A turn top shopping bag has its top edge folded down and glued to the inside of the bag. Instead of the straight cut or serrated edge you find on a standard paper shopper, the opening has a doubled, finished band of paper all the way around. You may also see this style called a fold over top, folded top or J-cut shopping bag.
That folded band does real work. It thickens the edge where hands and merchandise hit the bag most, so the opening is less likely to rip or tear, and there is no thin paper edge to give anyone a paper cut. It gives the twisted paper handles a doubled layer to anchor into, and it adds structure that helps the bag hold its shape on the counter and in the hand.
Where Turn Top Shoppers Fit
Turn top bags sit between everyday paper bags with handles and Eurotote shoppers. If you have outgrown basic shoppers but do not need the full Eurotote treatment, this is the middle step.
Standard paper shopping bags: a cut top edge and lighter paper, built for everyday carryout and high volume.
Turn top paper shopping bags: a folded, reinforced top edge and heavier paper for a cleaner retail presentation, with coordinated twisted paper handles.
Eurotote bags: folded tops with rope handles and matte surfaces, for the most finished high-end retail look. See our Eurotote paper shopping bags.
Who Uses Turn Top Bags
These are retail shopping bags first. They suit businesses that hand a bag across the counter and want it to look and hold up a little better than a basic shopper:
Boutiques, apparel shops and accessory stores
Gift shops, specialty retailers and museum or hotel shops
Bakeries, chocolatiers and specialty food shops packing boxed or wrapped purchases
Restaurants and cafes with a retail shelf, gift purchases or packaged items to go
Corporate gifting, events and client giveaways
They are not meant to replace your delivery or takeout bag. For high-volume carryout orders, our paper take out sized shopping bags are the better fit.
Construction and Materials
Folded turn top edge around the full opening
Coordinated twisted paper handles anchored into the folded top
Clean gluing with minimal exposed edge along the side seams
Heavier paper weight than a typical twisted handle paper shopping bag
Natural kraft and black options use 100% recycled content kraft paper; white kraft includes post-consumer recycled content
The line comes in multiple colors, including white, black and natural kraft paper shopping bags, and in multiple sizes, from smaller bags for jewelry, cosmetics and gift items up through wider bags for apparel, shoe boxes and boxed goods. Exact dimensions for each bag are listed on its product page.
Adding Your Brand
The flat front panel takes a sticker, stamp or label cleanly, and the natural kraft paper is made to accept printing well. If you want your logo on turn top bags, call us and a packaging consultant can walk you through printing options for your quantity and design.
Turn Top Shopping Bag FAQ
What does turn top mean on a paper shopping bag?
Turn top means the top edge of the bag is folded down and glued to the inside, so the opening has a doubled band of paper instead of a single cut edge. The same style is also called a fold over top, folded top or J-cut shopping bag. The folded band strengthens the opening and gives the handles a thicker layer to anchor into.
Is a turn top bag the same as a Eurotote?
No. A Eurotote also has a folded top, but it typically uses rope handles, a matte finished surface and heavier construction for a high-end retail presentation. A turn top shopper keeps twisted paper handles and a simpler paper construction, so it sits a step below a Eurotote while still looking more finished than a standard paper shopping bag.
Are turn top bags stronger than standard paper shopping bags?
At the top of the bag, yes. The folded edge doubles the paper where the bag takes the most stress, so the opening is less likely to rip and the handles anchor into a thicker layer. These bags also use heavier paper than a typical twisted handle shopper. For very heavy or bulky loads, check the size and contents against the bag before you commit to a full rollout.
Can turn top bags be used for food?
They work well for carrying boxed and packaged food, such as bakery boxes, chocolates, specialty food items and gift purchases from a restaurant or cafe retail shelf. They are not designed as a delivery takeout bag for hot or greasy orders. For high-volume carryout, a paper take out sized shopping bag is the better match.
