Stand-up vs. Flat Pouches

Before we discuss measuring pouch size accurately, it’s important to understand the difference between the two most common pouch types: stand-up and flat pouches. Understanding the structure of each is integral to getting the correct size. Stand-up pouches have a gusset at the bottom that keeps the pouch upright once filled with your item and displayed. As its name implies, flat pouches are laid flat and do not have a bottom gusset.

How to Accurately Measure a Stand-up Pouch’s Size

Volume is another important consideration in measuring your pouch’s size, especially with the stand-up type. A smaller, finer product like ground coffee will take less volume than coffee beans. When measuring stand-up pouches, you need to account for the item’s volume.

Here’s a list of the recommended pouch sizes based on their volume in cups and the weight of coffee beans and flour:

Pouch Size	Volume (cups)	Weight of Coffee Beans (oz.)	Weight of Flour (oz.)
3.25” x 4.75” x 2”	1/3 cup	1 oz.	2 oz.
4.375” x 6” x 2”	1 cup	3 oz.	7 oz.
5” x 6.5” x 2.5”	1 & 1/3 cups	4 oz.	10 oz.
5” x 7” x 3”	1 & 1/2 cups	5 oz.	11 oz.
5.75” x 7.5” x 2.5”	2 & 1/4 cups	7 oz.	1 lb. 1 oz.
6.5” x 8” x 2.5”	3 & 1/4 cups	9 oz.	1 lb. 7 oz.
6.75” x 8.5” x 3.5”	3 & 3/4 cups	11 oz.	1 lb. 10 oz.
7” x 9” x 3”	4 & 1/2 cups	13 oz.	2 lbs. 1 oz.
7.25” x 6” x 2”	1 & 1/2 cups	5 oz.	13 oz.
8.125” x 10” x 3.5”	8 & 1/2 cups	1 lb. 8 oz.	3 lbs. 4 oz.
9.875” x 10.5” x 3”	11 & 1/2 cups	2 lbs. 1 oz.	4 lbs. 8 oz.
12” x 12.5” x 3.5”	20 & 1/2 cups	3 lbs. 9 oz.	7 lbs. 13 oz.

The pouch’s fillable area starts from below the zipper down to the bottom. To account for the volume, start from the point below the zipper closure, not from the pouch’s top edge.

Now that you have a complete picture of the pouch’s dimensions, here’s how to accurately measure its three dimensions:

Measure a stand-up pouch’s size with the following dimensions:
1. Width is measured from the horizontal ends of the bottom gusset or the back of your pouch.
2. Height is measured from the top end of the pouch until the bottom part of the gusset.
3. The gusset is the space that your item fills inside the pouch. Look at the bottom end of the pouch and measure the gusset from the longer ends.

How to Measure the Size of a Flat Pouch

Flat pouch dimensions are measured upon laying the package flat.
• • Width is measured across the pouch’s opening.
• • Height is measured from the top end until the bottom of the pouch.

Use the guide below to account for your item’s volume in a flat pouch:

Pouch Size	Volume	Coffee Beans (Weight)	Flour (Weight)
3.25” x 4.5”	1/4 cup	1 oz.	1.5 oz.
3.375” x 5.5”	1/3 cup	1.5 oz.	2.5 oz.
4” x 6”	1/2 cup	2 oz.	3.5 oz.
5” x 5.5”	1 cup	3 oz.	5 oz.
5” x 7”	1-1/4 cups	4 oz.	8 oz.
6” x 7”	1-3/4 cups	5 oz.	12 oz.
7” x 9”	4 cups	11 oz.	1 lb. 8 oz.
7” x 12”	6-1/3 cups	1 lb. 2 oz.	2 lbs. 7 oz.

Note that these listed capacities are only approximations. We recommend measuring your pouch’s actual width and height based on the item type for precise measurements.

The FDA Regulatory Requirements for Pouches

An accurate size isn’t the only essential point to consider in selecting your packaging. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines have specific rules for flexible food packaging, such as pouches. According to packaging law, all food packaging, including the flexible kind, is prohibited from distributing adulterating food. Food adulteration occurs when the packaging renders the packaged item unfit or unsafe for consumption.

Food additive inclusions are also considered adulterations. The FDA defines a food additive as any substance that results or is expected to affect the food’s characteristics. This can include any substance used in packing, packaging, or holding food.

There are two exemptions to the food additive regulation in flexible food packaging:
• • The substance has been cleared as a direct food additive, and the dietary exposure of the compound from food contact use is less than 1% of the acceptable daily intake.
• • The intended use of the substance results in dietary exposures of less than 0.5 ppb.

These exemptions are only valid if the food contact substance has no carcinogenic ingredients or impurities. If your flexible packaging pouch complies with the exemptions or clearance, it must also follow the FDA’s good manufacturing practices (GMP). The material for food contact has to be of a “purity suitable for its intended use.” Further, the packaging material must not impart any odor or taste to the food, rendering the contents unfit for consumption.

Once you have the correct pouch size and have reviewed the packaging material based on FDA regulations, you can start customizing the design for your product. UPrinting makes it easy with its upload function or Online Design tool. You can directly send us your print-ready file or create it from scratch on your browser. Check out the available custom pouches and start designing the best flexible packaging for your business.