Custom Handleless / SOS Paper Bags
from $0.60 / unitStarting price per unit, shipping included. Your price depends on quantity, size, material and finishes, and drops as quantity grows. The final price comes with your quote, and it includes shipping.
Handleless paper bags feature a simple open-top design with a flat base, making them easy to fill, carry, and store. Commonly used for food takeaway, groceries, bakery items, and lightweight retail products.
- Custom sizes
- Free design support
- Low minimums
Request a Quote
Tell us what you need. No payment, no obligation.
Quick specs
- Sizes
- Custom sizes and handle styles
- Minimum order
- 500 units
- Material
- White (SBS) or brown kraft paper
- Thickness
- 200–300gsm
- Printing
- CMYK or Pantone
- Coating
- Varnish (water-based) or lamination
- Finishes
- Matte, glossy, satin or soft touch; foil stamping, embossing or debossing and spot UV available
- Delivery
- 5–7 working days, plus 4–5 working days for delivery; larger or more complex orders can take longer
- Design support
- Free design support, proofing and 3D preview
Details
Tell us the size, quantity and print requirements for your SOS paper bags, and we will send you a quote.
MOQ from 500 units
Custom Sizes
Tell us the size you need and we will quote it.
Design Support
Free artwork and design assistance are included with your quote.
Fast Quotes
We reply to quote requests within 1 business day.
About SOS Paper Bags
Handleless paper bags feature a simple open-top design with a flat base, making them easy to fill, carry, and store. Commonly used for food takeaway, groceries, bakery items, and lightweight retail products.
When to Choose SOS Paper Bags
An SOS bag has an open top, a flat base and no handles. It is the simplest paper bag, quick to fill and quick to store, and it is the bag most often used for food that is handed over the counter. With no handle to buy and fit it sits at the low end of the cost scale, and the whole face of the bag is free for your artwork.
Choose an SOS bag when speed and simplicity matter: bakery items, sandwiches, groceries and light retail goods. Choose a handled style instead when customers will walk some distance with the bag or when the bag is part of a premium purchase. Choose it over a die cut handle bag when you want an uninterrupted print area across the top of the bag.
What to Look for in SOS Paper Bags
- Size against the product. Measure the longest item you will put in, such as a loaf or a baguette, and size the bag for it. An SOS bag is usually folded over at the top, so allow some height.
- Food contact. If the bag will hold food, tell us what it is, and whether it is dry, warm or oily. We advise on paper and coating options and confirm what we can document.
- Paper weight. The standard thickness is 200-300gsm. Heavier food items point to the thicker end.
- Flat base. The flat base lets the bag stand open on a counter. Confirm the base size for the product you pack.
- Speed at the counter. Bags that open easily save time. If your team packs many bags a day, ask for a sample.
Where SOS Paper Bags Are Used
- Bakeries. Bread, pastries and cookies.
- Takeaway food. Sandwiches, snacks and light meals.
- Groceries and delis. Dry goods and produce.
- Coffee shops. Pastries to take away.
- Light retail. Small goods that need a simple carrier.
Artwork and Printing Tips
- With no handles, the whole front and back can carry design. A repeating pattern hides small placement differences from bag to bag.
- Brown kraft prints in black or white only, which suits a bold one-color logo. For full color choose white paper.
- Keep any text away from the top fold and the bottom fold.
- Use the side gusset for the shop name or website.
- For food bags, ask about a varnish coating to help protect the print, and tell us the product so we can advise.
Materials and Printing
Bag Materials
Standard paper thickness for custom paper bags ranges from 200-300gsm. Recycled stock options are available on request.
White
High-quality printing results from using Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS) paper.
Brown Kraft
Unbleached brown paper, best suited to black or white printing.
Printing
Choose the color system that suits your artwork and brand.
| CMYK | CMYK stands as the most common and budget-friendly color scheme in printing. |
|---|---|
| Pantone | Prints brand colors accurately and is a step up from CMYK. |
How Custom Handleless / SOS Paper Bags Compares with Other Paper Bag Styles
Not sure this is the right style? Here is what sets the other styles apart.
- Paper Bag with Rope Handles
Rope handle paper bags offer durability and can carry heavier items, making them a top choice for various retail applications.
- Paper Bag with Ribbon Handles
These paper bags have ribbon handles and suit lightweight, high-end products.
- Twisted Handle Paper Bag
Made entirely from paper with twisted handles, these carrier bags are paper-only and suit light items such as food, clothing and gifts.
- Die Cut Handle Paper Bag
Paper bags featuring a die-cut handle. Used for retail packaging, promotional items, and giveaways. However, their handles can hold limited weight, best suited for lighter items.
- Flat Handle Paper Bag
Flat handle paper bags feature sturdy paper handles that fold neatly against the bag. They are a practical choice for takeaway food, retail products, clothing, and everyday shopping.
How Ordering Works
- 1
Share Your Requirements
Send us your required or product dimensions, preferred style, required quantity, delivery location, and artwork.
- 2
Review Your Quote
We will prepare pricing based on the selected size, material, printing, finishing, and quantity.
- 3
Approve Dieline & Artwork
Review the layout and artwork before production begins.
- 4
Production and Delivery
After approval, your order moves into production and is shipped to your specified location.
We reply to quote requests within 1 business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are SOS paper bags?
Handleless paper bags feature a simple open-top design with a flat base, making them easy to fill, carry, and store. Commonly used for food takeaway, groceries, bakery items, and lightweight retail products.
What is the minimum order quantity for SOS paper bags?
The minimum order quantity for SOS paper bags at PacksDo is 500 units. The price per unit falls as the quantity grows.
How much do SOS paper bags cost?
Pricing starts from $0.60 per unit, and prices and quotes include shipping. Your price depends on quantity, size, material, printing and finishes, and falls as quantity grows. Request a quote for your project.
How long does it take to get SOS paper bags?
Production at PacksDo usually takes 5–7 working days. It starts once your artwork is approved and payment is received. Larger or more complex orders can take longer, and we confirm the date in your quote. Delivery usually takes another 4–5 working days, depending on the carrier and your location, so a typical order arrives in about 2 weeks and larger orders take longer. See the turnaround guide.
What does SOS mean on a paper bag?
SOS is the trade name for a self-opening sack: a paper bag with a flat base and an open top that stays open for filling. It comes without handles.
Can SOS bags be used for hot or greasy food?
It depends on the food. Tell us what you will put in the bag, and whether it is hot, oily or damp, and we advise on paper and coating options and confirm what we can document with your quote.
Do SOS paper bags stand up on their own?
The flat base lets the bag stand open on a counter, which is why it is quick to fill. How well it stands once packed depends on the size and the weight of the contents.
Ready to start your packaging project?
We reply within 1 business day, and quotes include shipping.
+1 (312) 910-5253Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM CT