Custom Kraft Bread Bags with a Square Bottom

What is a bread bag?

A bread bag is a tall paper bag built around one loaf. The square bottom sits flat on a shelf, and the gusset matches the width of the bread.

Unlike a counter bag that stays open, a bread bag is meant to be closed. The top folds down once or twice and a sticker holds it.

Craft bakeries, sandwich bread makers, grocery bakery sections and home bakers selling online all order them. They suit any loaf that leaves the shop wrapped, not just carried.

Which bread bag size fits a sliced sandwich loaf?

A standard sliced loaf usually fits a bag around 6 × 4 × 14 inches. That leaves enough paper above the bread to fold the top twice.

Measure the loaf as it comes out of the slicer, not the pan. Slices fan out a little and add width.

If you sell several loaf shapes, match each one to a size before you ask for a quote. This table shows how bakeries usually split them.

Why the square bottom matters

The square bottom lets the bag stand on a rack while staff load it. It also keeps the loaf upright in the customer's shopping bag.

A flat bag pinches a loaf at the base and squashes soft crumb. A square bottom spreads the weight across the whole floor of the bag.

For round boules, the gusset does most of the work. Ask for a gusset close to the boule's diameter so it does not bulge the side panels.

Square bottoms also stack neatly in a display basket. Five loaves standing in a row look far better than five lying on their sides.

How do you close a paper bread bag?

Fold the top down once, crease it, then fold again. Hold it with a round sticker, a strip of tape or a printed label across the fold.

A printed sticker doubles as a seal and a price or flavor label. It also shows whether a bag has been opened on the shelf.

Prefer a twist closure the customer can reopen? Our tin tie bags for resealing carry a metal strip at the top.

Kraft paper and weight for bread

Brown kraft is the classic bread bag paper. It looks right with crusty bread and hides crumbs and flour.

For most loaves we suggest around 70–90 gsm. Heavier sourdough and rye may want the upper end, while soft sandwich bread is fine lower down.

These figures are a starting point, not a load rating. Share the weight of your biggest loaf and the quote will propose a paper for it.

If you want a lighter look for brioche or milk bread, white kraft is an option. It shows bright ink colors but marks more easily.

Printing a bread bag

A tall bread bag gives you four print panels. Most bakeries put the name on the front and use the gussets for the loaf type or ingredients.

Keep important text out of the top three inches. That paper folds over and hides anything printed there.

One-color print in brown or black ink suits kraft and keeps costs down. Bands, wheat patterns and full color are possible when you want a fuller look.

Bagging tips from the bakery floor

• Let loaves cool fully before bagging, or condensation will soften the crust and the paper.
• Load the bag on its square bottom so the loaf slides down straight.
• Fold the top away from the printed front so your logo stays visible.
• Put the seal sticker in the same spot every time for a neat shelf.
• Keep sliced loaves and crusty loaves in different sizes so staff never cram one in.

Mistakes to avoid with bread bags

Ordering a bag that is the exact height of the loaf is the big one. With no room to fold, the top stays open and the bread dries.

Another is choosing a gusset narrower than the loaf. The side panels bulge, the print stretches, and the seams carry the strain.

Finally, some bakeries print a long story on the front. On a shelf, people read the name and the loaf type, so put those first.

Skipping a test fit causes most reorders. Ask for the proof to show the bag size beside your loaf dimensions and check them against a real loaf.

Can bread bags work for online and delivery orders?

Yes, and the folded top matters even more here. A sealed bag stops the loaf from sliding out inside a delivery box.

Put the bagged loaf on its square bottom in the carton. Packed upright, the crust does not get crushed by other items.

If you ship bread with jars or spreads, bag the bread separately. Glass corners tear paper faster than anything else in a box.

A sticker with the bake date on the fold helps customers who buy several loaves at once. They eat the oldest first and complain less.

Paper bread bags for wholesale and grocery shelves

If your loaves sell through cafés or grocery stores, the bag is your shelf label. A clear loaf name on the gusset helps stock clerks sort them.

Many wholesale bakers use one bag size with a different sticker color for each loaf. That keeps print costs on one design.

You can compare other shelf-ready styles in our full bakery and café bag range.

How to order printed bread bags

Pricing begins at $0.30 per unit, with the final figure set out in writing before you approve anything. Send your loaf sizes through our bread bag quote request form.

1. Measure each loaf you sell: width, depth and height.
2. Add room for the folded top and pick a paper weight.
3. Upload your logo, or preview it first in Design Your Bag.
4. Check and approve the free design proof.
5. Production takes 4–6 business days, and tracked delivery takes 2–3 business days after that.