Takeaway Bag Sizes: Complete Guide for Food Businesses

The takeaway bag is the last thing your kitchen touches and the first thing your customer sees. It is simultaneously a practical carrier, a branding surface, and a signal of quality. Yet many food businesses treat bag selection as an afterthought, grabbing whatever is cheapest or whatever the supplier has in stock. The result is bags that tear under the weight of food containers, bags that are comically oversized for a single sandwich, or bags that stain through with grease before the customer reaches home.

This guide covers every standard takeaway bag size in the Indian market, explains the measurement system, and recommends the right size for different food orders and business types.

How Takeaway Bags Are Measured

Takeaway bags are measured by three dimensions: width (W), depth/gusset (D), and height (H). Width is the face of the bag, depth is how far the bag extends when opened (also called the gusset), and height is measured from the bottom to the top of the bag, excluding handles.

These dimensions are typically expressed in inches in the Indian market, though centimetres are used by some manufacturers. The standard format is W x D x H (e.g., 8 x 4 x 10 inches). Some suppliers list dimensions as W x H x D, so always confirm the order with your supplier to avoid confusion.

Flat Paper Bag Sizes

Flat paper bags (no gusset) are used for simple items that do not need much depth: sandwiches, wraps, burgers, bread, and dry snacks. They are the most economical bag option.

Size (W x H inches)	Size (W x H cm)	Best For
5 x 7	12.7 x 17.8	Single samosa, cookies, small snack items
6 x 9	15.2 x 22.9	Sandwiches, wraps, pastries
7 x 10	17.8 x 25.4	Burgers, rolls, shawarma
8 x 12	20.3 x 30.5	Large sandwiches, sub rolls, bread
10 x 14	25.4 x 35.6	Multiple items, bread loaves, bakery items

Gusseted Paper Bag Sizes (Without Handles)

Gusseted bags have a fold on each side that allows the bag to expand, creating depth. This makes them suitable for carrying containers, boxes, and bulkier food items. These bags without handles are typically folded closed at the top.

Size (W x D x H inches)	Size (W x D x H cm)	Capacity	Best For
5 x 3 x 9	12.7 x 7.6 x 22.9	1-2 small items	Bakery items, single pastry, small snack box
6 x 4 x 10	15.2 x 10.2 x 25.4	1 container	Single food container, chai and snack combo
8 x 5 x 12	20.3 x 12.7 x 30.5	2-3 containers	Standard single-meal takeaway
10 x 6 x 14	25.4 x 15.2 x 35.6	3-4 containers	Meal for 2, combo orders
12 x 7 x 16	30.5 x 17.8 x 40.6	4-6 containers	Family meals, large orders

Paper Bags with Handles

Handle bags are the preferred format for restaurant takeaway because they are easy for customers to carry. Two handle types are common: twisted paper handles (more rustic, stronger) and flat paper handles (sleeker, less robust).

Size Category	Dimensions (W x D x H inches)	cm Equivalent	Weight Capacity	Best For
Small	7 x 4 x 9	17.8 x 10.2 x 22.9	Up to 1 kg	Single snack, beverages, small orders
Medium	8 x 5 x 10	20.3 x 12.7 x 25.4	Up to 2 kg	Standard single-meal takeaway
Large	10 x 6 x 12	25.4 x 15.2 x 30.5	Up to 3 kg	Meals for 2, combo meals, multiple items
Extra Large	12 x 7 x 14	30.5 x 17.8 x 35.6	Up to 4 kg	Family orders, party food, bulk takeaway
Jumbo	14 x 8 x 16	35.6 x 20.3 x 40.6	Up to 5 kg	Catering orders, large party packs

Kraft Paper Bags: The Premium Choice

Kraft bags have become the default choice for quality-conscious restaurants and cafes. Made from unbleached kraft paper, they offer a natural, premium look and are stronger than standard white or brown paper bags of the same weight. The brown kraft aesthetic signals eco-consciousness, which resonates with urban Indian consumers.

Kraft bags are available in the same size range as standard paper bags. The key difference is the paper weight (GSM). Standard kraft bags for food use are 80-120 GSM. For heavier loads (meals with multiple containers), 120-150 GSM bags are recommended.

