Quietly, paper bags have reclaimed control. Visit any store, bakery, or small business now, and you’ll find your purchase encased in paper rather than plastic. That change resulted from producers learning how to create paper bags that truly work—strong enough for heavy loads, grease-resistant enough for food, and printable enough to bear a brand. It wasn't by chance.
However, a paper bag can serve many purposes. Both paper bags are flat glassine bags for croissants and double-ply kraft bags for computers. They have next to nothing else in common.
To help you locate the appropriate paper bag without guessing, this guide explains every significant kind by material, design, handle type, and industry application.
What is a paper bag?
Though the weight, coating, construction, and handle type define what it can truly contain and how it holds up, a paper bag is any bag that is mostly made from paper pulp. Use the wrong kind, and you get wet bread permeating the bottom of a thin flat bag, or a premium candle rattling about inside a basic SOS bag with no tissue room.
Getting this choice right is important for three reasons: brand, customer experience, and product protection. Before anyone even opens it, the bag type establishes the mood.
Types of paper bags by material
Kraft paper bags
Made from wood pulp using the kraft process — stronger than most alternatives at the same thickness. Brown unbleached kraft is standard for grocery, hardware, and industrial use. White kraft takes print better but loses a little strength. Weight capacity is determined by GSM: 70 GSM suits light retail, 120 GSM or higher handles 5–8 kg.
White and coated paper bags
Bleached kraft or clay-coated stock. The clay coating gives a smooth surface that makes colours pop — used for luxury retail bags with full-bleed print or gloss finishes. Trade-off: coatings can complicate recycling.
Recycled paper bags
Made from post-consumer fibre. Quality is now comparable to virgin pulp for most retail use. Colour is slightly grey or speckled, which some brands use intentionally as part of a sustainability message.
Greaseproof and wax-coated bags
Have a lining or coating that resists moisture and oil — used heavily in food packaging. The downside is recyclability; wax coatings can't be separated from paper fibre in most municipal recycling programs.
Types of paper bags by structure
This is where the real decisions happen. The bag's structure determines how it opens, stands, closes, and carries.
Flat bags
The simplest form. A flat bag is a single folded sheet sealed on two sides, open at the top. No gusset, no base, no handle. They're inexpensive to produce and work for small, lightweight items: sandwiches, receipts, small retail items, e-commerce packing slips.
They don't stand upright on their own, which limits their use in food service where you need the bag to sit on a counter.
SOS bags (square open square / self-opening satchel)
The SOS bag is the standard grocery bag shape. It has a flat rectangular base that lets it stand upright on its own — that's the key feature. Fill it, set it on the counter, and it stays open while you pack it.
SOS bags are used across grocery, coffee, dry goods, and takeaway. Most of the brown paper bags you've filled with produce at a supermarket are SOS bags.
Pinch bottom bags
Bottom-pinched bags have a tapered, envelope-style fold for their seal. These are better for dry goods when you don't want crumbs escaping, as the seal is stronger than an SOS base. They are also used in bakeries and for packing coffee, sugar, and flour.
Many pinch-bottom bags include an inside foil or greaseproof coating for moisture management.
D-cut bags
A D-cut bag has a die-cut handle punched directly into the top of the bag — a D-shaped opening in the paper itself. There's no separate handle attached; the bag's top edge is the handle.
These are the standard bags at fast food restaurants and QSR (quick service restaurants). They're fast to open, require no assembly, and hold up well for hot food packaging. The handle distributes weight across a wider area of the bag than a twisted rope handle would.
V-bottom / wedge bottom bags
V-bottom bags have a triangular (wedge-shaped) seal at the base. When filled, the bottom expands slightly to help the bag stand upright. They're used for gifts, small apparel items, and food pouches.
They're often seen at specialty food markets for items like loose tea, nuts, or spices, because the wedge base gives them a slightly more considered look than a flat or SOS bag.
Satchel / wallet bags
A satchel bag has a fold-over flap at the top that tucks in to close the bag. No adhesive, no handle — just a folded closure. These work well for items that need to be reclosed: pharmacy bags, snack portions, small jewellery items.
Pharmacies use them because they're easy to label on the front and the fold-over keeps contents inside without a seal.
