Brown Kraft vs White Kraft Paper Bags

Kraft paper comes in two common forms — brown and white — and the choice affects both the look of your bag and how well it takes printing.

Brown Kraft Paper

Brown kraft is unbleached, keeping the natural tan-brown colour of the wood pulp fibres. It’s the more commonly used option for everyday retail and grocery bags, and gives an earthy, natural aesthetic that pairs well with eco-conscious branding.

White Kraft Paper

White kraft goes through a bleaching process to remove the natural colour, giving a cleaner, brighter base. This is often chosen when a business wants sharper colour contrast for printed logos, or a more premium, boutique-style finish.

Strength Comparison

Both brown and white kraft are made from the same base pulp and offer comparable strength at the same GSM — the bleaching process affects colour, not structural strength in any meaningful way for typical retail use.

Printing Considerations

Because white kraft has a lighter, more neutral base, printed colours tend to appear brighter and truer to their intended shade. On brown kraft, colours read slightly warmer and more muted, which some brands specifically prefer for a rustic or natural aesthetic.

Which Should You Choose?

• Choose brown kraft if you want a natural, eco-conscious, or rustic look — common for cafes, bakeries, and grocery stores
• Choose white kraft if you want brighter branding colours or a cleaner, more premium retail presentation