Custom Printed Stand-Up Pouches

Stand-Up Pouches: specifications

Stand-Up Pouches: price breaks

How the estimated unit price of a 6×3.5×9" stand-up pouch in Matte laminated film (PET/PE) changes with quantity. Setup costs are spread over more boxes as the run gets longer, so the per-box price drops sharply in the first few tiers.

Popular sizes for stand-up pouches

Sizes are inside dimensions (length × width × height) in inches. Any custom size is available at no extra cost; these are simply the sizes brands order most.

Material options and how they affect price

Estimated unit price at 1,000 units for a 6×3.5×9" stand-up pouch with full-color printing, by material. Material choice changes look, strength and recyclability as well as cost.

Printing options compared

How the print specification changes the estimated unit price of a 6×3.5×9" stand-up pouch in Matte laminated film (PET/PE). One- and two-color printing carries a small plate charge that matters less as quantities grow; full-color digital and offset printing have no plate charge in our model.

What is a stand-up pouch?

A stand-up pouch (often called a doypack) is a flexible bag with a gusseted bottom that opens into a base so the pouch stands upright on a shelf. It is made from laminated films (and sometimes paper) that create a barrier against moisture, oxygen, light and aroma. Most pouches have a resealable zipper and a tear notch, and many include a hang hole, a degassing valve for coffee, or a clear window.

Stand-up pouches have replaced jars, tins and boxes across food and wellness categories because they are light, protective and easy to brand. Coffee, tea, snacks, granola, candy, pet treats, protein powders, supplements, bath salts, spices and dried fruit are all commonly sold in pouches.

Why choose stand-up pouches

• Shelf presence. They stand upright like a box, with a large front panel.
• Protection. Multi-layer barrier films keep products fresh.
• Light and compact. Lower shipping weight than rigid containers; empty pouches ship flat.
• Convenience. Resealable zippers and tear notches make them easy to use.
• Lower cost than many rigid alternatives at similar quantities.

Pouch features and options

Materials

Pouches are laminates of two to four layers, each doing a job: an outer print layer, a barrier layer and an inner sealant layer.

Barrier needs depend on your product's sensitivity to moisture, oxygen and light, and on its shelf life. Tell us the product and target shelf life, and we will recommend a structure. For food, all materials in contact with the product must be food-grade and meet FDA requirements; we confirm this for your specification.

Printing pouches

• Digital printing for short runs and multiple SKUs (flavors, sizes) with no plate costs.
• Rotogravure or flexographic printing for large runs at the lowest unit cost, with plates or cylinders per color.

Pouches can be printed edge to edge on the front, back and gusset. Many brands use the back panel for nutrition or supplement facts, ingredients, directions and the barcode, and the gusset for a pattern or social handles.

Tip: Clear windows show the product, but they also show any settling and breakage. They work best for products that look good in bulk (granola, nuts, candy).

Sizing stand-up pouches

Pouches are specified by width × height + gusset (bottom depth). On this site we show them as width × gusset × height for our calculators. The right size depends on volume and density, not just weight: 8 oz of popcorn needs far more space than 8 oz of coffee beans.

Typical starting points:

The best way to confirm size is a fill test with a sample pouch; we can send plain stock pouches for testing.

Pricing stand-up pouches

Pouch prices depend on size, material structure, features (zipper, valve, window), print method and quantity. Our minimum is higher than for boxes because of how flexible packaging is produced. The table at the top of this page shows estimates for a 6 × 3.5 × 9 in pouch. A kraft coffee pouch compares like this:

Save on pouches

• Use one size across flavors and print digitally to vary designs.
• Choose the barrier you need, not the highest available.
• Skip the window if it does not help sell the product.
• Order larger runs of your best sellers.

Designing pouches

• Front: brand, product name, flavor, net weight, one strong claim.
• Back: facts panel, ingredients, allergens, directions, barcode, company details.
• Gusset: pattern or social handle.
• Keep artwork clear of seals (the top, side and bottom seal areas) and the zipper line.

Our labeling guide covers what US food and supplement packaging typically needs.

Pouches by industry

• Coffee: kraft or matte pouches with valves. See coffee & tea boxes.
• Snacks and food: gloss pouches with windows. See food boxes.
• Supplements and protein: high-barrier pouches with scoops. See supplement boxes.
• CBD edibles: pouches with compliance panels. See CBD boxes.
• Pet treats: resealable gloss pouches.
• Bath and body: bath salts and scrubs.

Sustainability

Pouches use much less material by weight than rigid containers, which reduces shipping emissions, but most multi-layer laminates are not curbside recyclable. Options to improve:

• Mono-material PE pouches designed for store drop-off recycling where accepted.
• Right-size the pouch to the fill.
• Make honest claims. Describe recyclability exactly as it applies (for example, "Recycle at store drop-off where accepted"), following the FTC Green Guides.

