Custom Paper Grocery Bags in Bulk, Printed or Plain

What are paper grocery bags used for?

They are the standard checkout sack in supermarkets, co-ops, butcher shops, delis and farm stands. The cashier shakes one open, sets it on the counter and fills it.

With no handles, shoppers carry them in their arms or set them straight into a cart or trunk. That is why they are tall and wide, with a flat base that stays upright.

Farm stands and markets like them for produce. A leafy bunch of greens sticks out the top without crushing, and the bag still stands on a table.

Delis use them for bigger orders too. Several wrapped sandwiches, a tub of salad and a bottle of soda all fit upright in one sack.

How big is a 1/6 barrel paper grocery bag?

The most common US size is the 1/6 barrel bag, about 12 × 7 × 17 in. It takes a full basket of mixed groceries and fits most car trunks and kitchen counters.

Smaller stores often add a second, shorter bag for quick shops. The narrow #20 size works for a bottle of wine, a loaf and a few cans.

If your counter or bagging well has limited space, measure it before choosing. A bag that will not sit open in your bagging area slows every line. Compare more options in our range of grocery and carryout paper bags.

How to pack a grocery bag so it holds

Most torn bags come from how they were packed, not from the paper. Train your staff on a simple order. It takes a minute to learn and works for every size of sack.

Post the table near each register for new staff. A one-minute talk on the first shift saves a lot of torn bags and replaced eggs.

Aim to fill a bag about three quarters of the way. An overfilled bag is hard to carry in the arms and the top edge tears when lifted.

What paper weight should a grocery bag be?

Grocery bags need a heavier kraft than lunch or bakery bags. We usually quote 90–115 gsm, which is about 55–71 lb basis weight.

Stores selling mostly bottles, canned goods or bulk flour should sit at the top of that range. Produce stands and bakeries can use the lighter end.

These weights help you compare quotes. They are not a promise of what a bag will carry, since packing and moisture matter as much as paper. Our guide to paper weight in gsm and basis weight explains the numbers.

Why a self-opening bottom matters at checkout

The pasted square bottom is what makes these bags fast. A cashier grabs one from the stack, flicks it open, and it stands on its own with the base flat.

That saves a few seconds per bag. Over a busy Saturday, those seconds add up to shorter lines.

Bags arrive bundled flat. Keep a bundle under each register and a full carton in the back so nobody runs out mid-shift.

The flat base also helps in the car. A square-bottom bag stays upright in the trunk, so jars and eggs are less likely to roll out.

Printing your store name on grocery bags

Most grocers print one or two colors on brown kraft. A logo, the store name and a website or phone number are usually enough.

Every bag leaves the store and goes to a home kitchen, where it often gets reused for storage or trash. Your name stays in sight for weeks.

Keep artwork large and simple. Fine detail and small type can soften on kraft fibers, while bold shapes read from across a parking lot.

Some stores print a short message on the back panel, such as opening hours or a weekly market day. It costs nothing extra if you already print that side.

Signs your current grocery bag is not right

Any of these points to the wrong size or weight. Tell us what you see and we will suggest a fix on your quote.

• Bags split at the bottom seam when cashiers load bottles.
• Staff double-bag heavy orders, using twice the stock.
• Bags tip over in the bagging well before they are full.
• Celery and baguettes stick far out of the top.
• Customers ask for a second bag to carry a single load.

Do shoppers need handles on grocery bags?

Not always. Shoppers who drive usually lift the bag into a cart or trunk, so handles go unused.

Walk-in customers, city stores and delivery drivers are different. Handles let a person carry two bags at once and keep a hand free for a door.

Curbside pickup sits in between. Staff load the trunk for the customer, so handle-free sacks work. They just need to stand firm among other bags.

If that sounds like your store, look at our grocery bags with twisted paper handles. Many stores stock both and let the cashier choose.

Mistakes stores make when ordering

The first is under-ordering before a busy season. Grocery bags go fast, so estimate from your daily transactions, not a guess.

The second is choosing a lighter paper to save a little per bag. If staff end up double-bagging, it costs more in the end.

The third is storing cartons in a damp back room. Kraft takes in moisture from the air, and soft bags tear more easily.

The fourth is printing a seasonal message on the full order. Keep the main design timeless and order a smaller seasonal run on top.

How many paper grocery bags should you order?

Count your average daily transactions, then multiply by the bags per order. A store with 300 sales a day at two bags each uses about 600 bags daily.

Multiply by the number of days you want covered and add a margin for busy weekends. Our guide to estimating paper bag quantities has a worked example.

Ordering steps for grocery bags

Printing takes 4–6 business days after you sign off the proof. Your cartons ship with tracking and take 2–3 business days on the road.

Stores in the US, UK, Canada and Australia pay no freight on that delivery. Spot misprinted or damaged bags? Report them with photos within 10 days for a reprint or refund.

1. Pick the 1/6 barrel size or send your own measurements.
2. Choose plain or printed, and the number of ink colors.
3. Send your logo, or preview it on a grocery bag photo in Design Your Bag.
4. Approve the free proof.
5. Receive cartons of flat bundled bags, ready for the registers.