How to Measure a Paper Bag: Width, Gusset and Height Explained
A simple photo guide to front width, side depth and body height, with a cm-to-inch example and an easy check for your packed product.
To measure a paper bag, take three measurements: front width, side depth and bag-body height. At PAQIVA, we write them as L × W × H. Handles are not included in the height.
You only need a ruler or tape measure. Open the bag into its normal shape without stretching it, and start from the ruler's zero mark.
Measure these three parts
L: front width
Measure across the front panel, from the left edge to the right edge. This is the face that usually carries the logo.
W: side depth, also called the gusset
Open the side fully and measure from the front panel to the back panel. Measure the whole side depth, not just one half of the central fold.
H: bag-body height
Measure from the bottom of the bag body to its top edge. Start at the actual base, not the crease above it. Leave the handles out. If you also need the overall height including handles, give that as a separate measurement.
Avoid mixing up length, width and depth
Some suppliers say “width × gusset × height”; others say “length × width × height” or use “depth” for the side. The letters alone can be confusing.
For a PAQIVA enquiry, use L = front width, W = side depth, H = body height. Here, L does not mean whichever edge happens to be longest.
Also write portrait / tall or landscape / wide, and include a photo or sketch. A portrait bag has a taller front panel; a landscape bag has a wider front panel.
One complete example, in centimeters and inches
Suppose you measure a bag with a 20 cm front, a 12 cm side depth and a 25 cm body height. These are example measurements, not readings taken from the photos above.
| Measurement | Centimeters | Inches, rounded |
|---|---|---|
| L — front width | 20 cm | 7.87 in |
| W — side depth | 12 cm | 4.72 in |
| H — body height | 25 cm | 9.84 in |
1 inch = 2.54 cm: divide centimeters by 2.54 to get inches; multiply inches by 2.54 to get centimeters. The conversion is based on the NIST definition of the inch.
Write the size like this:
20 × 12 × 25 cm (L × W × H), external bag size, portrait, handles excluded. Approximately 7.87 × 4.72 × 9.84 in.
Always include cm or in. If you provide both, say which unit should govern production; in this example, use centimeters and treat the inches as a reference.
Check the space inside with your packed product
Measurements taken around the outside are external dimensions. The usable space inside is smaller because of folds, paper thickness and any reinforcement or handle fixings. External size does not guarantee a matching internal space.
Measure your product with its gift box, wrapping and any insert, in the position it will sit inside the bag.
For example, a complete packed item measuring 18 × 10 × 22 cm could be tried in the 20 × 12 × 25 cm example bag. That is a starting point for a sample, not a guaranteed fit.
Put the packed item into a sample bag and take it out again. It should go in easily, sit below the bag opening and leave the handles comfortable to hold, without forcing the sides outward.
For a custom size, send PAQIVA your measurements, the unit, portrait or landscape preference, a photo of the packed product and the quantity you need.