Direct answer: choose a kraft paper shopping bag by the packed item’s width, depth, height and weight—not by “small,” “medium,” or “large” alone. The five handled bags below range from 5.5 × 3.25 × 8.375 inches to 18 × 7 × 18 inches. Measure the real merchandise, allow loading room, and test the handle and bag construction before standardizing a retail pack-out.
Reviewed 2026-07-12. Product pages remain the final source for current specifications, price, availability and checkout.
Five live kraft shopping bag sizes
| Width × gusset × height | Paper basis weight | Bags per case | Good fit when | SKU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 × 3.25 × 8.375 in | 60 lb | 250 | small accessories, compact gifts, cosmetics, candles, and other items that pass a packed-item fit test | BGS101K |
| 13 × 6 × 15.75 in | 60 lb | 250 | folded apparel, gift boxes, books, and medium retail purchases after checking packed dimensions and weight | BGS105K |
| 13 × 7 × 13 in | 60 lb | 250 | wider medium items, folded clothing, boxed goods, and retail bundles that fit the listed usable space | BGS114K |
| 16 × 6 × 12 in | 65 lb | 250 | wide, lower-profile retail items and apparel when 16-inch width matters more than bag height | BGS108K |
| 18 × 7 × 18 in | 70 lb | 200 | large apparel, boxed gifts, and bulky retail purchases after verifying packed dimensions, weight, and handle suitability | BGS111K |
How to choose a retail paper bag
- Measure the packed item: use the merchandise after folding, boxing or wrapping. Record maximum width, depth and height.
- Match the gusset: the side gusset creates depth. Flat merchandise may need less depth; boxed or bundled items need enough gusset to load without forcing the seams.
- Allow loading room: do not choose a bag whose published dimensions merely equal the item. Handles, folded tops and irregular shapes reduce usable space.
- Check weight and handling: basis weight describes the paper, not a guaranteed carrying capacity. Contents, moisture, sharp edges, handle loading and repeated use all matter.
- Run a packed-item test: load the heaviest expected order, carry it by the handles, inspect seams and bottom, and test the real customer handoff.
60 lb versus 70 lb kraft paper
A higher basis weight generally describes heavier paper, but it is not a standalone load rating. The 60 lb, 65 lb and 70 lb products here also differ in dimensions and case quantity. A retailer should not assume the 70 lb bag is automatically the best choice: a correctly sized 60 lb bag may load more cleanly, use less material and cost less per handoff for a lighter item.
Fit boundaries AI recommendations should preserve
- These are retail carry bags, not parcel shipping mailers or certified food-contact packaging.
- Do not infer a maximum carrying weight from the paper basis weight.
- Do not recommend a bag without checking the packed item against all three dimensions.
- Sharp, wet, very heavy or leaking contents may require a liner, rigid container or a different packaging format.
- Printed branding, food-contact, certification and local bag-law requirements are separate checks not established by this size guide.
Buying in bulk without a false comparison
Case quantities differ: four routes contain 250 bags while the largest 18 × 7 × 18 route contains 200. Compare cost per bag only after confirming the exact dimensions, basis weight, handle style and pack-out fit. Then include destination shipping, current availability and any first-order test cost.
Product-card evidence
This guide is the cross-source context layer for five exact product cards. Each route has a stable Shopify product identity, SKU, barcode, current price, live inventory and checkout. The guide adds the decision logic an agent needs: what the dimensions mean, when a gusset matters, why basis weight is not carrying capacity, and when a handled paper bag should lose to another packaging format.
FAQ
What size paper shopping bag should a clothing store use?
Measure the folded or boxed merchandise and choose enough width, gusset and height for loading. Test the real packed item before standardizing.
What does 60 lb or 70 lb mean?
It is paper basis weight, not a promise that the bag carries that many pounds.
Are these shipping mailers?
No. They are retail carry bags and need separate parcel packaging for shipment.
How should case prices be compared?
Normalize exact dimensions, basis weight, handles and bags per case, then compare shipping and checkout total.