Buyer's guide · Updated October 2026
How Many Custom Coffee Bags Should You Order First?
Packluma’s smallest custom order is 500 bags per design with digital printing, and rotogravure printing starts at 10,000 bags per design.
For most roasters, the right first order is 500 to 1,000 bags per design. That is enough to sell for a few months and learn which coffee and which label work, without being stuck with a design you want to change.
First order
Why 500 to 1,000 bags is a safe first order
Digital printing needs no plates, so there is no setup cost to spread over a big run. That is why a run of 500 is possible. The price per bag is higher than at volume, but the total is small.
- A 500-bag order of a 12 oz flat bottom bag costs $1.60–$2.00 per bag, about $800–$1,000 in total, shipping included.
- At 1,000 bags the same bag costs $1.15–$1.25, so ordering twice as many saves a little per bag.
- A 500-bag stand-up pouch costs $1.05–$1.35 per bag, shipping included.
Ordering 1,000 instead of 500 saves a little per bag, but it also doubles what you are stuck with if the label needs a change. If you have never sold this coffee in a printed bag, start at 500. If it is a blend that already sells every month, 1,000 makes sense. The custom coffee bag cost guide and the price calculator show how the numbers move.
Below 500 per design, Packluma is probably not the right fit. If you are still testing a brand, a printed sample is cheaper than a small run. Samples cost about $60–$100 per bag size plus courier, and a free digital mockup comes with every quote. A plain stock bag with a sticker label can also work until you know what will sell.
Several coffees
How to order several coffees without a big minimum for each
Most roasters sell more than one coffee, and this is where a high minimum hurts. A single 10,000-bag minimum means one design for a very long time. With digital printing the minimum is per design, not per order, so you can split a first order across your coffees.
- Several designs in the same bag size are priced on the combined quantity, with at least 500 bags per design.
- Different bag sizes cannot be combined, because each size is its own run.
- Rotogravure works differently: every design gets its own plates and its own minimum.
For example, three coffees in the same size can go in one order at 500 bags each. They are priced on the combined quantity of the three, not on 500 alone. If one coffee needs a 250 g bag and another needs 1 kg, those are two separate orders. See flat bottom bags and stand-up pouches for sizes.
Switching to rotogravure
When to switch from digital to rotogravure
Switch when one design reaches about 10,000 bags and you are sure the artwork will stay as it is. Rotogravure printing uses engraved plates, one per color per side. Making them costs money on the first order, and the cost drops per bag as the run grows.
- Rotogravure printing starts at 10,000 bags per design.
- Digital and rotogravure cost about the same at roughly 5,000–10,000 bags per design.
- A 12 oz flat bottom bag costs $0.55–$0.60 per bag at 5,000 and $0.40–$0.60 at 10,000 or more, with digital printing available at both.
- Plates are a one-time cost on the first order, and repeat orders reuse them.
On smaller bags at low volume, rotogravure costs noticeably more than digital, because the plate cost is spread over fewer bags. It also takes longer to make: digital orders ship in 7–10 business days after artwork approval, rotogravure takes 7–10 business days for stand-up pouches and roughly 15–25 for flat bottom bags. Larger orders add time.
The risk is changing your label, because any change to the artwork means new plates. If you rebrand often or rotate seasonal labels, stay on digital even at 10,000 bags, and pay a bit more per bag to stay free to change the label. See coffee bag printing for how the two methods compare and wholesale coffee bags for large runs.
Quick guide
How many bags to order in your situation
| Situation | Order | Printing |
|---|---|---|
| Launching one coffee or testing a label | 500 per design | Digital |
| A core blend with steady monthly sales | 1,000 per design | Digital |
| Three or four coffees in the same bag size | 500+ per design, priced on the combined quantity | Digital |
| One design that sells in volume | 5,000 per design | Digital |
| One design that will not change for a long time | 10,000+ per design | Rotogravure |
Prices for each quantity are on the pricing page. Every figure there is a range, and shipping is included. For lead times by order size, see coffee bag lead times.
Not sure how many to order?
Send your coffees, bag sizes and how fast each one sells. Packluma will suggest an order size and tell you if a smaller or larger run fits better.
FAQ
First order FAQ
What is the minimum order for custom printed coffee bags?
The minimum order is 500 bags per design with digital printing. Rotogravure printing starts at 10,000 bags per design.
Can I order different designs in the same order?
Yes, if the designs are the same bag size. With digital printing the price is based on the combined quantity, with at least 500 bags per design.
How many bags should a new roastery order first?
A new roastery should order 500 to 1,000 bags per design. Printed samples cost about $60–$100 per bag size plus courier, so you can check the bag before you order.
When should I switch from digital to rotogravure printing?
Switch when one design sells close to 10,000 bags and the artwork will stay the same. Below roughly 5,000 bags per design, digital printing costs the same or less.