Ordering checklist

• Product, fill weight and density
• Pouch size (or fill target)
• Material and barrier needs
• Features: zipper, valve, window, hang hole, corners
• Print: number of designs and finish
• Labeling requirements
• Quantity per design, delivery ZIP and target date

How stand-up pouches are made

Stand-up pouches are made from laminated films: several layers bonded together, each with a job.

The printed outer film is usually reverse-printed (printed on the inside surface) so the ink is protected between layers. Films are laminated, slit and converted on pouch-making machines that fold the bottom gusset, add zippers and seal the sides.

Barrier levels explained

Choosing barrier correctly protects shelf life without overpaying.

Your shelf-life target, the product's sensitivity to oxygen and moisture, and how it is filled all affect the right structure. We recommend a structure after you tell us the product.

Pouch features in detail

• Press-to-close zipper: resealable after opening
• Tear notches: easy opening at the top
• One-way degassing valve: lets coffee release CO₂ without letting oxygen in
• Hang hole: round or sombrero for peg display
• Window: clear area to show the product (not available on full foil structures without a clear window)
• Rounded corners: a premium look and safer handling
• Spout: for liquids and purees
• Matte, gloss or soft-touch finishes, and spot matte/gloss effects

Filling and sealing

Stand-up pouches are filled through the open top and then heat-sealed above the zipper. Brands can fill:

• By hand with a tabletop impulse sealer for small runs
• With semi-automatic fillers for powders and granules
• On automated pouch machines at scale, using pre-made pouches

Ask your co-packer or filling line which pouch dimensions, zipper positions and seal widths they need.

Pouch sizing

Pouches are specified by width × height × bottom gusset. A pouch's usable volume is less than its dimensions suggest because of the seal areas and the shape when filled. The best way to size a pouch is to fill sample pouches with your product. As a rough guide for coffee: 12 oz of whole beans often fits a pouch around 6.75 × 10 × 3.5 in, but bean density and roast change this.

Designing pouch artwork

• Front panel: brand, product name and key benefit in the upper half, which stays visible when the pouch slumps.
• Back panel: story, directions, required information, barcode.
• Gusset: visible when the pouch stands; a pattern or brand color.
• Seal areas: keep text away from side and top seals and the zipper line.
• Windows: plan the window position relative to how the product settles.
• Required labeling: food and supplements need space for facts panels and ingredients; see the labeling guide.

Worked example: a specialty coffee roaster

A roaster sells 12 oz whole-bean coffee.

1. Structure: high-barrier matte PET/foil/PE with a one-way degassing valve.
2. Size: sized from filled samples to sit neatly at about two-thirds full.
3. Features: zipper, tear notches, rounded corners.
4. Print: digital printing for several origins in one order.
5. Labels: roast date on a small label or stamped in a clear area.

See coffee and tea boxes.

Pouches vs. rigid containers

Brands often weigh a stand-up pouch against a jar, tin, bottle or carton. Pouches use far less material by weight, ship flat to the filler, take less space in trucks and warehouses, and offer a large printable surface. Rigid containers feel more premium, stack neatly, protect fragile contents better and are easier to reuse. Many brands combine them: a pouch as a lower-cost refill and a jar or tin as the first purchase.

How to choose pouch size from your product

Because pouch capacity depends on product density, sizes are best confirmed with real product:

1. Request blank sample pouches in two or three sizes.
2. Fill each with the target weight of product.
3. Check headspace above the product for the zipper and seal (usually at least about 1 in).
4. Stand them up and look at how they sit on a shelf.
5. Pick the size that looks full without straining the gusset.

Stand-up pouches in one paragraph

A stand-up pouch is a laminated flexible bag with a bottom gusset that lets it stand on the shelf, ideal for coffee, snacks, supplements and dry goods. Choose barrier by shelf-life needs, add zippers, valves and tear notches as needed, size from filled samples, use digital printing for several designs in one run, and label recyclability honestly.

A buyer's guide to stand-up pouches

Start with the product, not the pouch. The first questions are about what goes inside. Is it dry, oily, powdery or liquid? Does it lose flavor or crispness when exposed to air? Does light change its color? Does it need to breathe, like fresh coffee releasing carbon dioxide? Those answers decide the barrier structure, and the barrier decides most of the pouch's cost and recyclability. A dried fruit snack eaten within a few weeks needs far less protection than a specialty coffee expected to stay fresh for months.

Decide how customers will use it. A product used once (a single bag of chips) does not need a zipper. A product used over weeks (protein powder, coffee, pet treats) benefits from a press-to-close zipper and a clear tear notch above it. A product poured or scooped benefits from a wide gusset so the pouch stays open and stable. A product sold on pegs needs a hang hole and enough headspace above the zipper.

