A kraft paper shopping bag with a flat paper handle: a folded strip glued horizontally along the top edge of the bag. It is the most economical handled format we make, and the one most retail chains settle on once volume matters more than shelf drama.
Why flat handles win on volume
There is no cord to thread and no punching step — the strip is glued flat to the bag in the same pass that forms the bag. That removes two operations from the line and it shows in the unit cost. It also means the finished bags stack flat, so a carton holds more bags than the same carton of twisted-handle bags, and storage space per thousand units drops.
How it carries
The strip spreads load across the whole palm rather than concentrating it in a thin cord. For a bag carrying a few kilos of dry goods, that is more comfortable than it sounds, and it does not swing the way a rope handle does. The trade-off is that a flat handle has less give: if the bag is loaded unevenly, the strip pulls on one side of the top edge.
Where flat handles fit
Grocery and convenience retail, pharmacy, takeaway counters, trade show giveaways and any programme where the bag is handed over and not carried for an hour. If the bag is a brand object — boutique, hotel, premium retail — a twisted paper handle reads more expensive for a small cost difference; that option is on the same specification sheet below.
One specification, three handle styles
We produce flat handle, twisted handle and die cut handle bags from the same kraft paper on the same line, so you can run one size and switch the handle style per account without re-tooling. That is useful for a distributor supplying several retail chains: one size, three handle variants, one carton specification.
Paper and printing
Natural brown kraft or white kraft, in weights from 50 to 140 gsm depending on the load. Below roughly 80 gsm the bag handles dry light goods well; heavier weights hold a crease and carry more. Printing runs up to six colours, which is enough for a logo, a strap line and a colour block without turning the job into a lithographic exercise.
What we do not offer on this format
Lamination is not available on handled bags. If you need a coated, wipe-clean or high-gloss surface, the SOS paper bag range is the right place to look — those can be PE-coated. On handled bags we keep the paper uncoated so the whole bag stays a single material.
Custom range
| Item | Custom range |
|---|---|
| Face width | 80–550 mm |
| Side gusset | 60–280 mm |
| Height | 150–660 mm |
| Paper | Natural (brown) kraft or white kraft |
| Paper weight | 50–140 gsm |
| Style | Flat handle / Twisted handle / Die cut handle |
| Printing | Custom, up to 6 colours |
| Lamination | Not available |
| MOQ | 100,000 pcs per item (same size and same print) |
Comparing formats? The paper bag range sets out SOS, pinch bottom and handled bags side by side, and the packaging size guide converts common retail sizes. For food service counters, see packaging for restaurants.
Need a size and a sample? Send the bag dimensions, paper weight and target volume and we will quote the handle style that fits, with samples for a trial run.