Printing on Paper Bags: Screen Printing, Flexo or Digital
How to choose a printing technology for paper bags based on quantity and number of colours. Comparison, indicative prices from EUR 0.15/pc and lead times.
In practice, printing on paper bags is done in three ways: screen printing (suitable for 100 to roughly 5,000 pcs, 1–3 base colours), flexography (cost-effective from 5,000–10,000 pcs, 1–4 colours), and digital printing or a digitally printed sticker applied to the bag (from 1 pc, full-colour images). The kraft bag itself starts from EUR 0.15/pc at 100 pcs excl. VAT in our catalogue, with printing costs added separately depending on the number of colours and quantity.
How to choose: three questions before ordering
Before picking a technology, answer three things: how many bags you need, how many colours are in the design, and whether it includes photos or colour gradients. If the design is a logo in one or two colours and the quantity is a few hundred, it will almost always be screen printing. If you need a photo or a full-colour illustration in a small quantity, go digital. If it's about tens of thousands of bags for a retail chain, that's flexography.
The fourth factor is time. Screen printing on ready-made bags usually takes 5–10 business days, flexography with bags made from a roll takes 3–5 weeks, while digitally printed stickers on in-stock kraft bags can be done in 1–3 business days.
Screen printing: the standard for medium runs
In screen printing, a separate screen is made for each colour and the ink is applied to an already glued bag. The colour is opaque, covers brown kraft paper well, and doesn't lose saturation even on a rougher surface. That's exactly why screen printing is the logical choice for a white logo on a brown bag — digital printing on this type of paper can't produce white.
Pros: low price per piece from 250–500 pcs, precise Pantone colours, metallic or matte ink options available. Cons: setup is charged per colour (roughly EUR 25–40 per colour), and fine colour gradients or halftone photos aren't possible.
Flexography: for large runs only
In flexography, printing happens on a paper roll, and only afterwards is the bag made from it. This means the print can run across the entire surface of the bag, including over folds and onto the sides. Making the printing plates (clichés) costs considerably more than screens, so it rarely pays off under 5,000 pcs, but at 20,000–50,000 pcs the price per piece becomes lower than with any other technology.
Expect a longer lead time and bear in mind that production starts from scratch — the bag size, paper weight and handle type are set per order rather than chosen from stock.
Digital printing and stickers: from 1 piece
For small runs and full-colour designs, two routes work. The first is digital printing on a sheet with the bag subsequently made up; this suits special events, but the price per piece is high. The second, more practical option is a full-colour sticker with contour cutting, applied to a standard kraft bag. This way you get a photo or colour gradient from as few as 30–50 bags, with no per-colour setup fee and a lead time of 1–3 business days.
Technology comparison
| Criterion | Screen printing | Flexography | Digital printing / sticker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum quantity | 100–250 pcs | 5,000–10,000 pcs | 1 pc |
| Number of colours | 1–3 (Pantone) | 1–4 | Full-colour CMYK |
| Photos, gradients | No | Limited | Yes |
| Setup | from EUR 25–40/colour | higher, printing plates | none or minimal |
| Lead time | 5–10 business days | 3–5 weeks | 1–3 business days |
| When to choose | logo in 1–2 colours, 250–5,000 pcs | retail chains, 10,000+ | samples, events, small batches |
Prices are indicative, excl. VAT. The exact amount depends on bag size, print area, number of colours and quantity.
Examples from our catalogue
- Paper bag with flat handles 25×11×32 cm – kraft paper 70/80/90 g/m², recyclable, available in 2 colours, suitable for 1–2 colour screen printing; from EUR 0.15/pc at 100 pcs.
- Paper bag with twisted handles 25×11×32 cm – kraft 70/80/90 g/m², 2 colours, twisted handles look more representative in retail; from EUR 0.15/pc at 100 pcs.
- Paper bag with twisted handles 25×15×32 cm – wider base for shoes and boxes, kraft 70/80/90 g/m², screen printing or sticker; from EUR 0.16/pc at 100 pcs.
