How to Choose the Right Pouch for Your Product

• Pouches are popular packaging materials because of their affordability, versatility, durability, and lightweight design.
• Stand-up and flat pouches are the two most popular pouch packaging types because they are suitable for a wide range of products.
• These flexible packaging materials are highly customizable—you can print your logo or artwork and add features such as hang holes, tear notches, and reclosable zippers.

The right pouch serves critical functions beyond mere containment; it also protects products from moisture and contaminants, extends shelf life, allows for easy storage and display, and reinforces brand identity.

The right pouch also meets customers’ needs. For instance, people looking for a quick snack would appreciate pouches with a tear notch, a feature that lets them open the package without scissors or knives.

To help you better understand custom product pouches, we’ll explain the two most popular types (stand-up and flat pouches) and their customization options.

Stand-Up Pouch vs. Flat Pouch

	Construction	Customization Options	Applications
Stand-up Pouches	Its bottom gusset expands as the bag fills, giving it a three-dimensional shape and allowing it to stay upright.	Gloss or matte lamination Reclosable zipper Child-resistant zipper Hang hole (round or Euro-style) Tear notch	Products that need to be prominently displayed on retail shelves Heavier products
Flat Pouches	This pouch lies flat when empty but assumes the shape of a small pillow when filled.	Gloss or matte lamination Reclosable zipper Child-resistant zipper Hang hole (round or Euro-style) Tear notch	Single-serving items Smaller and lighter products Food samples

 

What is a stand-up pouch?

Stand-up pouches feature a bottom gusset that keeps them upright, making them ideal for products that need a strong shelf presence. However, you can add a hang hole if you also want to hang them on display hooks.

The gusseted bottom allows stand-up pouches to hold more volume than flat pouches. As a result, they are a popular packaging material for coffee, tea, and pet treats.

Stand-up pouches are also suitable for a wide range of non-food items, such as personal care products, washing powder, craft supplies, and small hardware (e.g., screws and nails).

Best for: Snacks, dried foods, nuts, granola, coffee, tea, sugar, flour, and other powdered items

What is a flat pouch?

Float pouches don’t have a gusseted bottom, so they lie flat when empty. They are also called pillow pouches because they look like small pillows when filled.

You can add a hang hole to a flat pouch if you want to hang it for display. Flat pouches are suitable for single-use applications, lightweight products (e.g., spices and seeds), and samples. They also suit businesses that want to reduce packaging costs without skimping on quality, as well as brands that require a minimalist packaging solution.

Best for: Sample packs, spices, seasonings, and flat-packed food products

Gloss vs. Matte Lamination for Pouch Packaging

Custom product pouches come with either gloss or matte lamination. A gloss finish has a reflective, lustrous look, almost similar to a clear coat on a freshly washed car. By contrast, a matte finish has no glare and thus looks muted and flat.

Glossy pouches are suitable for colorful packaging designs because the reflective finish makes the colors appear more vibrant. They are also a popular choice for brands seeking to convey a more energetic, playful, or youthful vibe.

Meanwhile, matte pouches have a glare-free, sophisticated appearance that favors brands that need to convey a natural or organic look. Their non-reflective finish also enhances readability, making them ideal for text-heavy packaging designs.

Additional Features for Custom Pouches

Pouches are highly versatile packaging solutions because they can be customized to meet a product’s functional needs, facilitate easy storage and dispensing, and enhance brand and shelf appeal of a package.

Here are the most popular add-on features for custom printed pouches:

• Reclosable zipper: This feature creates a resealable pouch packaging solution that offers benefits such as extended shelf life and customer convenience.
• Child-resistant zipper: This type of zipper uses a specific mechanism that makes it difficult for young children to open a pouch. Certain pharmaceutical products and household chemicals that could be harmful if ingested often require this feature.
• Hang hole: Round hang holes are ideal for smaller, lighter packaging, while the Euro-style option is suitable for heavier items or for hanging products on loop-style hooks.
• Tear notch: The small incision on a pouch edge provides a starting point for an easy, quick tear, eliminating the need for scissors.

How to Choose the Right Pouch Size

You need to pick the right pouch size for your product to meet its functional needs and to prevent damage. A pouch that is too small is prone to damage and is hard to seal, while one that is too big for the product looks unappealing, increases shipping fees, and creates unnecessary waste.

Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure you pick the right size for custom printed pouches.

1. Measure your product: For a single-item product, measure its length, width, and height. But for liquids and granular products, make sure you include the volume as well. A bulky but light product, like granola, takes up more volume than a dense product of the same weight, like a chocolate bar.
2. Leave room for a secure seal at the top: Some products slightly expand inside their packaging, so always leave enough space for potential expansion. Also, it’s not ideal to fill pouches to the brim, as this makes sealing more difficult.
3. Test with multiple pouch sizes: Before committing to a large order, test your product in different pouch sizes to find the best fit.
4. Check out your provider’s pouch size guide: NextDayFlyers has a guide showing various standard sizes for stand-up and flat pouches, along with their recommended weight capacities.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Pouches

What is the best pouch material for food packaging?
Pouches with high-barrier films are excellent for food products because they protect them from moisture and other contaminants, prolonging their shelf life.

How can custom-printed pouches help my brand stand out?
Custom pouches with brand-centric, eye-catching designs, and special finishes stand out on crowded shelves, helping you capture consumer attention.

What factors should I consider when choosing a pouch?
The ideal pouch depends on the product, display preference, target customers, budget, and brand identity.

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With the right size, construction, and design, a custom printed pouch can protect your product from moisture, air, and other contaminants, thereby extending its shelf life. At the same time, it can help minimize packaging costs, optimize storage, and enhance customer convenience.

NextDayFlyers offers premium custom pouch packaging that meets your product’s functional needs and your brand’s unique requirements. Our pouches use high-barrier films designed to protect products from oxidation, unpleasant odor, moisture, and other contaminants.