Paper bag sizes in the UK are almost always written as width x depth x height in millimetres. So a 240mm x 110mm x 310mm bag measures 240mm across the front, 110mm through the gusset and 310mm from base to top edge. The right size for your business is the one that lets your product sit flat inside with roughly 20mm to 30mm of clearance on each dimension, without leaving so much spare room that the bag sags or topples on the counter.
Sizing sounds like the simplest decision in packaging, yet it causes the most reprints. Order too small and your best seller will not fit. Order too large and every bag looks half empty while you pay for material you never needed. Here is how the measurements work and which stock sizes are available across the ranges at Fast Printed Bags.
How paper bag sizes are measured
Nearly every UK supplier quotes three figures in millimetres, in this order:
- Width - straight across the front panel, from one side crease to the other.
- Depth - also called the gusset. How far the bag opens out from front to back when stood up and filled.
- Height - from the base to the top edge. Handles sit above this and are not counted.
Two things catch people out. First, height excludes the handles, so a bag listed as 310mm tall stands taller than that once twist handles are added. Second, stand-up pouches use a different convention, quoting width x height x depth, because a pouch is designed to be seen on a shelf rather than carried. Always check the order of the figures before comparing two options.
Why the gusset matters more than people expect
Width and height are easy to picture, so most people size a bag on those two numbers alone. The gusset is what decides whether a boxed candle, a folded jumper or a pair of shoes will actually drop in. A tall, wide bag with a narrow 80mm gusset is ideal for flat items such as prints, cards or clothing, but it will fight you the moment you load anything bulky. If your products are three-dimensional, treat depth as your first filter, not your last.
Working out the right size for what you sell
A few minutes with a tape measure saves a great deal of money. Work through it in this order:
- Measure your bulkiest regular item, not your average one. Packaging has to work for the awkward order as well as the easy one.
- Add 20mm to 30mm to each dimension for tissue paper, a card, a receipt, and the room a customer needs to lift the item back out.
- Think in baskets, not units. If a typical order is two or three items, size for the basket.
- Consider two sizes rather than one. A small everyday bag plus one larger bag is usually cheaper and looks far better than a single compromise size.
- Order a printed sample first. A bag in your hand answers questions a spec sheet never will.
UK paper bag sizes at a glance
The ranges below are stock sizes, which is what keeps lead times short and unit prices sensible.
Twist handle carrier bags
Twist handle paper carrier bags come in 190mm x 80mm x 210mm, 240mm x 110mm x 310mm and 320mm x 140mm x 420mm. The smallest suits jewellery, cosmetics, confectionery and small gifts. The middle size is the classic boutique bag and handles most till-point purchases. The largest takes clothing, homeware and multi-item orders. A premium twist handle range adds 200mm x 80mm x 240mm, 185mm x 80mm x 240mm and 220mm x 100mm x 330mm for retailers wanting a heavier feel.
Tape handle carrier bags
Tape handle bags are available in 218mm x 120mm x 270mm, 254mm x 140mm x 295mm and 305mm x 127mm x 406mm. Notice how much deeper those gussets run compared with twist handle bags of similar width. That extra depth makes them the better choice for takeaway containers, deli orders, books and anything with genuine bulk.
General use and wine bottle bags
Handle-free general use paper bags run 150mm x 65mm x 305mm, 175mm x 115mm x 345mm, 215mm x 90mm x 385mm and 260mm x 130mm x 405mm, making them the workhorses for bakeries, greengrocers, market stalls and pharmacies. The wine bottle bag is a single purpose-built size, 110mm x 85mm x 360mm, cut to hold a standard bottle upright without rattling.
Paper mailing bags and pouches
Despatch is a different problem, because the bag has to protect the contents and fit the courier's size bands. Standard duty paper mailing bags come in 190mm x 60mm x 300mm, 250mm x 60mm x 353mm, 260mm x 70mm x 410mm and 300mm x 80mm x 430mm, while heavy duty versions step up to 225mm x 75mm x 425mm, 330mm x 100mm x 485mm and 420mm x 215mm x 775mm. Since postage is priced on dimensions as well as weight, read our guide to mailing bag sizes for Royal Mail before committing. Paper stand-up pouches are listed as width x height x depth: 120mm x 200mm x 80mm, 160mm x 230mm x 90mm and 190mm x 260mm x 100mm, and are usually chosen by fill weight rather than product dimensions.
How size affects your printed design
Bag size and artwork are not separate decisions. Fast Printed Bags prints onto pre-manufactured stock bags in defined print areas, with a design on the front panel and optionally a matching one on the back, so the printable area changes with the bag you pick. A logo that looks confident on a 190mm wide bag can look lost on a 320mm one.
Three habits help:
- Check the print area for your chosen size and colour before finalising artwork. The personalisation information page sets out exactly what is printable.
- Remember that printing is full-colour CMYK water-based inkjet with no white ink, so white in your design shows as the bare kraft or white paper underneath. On brown kraft, colours read warmer and more muted than they do on screen.
- Supply files correctly sized. Our guide to preparing print-ready artwork walks through formats, resolution and colour.
Three sizing mistakes worth avoiding
- Buying one size to cover everything. A single mid-size bag rarely flatters small purchases or copes with large ones.
- Ignoring the gusset. Depth decides whether something fits. Width and height only decide how it looks once it does.
- Sizing from a photograph. Product images are not to scale, so measure or order a sample before a full run.
Frequently asked questions
How are paper bag sizes measured?
Paper carrier bags and mailing bags are measured as width x depth x height in millimetres. Width is across the front panel, depth is the gusset from front to back, and height runs from the base to the top edge, excluding handles. Stand-up pouches are the exception and are usually quoted as width x height x depth.
What size paper bag is best for clothing?
For folded garments, a bag around 240mm x 110mm x 310mm handles a single shirt or knit, while 320mm x 140mm x 420mm suits coats, bulkier knitwear or multiple items. Clothing is soft and compressible, so width and height matter more here than a deep gusset.
Does a bigger paper bag cost more to print?
Larger bags use more material, so the unit price is higher. Choosing front and back printing rather than a single panel will usually affect your total more noticeably than a modest step up in bag size.
Do I have to charge 10p for a paper carrier bag?
In England the mandatory charge applies to single-use carrier bags that are plastic and 70 microns thick or less, so paper carrier bags fall outside it. The rules differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check the position where you trade. See the Defra guidance on carrier bag charges for retailers, and our article on paper versus plastic carrier bags.
Can I order a bespoke bag size?
No. Fast Printed Bags prints onto pre-manufactured stock bags, which is what keeps prices low and turnaround fast. Bespoke sizes, shapes and die-cuts are not available, so pick the closest stock size and order a sample to confirm the fit.
How many sizes should a small shop stock?
Two is the usual sweet spot: a small bag for single items and impulse purchases, and a larger one for multi-item orders and gifts. A third only tends to pay off once you regularly sell something the other two cannot handle, such as bottles or oversized homeware.
Ready to order the right size?
Once you know your dimensions the rest is straightforward. Browse the full range of custom printed paper carrier bags to compare stock sizes side by side, or order a sample first if you would rather hold the bag before committing. Fast Printed Bags prints full-colour designs onto kraft and white stock bags with quick UK turnaround.