in brown kraft, printed on the front only:
- 500 bags at £0.80 = £400 excluding VAT, before the automatic bulk discount is applied at the cart.
- Order value is over £100, so no setup fee.
- Delivery is free.
- VAT at 20% brings it to £480 including VAT, reclaimable if you are registered.
That is a worst-case figure, because the bulk discount will reduce it, and a ceiling is more useful to plan against than an optimistic estimate. Switching to tape handle bags for the same job would bring the unit cost down substantially if the twist handle look is not essential to you. The differences between the two are covered in our twist handle versus tape handle comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a custom printed paper bag cost in the UK?
Prices start from £0.19 excluding VAT for a small printed tape handle carrier bag and rise to a little over £2 for a large twist handle bag printed on both the front and rear panels. Size is the main driver, followed by the number of printed panels and the quantity ordered.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
There is no minimum order quantity, so you can order small runs. However, orders under £100 excluding VAT attract a one-time setup fee of £49.95, so very small orders carry a high effective cost per bag. Ordering enough to clear £100 usually works out better value.
Does printing both sides of the bag cost more?
Yes, printing the front and rear panels costs roughly 25% more than printing a single panel. Printing the front only and printing the rear only are priced identically, so there is no saving in picking one side over the other.
Are there extra charges for full colour printing?
No. Printing is full-colour CMYK digital inkjet, and the price does not change according to how many colours are in your design. Bear in mind that white ink is not used, so any white in your artwork will show as the natural colour of the paper, and exact Pantone matching cannot be guaranteed.
Do I have to pay for delivery or a proof?
Standard delivery is free on a 6 to 10 working day lead time, and you receive a printed proof to approve before full production at no additional charge. Single printed sample orders are the exception to the proof.
How can I check quality before committing to a large order?
Order a sample pack for 99p to handle the paper stock and check sizes, or order a printed sample from £10 to see your own artwork on the bag before placing a full order.
Work out your own price
The quickest way to get a real number is to choose your size, colour and print area on the product page and watch the price update as you change the quantity. Browse the full range at Fast Printed Bags, or if you would rather talk it through before committing, get in touch with the team and we will help you work out the most cost-effective specification for what you sell.