The Fold · From the factory floor
What is the smallest size for a stand-up pouch?
The smallest stand-up pouch TWOFORM builds is about 60 mm wide by 89 mm tall (2.4 x 3.5 in) with a gusset of at least 20 mm, because a bag any smaller is too small to fill and seal reliably. If your product is smaller than that, a flat pouch (from 50 x 60 mm) or a stick pack (from 15 mm wide) is the right format, not a smaller stand-up.
The size limits, pouch type by pouch type
These are the working limits TWOFORM designs to. Each pouch style has its own envelope, so the floor depends on which one you pick.
| Pouch type | Width | Height | Gusset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stand-up, flat-bottom, side-gusset and quad-seal pouches | 60–460 mm (2.4–18.1 in) | 89–660 mm (3.5–26.0 in) | 20–250 mm (0.8–9.8 in) |
| Flat pouches (3-side seal, lay-flat, pillow) | 50–460 mm (2.0–18.1 in) | 60–660 mm (2.4–26.0 in) | none |
| Stick packs | 15–50 mm (0.6–2.0 in) | 50–170 mm (2.0–6.7 in) | none |
Why there is a floor
A pouch is filled through its open top and then sealed. A bag below the floor cannot be filled or sealed on the machine, so TWOFORM stops the size at the floor. You can draw a 40 mm stand-up pouch on a screen, but you cannot get one made, and the limit exists to catch that before you spend time on the design.
The proportion rule people miss
Width and height are not independent. A gusseted pouch can be at most 3.2 times as tall as it is wide and at least half as tall as it is wide. A bag at the 60 mm width floor therefore tops out around 192 mm (7.6 in) tall. If you need something taller and thinner, the stick pack format is built for it.
How to choose a size for your product
Measure the product at its fullest, not its flattest, then add room above it for the top seal (and a zipper, if you want one). Check the result against the width, height and gusset limits above. If it lands under the stand-up floor, move to a flat pouch or a stick pack. If it lands over the proportion limit, widen the bag or add gusset depth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the smallest stand-up pouch you can make?
About 60 mm wide by 89 mm tall (2.4 x 3.5 in) with a gusset of at least 20 mm. Below that, the bag is too small to fill and seal reliably.
Can a stand-up pouch be tiny, like 2 x 3 inches?
Not as a stand-up pouch. A 2 x 3 in bag is under the 60 x 89 mm floor. A flat pouch or a stick pack covers that range instead: flat pouches start at 50 x 60 mm (2.0 x 2.4 in) and stick packs start at 15 mm wide.
How tall can a narrow pouch be?
A pouch can be at most 3.2 times as tall as it is wide, and at least half as tall as it is wide. A 60 mm wide pouch tops out around 192 mm (7.6 in) tall.
How big can a stand-up pouch be?
Up to 460 mm wide by 660 mm tall (18.1 x 26.0 in) with a gusset up to 250 mm (9.8 in).
Ready to try a size? Design your pouch on a real production dieline in TWOFORM, and read what a dieline is and how to measure packaging for the rest of the basics.