Custom Printed Burger Bags for Hand-Held Burgers

What is a burger bag?

A burger bag is a flat paper pocket, closed on two edges and open along the top. You slide the burger in from the top and hand it over.

Our photos show two kinds. One is white paper printed with a red and yellow repeat word pattern; the other is kraft with a silver inner lining.

The customer peels the paper down as they eat. The bag keeps their fingers clean and holds the burger together.

Because there is no folding, a bag is the fastest way to serve a burger. It also costs less shelf space than any box.

When is a bag better than a box?

Boxes protect a burger in transit, while bags make it easy to eat on the spot. Choose by where the burger will be eaten.

Many traders use both. The bag goes on every burger, and a box is added only for orders that travel.

Who uses printed burger bags?

Bags suit fast trade where the food is eaten close to where it was cooked. They are also handy as an inner wrap inside a box or a carrier bag.

Bags also suit mixed menus. The same pocket can hold a hot dog, a wrap or a breakfast roll, so one bag design covers several dishes.

• Food vans and festival stalls with long queues
• Football grounds and sports clubs at half time
• Burger counters selling to walk-in customers
• Barbecue caterers at weddings and garden parties
• Delivery kitchens using a bag inside the burger box

What size burger bag do I need?

Measure across the widest part of the finished burger, then add 15 to 20 mm. That leaves room to slide it in without tearing the side seams.

The bag should come up past the top of the bun with a little paper to spare. A bag that stops at the bun gives no grip to hold.

If your burgers vary a lot, order two sizes. A single large bag makes small burgers flop over and spill toppings.

Chicken fillets are often longer than they are wide. Measure the longest side for those, or the fillet will poke out of the seam.

Which paper should a burger bag use?

White paper shows printed colours brightly and looks clean on the counter. Kraft paper gives a natural brown look that suits grill and street food brands.

Greaseproof paper resists oil without extra layers. For extra protection, a grease-resistant lining or coating is available on request.

The silver lined bags in our photos hold heat and stop sauce marking the outside; lined inners are quoted on request. Our explainer on linings and coated papers covers the choices.

Does a burger bag keep the burger hot?

A bag holds less heat than a closed box, because the top stays open. For food eaten within a few minutes, that rarely matters.

A lined bag keeps warmth in for longer and stops the outside feeling greasy. It also stops the bun steaming, since moisture can leave through the open top.

Food-contact materials are available on request for burger bags, set out on your quote.

At events, keep bagged burgers in a warm cabinet only for a short time. Paper is not a lid, so serve them quickly once bagged.

Printing burger bags

Bags print well with a repeat pattern, so your name shows whichever way the bag is held. The word pattern in our photos is a good example.

Pick plain, one colour, two colour or full colour CMYK print. Bold one or two colour designs often look sharpest on paper.

Our designers will set up the repeat for free, and you approve a free proof before printing. See ideas in our guide to printed food packaging design.

How do you bag a burger without mess?

A clean method stops sauce running down the outside of the paper.

1. Keep a flat stack of bags beside the build station, opening facing you.
2. Pinch the bag sides so the top opens into an oval.
3. Slide the burger in bottom bun first, keeping it level.
4. Fold the top over once if the customer is walking away.
5. Hand it over with the open end up.

Common mistakes with burger bags

Sending bagged burgers on long deliveries is the main one. A bag alone does not protect the burger from being squashed in a rider's bag.

Another is choosing unlined thin paper for saucy burgers. Sauce soaks through and the customer ends up holding wet paper.

Last, avoid dark solid print across the whole bag. Large solid areas use more ink and can feel heavy on thin paper.

Check that the side seams are on the outside edges, not where the hand grips. Seams in the palm can split if the paper gets wet.

Can bags work with burger boxes and paper?

Yes. Many shops wrap the burger in a printed sheet, slide it into a bag and place that in a box for delivery.

For counter and event trade, the bag alone does the job. Matching printed burger wrapping paper sheets from the same print run give a consistent look.

Some shops also use a bag for half the burger only. The paper covers the lower half, and the top stays open for photos before the first bite.

How do I order custom burger bags?

Email or WhatsApp us your burger width, paper choice, lining and print. Quantities are quoted per order, starting from £0.25 per unit, with the final figure on a written quote.

A free proof of your bag design comes first. We produce burger bags in 4–6 business days once you approve it.

Bundled bags travel free with tracking to anywhere in the UK, usually within 2–3 business days. Misprinted or damaged bags reported within 10 days with photos are reprinted or refunded.