- Paper bag with flat handles 32×12×40 cm – kraft 80/90 g/m², 2 colours, for A3-format materials and textiles; from EUR 0.21/pc at 100 pcs.
- Paper bag with flat handles 34×20×35 cm – kraft 80/90 g/m², large print area for a logo in screen printing; from EUR 0.25/pc at 100 pcs.
- Paper bag with flat handles 45×16×48 cm – denser kraft 90/100 g/m², suitable for heavier contents and event sets; from EUR 0.28/pc at 100 pcs.
- Paper bag with flat handles 49.5×14×44 cm – kraft 90/100 g/m², the widest format in the catalogue; from EUR 0.29/pc at 100 pcs.
You can view other sizes and other promotional products with a logo in the catalogue.
Artwork requirements
Send your logo in vector format (.ai, .eps, .pdf, .svg), with colours in CMYK or specified as Pantone. Raster images for digital printing need 300 dpi at actual size. For screen printing, allow at least 15–20 mm margin from the bag edges and avoid planning print across the fold line, as the ink can crack there. Before production, we send you an artwork preview with the print area and size for approval by e-mail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does printing on paper bags cost?
A bag starts from EUR 0.15/pc at 100 pcs excl. VAT, with printing added separately. For single-colour screen printing, allow for setup from EUR 25–40 per colour plus the price per piece, which drops as the quantity increases. We provide the exact amount in a quote based on size and number of colours.
Can a white logo be printed on a brown kraft bag?
Yes, with screen printing or flexography — these apply white ink opaquely. Digital printing cannot print white, so in that case a white bag or a white sticker is used instead.
What is the minimum order quantity?
For screen printing, the practical minimum is 100–250 pcs; for flexography, 5,000 pcs and up. With digitally printed stickers, we can even print as few as 10 or 30 bags.
How long does production take?
The sticker solution takes 1–3 business days, screen printing on ready-made bags usually 6–10 business days, and flexography with bag manufacturing 3–5 weeks. Urgent jobs are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Are the bags recyclable?
Yes, the kraft bags in our catalogue at 70–100 g/m² are recyclable. Screen printing ink doesn't hinder recycling; if a fully clean paper stream matters to you, avoid lamination.
Can a custom size be ordered?
Yes, but only with production from scratch, which means a quantity from roughly 3,000–5,000 pcs and a longer lead time. For smaller volumes, it's more cost-effective to choose the nearest standard size.
Send us your logo, desired size and quantity to info@attaprint.lv, call us, or message us on WhatsApp at +371 25776699 — we'll prepare a quote with the price, print area and lead time within one business day.
FAQ
How much does printing on paper bags cost?
A bag starts from EUR 0.15/pc at 100 pcs excl. VAT, with printing added separately. For single-colour screen printing, allow for setup from EUR 25–40 per colour plus the price per piece, which drops as the quantity increases. We provide the exact amount in a quote based on size and number of colours.
Can a white logo be printed on a brown kraft bag?
Yes, with screen printing or flexography — these apply white ink opaquely. Digital printing cannot print white, so in that case a white bag or a white sticker is used instead.
What is the minimum order quantity?
For screen printing, the practical minimum is 100–250 pcs; for flexography, 5,000 pcs and up. With digitally printed stickers, we can even print as few as 10 or 30 bags.
How long does production take?
The sticker solution takes 1–3 business days, screen printing on ready-made bags usually 6–10 business days, and flexography with bag manufacturing 3–5 weeks. Urgent jobs are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Are the bags recyclable?
Yes, the kraft bags in our catalogue at 70–100 g/m² are recyclable. Screen printing ink doesn't hinder recycling; if a fully clean paper stream matters to you, avoid lamination.
Can a custom size be ordered?
Yes, but only with production from scratch, which means a quantity from roughly 3,000–5,000 pcs and a longer lead time. For smaller volumes, it's more cost-effective to choose the nearest standard size.
