Pouch type
Stand-Up Pouches
A stand-up pouch is a flexible bag with a folded bottom gusset that opens out so the pouch stands unaided on a shelf. It is the format most retail food and supplement brands reach for, because it gives you a flat printable front panel, a stable base, and the option of a resealable zip along the top seal.
Sizes typically run from around 100 × 150mm for sample packs up to 250 × 350mm for 1kg retail fills, with the gusset depth scaled to the fill volume. You can specify a hang hole for peg display, a one-way degassing valve for freshly roasted coffee, or a tear notch above the zip so the pouch opens cleanly without scissors. Every finish is printed before conversion, so artwork can run edge to edge across the front, back and gusset.
Best for
- Retail shelf display where the pack has to stand up on its own
- Resealable formats — coffee, granola, protein powder, dog treats
- Fill weights from 50g up to around 2kg
- Brands that want the whole pack surface printed, gusset included
Materials that suit this format
Kraft Paper Pouches
Natural brown paper outer with a barrier liner. Reads as artisan, recyclable stream available.
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Matte White Pouches
Clean matte substrate that holds fine type and flat colour without glare.
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Metallic Foil Pouches
Highest barrier and the strongest shelf presence under retail lighting.
Learn more →Who packs in this format
Stand-Up Pouches — common questions
- What is the smallest stand-up pouch you can print?
- Around 80 × 130mm with a shallow gusset is the practical floor for a stand-up pouch — below that the base is too small to hold the pack upright when filled. For anything smaller, a flat pouch or sachet is the better format.
- Can I add a zip and a valve to the same pouch?
- Yes. A zip on the top seal and a one-way degassing valve on the front or back panel are applied at different points in conversion, so they do not conflict. This combination is standard for retail coffee.
- How much does a stand-up pouch hold?
- Fill volume depends on width, height and gusset depth together, not height alone. As a rough guide, 180 × 260mm with a 60mm gusset holds about 500g of ground coffee or 250g of granola. Tell us the product and target fill weight and we will size it for you.
- Do stand-up pouches need a minimum order?
- Yes, but it is lower than most people expect. Digital print runs usually start from a few hundred units per design, and the exact figure depends on the size and any finishing. Put your rough quantity into the spec builder and we will confirm the minimum for your job.