In short: The price of a custom printed packaging bag is driven by five things: film material and structure, thickness, bag size, the number of print colours and sides, and the order quantity per design. Material and thickness set most of the per-piece cost; printing adds a setup cost that gets cheaper per bag as quantity rises. At Heyi Custom Bags the minimum order is 5,000 pcs per design, which is the point where gravure printing and factory-direct production start to make economic sense for brands and wholesalers.
Buyers often ask for “a price per bag” before the specification is fixed, and then get confused when two quotes for a similar-looking bag differ by 40%. This guide explains what actually moves the number, so you can decide where to spend and where to save before you send a request for quotation.
1. Material and Film Structure
Resin is bought by weight, so the film you choose is the biggest cost lever.
- Single-layer PE (LDPE, HDPE, CPE): the most economical option for zipper bags, die-cut handle bags, poly mailers and flat bags. CPE frosted film costs a little more than clear LDPE.
- PP (BOPP, CPP): stiffer and clearer, used for header bags and self-adhesive bags; priced close to PE.
- Laminated structures (PET/PE, kraft/PE, PET/AL/PE foil): two or three films bonded together for stand-up pouches, coffee bags and spout pouches. Each extra layer adds material and a lamination step, so a foil pouch costs several times a plain PE bag of the same size.
- Eco options: recycled PCR content is usually close to virgin price; compostable PLA/PBAT film is the most expensive film we run, typically two to three times the cost of standard PE.
2. Thickness
Thickness is quoted in millimetres or microns and feeds directly into weight. Going from 0.05 mm to 0.08 mm puts 60% more resin into the bag, and the price moves almost in step. We produce from 0.01 mm to 0.2 mm; the usual ranges are:
| Bag type | Common thickness | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel zipper bags | 0.05–0.08 mm | Soft feel, protects folded garments |
| Die-cut handle bags | 0.05–0.10 mm | Carrying weight, regulatory minimums in some markets |
| Poly mailers | 0.06–0.10 mm | Tear resistance in transit |
| Stand-up pouches | Laminate 90–150 µm total | Barrier and shelf stability |
If you want a lower price without a visible change, thickness is often the first place to look, as long as the bag still does its job.
3. Size and Format
A larger bag uses more film, but format matters too. A flat two-side-seal bag is the cheapest to convert. Adding a bottom gusset, a reinforced or folded handle, a zipper, a slider, a tin-tie, a degassing valve, a hang hole or a spout each adds a component or a machine pass. A stand-up pouch with zipper and valve therefore costs more to make than a flat pouch of the same film, even before printing.
4. Printing: Colours, Sides and Coverage
Printing has two cost parts: a one-time setup and a per-bag running cost.
- Number of colours: each Pantone colour in gravure printing needs its own cylinder. A one-colour logo is cheap to set up; a 6–10 colour photographic design needs more cylinders and more press time.
- Sides: printing both sides roughly doubles the print work.
- Coverage: a small logo uses little ink; a full-bleed solid colour or metallic finish uses much more and may need an extra white base layer on clear or frosted film.
- Digital vs. gravure: digital printing has no cylinder cost and suits many designs in small volumes, while gravure gives the lowest per-bag price at volume. Our guide on digital vs. gravure printing explains when each wins.
5. Quantity per Design
This is the factor buyers underestimate. Setup costs (cylinders, colour matching, machine changeover) are spread over the run, so the per-bag price falls steeply from 5,000 to 20,000 pieces and keeps falling, more slowly, after that. Ten designs of 5,000 each cost more per bag than one design of 50,000, because every design carries its own setup. Our MOQ is 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 quality.
Factors That Matter Less Than You Think
- Bag colour: pigmenting the whole film (black, white, navy) is usually cheaper than printing a solid colour.
- Finish: matte versus glossy is a film choice and changes little; a separate matte varnish adds a small per-bag cost.
- Samples: pre-production samples are part of the process and should not change the unit price of the bulk order.
Where the Price Is Hiding: Freight and Terms
Compare quotes on the same basis. Ask whether the price is EXW, FOB Shenzhen/Guangzhou or delivered, whether cartons and pallets are included, and what the payment terms are. Bags are light but bulky, so sea freight per bag depends on how many fit in a carton; a thinner film or a flat format ships more pieces per cubic metre.
How to Get an Accurate Quote Quickly
- Bag type and size (width x height x gusset)
- Film: PE / PP / laminate / recycled / compostable, and thickness
- Features: zipper, slider, handle, valve, spout, hang hole
- Print: number of colours, one or two sides, artwork file
- Quantity per design and number of designs
- Destination country and preferred shipping terms
FAQ
Why did two factories quote very different prices for the same bag?
Usually the film or thickness is not the same, or one quote includes printing setup and freight while the other does not. Always compare quotes with identical specifications and the same trade terms.
What is the cheapest way to lower the price of a custom bag?
Reduce thickness within safe limits, print fewer colours on one side, and order a larger quantity per design. These three changes lower cost without changing the bag’s look much.
What is the minimum order quantity at Heyi Custom Bags?
5,000 pcs per design. We produce for brands, retailers and wholesalers who order in volume from our factories in Dongguan, China and Hai Phong, Vietnam.
Does the price include samples and artwork?
Artwork support and a digital proof are included; a pre-production sample is made after artwork approval so you can check film, print and closure before mass production in 15 to 25 days.
Custom Printed Packaging Bags From Heyi Custom Bags
Heyi Custom Bags runs film extrusion, rotogravure printing up to 10 colours and bag making in our own factories in Dongguan, China and Hai Phong, Vietnam, which means the quote you get comes straight from the people who make the bag. See our custom printed frosted zipper bags and custom printed die-cut handle bags, then send us your specification using the checklist above and we will quote within one working day. Request a quote.