Custom Paper Gift Bags for Gift Shops and Bakeries

What are paper gift bags, and how are they different?

A paper gift bag is a small or medium handled bag meant for something given away. It is smaller and more decorative than a shopping bag.

The bag often replaces wrapping paper. A customer drops the present in, adds tissue and hands it over without tape or scissors.

Most gift bags carry rope or ribbon handles rather than twisted paper. Those handles look neater when the bag is set down at a party.

Which shops order printed gift bags?

Gift shops, card stores and bakeries order the most gift bags from us. Florists, toy stores, chocolatiers and museum shops follow close behind.

Bakeries often order gift bags to match their cake and cupcake boxes. The bag, box and sticker then all share one design.

• Bakeries pairing a bag with a printed cupcake or cake box
• Gift shops offering free gift bags at the register
• Card and stationery stores selling bags by the piece
• Chocolatiers and candy stores packing boxed assortments
• Toy stores handing over birthday presents

What size gift bag should a shop keep at the counter?

Most shops need two sizes, not five. A small bag covers cards, jewelry and single treats, and a medium bag covers boxed items.

Look at the ten items you sell most as gifts. Measure the largest of those, then pick the size that fits it with room for tissue on top.

If you sell in boxes, size the bag to the box. A box that fits snugly sits straight and keeps the bag square.

Coated paper or kraft for gift bags?

Coated art paper gives smooth, bright print and takes lamination. It suits pastel bakery designs, bold patterns and full-color artwork.

Kraft gives a warm, handmade look with one or two print colors. It suits farm shops, craft stores and plant-filled florists.

If you are not sure, see how a logo changes on each in our kraft and white paper bag guide. White kraft sits between the two.

Printing a gift bag to match your boxes

If you already have printed boxes, send us a photo or a sample along with the artwork. We match the bag print to it on the proof.

Pastel colors on coated paper need a careful match, since small shifts show. Give us a Pantone number where you have one.

A simple pattern repeated across the bag often looks better than one large logo. It still reads as your shop when the bag is half hidden by tissue. Think of the pink cupcake bag in our photo: one line drawing, one color, and it matches the box beside it.

• Use the same logo lockup as your boxes and stickers.
• Pick one main color and one accent, not a rainbow.
• Print both sides so the logo shows however the bag is held.
• Leave the top two inches clear for handles and tissue.

Can I order seasonal gift bags?

Yes. Many shops run a short seasonal design next to their everyday bag. Valentine's, Easter, Mother's Day, Halloween and graduation are popular.

Order seasonal bags early, because a proof round plus 4–6 business days of production takes time. Allow at least three weeks before the date.

Keep the seasonal run small. Leftover bags with a date or theme are harder to use later than plain logo bags.

Handles on gift bags: rope or ribbon?

Rope handles keep their shape and hold heavier gifts, such as a candle or a mug. They are the safe everyday choice.

Ribbon looks softer and suits jewelry, beauty and bridal gifts. It also costs a little more to fit.

For heavier boxed gifts, rope with a card base is the sturdier pair. Our paper bag handle types guide compares every handle we make.

Packing a gift bag neatly

Keep a stack of folded tissue by the register so staff can wrap a gift in under a minute. A short how-to card taped under the counter helps new staff do it the same way.

1. Open the bag fully and press the base flat.
2. Lay one sheet of tissue across the bottom.
3. Place the gift upright in the middle.
4. Fold two sheets of tissue into points and tuck them in at the sides.
5. Check the logo faces out before handing it over.

Mistakes shops make with gift bags

None of these are expensive to fix if you catch them before you approve the proof.

• Ordering one large size, so small gifts rattle around inside.
• Choosing light paper for heavy gifts like mugs or jars.
• Printing a sale date or season on bags meant to last all year.
• Matching the bag to a screen color instead of the real box.
• Forgetting tissue, so the gift is on show to everyone.

How many gift bags does a small shop go through?

It depends on how many of your sales are gifts. A bakery might bag one order in five, while a gift shop bags almost every sale.

Count a normal week of gift purchases, then multiply by the months you want the order to last. Add extra for busy weeks around Valentine's, Mother's Day and graduation.

Small sizes usually run out first, because cards and small treats are your most common gift buys. Order a larger share of the small size.

Store the cartons flat in a dry back room. Bags kept near a damp floor or a sunny window can warp or fade before you use them.

Ordering printed gift bags

List your sizes, paper, handle type and quantity for each. Attach your logo and a photo of any boxes you want to match.

Pricing comes back in writing, starting at $0.30 each, and the design proof costs nothing. After you approve it, bags are made and sent with tracking.

Have a question first? Most first-time buyers ask about sizes or tissue. Our help center for paper bag orders answers the common ones.