Window bags
Typically a tiny rectangle or square, a window bag has a transparent plastic film covering a clear cutout panel. The window helps the consumer view the product inside without opening the bag.
These are utilized by bakeries for bread loaves, pastries, and cookies. Since consumers can see precisely what they are purchasing, the openness helps to lower returns and raises perceived freshness.
Recycling is made more difficult by the plastic window since the paper and film have to be separated.
Double-layer / two-ply bags
Two sheets of kraft paper bonded together, either with adhesive or by lamination. The result is a bag that can carry significantly more weight than a single-layer equivalent.
Used for books, electronics, hardware, and anything heavy enough to tear through a standard bag. E-commerce brands shipping heavier items often use two-ply mailing bags for this reason.
Mailing bags
Mailing bags are designed for shipping without an outer box. They have a self-adhesive strip that seals the bag shut and a tear strip for the recipient to open it. Most are two-ply for durability in transit.
They're used by e-commerce brands shipping clothing, books, and accessories where a rigid box isn't needed. Kraft mailing bags present well and are generally accepted in kerbside recycling.
Shopping bags with handles
Shopping bags are the category where most custom branding happens. The base bag can be any of the above structures, but the distinguishing feature is a separate handle attached to the bag body. More on handle types in the next section.
These are used across retail, luxury, gifting, and takeaway. The handle style signals the price point almost as much as the bag itself does.
Types of handles on paper bags
The handle type affects how the bag carries, how much weight it holds, and what it communicates about the brand.
Twisted paper handle
A paper rope twisted into a cord and glued through holes punched near the bag's top. These are the most economical handle options. Used on party bags, gift bags, and low-cost retail bags. They hold light loads comfortably but aren't ideal for anything over 2–3 kg.
Flat paper handle (Euro tote)
A strip of paper folded flat and fixed to the bag. More comfy to carry, the flat handle distributes weight more evenly than a twisted cable. In fashion stores, bookshops, and economy gifting, Euro tote bags with flat handles are usually available.
Ribbon handle
Usually made of satin or grosgrain, a ribbon runs through the bag and is tied on the inside. Though they have a soft, opulent feel and seem classy, ribbon handles are not meant for big loads. Used for gift bags, chocolate boxes, and light luxury retail.
Cotton rope handle
A braided cotton cord attached through grommets. Feels substantial in the hand, holds heavier loads than ribbon, and reads as premium. Used on boutique retail bags and gifts where the bag itself is part of the packaging experience.
Cord handle (nylon or polyester)
Made from synthetic fiber like cotton rope. More reliable and consistent, just somewhat less luxury-feeling. Mid-range food packaging and retail applications where the handle must resist frequent handling call for it.
Twill fabric handle
A flat woven fabric strap, similar to a tote bag handle. Very strong, comfortable over the shoulder, and associated with upscale boutiques and premium gifting. Often seen on high-end fashion retail bags where the bag might be reused by the customer.
Paper bags by industry
Food and beverage: SOS bags for grocery, greaseproof bags for hot food, pinch bottom bags for dry goods, D-cut bags for fast food takeaway. The primary requirement here is food safety — grease resistance, moisture resistance, and no chemical migration from the paper to the food.
For coffee, craft food brands often use pinch bottom or V-bottom bags with a one-way degassing valve and an inner foil lining.
Retail and fashion: Euro tote with flat or ribbon handle is standard. Custom printing is the main driver here — the bag is marketing as much as it's packaging. White coated paper takes the best print. Brown kraft reads as artisanal or sustainable.
Bakery: Window bags for display items, pinch bottom or flat bags with a greaseproof lining for croissants and pastries, wax bags for bread. The problem in bakery packaging is to balance moisture control (keeping bread from growing stale) with grease resistance (preventing oil from soaking through).
E-commerce and shipping: Mailing bags and double-layer kraft bags. The requirements are different from retail: durability in transit, easy opening for the customer, and ideally recyclable at the curb.
Gifting and events: Party bags with twisted handles, Euro totes, V-bottom bags for small items, ribbon-handle bags for premium gifts. These bags often get reused by the recipient, so presentation matters throughout the bag, not just the front face.
