Die-cut handle bags are the workhorse of retail packaging: a flat polyethylene bag with a punched-out handle, printed with your logo and strong enough to carry a boxed pair of shoes, a bottle of wine or a stack of folded clothing. They are cheaper than paper bags, lighter to ship and easier to print in solid brand colours.
When you brief a factory, three choices decide how the bag looks, feels and performs: the film (LDPE or HDPE), the thickness and the finish. This guide walks through each one so your first production run matches what you had in mind.
LDPE vs. HDPE: What Is the Difference?
Both are polyethylene, but the resin structure gives them very different personalities.
- LDPE (low-density polyethylene) is soft, glossy and slightly stretchy. It has a smooth, premium hand feel, prints with rich, saturated colours and resists punctures well because it stretches before it tears. Most boutique, fashion and gift bags are LDPE.
- HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is stiffer, crisper and more opaque, with the familiar “rustling” feel of a supermarket carrier bag. It is stronger per micron than LDPE, so an HDPE bag can be thinner and still carry the same load. Its surface is less glossy, so prints look flatter.
| Property | LDPE | HDPE |
|---|---|---|
| Hand feel | Soft, smooth | Crisp, rustling |
| Surface | Glossy or matte | Semi-matte, slightly waxy |
| Print quality | Excellent, deep colours | Good, flatter colours |
| Strength at same thickness | Good, stretches before tearing | Higher tensile strength, tears once nicked |
| Typical use | Boutiques, fashion, gifts, events | Grocery, pharmacy, high-volume retail |
Rule of thumb: if the bag is part of the brand experience, choose LDPE. If the bag is a low-cost carrier that must simply hold weight, choose HDPE. Many brands use LDPE for their main shopping bag and HDPE for back-of-house or promotional giveaways.
Choosing the Thickness
Film thickness is quoted in millimetres (mm) or microns (1 mm = 1,000 microns). We produce die-cut handle bags from 0.01 mm up to 0.2 mm. For retail, these ranges work well:
- 0.03–0.04 mm (30–40 µm): light carriers for pharmacies, bakeries and small purchases. Usually HDPE.
- 0.05–0.06 mm (50–60 µm): the most common choice for apparel and boutique bags. LDPE at this thickness feels substantial without being heavy.
- 0.08–0.10 mm (80–100 µm): premium bags for shoes, cosmetics, wine or larger loads. The bag stands up on its own and has a luxury weight.
- 0.12 mm and above: heavy-duty reusable bags, often with a reinforced or folded handle.
Two things to keep in mind. First, thickness drives cost more than any other factor, because you are paying for resin by weight. Going from 0.05 mm to 0.08 mm increases the material in the bag by 60%. Second, many countries now set a minimum thickness for plastic carrier bags (for example 50 µm in several EU member states and Australian states), so check the rules in your target market before you fix the spec.
Handle Options
- Standard die-cut handle: an oval punched through the top of the bag. Simple and economical.
- Reinforced (patch) handle: an extra strip of film is welded around the handle before punching. This roughly doubles the carrying strength and is the right choice for 0.05 mm bags that will carry more than 2–3 kg.
- Folded (turnover) handle: the top edge is folded over and sealed, giving a thicker, more comfortable grip. Common on premium boutique bags.
Finish and Colour
Finish is set at the film-extrusion stage, so decide it before you print.
- Glossy: the natural look of LDPE. Colours pop, and the bag looks bright under store lighting.
- Matte: a matting agent or a matte varnish gives a soft, non-reflective surface that hides fingerprints. Popular with fashion and cosmetics brands.
- Frosted: a translucent, lightly textured film that shows the product as a silhouette. Works well with a single-colour logo.
- Opaque / coloured film: the whole bag is pigmented in your brand colour (black, white, navy, kraft-brown and so on) so you only need to print the logo. Milky white is a popular, low-cost option that hides the contents.
For printing, we use up to 10 colours with Pantone matching. Solid colour blocks and metallic (gold or silver) logos on black LDPE are a strong combination for luxury retail. See our guide on digital vs. gravure printing if you need many designs or short runs for a seasonal campaign.
Eco-Friendly Choices
Die-cut handle bags are naturally mono-material polyethylene, which makes them easy to recycle where PE film collection exists. You can go further with:
- Recycled content: 30–80% PCR (post-consumer recycled) LDPE or HDPE. The film may be slightly greyer, so dark or pigmented bags work best.
- Compostable film: PLA/PBAT blends that meet EN 13432 or ASTM D6400. These are softer than LDPE and suit lighter loads.
- Reusable design: a thicker bag (0.1 mm or more) with a reinforced handle that customers will keep, which is also how many bag regulations define “reusable”.
Quick Spec Checklist
Send these details to your supplier and you will get an accurate quote on the first reply:
- Bag size: width x height, plus bottom gusset if any
- Film: LDPE or HDPE, and recycled or compostable if required
- Thickness in mm or microns
- Handle type: standard, reinforced or folded
- Finish and film colour
- Print: number of colours, one or two sides, Pantone references
- Quantity per design and total
- Destination country (for regulations and shipping)
FAQ
Which is stronger, LDPE or HDPE?
HDPE has higher tensile strength at the same thickness, so it carries more weight, but it tears quickly once nicked. LDPE stretches before it tears and resists punctures better. For a premium bag that must survive sharp corners on a box, a thicker LDPE bag is usually the safer choice.
What is the minimum order quantity?
5,000 pcs per design. We work with brands, retailers and wholesalers who order in volume, which is how we keep factory-direct pricing and consistent print quality.
Can I print on both sides?
Yes. Two-sided printing with the same or different artwork is standard. Most brands put the logo on both sides so the bag reads correctly from any angle.
How long does production take?
Typical production is 15 to 25 days after artwork approval, then sea or air freight to your warehouse.
Custom Die-Cut Handle Bags From Heyi Custom Bags
We extrude, print and convert custom printed die-cut handle bags, milky white PE die-cut handle bags and die-cut handle shopping bags in our own factories in Dongguan, China and Haiphong, Vietnam. Tell us your size, film, thickness and quantity and we will quote within one working day. Request a custom handle bag quote.