What Is the Takeout Paper Bag Size? Ultimate Guide
People are becoming much busier so they prefer takeout and food deliveries to cope up with their routine. They also want to get their food fresh and safely packed. Additionally, if the food is packed neatly, it enhances its worth. For the perfect packaging, the brands can’t ignore the size of the takeout paper bag. It's not just a small detail, but using the small bag can lead to disaster. This can lead to food squished, containers tipping over, or items sliding around during transportation. On the other hand, the right-sized bag not only delivers the food safely but also portrays the professionalism of the brand.
EZ Custom Boxes understand the importance of the perfect size for the Paper bags. They knew that this packaging is not just the packaging to hold the food but to deliver the food fresh and safe and also create a positive image of the brand.
Why Bag Size Is So Important
Just imagine a single muffin in a big bag or a family meal in a small bag when items do not fit in the package. It will make the customers unsatisfied. The size of the package matters.
The Right Size Paper Bag:
- Shows that the brand care.
- Give the neat look of the item inside
- Protect the food from falling out or swimming inside in the bag
- Easy to carry
- No wastage of material
- Give a professional look.
- Reduce mess during delivery
Moreover, the perfect size saves time for the staff and also makes the customers happy.
Standard Sizes of Takeout Paper Bags

There are different sizes of custom paper bags. The most common sizes include:
- Small (5” x 3” x 8”): these bags are light and compact and best to use to carry a sandwich, muffin, cookies, or any small snack or items.
- Medium (8” x 4.75” x 10.25”): this size can be used in cafes or restaurants for single orders or smaller combos.
- Large (10” x 5” x 13”): full meal combos or beverages, groceries can be easily fit inside these bags. These are roomy and strong for bigger orders.
- Jumbo (12” x 7” x 17”): craft with thicker paper with strong handles and has a large capacity to carry the catering trays, groceries or family-sized orders.
Other than these standard sizes, we also let the customers choose the custom sizes that match their exact needs, including height, width and weight capacity.
Who Uses Which Size? Industry Examples

Different types of food and retail businesses need different paper bag sizes. Here’s how they break down:
Business Type |
Preferred Bag Sizes |
Use Cases |
---|---|---|
Bakeries & Coffee Shops |
Small |
Muffins, cookies, pastries |
Gourmet & Fine Dining |
Medium, |
High-end meals, soup + entrée packs |
Catering Services |
Jumbo |
Trays, group orders, salads |
Meal Kit & Grocery Brands |
Large, Jumbo, Custom |
Meal ingredients, fresh + frozen items |
Understanding which size fits which purpose improves operations and reduces the risk of over-packing or under-protecting food.
Formula To Measure The Right Paper Bag
To get the perfect packaging for the product, it is compulsory to measure the product size. Here is the simple formula to calculate the size of the product.
Width x Depth x Height = Internal dimensions of the bag.
- Width = front of the bag
- Depth (Gusset) = side fold (how wide the bag opens)
- Height = how tall the bag stands
Example: If your f box is 8 x 5 x 4 inches, a Large-size bag (around 9 x 5.5 x 11.25 inches) is a perfect fit.
How Much Space Should You Leave in a Takeout Bag?
There should be 1-2 inches of extra space around your box, which avoids tearing the bag. Hot items in the box may damage the bad. A bit of space also helps to add any napkins or utensils. A fitted bag also does not give a professional look.
Do Gussets Make a Difference in Bag Size?
Gussets are the folds of material on the sides or bottom of the paper bag. This also impacts the size of the bag. It expands and adds more volume to the bag. While taking measurements gusset depth also has to be checked.
Example: A bag with a 4-inch gusset can fit more containers than one with a 2-inch gusset.
Can You Order a Custom Bag Size for Your Business?
Partnership with Custom Boxes can helps you to get the custom bags for the product. You can get Bags with more width for large trays, short height bags for small boxes or even tall and narrow bags for bottles. For getting the perfect size you just need the right measurements.
How To Make Sure If a Size Is Right Before Ordering in Bulk?
Before placing a large order, you must go for the following offers:
- Get a free consultation
- Get Digital mock-ups
- Get sample
Operational Benefits of Choosing the Right Size
The perfect size of the packaging not only looks professional but it also benefits for the business itself.
Business Benefits:
- The perfect size of bags does not require much time to pack the orders.
- Don’t utilize much space, thus saving extra shipping costs.
- Easy to manage inventory.
- Make a good impression on the customers, and customers will give positive reviews.
- Don’t damage the product inside.
Using the right size means better service, smoother operations, and fewer packaging headaches.
Get the Perfect Takeout Bag Size with EZ Custom Boxes
When designing the packaging, no detail can be ignored. The size of the packaging matters a lot in keeping the product safe and even in making the brand’s image. By choosing the standard sizes of paper bags wholesale or creating custom paper bags help everything run more smoothly. Using the perfect size, the right material, and not ignoring the sustainability makes the planet safe and customers happy.
Ready to Make a Smart Packaging Choice? Choose EZ Custom Boxes that offer you fully customized takeout paper bags according to your requirements. Make your customers happy and satisfied. Contact us today and start designing your perfect takeout paper bag! Which makes your customer say “WOW”