A custom togo bag starts with the handoff: what enters, how it is carried, and which panel stays visible. A paper carryout bag, retail shopping bag, reusable tote, and flexible barrier pouch have different handles, gussets, closures, seams, and usable print areas. Write the product orientation and loading motion down before artwork begins.
How should I define the togo bag handoff?
Handle choice changes the top panel and the way the bag hangs in the hand. State the product shape, number of items, orientation, and removal motion. Add the required base, side gussets, fold-over top, handle, zipper, tin tie, or open top. Mark the surface that must stay visible. A panel sketch prevents a logo from landing across a fold or seam.
Which material fits a custom togo bag?
Paper or kraft is the usual starting point for a printed carryout format, while reusable formats need a different surface and body. Non-woven polypropylene is commonly referenced at 80 to 120 gsm, and cotton canvas at 8 to 12 oz. Mylar or foil laminate can use PET, AL, and PE layers for a flexible barrier direction.
| Material direction | Typical industry reference | Best question to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Paper or kraft | Printed carryout or shopping bag | Where do artwork, handles, gussets, and folds sit? |
| Non-woven polypropylene | 80 to 120 gsm | Does the bag need a flexible reusable body? |
| Cotton canvas | 8 to 12 oz | Does the design call for a textile tote surface? |
| Mylar or foil laminate | PET, AL, and PE layers | Is a flexible barrier pouch the actual format? |
Paper gives you printed panels and a familiar carryout shape. Non-woven polypropylene and cotton canvas change the feel, handle attachment, and body behavior. PET, AL, and PE laminates follow a pouch workflow rather than a handled paper-bag workflow. Choose from moisture exposure, product weight, carrying method, print surface, and intended reuse.
Does the bag need a barrier layer?
A barrier layer is a material layer that slows the passage of moisture, air, light, or odor. It belongs in the brief when those exposures matter. A laminated flexible bag, zipper pouch, or tin-tie format has a different construction from an open paper carryout bag. If the bag will touch food, ask us about food-contact options and identify the actual contact surface.
What size convention should I use?
Bag drawings commonly state width x gusset x height, with every value marked as an inside or finished measurement. A stand-up pouch is commonly referenced at about 3 to 7.5 in wide, but that range does not size a handled paper bag. Product orientation, gusset depth, seal, zipper, and top edge decide the usable area. Measure the packed product, not the product listing.
How do handles and closures change the layout?
A die-cut handle removes material from the top panel, while flat, twisted, and textile handles occupy different attachment zones. A tin tie or zipper needs a clear top strip. An open-top bag gives easier access but changes the closure and front-panel relationship. Put the hardware, fold, seam, and handle positions on the dieline before the brand panel is placed.
Which print and finish should show the brand?
Offset CMYK suits detailed paper-bag artwork, while digital printing can suit a short run or an early artwork direction. Matte or gloss lamination changes reflection and surface handling. Spot UV and foil stamping are selected-area treatments, and their placement should be separate from the base artwork. Keep small type, logos, and repeat patterns away from gussets, seams, handles, zippers, and tin ties.
Which catalog pages compare bag formats?
Custom white paper bags show a printed paper carryout direction. Custom shopping bags frame a handled retail handoff. Custom paper lunch bags show an open-top paper format. Custom tin-tie kraft bags add a closure reference for flexible packaging. Each product page is a category reference, so the final bag still needs the packed product dimensions.
What should I send for the bag dieline?
Send the product size, item count, loading direction, width, gusset, height, and inside or finished measurement labels. Add the material direction, handle, folds, seams, top edge, zipper or tin tie, artwork panels, and finish areas. If the bag may touch food, ask us about food-contact options. We draw a free dieline and provide free design support, then send a digital proof before printing.
How do I start a custom togo bag request?
Quotes start at a 100-unit minimum, from $0.49 per unit at volume, quoted to spec. Production is typically 8 to 10 business days after proof approval, plus delivery. Free US shipping applies. The $19.99 sample kit is credited toward the first order. When the material and opening are clear, request a quote through wholesale custom packaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are custom togo bags?
Custom togo bags are carryout or handoff bags specified around the product, carrying method, and visible brand panels. The format can be paper, kraft, non-woven polypropylene, cotton canvas, or flexible laminate. A useful brief names the size, gusset, handle or closure, print coverage, moisture exposure, and intended reuse.
Which materials can I consider for a custom togo bag?
Paper and kraft suit printed carryout panels. Non-woven polypropylene is commonly referenced at 80 to 120 gsm, while cotton canvas is commonly referenced at 8 to 12 oz. Mylar or foil laminate can use PET, AL, and PE layers for a flexible barrier format. Choose from product weight, moisture exposure, contact surface, carrying method, and reuse.
How do gussets affect a togo bag design?
A gusset adds a side or bottom panel, so it changes capacity, folds, and artwork placement. Give width, gusset, and height in a labeled drawing, then mark the handle, seams, top edge, and closure. A stand-up pouch is commonly referenced at 3 to 7.5 in wide, but a handled paper bag needs its own dimensions.
How should I choose a handle or closure?
Choose the handle or closure from the carrying motion and opening you need. Flat, twisted, die-cut, and textile handles use different top-panel areas. Tin ties and zippers need a clear closure zone, while an open top gives direct access. Mark each feature on the dieline so hardware does not cover the front graphic.
What if my togo bag will touch food?
If a custom togo bag may touch food, ask us about food-contact options during the quote. Name the product, contact surface, intended use, closure, and material direction. Those details keep the request specific without treating every paper, kraft, textile, or flexible bag format as suitable for direct contact.
