Custom
Mylar Bags
Everything you need to know about custom-printed mylar bags: what they are, how they're made, what they cost, which style fits your product, and how to order them without overcommitting inventory or paying more than you should.
Get a Free Quote >What Is a Custom Mylar Bag?
A custom mylar bag is a flexible packaging pouch made from a multi-layer film laminate with your brand's design printed directly onto the surface. Mylar is the trade name for biaxially oriented polyester film (BoPET), a material originally developed for industrial applications that became the standard for premium flexible packaging because of its exceptional barrier properties.
When people say "mylar bag," they typically mean a three-layer laminate structure: a printable PET outer layer, an aluminum foil middle layer that blocks moisture, oxygen, and UV light, and a food-safe polyethylene inner layer that heat-seals to close the bag. The result is packaging that protects sensitive products for months to years while displaying your brand across the full surface of the bag.
What makes a bag custom rather than stock is the printing. A stock bag comes in a generic color or simple pattern. A custom mylar bag has your logo, your brand colors, your product information, and your design printed directly onto the film, not on a label applied afterward. That distinction matters for durability, appearance, and brand perception.
Bag Styles: Which One Is Right for Your Product
Custom mylar bags come in several structural formats. The right choice depends on your product weight, retail environment, and brand positioning.
Stand-Up Pouch
A bottom gusset allows the bag to stand upright on a shelf or surface. The dominant format for retail and e-commerce across almost every category. Available from 3.5" x 5" to 10" x 14" and beyond.
Flat Bottom Bag
A wider, structured base creates a rigid silhouette that holds its shape even when partially filled. Reads as significantly more premium than a standard stand-up pouch. Increasingly common in specialty food and cannabis.
Flat / Pillow Pouch
No gusset, lies flat when sealed. Lowest cost option. Used for single-serve portions, sample packs, sachets, and any product where shelf display is not a factor.
Child-Resistant Zipper
A zipper closure that requires a specific pinch-and-pull action to open. Required in regulated markets for certain product categories. Increasingly used voluntarily as a professionalism signal.
Film Structure: What Your Bag Is Actually Made Of
The barrier performance of a custom mylar bag comes from its film structure. Understanding the layers helps you specify the right bag for your product and ask the right questions when evaluating suppliers.
Standard Three-Layer (PET / Foil / PE)
The most widely used film structure for food, cannabis, supplements, and general CPG products. The PET outer layer carries the print and provides puncture resistance. The aluminum foil middle layer creates a near-total barrier against moisture, oxygen, and UV light. The polyethylene inner layer provides a food-safe, heat-sealable surface that contacts the product directly. Shelf life performance: 12 to 24 months depending on product and storage conditions.
Four-Layer (PET / Foil / MPET / PE)
An additional metalized PET layer between the foil and inner PE adds further barrier redundancy. Used for products with very long shelf life requirements or extreme moisture sensitivity. Common in long-term food storage, pharmaceutical adjacent products, and premium cannabis.
Clear / Transparent Film
A film structure without the aluminum foil layer, using metalized or non-metalized transparent materials instead. Allows product visibility through the film. Lower barrier performance than foil-based structures. Suitable for products where visual appeal outweighs maximum barrier requirements and shelf life is shorter.
Ask your supplier this: what is the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of the film you're quoting? These numbers tell you the actual barrier performance. A genuinely food-grade foil laminate has OTR and MVTR values approaching zero. If a supplier can't provide them, ask why.
Who Uses Custom Mylar Bags
Custom mylar bags are used across a wide range of product categories. What they share is a need for professional packaging that protects the product and builds brand identity without requiring the order volumes that traditional gravure printing demands.
Cannabis and CBD
The largest single category for custom mylar bags. Child-resistant options, smell-proof construction, and compliance-ready sizing. Both flower and extract brands use custom bags as their primary retail packaging.
Freeze-Dried Candy
A rapidly growing category that requires high-barrier packaging to prevent moisture reintroduction. Direct print mylar is the industry standard. Social-forward brands favor holographic and high-gloss finishes for video content.
Specialty Food
Snacks, jerky, trail mix, coffee, tea, spices, dried goods. Any food product with a shelf life longer than a few weeks benefits from the barrier properties of a properly structured mylar bag.