Think about the shelf. Pouches look their best when they are filled to about two-thirds or more of their height; under-filled pouches slump and look tired. That is why sizing from filled samples matters. On the shelf, the top half of the front panel is the most visible, so put the brand, product name and key benefit there. The bottom gusset is visible when the pouch stands and is a good place for a brand color or pattern.

Choose the finish deliberately. Matte films look modern and photograph without glare. Gloss films make food photography look appetizing. Kraft-paper outer layers signal natural products but print more softly. Spot matte and gloss combinations add contrast without extra materials. Soft-touch films feel premium for supplements and beauty products.

Plan the filling process. Small brands often fill by hand with a scoop and seal with a tabletop impulse sealer; larger brands use co-packers with automatic fillers. Ask your filler which pouch formats, dimensions and seal areas they need before finalizing artwork. A pouch that fits your product but not the filler's machine is an expensive mistake.

Be honest about recyclability. Most multi-layer pouches cannot go in curbside recycling. Mono-material PE pouches may be accepted at store drop-off where programs exist. Label only what is true for your structure, and consider telling customers where to find recycling information on your website.

Order strategically. Digital printing lets you order several designs (flavors, origins, sizes) in one run at modest quantities, which is ideal for launches. As volumes grow and designs settle, longer runs reduce unit cost. Keep a few months of stock and reorder in step with sales.

Ordering timeline

Plan backward from your in-hand date and tell us about deadlines when you request a quote.

Terms to know

• Gusset: The folded bottom panel that lets the pouch stand.
• Laminate: Several films bonded together, each with a job.
• Barrier: How well a material blocks oxygen, moisture, light and aroma.
• Degassing valve: A one-way valve that lets gas out of coffee pouches.
• Reverse printing: Printing on the inside of the outer film so ink is protected.
• Mono-material: A pouch made from one plastic family, designed for recycling where accepted.

Photographing your pouches

Photograph pouches filled to their intended level, standing on a flat surface, slightly from above. Add the product itself in front (beans, granola, powder in a scoop) for context. Matte pouches are easiest to light; gloss pouches need large, soft light sources to avoid glare.

Pouch sizes by product (approximate)

Always confirm with filled samples, because density varies.

Quality checks when your boxes arrive

1. Check seals by pressing filled sample pouches firmly; no leaks or weak seams.
2. Open and close zippers several times.
3. Confirm valves are fitted correctly on coffee pouches.
4. Compare print color and registration with the approved proof.
5. Run a few pouches through your sealing equipment to confirm the seal area works.

Report anything that does not match your approved proof within 7 days of delivery under our reprint guarantee, with photos and your order number.

Who uses stand-up pouches

• Coffee Tea: Whole bean and ground coffee, loose tea
• Food: Snacks, granola and dried fruit
• Supplement: Powders and gummies
• CBD: Gummies and edibles
• Soap: Bath salts and refills
• Retail Packaging: Pet treats and refills

See all industries for packaging recommendations by category.

Related guides

GuideLabeling & compliance (US)What US packaging typically must show for food, cosmetics, dietary supplements and hemp/CBD products: net quantity, ingredients, food contact, Prop 65 and more. GuideSustainable packagingHow to make packaging lower-impact without greenwashing: recyclable paper formats, recycled content, FSC, inks, plastic-free inserts and honest claims. GuidePrinting methods & colorOffset, digital and flexographic printing compared for packaging, plus CMYK vs Pantone, rich black, color matching, proofs and how to avoid color surprises. GuideHow much custom packaging costsRealistic 2026 price ranges for custom mailer, shipping, carton, rigid and pouch packaging, what drives cost, and proven ways to lower your unit price.

What finishes and add-ons cost

Estimated extra cost per unit at 1,000 units when you add one finish to a 6×3.5×9" stand-up pouch (base estimate $0.49). One-time tooling such as foil and embossing dies is already spread across the run in the per-unit figure and listed separately for reference.

How stand-up pouches compare with similar styles

Estimated unit prices at 1,000 units for each style at its most popular size, full-color print, delivered within the contiguous US, so you can weigh stand-up pouches against the alternatives customers often consider.

Learn about these materials

• Matte laminated film (PET/PE)
• Kraft paper / PE pouch
• Recyclable mono-PE film

How to order stand-up pouches

1. 1Request a quote

   Tell us the style, size, quantity and artwork you have. Use the form or the live estimator.

2. 2Free design & dieline

   We send a dieline for your exact size, check your artwork and help with layout at no charge.

3. 3Approve your proof

   Review a digital 3D proof (and an optional physical sample) before anything is printed.

4. 4Production & QC

   Your boxes are printed, finished, die-cut and inspected against the approved proof.

5. 5Delivered to your door

   Shipped flat-packed with tracking to any address in the contiguous US.

Written and reviewed by the CustomPacka Packaging Team · Updated October 21, 2026