Kraft Bag GSM	Best For	Weight Capacity
80 GSM	Light items: pastries, sandwiches, dry snacks	Up to 1 kg
100 GSM	Standard takeaway: 1-2 food containers	Up to 2.5 kg
120 GSM	Heavy meals: multiple containers, beverages	Up to 4 kg
150 GSM	Premium / heavy orders: catering, party packs	Up to 6 kg

Choosing the Right Bag Size for Your Business

Quick Service Restaurants (QSR)

QSR chains typically standardise on 2-3 bag sizes to cover their entire menu. A small bag (7 x 4 x 9) handles individual burgers and snack combos. A medium bag (8 x 5 x 10) covers standard meal deals. A large bag (10 x 6 x 12) handles family buckets and party orders. This three-size approach simplifies inventory and training while covering all order types.

Indian Restaurants and Dhabas

Indian food takeaway is characterised by multiple containers per order (rice, curry, dal, bread, sides). The medium to large bag range (8 x 5 x 12 to 12 x 7 x 16) handles most orders. A common mistake is using bags that are too small, forcing staff to cram containers in and risk them toppling over. It is better to size up slightly and have the containers sit comfortably.

Bakeries and Sweet Shops

Bakeries have diverse needs. Small flat bags work for individual pastries and cookies. Medium gusseted bags handle cake boxes and multiple pastry purchases. For cake boxes specifically, the bag needs to be sized so the box sits flat on the bottom without tilting. For mithai shops, see our sweet box packaging guide.

Cloud Kitchens

Most cloud kitchens rely on delivery platform riders who have their own bags, so a customer-facing bag is often unnecessary. However, some cloud kitchens use a simple kraft bag as an outer wrapper to keep containers together and add branding. A medium gusseted bag (8 x 5 x 12) covers most single-meal orders.

Non-Woven and Fabric Bags

While not disposable, non-woven polypropylene bags are increasingly used by restaurants for premium takeaway and repeat customers. They are reusable, washable, and serve as a long-term branding tool since customers reuse them for shopping and storage.

Size	Dimensions (W x D x H)	Best For
Small	10 x 5 x 10 inch	Small orders, gift bags, branded giveaways
Medium	12 x 6 x 12 inch	Standard meal orders, restaurant takeaway
Large	14 x 8 x 14 inch	Large orders, catering, premium packaging

Grease Resistance and Food Safety

For any bag that will directly contact food (wraps, burgers placed directly in bags) or carry oily food containers, grease resistance is essential. Standard paper bags will stain through within minutes when exposed to oil, which looks unprofessional and weakens the bag.

Grease-resistant bags use either a food-grade PE coating on the inside surface or are made from naturally grease-resistant kraft paper. The coating adds Rs 0.30-0.50 per bag at wholesale quantities but prevents embarrassing grease stains on your customer's clothes and hands.

Printing and Branding

Takeaway bags are walking advertisements for your restaurant. A branded bag carried down a busy street is seen by hundreds of potential customers. Custom printing options range from a simple one-colour logo stamp (Rs 0.50-1.00 extra per bag) to full-colour printing (Rs 2-5 extra per bag). Even the most budget-conscious restaurants should consider at least a stamp with their name and phone number. For comprehensive branding strategies, see our food packaging branding guide.

Cost Comparison by Size and Type

Bag Type	Small (per piece)	Medium (per piece)	Large (per piece)
Flat paper bag	Rs 0.50-0.80	Rs 0.80-1.20	Rs 1.20-1.80
Gusseted paper bag (no handle)	Rs 1.00-1.50	Rs 1.50-2.50	Rs 2.50-4.00
Paper bag with handles	Rs 2.00-3.50	Rs 3.50-5.50	Rs 5.50-8.00
Kraft bag with handles	Rs 3.00-5.00	Rs 5.00-7.50	Rs 7.50-11.00
Non-woven bag (reusable)	Rs 8-12	Rs 12-18	Rs 18-25

Prices are for wholesale quantities (500+ pieces). Contact Success Marketing for exact pricing on your required sizes and quantities.