Supplements and Nutraceuticals
Protein powders, vitamins, gummies, nootropics, pre-workout. The supplement category has shifted heavily toward flexible packaging over rigid containers for most SKUs under 500g.
Hemp and Botanicals
Flower, pre-rolls, teas, herbs, extracts. Custom mylar provides the moisture and UV protection these products require while enabling compliant, professional branding.
Pet Treats and Food
The premium pet food segment has adopted custom flexible packaging at scale. Stand-up pouches with resealable zippers are the preferred format for premium pet treat brands.
Sizing Guide
Custom mylar bags are available in almost any size. The right size for your product depends on fill weight, fill volume, headspace requirements, and shelf presence goals. Standard sizes that cover the majority of use cases:
| Size | Style | Typical Fill Weight | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5" x 5" | Flat / Stand-up | 0.5 to 3.5g / 0.25 to 1 oz | Cannabis eighths, sample packs, single-serve |
| 4" x 6" | Stand-up | 1 to 3.5 oz | Snack size, retail entry point, trial packs |
| 5" x 8" | Stand-up | 3.5 to 7 oz / 7g cannabis | Most popular retail size across all categories |
| 6" x 9" | Stand-up | 4 to 10 oz | Mid-size supplements, larger snack formats |
| 7" x 10" | Stand-up | 8 to 16 oz | Share bags, value packs, wholesale |
| 10" x 14" | Stand-up | 1 to 2.5 lbs | Bulk retail, subscription boxes, wholesale |
Custom sizes outside these standards are available. If your product has specific dimensional requirements, request a custom quote with your target dimensions.
Direct Print vs Label: Why It Matters
Not every supplier offering "custom mylar bags" is actually printing on the bag. Many are applying a printed label to a stock bag. The distinction has significant implications for how your packaging looks, how it holds up, and what it communicates about your brand.
Direct Print on Film
Label on Stock Bag
The easiest way to tell the difference: ask the supplier whether the design is printed onto the film during bag production, or applied as a label after. If they can't answer clearly, that's your answer.
What Custom Mylar Bags Cost
Pricing for custom direct-print mylar bags depends on bag size, quantity, film specification, and finish. Here's what realistic all-in pricing looks like at M2OM, including printing and free worldwide shipping:
| Bag Size | Qty | Est. Unit Cost | Est. Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5" x 5" | 500 units | $0.90 to $1.20 | $500 to $600 |
| 5" x 8" | 500 units | $1.30 to $1.80 | $650 to $900 |
| 5" x 8" | 1,000 units | $0.90 to $1.40 | $1000 to $1,400 |
| 7" x 10" | 500 units | $1.60 to $2.40 | $800 to $1,200 |
| 10" x 14" | 500 units | $2.20 to $3.20 | $1,100 to $1,600 |
Estimates are for standard matte or gloss finish on food-grade foil laminate with resealable zipper, shipped worldwide. Premium finishes (soft touch, holographic, embossing) carry an upcharge. Request a quote for exact pricing on your specific requirements.
No hidden costs: M2OM pricing includes printing, film, zipper, and worldwide shipping. There are no plate fees, no setup charges, and no artwork fees. The price you're quoted is the price you pay.
How to Order Custom Mylar Bags at M2OM
Check Pricing
Bag pricing is available on the site before you contact anyone. No signup, no gate, no "contact us for pricing."
Request a Quote
Tell us your bag size, style, quantity, film spec, and finish. You get a confirmed all-in price including printing and shipping.
Submit Your Artwork
Provide print-ready files built to your bag's dieline. Need a dieline? We send you one. Need design help? That's available too.
Approve Your Proof
A digital proof shows exactly how your bag will look before production begins. Nothing moves until you approve it.
Production and Delivery
Production runs in 7 to 10 business days. Your order ships free worldwide and arrives in 15 to 18 days from artwork approval.
What to Look for in a Custom Mylar Bag Supplier
The supplier you choose determines quality, lead time, cash flow, and your ability to adapt as your brand grows. These are the criteria that separate suppliers worth working with from ones that will cost you more than they save.
