Kraft Bag Size Names Decoded: Cub, Vogue, Rose, Gem, Debbie, Queen and Jumbo
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If you have ever tried to reorder paper bags from a new supplier and found that their "Cub" is not quite your old Cub, you are not imagining it. Paper bag trade names are supplier vocabularies, not an industry standard. Two companies can both sell a "Vogue" and ship you bags an inch apart in height.
This is the guide we wish existed when we started. It explains what each name usually means, where suppliers disagree, and the one habit that will save you from ordering the wrong thing.
The short version: match on dimensions, not names
Every bag on this site is listed with its dimensions in the title for exactly this reason. A name tells you roughly what family of bag someone means. Only the numbers tell you whether it will fit what you are packing.
Dimensions are conventionally written as width x gusset x height, in inches. The gusset is the depth of the bag when it is opened out. A 10 x 5 x 13 bag is 10 inches across the front, 5 inches deep, and 13 inches tall, not counting the handles.
Where people get caught out is the gusset. Two bags with the same face can hold very different volumes. An inch of gusset on a mid-size bag is a substantial change in capacity, and it is the number most often skipped when someone quotes a size to you over the phone.
The names, and what they usually mean
Rose
A small bag, roughly 5 to 5.5 inches wide and 8 inches tall. Used for jewelry, cosmetics, small accessories and party favours. Nashville Wraps sells a Rose at 5.5 x 3.25 x 8.375. Our closest equivalent is the Gem at 5 x 3 x 8 - similar height, a slightly narrower footprint. If you are moving from a Rose and the width matters, measure before you commit.
Gem
Used by some suppliers for the same small-bag slot as Rose. Ours is 5 x 3 x 8. We also carry a Mini Gem at 4.7 x 3 x 7.5 for jewelry and favours where even a Rose is oversized.
Cub
The workhorse boutique bag, and one of only two names used fairly consistently across the trade. Around 8 inches wide and 10 inches tall. Nashville Wraps lists theirs at 8 x 4.75 x 10; ours is 8 x 4 x 10. Same face, three quarters of an inch less gusset. If you are packing a folded garment it will not matter. If you are packing a boxed item that was a tight fit before, it will.
Debbie, or Carrier
A tall mid-size bag, commonly 10 x 5 x 13. General retail: homeware, multiple items, apparel. Some suppliers call this a Carrier, some a Debbie, some just "medium." Ours is 10 x 5 x 13.
Vogue
The other name that is used consistently. A wide, relatively shallow bag around 16 inches across, designed so folded clothing lies flat rather than being crushed. Heights vary: Nashville Wraps lists a Vogue at 16 x 6 x 12.5, ours is 16 x 6 x 13. Half an inch of height rarely matters here; the 16-inch width is the defining feature.
Super Vogue
Not a universal name. Where it exists it means a Vogue stretched wider - ours is 18 x 6.8 x 13. Useful for wide-format retail and hampers where a Vogue is close but not quite enough.
Queen
A name you will see at some suppliers for a large bag, usually around 16 x 6 x 19. Confusingly it sits between a Vogue and a Jumbo rather than above both. If a supplier quotes you a Queen, ask for the numbers.
Jumbo
The largest bag in most ranges, around 18 inches wide and 18 to 19 inches tall. Coats, bedding, bulk purchases, gift hampers. Nashville Wraps lists 18 x 7 x 18.75; ours is 18 x 7 x 18.
A quick reference table
| Common name | Typical size (W x G x H) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Gem | 4.7 x 3 x 7.5 | Jewelry, favours, cosmetics samples |
| Gem / Rose | 5 x 3 x 8 | Jewelry, cosmetics, small accessories |
| Cub | 8 x 4 x 10 | Boutique sale, single garment |
| Debbie / Carrier | 10 x 5 x 13 | General retail, homeware |
| Vogue | 16 x 6 x 13 | Folded apparel, multiple items |
| Super Vogue | 18 x 6.8 x 13 | Wide-format retail, hampers |
| Queen | ~16 x 6 x 19 | Tall bulky items |
| Jumbo | 18 x 7 x 18 | Coats, bedding, bulk |
How to reorder without getting it wrong
Measure the bag you already have. Lay it flat, measure the width across the front, open the base and measure the gusset, then measure from the base to the top edge excluding handles. Those three numbers are what you order against.
Ask for the gusset specifically. It is the number most often omitted and the one most likely to change the fit.
Check the case count as well as the size. Suppliers pack the same bag in 100, 200, 250 or 750 count cases. A price that looks lower is sometimes a smaller case.
If in doubt, tell someone what you are packing. That is a faster route to the right bag than matching names. Email chris@boaztradinggroup.com with the size you used to buy and who you bought it from, and we will point you to the equivalent.
You can browse the full range by use case: Gift & Retail, Takeout & Restaurant, Wine & Bottle and Produce & Market.