Kraft Paper Bags
Kraft paper bags are made from unbleached paper, whose longer fibers carry more load than bleached paper at the same thickness, though the handle attachment is usually the limit. Full CMYK on kraft tends to disappoint against the proof, so one or two colors reads as deliberate. Unbleached paper recycles easily. Most retailers order two or three sizes together on one design.
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Read them on Trustpilot →(opens in a new tab)Four stages, twelve days
Quote confirmed
A specialist checks your spec against the board and comes back with a firm price inside 4 business hours.
Proof approved
You get a flat dieline and a 3D render. Nothing goes to press until you approve it in writing.
On press
Print, die-cut, glue, and fold. You get a press-side photo the day your job runs.
QC and delivery
Every pallet is sampled against the digital proof or physical sample you approved, then shipped with tracking to your dock or 3PL.
If a box doesn't match the digital proof or physical sample you approved, we reprint the run at no charge.
Read the reprint terms →Know exactly what you're ordering.
Kraft Paper Bags for Stores That Want the Paper to Show
Some stores would rather the paper do the talking than the print, and kraft paper bags are made for them. The sheet is unbleached, so the brown you see is the pulp's own color rather than a coat of ink, and it carries a plain, working look that suits refill shops, delis, garden centers and anything sold on a natural or low-waste message. Buyers are usually small retailers and makers who want a printed logo without a printed bag: one mark, lots of bare paper. It's also the bag stores pick when they don't want packaging to look more expensive than the product. If your brand colors are pale or have to match exactly, kraft is the wrong base, and a bleached sheet will serve you better.
Kraft Bag Stock, Handle Types and Sizing Notes
| Attribute | Kraft bag |
|---|---|
| Paper | Unbleached kraft, natural brown |
| Handles | Twisted, flat, rope, ribbon or die-cut |
| Size | Sized to your typical purchase |
| Front, back or both |
The bag is made from unbleached bag paper, with no bleaching step and no added color, so the brown is the material itself. Handle choice follows the purchase. Twisted paper is the default at most retail counters. Rope carries more than twisted paper and feels more substantial, which suits a bag customers will reuse. Ribbon is the boutique option. A die-cut grip works on smaller bags, with no attachment to glue on. Paper weight is set to the load rather than chosen from a list, and the footprint is cut to what you actually sell.
Unbleached Fiber Over a Coated White Sheet
The case for kraft is that nothing has been done to the paper. Bleaching strips out the natural color to give a white surface for ink, and coating adds a smooth face on top. Kraft skips both, and the result looks like what it is. That matters for brands whose whole pitch is less processing: roasters bagging beans at the counter, bulk and refill stores, bakers selling sourdough. A coated white bag would look out of step with the shelf behind it. The trade is print. Kraft holds a bold mark well and fine, many-colored artwork poorly, so if your branding depends on gradients, photography or an exact brand shade, the white bag will do the job and kraft won't.
One- and Two-Color Print That Suits Kraft Paper
Kraft takes ink straight into an absorbent brown surface, so the design rules come down to contrast and line weight. Dark inks such as black, deep green or navy read clearly against the brown, while pale inks and pastels sink into it and nearly vanish. Line weight needs a little extra, because ink spreads slightly into the fiber and fine strokes thicken or fill in, which is where the muddy look on small type comes from. Bare paper is part of the design, so leave space around the mark rather than filling the panel. The bag bends at its side folds and base every time it opens, so keep solid ink off those creases. What we'd skip: a full flood of color, which buries the paper you chose kraft for.
Kraft Bags at Farm Shops, Delis and Refill Stores
Kraft bags do most of their work in food and natural retail. Delis and farm shops are the core users, handing over cheese, bread and jarred goods with a single stamped-style logo on the front. Brands running deli and farm-shop food ranges often put the same mark on kraft cartons, so bag and box match on the shelf and on the way home. Refill and zero-waste stores use them because a white bag would contradict the message. Garden centers and florists use them for seed packets, small tools and wrapped bunches. Bookshops and stationers pick them for the plain look. Where kraft is a poor fit: anything wet or oily, which will mark the paper.
Kraft Bag Lead Times, Minimums and Proof Sign-Off
Kraft runs start at 100 bags. Send your logo and a description of what customers usually carry out, and we'll come back with a size, handle and paper weight to match, plus a proof for sign-off. Design help is free and unlimited. Production takes 8–12 business days from approval. If you need bags for a fixed opening date, rush is possible at an extra cost we'll quote before you commit. Shipping is in the price, and every run passes a three-stage check before it leaves. When you review the proof, judge the ink against brown rather than white: a color that looks right on a screen can drop back noticeably once it's on the bag.
One connected process, start to finish.
Structural Design
Dieline drafted to your exact fit and freight tolerances.
Proof & Sample
Sign off on a digital proof, or request a physical sample.
Tooling
Dies and plates are cut for your job and archived on file.
Production
Print, die-cut, and assembly run under in-line quality checks.
Ship & Reorder
Freight goes out, and the cycle resets for your next run.
Steady process. Powerful results.
Like everything we build, our process is engineered to hold up — no shortcuts, no surprises. Five dependable stages that run the same way every single time, so reorders are just as fast as the first order.
- One dedicated teamFrom first sketch to final freight, the same people carry your order start to finish.
- Dies archived on fileReorders skip tooling and re-setup entirely — we already have your exact spec.
- Checked against your sign-offEvery run is inspected against the digital proof or physical sample you approved.
Set up your file once, correctly
Nine in ten delayed jobs are delayed by artwork, not production. Match these four rules and your proof lands the next morning.
- Bleed1/8 in (3 mm) past every cut line
- Safe ZoneKeep text 1/4 in clear of every crease
- ColourCMYK or named Pantone. No RGB.
- Resolution300 dpi at final size, fonts outlined
No print-ready file?
Send a logo and a rough idea. Our studio builds the production file free with any order over 500 units — you keep the source file either way.
Ask the StudioBackground art must run all the way to the outer bleed edge. Anything inside the white dashed line survives fold tolerance.
What brands say about this box
They live there rather than here, where we can't edit them, delete them, or pick which ones you get to see. That is exactly what makes them worth reading.
Read all reviews on Trustpilot(opens in a new tab)Answers before you have to ask.
What weight can a kraft bag carry?
That depends on the paper weight and the handle type rather than a single figure. Kraft is strong for its weight, but the handle attachment is usually the limit. Tell us your typical load and we'll spec to it.
Can kraft bags take full-color printing?
They can, though the unbleached base mutes it. Most kraft bags use one or two colors, which reads as deliberate rather than compromised. Full CMYK on kraft usually disappoints against the proof.
Is kraft the strongest paper option?
For its weight, generally yes. Unbleached fibers are longer and stronger than bleached ones, which is why kraft carries more load at the same thickness. Bleaching costs some strength.
What's the turnaround on kraft paper bags?
Around 8–12 business days from proof approval. Rush is available at an added cost stated before you order, and shipping comes included rather than added later.
Can I order kraft bags in several sizes?
Yes, and most retailers need two or three. Running them together shares setup while keeping one printed design across the range, which looks more deliberate than mismatched bags.