Buyer's guide · Updated October 2026
Do You Need a Sample Before Ordering Custom Coffee Bags?
Packluma sends a free digital mockup with every quote, and a printed sample costs about $60–$100 per bag size plus courier, so order the printed sample when colour, finish or fit matters and skip it when it does not.
- Mockup vs sampleA mockup shows your artwork on the bag shape. A printed sample lets you hold the real material.
- $60–$100 per sizePrinted samples cost about $60–$100 per bag size, plus courier. Flat bottom bag samples run about $80–$100 per size.
- Not creditedSample fees are not credited against a bulk order.
- One material per batchA sample is made on one material only, so two materials mean two sample batches.
- 7–10 daysPrinted samples take about 7–10 days to make, before courier time.
Mockup vs sample
What a mockup shows and what a printed sample shows
A digital mockup is a picture. It shows where your logo, text, valve and zipper sit on the bag, and you get one free with every quote. It cannot show how the colour looks on kraft paper or how a matte film feels in the hand.
A printed sample is a few real bags, made by hand on the material you choose. You can fill one with your own beans, squeeze it, bend the folds and put it next to the bag you use today.
| What you want to check | Digital mockup | Printed sample |
|---|---|---|
| Layout and artwork placement | Yes | Yes |
| Spelling, logo size, valve and zipper position | Yes | Yes |
| Colour on your chosen material | No, a screen is not paper | Yes |
| Feel of matte, soft-touch or kraft | No | Yes |
| Fit with your fill weight | No | Yes, fill it with your beans |
| Cost | Free with every quote | About $60–$100 per bag size, plus courier |
Not sure which size to sample? Start with the coffee bag size chart.
Cost
What a coffee bag sample costs
Printed samples cost about $60–$100 per bag size, plus courier. Flat bottom bag samples run about $80–$100 per size. Two things catch buyers out.
First, the sample fee is not credited against your bulk order. Treat it as the price of a decision.
Second, one sample batch holds one material. If you are torn between kraft and matte film, that is two batches and two fees. Pick the two best candidates, not five.
The fee is small next to the order. A first run of 500 bags costs about $800–$1,000, so one sample is roughly a tenth of the money you are about to commit.
See the full price ranges and the custom coffee bag cost guide.
Timing
How long a sample takes
Printed samples take about 7–10 days to make, then courier time on top. Ship time depends on where you are, so ask for the courier estimate when you order.
The sample comes before the production clock starts. If your bags have a hard deadline, add the sample time to the schedule or skip the sample (see below). The full timeline is on the coffee bag lead times page.
What a sample can tell you
What you can check on a sample
- Colour on the real material, in daylight and under your shop lights.
- The feel and finish of the film or kraft.
- Whether the folds, the zipper and the valve look right.
- Whether your fill weight fits. Size charts are a guide, so pour your beans in and close it.
What it cannot tell you
What a sample cannot promise
- A sample is a few bags made by hand. It does not prove that every bag in a 5,000-bag run will be identical.
- It does not replace checking the first bag of the production run. Packluma sends photos of the first bag with ruler measurements before mass production, and you approve it before the run continues.
- It cannot fix a design mistake you did not notice. Read every word of the artwork twice, whatever you order.
Packluma's proofing steps are on the coffee bag printing page. You can also audit the factory by video call, see about Packluma. To compare suppliers before you order, read how to check a coffee bag manufacturer.
When to skip it
When you can skip the printed sample
- You are reordering the same design, size and material. Reorders are reproduced from the final approved artwork version of your previous order.
- Your design is mostly white or light, on a material you have already held.
- The deadline is tight and the mockup already answers your questions.
- You are ordering the smallest run, 500 bags, and you would rather spend the sample fee on a few extra bags.
When to order it
When the sample is worth the fee
- You are using a material you have never held, such as soft-touch film or foil.
- Your design has large solid dark areas, or a matte black bag. Bend the sample at the folds and look for marks.
- You are moving to a new bag size and want to check the fit with your own beans.
- You plan a large run or rotogravure printing, where a mistake costs far more than a sample.
Still choosing a bag? Read how to choose coffee packaging.
Start with the free mockup
Send your bag size, material and quantity. We reply within 24 hours with a price and a free design mockup, and you decide from there whether you want a printed sample.
FAQ
Coffee bag samples FAQ
Do I need a sample before ordering custom coffee bags?
Not always. Packluma sends a free digital mockup with every quote, and a printed sample costs about $60–$100 per bag size plus courier. Order the sample when colour, finish or fit matters, and skip it for an unchanged reorder.
How much does a custom coffee bag sample cost?
Printed samples cost about $60–$100 per bag size, plus courier. Flat bottom bag samples cost about $80–$100 per size.
Is the sample fee credited against my bulk order?
No. Sample fees are not credited against a bulk order.
Can I sample two materials at once?
No. One sample batch uses one material, so each extra material is another sample batch and another fee.
How long does a printed coffee bag sample take?
Printed samples take about 7–10 days to make, plus courier time.
Will the bulk order look exactly like the sample?
It should be close, but a sample is made by hand and cannot guarantee every bag in a bulk run. Packluma sends photos of the first production bag with ruler measurements, and you approve it before the run continues.