Pharmaceutical: Satchel bags (for the fold-over closure that keeps contents inside) and D-cut bags for dispensing counters. Labelling surface is important in this category — the bag needs a flat front panel with enough area for prescription information.
Also read:- Difference Between Brown vs White Kraft Paper Bags
How to choose the right type of paper bag
Consider product weight
Lightweight items under 2 kg work fine with 70–90 GSM single-ply bags and a twisted or flat paper handle. Heavy-duty items — books, electronics, bottled goods — need 120 GSM or higher, ideally two-ply, with a cotton rope or reinforced flat handle. Twisted paper handles are only reliable up to about 2–3 kg; beyond that, upgrade the handle.
Choose the right material
Kraft paper will suit all purposes – durable, printable, and highly recyclable. Recycled paper would be a great substitute where environmental concerns have to be taken into account in a particular retail brand. In terms of print quality, laminated paper is the best choice, although difficult to recycle.
Select the correct size
Small bags (up to 20 × 10 × 25 cm) for jewellery, cosmetics, and single food items. Medium (up to 30 × 15 × 35 cm) for clothing, general retail, and takeaway. Large for grocery, books, and multi-item purchases. If the product has an unusual shape, a custom size is worth it — an ill-fitting bag looks cheap and stresses the seams.
Branding requirements
Flexo printing works best for large runs with solid colours. Digital printing suits short runs and complex artwork. Logo placement is typically front and back; flat paper and twill handles can also be printed. Handle type signals price point — twisted paper reads mass-market, cotton rope and ribbon read premium.
Sustainability goals
There are curb-side recyclable and compostable kraft and recycled paper bags without any coating. Usually, in any recycling program, foil-lined and waxed bags cannot be recycled. The plastic windowed bags must be stripped of plastic before they are recycled. Look for FSC-certified paper and ask about the post-consumer content of the bags.
Customisation options
Printing methods
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Flexography — best for large runs, solid colours
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Digital printing — better for short runs, complex artwork
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Screen printing — used for premium retail on smaller quantities
Surface finishes
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Matte lamination
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Gloss lamination
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Soft-touch lamination (velvet texture, popular in luxury retail)
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Note: laminated bags are harder to recycle than unlaminated ones
Custom sizes and colours
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Available from most manufacturers at varying minimum order quantities
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Custom handle colours available to match brand guidelines
Logo placement
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Standard: front and back
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Optional: handle, gussets, or inside of the bag
Conclusion
The right paper bag comes down to four things: what goes inside it, whether there's grease or moisture involved, how much the bag needs to carry, and what you want it to communicate. A twisted-handle kraft SOS bag and a soft-touch Euro tote with cotton rope handles are both paper bags. They're solving completely different problems.
If you're sourcing bags for a specific use case and want to narrow it down further, focus first on structure (what base and closure work for your product), then on material weight (what GSM holds the load), then on handle type (what carries it comfortably), and last on finish (what fits the brand).
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the strongest type of paper bag?
Double-layer (two-ply) kraft bags are the strongest for carrying heavy items. For a single-ply bag, 120 GSM or higher kraft with a cotton rope or twill handle will carry 5–8 kg reliably.
2. Which paper bag is best for food packaging?
For hot food and takeaway: D-cut bags with greaseproof lining. For bakery: pinch bottom or window bags with a greaseproof inner. For grocery: SOS bags. The right answer depends on what the food is and whether it generates moisture or grease.
3. Are paper bags with plastic windows recyclable?
Technically yes, if you remove the plastic film first. In practice, most consumers don't, and many recycling facilities can't separate them automatically, so they end up in landfill. If recyclability is a priority, look for bags using a cellophane window instead — cellophane is compostable.
4. What GSM paper is used for shopping bags?
Retail shopping bags typically use 90–120 GSM paper. Luxury bags with heavy items go up to 150–170 GSM. Lightweight gift bags and party bags use 70–90 GSM.
5. How much weight can paper bags hold?
It varies significantly by structure, paper weight, and handle type. A standard 90 GSM SOS grocery bag handles 4–5 kg. A double-ply kraft mailing bag handles 8–10 kg. A luxury Euro tote with cotton rope handles and 120 GSM paper can carry 6–8 kg comfortably.