Go Deeper: Related Guides
Each topic below has a dedicated guide with full detail on that specific decision.
Digital vs Gravure Printing
How each method works, full cost comparison at every order volume, and exactly when to use each one.
FinishesMatte, Gloss, Soft Touch, Holographic and More
All seven available finishes explained with photography guidance and niche-specific recommendations.
MOQ and PricingLow MOQ Custom Packaging Guide
What low MOQ actually means, what suppliers say vs what they mean, and the real cost of over-ordering.
Category GuideFreeze-Dried Candy Packaging
Material requirements, sizing, compliance, and design best practices specific to freeze-dried products.
Custom Mylar Bags from 300 Units. No Setup Fees.
M2OM produces direct-print custom mylar bags for brands across cannabis, food, supplements, freeze-dried candy, and CPG. Food-grade high-barrier film, full-bleed printing across the entire bag surface, all seven finishes available, and free worldwide shipping on every order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum order quantity for custom mylar bags?
At M2OM, the minimum order for direct-print custom mylar bags is 300 to 500 units depending on bag size and specification. This is achievable because M2OM uses digital printing, which does not require plates or cylinders and runs economically at short quantities. Suppliers using gravure printing typically require 5,000 to 10,000 units minimum.
How long does it take to get custom mylar bags?
From artwork approval to delivery at your door, expect 15 to 18 days. Production runs in 7 to 10 business days from artwork approval. Shipping adds approximately 3 to 5 days depending on destination. Build in 3 weeks from the point you have final approved artwork when planning a product launch.
How much do custom mylar bags cost?
At M2OM, a 500-unit order of standard direct-print custom mylar bags in a 5" x 8" stand-up format typically runs $600 to $900 all-in, including printing, film, zipper, and worldwide shipping. Smaller bags cost less per unit. Larger bags cost more. Premium finishes carry an upcharge. There are no plate fees or setup charges on any order.
Are custom mylar bags food-safe?
Yes, when produced with food-grade certified materials. M2OM bags use film and inks that comply with FDA 21 CFR regulations for food contact. The inner PE layer that contacts the product is food-safe and heat-sealable. Ask any supplier you work with for documentation of food-grade certification before ordering for food products.
Can I get custom mylar bags with a resealable zipper?
Yes. Resealable zippers are standard on stand-up pouches and flat bottom bags. Options include standard press-to-close zippers, child-resistant zippers that require a specific pinch-and-pull action, and sliders. The zipper type needs to be specified when you request a quote as it affects the bag price.
What file format do I need for custom mylar bag artwork?
Print-ready artwork built to the bag's dieline in Adobe Illustrator (AI), PDF, or high-resolution PNG at 300 DPI minimum. All fonts should be outlined or embedded. Colors should be set up in CMYK. If you don't have a dieline, M2OM provides one for your specific bag size before artwork is submitted.
What's the difference between custom mylar bags and stock bags?
A stock bag comes in a generic color or simple pattern with no custom printing. A custom mylar bag has your design printed directly onto the film during production. Custom bags cover the full surface of the bag with your branding. Stock bags with labels applied afterward are sometimes sold as "custom" but are not the same thing as direct-print custom bags.
Do custom mylar bags need to meet any compliance requirements?
Compliance requirements vary by product category and market. Cannabis packaging has state-specific requirements around child resistance, opacity, and labeling. Food packaging requires FDA-compliant labeling including nutrition facts, ingredient lists, and allergen declarations. M2OM does not provide compliance legal advice, but the bags themselves can be produced to any specification your compliance requirements dictate. Consult a compliance specialist for your specific category and market.
Can I order multiple designs at the same minimum order quantity?
Yes. With digital printing, each design is a separate production run and each run starts at the MOQ. If you have four flavors or four SKUs, you order 300 to 500 units of each design independently. There are no plate costs per design and no penalty for running multiple SKUs. This is one of the main advantages of digital printing over gravure for multi-SKU brands.
Can I see a sample before placing a full order?
M2OM provides a digital proof of your specific design before production begins on every order. For finish selection, particularly for premium options like soft touch, holographic, or embossing, it's worth requesting a physical material sample before committing to a full run. Contact us to discuss sample options for your project.