Paper Bags with Logo Ireland: A Guide for Retailers, Cafés & Food Businesses

Q: What is the difference between twisted handle and flat handle paper bags?

Twisted handle paper bags have rope-style handles twisted from paper, giving a premium, gift-like feel. Flat handle bags have a wider, die-cut paper handle that is more economical and practical for food and retail. SOS bags have no handle — they are gusseted bags used primarily as takeaway carry bags.

Q: Can I get paper bags printed with my logo in Ireland?

Yes. PrintNPack prints custom paper bags with logos across Ireland, including twisted handle, flat handle, and SOS grab bags. We offer full-colour printing with fast nationwide delivery.

Every time a customer walks out of your shop, café, or takeaway carrying your bag, they become a mobile advertisement. A branded paper bag with your logo travels through shopping centres, across car parks, and into offices — reaching an audience your social media budget never will.

Yet many Irish businesses either skip branding entirely (plain brown bags) or overspend on the wrong bag style for their use case. This guide covers every type of custom paper bag available in Ireland, what each is best for, and how to get the best value per unit when ordering wholesale.

The Three Main Types of Paper Bags for Irish Businesses

1. Twisted Handle Paper Bags

Twisted handles are made from paper rope, looped through punched holes near the top of the bag. They have a premium, gift-like feel that makes them popular with boutiques, fashion retailers, delicatessens, and independent food brands.

Best for: retail boutiques, gift shops, premium food brands, restaurant collection orders, corporate gifting.

Branded paper bag Ireland – white twisted handle bag printed

Custom twisted handle bags Ireland – close-up of rope handle

2. Flat Handle Paper Bags

Flat handles are die-cut directly from the bag's paper. They are more practical and slightly more economical than twisted handles, with a clean, modern appearance. The wide handle distributes weight better for heavier items.

Best for: cafés, delis, bakeries, pharmacies, medium-weight retail items, event merchandise.

Custom flat handle paper bags Dublin – branded deli bag

3. SOS Grab Bags (Takeaway Carry Bags)

SOS bags (Self Opening Satchel) are gusseted paper bags with a flat base — the workhorse of the Irish food and takeaway industry. They have no handle but are designed to stand upright and carry multiple food containers securely. Available in brown kraft and white.

Best for: takeaways, chippers, pizza restaurants, catering suppliers, high-volume food service.

SOS grab bags Ireland – kraft paper takeaway bags wholesale

SOS paper bags wholesale Ireland – food service bags bulk

Choosing the Right Paper Bag: Quick Comparison

Type	Handle	Ideal Use	Relative Cost
Twisted handle	Rope paper handle	Premium retail & gifting	Higher
Flat handle	Die-cut paper loop	Café, deli, mid-range retail	Medium
SOS grab bag	No handle	Takeaway, food service	Lowest
Brown twisted	Rope paper handle	Eco-aesthetic brands & delis	Medium–Higher

Print Options for Custom Paper Bags in Ireland

1-colour flexo print

Your logo or text in a single colour, printed directly onto kraft or white paper. The most economical option for high-volume SOS bags and flat handle bags. Crisp and clean for simple logos.

2-colour flexo print

Two spot colours — typically your primary brand colour plus black or a second tone. Works beautifully for most logos and keeps cost per unit low on larger runs.

Full-colour (CMYK) print

For complex logos, photographic imagery, or multi-colour brand designs. Higher setup cost but produces rich, premium results. Most commonly used on twisted handle bags for retail.

Paper Weight: What GSM Should Your Bag Be?

Paper bag weight is measured in gsm (grams per square metre). The right weight depends on what you are carrying:

70–90gsmLightweight: suited for leaflets-in-bag, light dry goods, low-cost SOS bags.
100–120gsmStandard: the most common weight for Irish food and retail bags. Handles most café and deli orders comfortably.
140–160gsmHeavyweight: for heavier retail items, bottles, or any application where bag failure would be costly or embarrassing.

Getting the Best Wholesale Price on Paper Bags in Ireland

→Order in bulk where you can. Per-unit cost drops significantly between 500 and 5,000 bags. If you have storage space, a larger run will almost always pay for itself.
→Simplify your design for high-volume bags. A 1-colour logo on an SOS bag costs a fraction of a full-colour print. Reserve premium print for your retail bags — where presentation matters most.
→Standardise bag sizes. Running two or three standard sizes rather than multiple bespoke dimensions keeps stock management simple and reduces reorder costs.
→Plan ahead for peak periods. Christmas, Valentine's, and summer events see strong demand. Ordering 6–8 weeks in advance avoids rush charges and stock-outs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum order for custom paper bags in Ireland?

PrintNPack offers low minimum order quantities on custom printed paper bags in Ireland, making it accessible for small businesses and startups. Contact us for current MOQs on each bag style.

What is the difference between twisted handle and flat handle paper bags?

Twisted handle bags have rope-style paper handles for a premium, gift-like feel. Flat handle bags have a die-cut paper loop — more practical and slightly more economical. SOS bags have no handle and are the standard for takeaway food service.

Can I get paper bags printed with my logo in Ireland?

Yes. PrintNPack prints custom paper bags with logos across all of Ireland — twisted handle, flat handle, and SOS grab bags — with full-colour printing and fast nationwide delivery.