Custom Stand Up Pouches: Pro Tips to Creating Full-Coverage Packaging that Works!

Stand-up pouches have become one of the most popular flexible packaging choices for consumer packaged goods brands worldwide. Expertly designed to package everything from chips to chowder, these pouches offer numerous advantages-including 360-degree branding, premium finishes, and high-barrier properties that keep products fresh and protected. It’s easy to see why CPG companies continue to choose stand-up pouches for their brands and products.

Whether your company is transitioning from rigid to flexible packaging or launching a new product, customizing a flexible pouch will depend on the specific requirements of your unique offering.

Here are a few key considerations when creating a new pouch for your product:

What Will Your Stand-Up Pouch Hold?

Selecting the ideal stand-up pouch starts with understanding your product:

• Dimensions Matter: The size of your pouch should match your product. Oversized packaging will not only waste material and increase costs, but it can also frustrate your customers. Right sizing your stand-up pouch ensures efficiency and a better unboxing experience at consumption.
• Barrier Properties: Stand up pouches can be engineered with advanced barrier films to protect against moisture, oxygen, and light. If your product is sensitive—like coffee, nuts, or supplements—choosing the right barrier properties is essential for freshness and shelf life.
• Pouch Structure:  Depending on what you’re packaging, you may be looking for a stand up pouch or a flat bag, and many different gusset types. For example, grains are typically packaged in stand-up pouches with gussets. This makes the packaging more convenient for customer storage at home and on store shelves.

Gusset Types and Their Uses:

• Doyen Style Gusset (Rounded Bottom):
  The most common style of stand up pouch. The Doyen Style Gusset pouch has seals on both sides and around the bottom gusset. Best for products that weighing one pound or less.
• K Skirt Style Gusset:
  The K Skirt Style Gusset pouch has seals that rise from a thirty-degree angle on both sides of the pouch. This type of seal helps the pouch to stand more sturdily. Great for products that weigh one to five pounds.
• Plough Style Gusset:
  Can carry heavier loads (five pounds and up) like salt or sugar, with no gusset seal and often called Plough-Bottom, Corner Seal, or W Fold pouch. 

See our informative how to choose the right gusset quick guide to learn more about gussets and flat barrier bags. 

Custom Add-Ons for your Flexible Pouch

Stand-up pouches can be customized with a variety of features to set your brand apart:

• Zipper closures for re-sealability
• Rounded corners for a premium feel
• Hang holes for retail display (round or sombrero style)
• Tear notches for easy opening

These add-ons not only boost functionality but also enhance the consumer experience.

Design That Stands Out

With a full coverage canvas to show off vibrant graphics and unique finishes, stand up pouches have the branding real-estate to really bring your brand to life. And whether you prefer a matte, gloss, or metallic look, we can create a pouch that reflects your brand and grabs attention on the shelf. Want a matte/gloss combo? We can do that too, getting you that sleek matte finish while making parts of your design pop, all on a single plate! 

Ready to elevate your products with custom stand up pouches?

 Contact our flexible pouch experts today to discover how the right pouch can protect your product, strengthen your brand, and drive sales.