Kraft Paper Bags: Sizes & Uses for Cafes

Brown kraft paper has become the default look of the modern UK cafe: natural, recyclable and instantly more premium than plastic. But kraft bags come in a confusing spread of sizes and formats, from flat counter bags to jumbo handled carriers, and buying the wrong mix means either burst bags or wasted money on oversized stock. This guide breaks down the main types and when to use each.

Flat Kraft Bags for the Counter

Flat brown kraft bags are the everyday format for over-the-counter sales. A 7 x 7 inch brown kraft bag takes a cookie, a simit or a small pastry; the 8.5 x 8.5 inch size fits a sandwich or a couple of borek; and the 10 x 10 inch kraft paper bag handles baguettes and larger baked goods. For loaves, boxed cakes and multi-item purchases, step up to 12 x 12 inch, and keep 13 x 14 or 14 x 18 inch brown kraft bags on hand for trays and bulky items. A sensible starting mix for a small bakery is roughly 40 percent small, 40 percent medium and 20 percent large.

When You Need a Greaseproof Lining

Plain kraft absorbs oil, so anything buttery or fried belongs in a greaseproof paper bag instead. The 6 x 6 inch greaseproof bag is perfect for warm borek, pastries and doughnuts, and the range runs from 5 x 5 up to 12 x 12 inch for larger portions. Many cafes use a greaseproof bag inside a kraft bag for hot items: the customer still sees the kraft look, but the grease never shows.

SOS Handle Bags: The Takeaway Standard

SOS bags stand up on their own with a flat base, which makes them ideal for coffee-and-pastry orders and light takeaway meals. Small brown SOS bags with internal flat handles, around 19 x 8 x 25 cm, carry a drink and a snack; the medium size at roughly 220 x 100 x 240 mm, available with internal or external handles, fits a lunch deal or two food containers. External handles look slightly smarter and add carrying strength, which matters once an order passes a kilogram or two.

Jumbo and Printed Carriers for Bigger Orders

For grocery-style orders and multi-meal deliveries, the JXXL 32 jumbo brown SOS bag at 320 x 210 x 260 mm is the size delivery drivers prefer, since one bag per order means fewer trips and fewer spills. If you want branding without the cost of custom print, twisted-handle brown bags with a ready-made ENJOY print in large and jumbo sizes give a finished retail look straight out of the box.

Wholesale Buying Tips for UK Businesses

Kraft bags are sold in packs of roughly 225 to 250, and unit prices fall quickly at case quantity, so audit which sizes actually leave your counter before reordering. Track usage for two weeks, cut the sizes you rarely touch, and consolidate. Turkish Online Market stocks the full kraft range, from flat counter bags to jumbo SOS carriers, alongside its Turkish food catalogue with UK-wide delivery, making it easy for cafes to combine packaging and stock in one order.