Stand-up pouches have become the go-to packaging for snacks, coffee, tea, supplements, pet treats and bath products. They stand on a shelf like a box, ship flat like a bag, and give you a big printable front for your brand. Here's how to pick the right one.
What goes inside decides the material
Start with your product, not the pouch.
- Dry snacks, candy and baked treats: a standard food-safe barrier pouch keeps them fresh. Our custom stand up pouches are high-barrier and food-safe, in sizes from 50 g to 1 kg.
- Products sensitive to air, moisture or light (coffee, dried fruit, powders, anything with a long shelf life): choose mylar. A foil core blocks oxygen, moisture and light. See stand up mylar bags.
- Products that sell on looks (granola, loose-leaf tea, gummies): a window lets customers see what they're buying. Kraft pouches with a window give a natural, handmade feel.
Choose your features
Reclosable zipper. Add it whenever customers won't finish the product in one go. It keeps food fresh and makes the pouch feel better made.
Tear notch. A small notch above the zipper makes the first opening easy and clean.
Hang hole. Only needed if your stockists display pouches on pegs. Round and euro (sombrero) holes are the common options.
Sizes: think in servings
Choose sizes based on how customers buy:
| Size | Good for |
|---|---|
| Sample / trial | Free samples, subscription add-ons, events |
| Everyday | Your main retail pouch, one to two weeks of use |
| Family / refill | Best-value bags and loyal repeat customers |
If you're launching, one everyday size is usually enough. Add a sample size when you start doing events or wholesale.
Matte, glossy or kraft?
- Matte: modern and premium, easy to photograph without glare.
- Glossy: colours pop, great for bright and playful brands.
- Kraft: natural and earthy, ideal for organic, handmade and eco-minded brands.
Design tips that sell from the shelf
- Lead with what it is and the flavour. "Sea Salt Caramel Popcorn" should be readable from two metres away.
- One hero element. A big logo, an illustration or a bold colour block. Not all three competing.
- Use the gusset and back. Put ingredients, your story and your website on the back so the front stays clean.
- Plan for variants. If you sell several flavours, keep the layout the same and change only the colour and flavour name. Your range looks like a family on the shelf.
Pouches by industry
- Snack brands: snack pouches in sample, everyday and family sizes.
- Coffee roasters: barrier pouches with optional valves and zippers.
- Supplements and wellness: resealable pouches for powders and refills.
- Pet treats and bath salts: stand-up pouches with zippers for repeat use.
The takeaway
Match the material to what's inside, add a zipper if it'll be opened more than once, choose sizes based on how people buy, and design the front to be read in a second. Then pick your pouch, choose your options, and design it in the PakGenie studio.
