Custom Mylar Bags, Printed Your Way
Your brand on every panel, in the size, shape and finish that suits your product. We print custom mylar bags for Canadian businesses in runs that make sense for where you are right now, whether that’s your first 500 bags or your fiftieth reorder.
Pick your bag style
Four shapes cover almost every product. We can also die cut bags into custom outlines, like a bottle or a leaf, for brands that want to stand out.
Stand up pouch
The all rounder. A bottom gusset lets it stand on a shelf, and the big front panel gives your design room to breathe. Great for snacks, cannabis, powders and coffee.
Flat pouch
Also called a three side seal pouch. Slim, simple and cost effective. Ideal for single servings, samples and small cannabis sizes.
Flat bottom bag
Stands like a box, with five panels you can print on. The premium choice for coffee and specialty foods.
Side gusset bag
The classic coffee shape. Packs tightly in shipping cartons and works with a tin tie or a zipper.
Digital or rotogravure printing?
There are two main ways to print a mylar bag, and the right one depends mostly on how many bags you need of each design.
Digital printing works like a very high end office printer. There are no plates or cylinders to make, so short runs are affordable and every design can be different. It’s the reason a small roaster can print six coffees, or a cannabis brand can print ten strains, without a huge bill.
Rotogravure printing engraves a metal cylinder for each colour. Setup costs more and takes longer, but once the cylinders exist the price per bag drops a lot. It’s the better deal for big, steady runs of one design.
Not sure? Give us your quantity and number of designs. If it’s close, we’ll price both.
| Digital printing | Rotogravure printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | No plates or cylinders | One engraved cylinder per colour |
| Best for | Short and medium runs, lots of designs | Large runs of the same design |
| Typical minimum | Hundreds of bags per design | Thousands per design, often 10,000 or more |
| Colour | Full colour (CMYK plus white), close to most Pantone shades | Exact Pantone spot colours |
| Changing artwork | Easy, no extra setup cost | New cylinders needed |
| Turnaround | Faster | Longer, because cylinders take time to make |
Finishes and effects
Mix and match. Many of our favourite bags combine a matte background with one glossy or metallic detail.
Matte
Smooth and low glare. Easy to read and easy to photograph for your online store.
Soft touch
A velvety coating that feels premium the moment someone picks the bag up.
Gloss
Bright, saturated colour with a shine that grabs attention under store lighting.
Spot UV
Gloss on just your logo or pattern over a matte bag. Subtle until the light hits it.
Metallic and holographic
Print over metallized or holographic film for a foil look, on the full bag or in selected areas.
Kraft paper
Natural paper outside, barrier film inside. Earthy look, same protection.
Clear windows
Let customers see the product. Round, oval, rectangular or a custom shape.
Die cut shapes
Cut the whole bag into a custom outline for a shelf presence nobody else has.
What your bag is made of
A mylar bag is a sandwich of thin films. The outer layer takes the print, the middle layer is the barrier, and the inner layer seals shut with heat and touches your product. The barrier layer decides how well the bag keeps out light, oxygen and moisture.
| Structure | Barrier | Look | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PET / AL / PE (foil) | Highest. Blocks light, oxygen and moisture almost completely | Opaque, silver inside | Cannabis, coffee, powders, food storage |
| PET / VMPET / PE (metallized) | High | Opaque with a metallic sheen | Snacks, candy, tea, everyday retail |
| Kraft / VMPET / PE | High | Natural paper outside | Coffee, granola, artisan foods |
| PET / PE (clear) | Low to medium | Fully clear | Products you want on display that sell quickly |
| Recyclable mono PE | Medium, higher with barrier coatings | Matte or gloss | Brands with recycling goals |
| Compostable kraft / PLA | Low to medium | Natural paper | Short shelf life dry goods |
Thickness is measured in mil (thousandths of an inch) or microns. Most retail pouches we print land between 4 and 5.5 mil, about 100 to 140 microns. Bags for long term food storage go thicker, 5 mil and up. Our mylar bag guide explains thickness in more detail.
Features and add ons
Zippers
Standard press to close zippers, pocket zippers for flat bottom bags, and certified child resistant zippers.
Tear notches
Small notches above the zipper so customers can tear the bag open cleanly. They also make the seal tamper evident.
Hang holes
Round or sombrero style holes for peg hooks and retail displays.
Degassing valves
One way valves that let gas escape from fresh coffee without letting air in.
Gussets
Bottom gussets for standing pouches and side gussets for boxy coffee bags.
Any size
From sample sachets to bulk bags. We size the bag to your product, not the other way around.
Artwork that prints well
Once you pick a style and size, we send a dieline: a template that shows the cut lines, seals, zipper position and safe area for your exact bag. Your designer drops the artwork onto it and sends it back. A few things make that go smoothly:
- Send vector files (AI, PDF or EPS) with fonts outlined.
- Keep photos at 300 dpi at full size.
- Run background colours past the cut line. The dieline shows how far.
- Keep text and logos inside the safe area, away from seals and zippers.
- List any Pantone colours that have to match exactly.
No artwork yet?
That’s fine. Tell us in your quote request. We can talk through what the bag needs to show, send you the dieline early so your designer can start, and flag anything that tends to cause trouble on press.
Custom mylar bags at a glance
| Option | What we offer |
|---|---|
| Bag styles | Stand up pouch, flat pouch, flat bottom bag, side gusset bag, die cut shapes |
| Printing | Digital and rotogravure, full colour on the outside of the bag |
| Finishes | Matte, soft touch, gloss, spot UV, metallic, holographic, kraft paper |
| Closures | Zipper, pocket zipper, child resistant zipper, tin tie, heat seal only |
| Extras | Degassing valves, clear windows, hang holes, tear notches, rounded corners |
| Materials | Foil, metallized, kraft, clear, recyclable and compostable structures |
| Minimums | Low on digital print. Ask for the number for your bag |
| Shipping | Anywhere in Canada |
Common questions
Don’t see yours? Ask it in the quote form and a real person will answer.
How much do custom mylar bags cost?
Price per bag depends on size, quantity, number of designs, printing method and finish. Bigger runs bring the unit price down a lot. Send us your details and we’ll give you real numbers instead of a vague range.
Can I print different designs in one order?
Yes. With digital printing you can split an order across several designs, such as one per flavour or strain, without paying for plates. Each design has its own minimum, so ask how it works for your quantities.
Do you provide a dieline template?
Yes. Once you choose a size and style we send a dieline showing cut lines, seals, the zipper position and safe areas, so your designer can place everything correctly the first time.
Will I see a proof before printing?
Always. We send a digital proof for your approval, and nothing goes to press until you sign off.
Can you match my brand colours?
Digital printing gets very close to most Pantone colours. If a colour has to be exact, rotogravure printing with spot colours is the way to go on larger runs. We’ll tell you before printing if any colour might shift.
Ready to see pricing?
Send us a few details and we’ll come back with options and real numbers. No pressure and no endless back and forth.
Part of the Lion Packaging family
MylarBags.ca is one of a small group of Canadian packaging sites. If your project goes beyond bags, these are the people to talk to.