How to Choose the Right shop bags for Clothing: Avoid Too-Tight Fits (Sweaters to Gowns)
Luna, who runs a small knitwear shop in Austin, spent a month apologizing to customers. She’d ordered 300 small shop bags for her cashmere sweaters—they fit, but just barely. When customers tucked the sweaters in, the bags stretched at the seams, and the wool got squished into lumpy folds. “I thought ‘just big enough’ was fine,” she said. “Turns out, ‘just big enough’ for clothes means ‘wrinkled and frustrating’ for customers.”
Choosing the right size shop bags for clothing isn’t about guessing—it’s about matching the bag to how the garment fits, folds, and moves. A sweater needs more room than a t-shirt; a gown needs way more than a pair of socks. Pick too small, and you ruin the garment’s shape. Pick too big, and the bag feels bulky (and wastes money on extra material). Below’s how to get it right, with real examples for everything from sweaters to gowns—plus where paper bags pants and Gift Bags fit in.
Start with the Garment: Type + Fabric = Size Clue
The first rule? Let the clothes tell you what size bag to get. Different garments need different space—here’s how to break it down:
For Soft, Bulky Garments (Sweaters, Knits, Thick Coats)
Soft, stretchy fabrics (cashmere, wool, chunky knits) need bags with extra room—they (puff up) once folded, and tight bags will squish them into creases.
Luna fixed her sweater problem by switching to 16x12x4-inch bags (up from 14x10x3-inch). She folds each sweater in half (shoulder to shoulder), then tucks it in—there’s 1-2 inches of space on all sides, so the wool doesn’t get compressed. “Now customers pull out the sweater and it’s still fluffy,” she says. “No more ‘I need to steam this’ comments.”
Pro tip: For thick winter coats, go 24x18x6-inch—you want the coat to lie flat without folding it more than once. A Denver coat shop uses this size, and their return rate for “crushed collars” dropped by 35%.
For Structured Garments (Suits, Blazers, paper bags pants)
Structured clothes—think tailored suits, blazers, or even pants—need bags that preserve their shape. Too small, and shoulders crease or pant legs get bunched.
For pants—whether jeans, chinos, or tailored trousers—paper bags pants need a little extra room in the width. A men’s pants brand in Chicago uses 15x10x3-inch bags: They fold pants along the seam (so one leg lies over the other), then slide them in. The bag is wide enough that the fabric doesn’t bunch at the knees. “Pants are tricky because they’re long but narrow,” says the brand owner. “Too tall a bag wastes space; too short, and the waistband gets folded awkwardly.”
For suits, stick to 20x14x5-inch—big enough to fit a folded blazer and dress shirt without squeezing the shoulders.
For Formal Garments (Gowns, Cocktail Dresses)
Gowns are the hardest—they’re long, flowy, and often have delicate details (lace, beading) that get ruined in tight bags. The golden rule: The bag should be at least 3 inches longer than the gown’s length when folded.
A bridal boutique in Nashville uses 30x18x4-inch bags for their floor-length gowns. They fold the gown once at the waist (so the hem hits the top of the bag), then tuck in the train. “We used to use smaller bags and had to fold the gown twice—now the lace doesn’t get snagged, and the dress stays smooth,” says the manager.
For shorter cocktail dresses (knee-length), 22x16x3-inch works—enough room to fold once without creasing the skirt.
Don’t Forget “Extra Space”: Why 1-2 Inches Matters
Even if a garment “fits” in a bag, you need 1-2 inches of empty space on the top and sides. Here’s why:
– Fabric movement: Clothes shift a little when carried—extra space prevents them from pressing against the bag’s edges (which causes creases).
– Handling: Customers need room to slide their hand in to grab the garment—tight bags mean they have to yank, which can stretch fabric (especially knits).
Add-ons: If you include a small care card or tissue paper (which you should!), extra space keeps the bag from bulging.
– A t-shirt brand learned this the hard way: They used 12x8x2-inch bags for their cotton tees (which fit perfectly) but added a care card—and suddenly the bags were too tight, causing the tees to wrinkle. They switched to 13x9x2-inch, and the problem vanished.
When to Size Up (Even If You Think You Don’t Need To)
There are three cases where sizing up is non-negotiable:
– Thick fabrics: Wool, fleece, or quilted coats need extra room—they take up more space when folded than you think.
– Embellished clothes: Dresses with beading, sequins, or ruffles need space so details don’t get crushed.
– Gift-giving: During holidays or special occasions, many brands pair properly sized paper bags with Gift Bags for a layered look—just make sure the inner paper bag fits the garment first, so the outer Gift Bag doesn’t add unnecessary bulk. A boutique in Boston does this for Valentine’s Day: They use a 16x12x3-inch paper bag for sweaters, then slide it into a slightly larger Gift Bag with a ribbon. “It feels more special, but the sweater still stays wrinkle-free,” says the owner.
A Quick Size Cheat Sheet (For When You’re In a Hurry)
If you don’t have time to measure every garment, keep this handy:
Sweaters/knits: 16x12x4-inch (120-140gsm paper)
Pants (paper bags pants): 15x10x3-inch (140-160gsm paper)
Blazers/suits: 20x14x5-inch (160-200gsm paper)
Cocktail dresses: 22x16x3-inch (140-200gsm paper)
Floor-length gowns: 30x18x4-inch (180-200gsm paper)
Wrapping Up
Luna’s knitwear shop now has a “size test” before ordering bags: She folds a sample sweater, measures it, then adds 2 inches to all sides to pick the bag size. “It’s a small step, but it stopped the apologies,” she laughs.
Choosing the right size paper bag for clothing isn’t rocket science—it’s about thinking like your customer. Would you want a cashmere sweater squished into a tiny bag? A gown folded so tight the lace snags? Probably not. By matching the bag to the garment’s needs, you keep clothes looking good—and customers coming back.
Next time you order bags, grab a sample of your most popular item, fold it, and measure. The number you get? That’s your starting point. Add 1-2
inches, and you’ll never go wrong.
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