side gusset pouch Solutions Guide

What is a side gusset pouch?

A side gusset pouch is a type of flexible packaging (usually made from film, foil, paper, or a combination) that has one or more folded panels—gussets—along its sides. These gussets allow the pouch to expand outward when filled, creating a wider, box-like shape that stands more stably on shelves and holds more volume than a flat pouch of the same face dimensions.

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Key features:

Folded panels at the pouch’s left and right edges (side gussets). When filled, the folds open to form depth.

Many side gusset pouch can stand on their base if designed with enough expansion; they’re often used instead of bottom-gusset (stand-up) pouches depending on aesthetic or filling equipment.

Can include heat seals, zip reclosures (zipper), tear notches, spouts, or one-way degassing valves (common for coffee).

Laminates of plastic films, foil, or paper chosen for barrier properties, printability, and strength.

Common for coffee, tea, snacks, nuts, pet treats, powdered products, detergents, and anything benefiting from a rectangular profile for efficient packing/display.

Two common problems many new customers encounter

1. When requesting quotes for small quantities of custom-printed or unprinted side gusset pouch, why do manufacturers or suppliers often have difficulty providing timely quotes or fail to respond?

2. Which packaging machines should be purchased?

Why do these two problems occur?

1. It’s because making side gusset pouch is relatively simple for manufacturers, but the MOQ (minimum order quantity) requirement is high. If the order quantity is small, they are not interested. Also, because these bags don’t have standard sizes, manufacturers won’t keep stock of them.

2. When you start to enter this field, you can only find sample bags in supermarkets or other places for reference and have no idea what packaging machines your competitors use to pack these side gusset pouch.

How to solve these two problems?

1. If the quantity of side gusset pouch you need is very small:

1.1 For custom printing

look for manufacturers that offer digital printing.

1.2 For unprinted bags

there may really be no solution.

2. If the quantity of side gusset pouch you need is medium to large:

2.1 For bags with accessories (zippers, valves, etc.)

choose a rotary/horizontal bag-giving machine.

2.2 For bags without accessories (zippers, valves, etc.)

choose a vffs machine.