A handmade paper gift bag is one of the most practical and satisfying paper crafts you can make. It requires no specialist tools, uses materials you almost certainly already have, and results in a gift presentation that is far more personal than anything bought from a shop. Handmade bags from beautiful wrapping paper, vintage newspaper, kraft paper, or even pages from old magazines are also an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic bags. This tutorial covers the full process from measuring and cutting to folding, reinforcing, and adding handles. For a perfectly sized bag, use our Paper Template Calculator to calculate exact dimensions based on your box or gift size. You can also browse our Paper Crafts category for more ideas.
Choosing Your Paper
Almost any paper can be turned into a gift bag, but some work better than others:
- Wrapping paper: The most festive option. Double it up for extra strength.
- Kraft paper: Sturdy, neutral, and endlessly customisable — stamp it, paint it, or leave it plain.
- Newspaper or magazine pages: Surprisingly beautiful and pleasingly eco-conscious.
- Sheet music or book pages: Romantic and literary — perfect for gifts to music lovers or readers.
- Patterned scrapbooking paper: More structured than wrapping paper and very sturdy for small bags.
What You Will Need
- A sheet of paper large enough for your bag (see Step 1 for sizing)
- A ruler and pencil
- Scissors or a craft knife and cutting mat
- A bone folder (or the back of a spoon for crisp creases)
- Double-sided tape or a strong glue stick
- A hole punch
- Handles: ribbon, twine, raffia, cord, or strips of paper
- Optional: cardboard or thick cardstock for the base reinforcement
Step 1: Calculate Your Paper Size
The size of paper you need depends on the finished bag dimensions. For a bag that is Width (W) × Depth (D) × Height (H):
- Paper width needed: (2 × W) + (2 × D) + 3 cm for the seam allowance
- Paper height needed: H + D + 6 cm (for the base fold and top hem)
For example, a bag 15 cm wide × 8 cm deep × 20 cm tall needs paper that is approximately 52 cm wide × 34 cm tall. Our Paper Template Calculator has a dedicated gift bag mode that calculates all of this for you instantly — just enter your desired bag dimensions and it outputs the exact paper rectangle you need to cut.
Step 2: Cut and Prepare the Paper
Cut your paper to the calculated dimensions, keeping edges perfectly straight. A craft knife and metal ruler on a cutting mat gives the cleanest result. Score fold lines before folding — use the tip of a bone folder or a blunt knife along a ruler to score, then fold along the score line for a crisp, sharp crease.
Step 3: Fold the Side Seam
Fold 1.5 cm along one of the short edges of your paper toward the wrong side. This is your seam allowance. Apply double-sided tape along this folded edge. Wrap the paper into a tube by bringing the other short edge around to meet the taped seam, overlapping by the seam allowance width. Press firmly to bond.
Step 4: Form the Base
Lay your paper tube flat with the seam at one side edge (not in the centre). Fold the bottom edge up by the depth measurement (D) divided by 2. Open out the tube and fold in the gusset sides — the bottom corners will form triangular flaps. Fold these triangular flaps toward the centre and secure with double-sided tape to form a flat, stable base. For extra strength, cut a rectangle of cardboard the exact size of the bag base and insert it inside the bag, resting on the folded base.
Step 5: Form the Top Hem
Fold the top edge of the bag down by about 2–3 cm toward the inside. This hem reinforces the top of the bag and gives the hole-punched handles something strong to grip. Secure with double-sided tape on the inside.
Step 6: Create the Gussets
If your bag has a flat bottom (rather than just a folded crease), gussets make it stand upright. On each long side of the bag, fold in a pleat of D ÷ 2 centimetres — this is why your original paper width included 2 × D in the calculation. Crease the gussets sharply. The bag should now be fully three-dimensional, standing upright with a flat base.
Step 7: Add Handles
Using a hole punch, make two pairs of holes in the front and back of the bag, each pair spaced about one-third of the bag width apart, positioned about 2.5 cm from the top edge. Thread your chosen handle material (ribbon, twine, rope) through both holes in a pair and tie large knots on the inside of the bag to anchor it. Repeat on the other side for the back handle.
Personalisation Ideas
- Stamp the outside of a plain kraft bag with rubber stamps for a custom design.
- Write the recipient’s name in a gold gel pen across the front.
- Add a wax seal to the front as a decorative accent.
- Tie a handmade paper flower to the handle for a finishing touch.
Making bags for gifts? Budget your materials with our Craft Cost Calculator, and plan a batch-making session with the Craft Project Planner.
