6 Online Custom Pouch Companies to Compare

Choosing a custom pouch company comes down to a few practical questions. Can you order the quantity you need? Does the pouch fit your product? How does artwork approval work, and when will the order ship?

This guide sets the published pouch offerings of The Packaging Lab, Vistaprint, UPrinting, The Pouch House, MakeStickers, and Packlane side by side, so you can build a shortlist without six browser tabs open.

This guide is published by The Packaging Lab, and we list ourselves first. The order is not a ranking, and we are not an independent reviewer. Every detail below comes from the official company page linked in each profile, checked on October 16, 2026. Options and terms change, so confirm them for your order before you buy.

Jump to a company: The Packaging Lab · Vistaprint · UPrinting · The Pouch House · MakeStickers · Packlane

Or go to the quick comparison, how to choose, or common questions.

What This Comparison Covers

Each company here advertises custom-printed pouches and lets you configure or place an order online. Two are pouch specialists: The Packaging Lab and The Pouch House. The other four sell pouches alongside labels, print, or boxes. Leaving a company out says nothing about its offering.

Every profile covers the same ground: formats and quantities, materials and finishes, artwork and samples, timing, and what to know before ordering. Where a company says it makes pouches in its own facility, we include that statement. We don't guess how the others produce theirs.

We worked from published pages rather than test orders, and we don't compare prices, which move with every option you pick. To compare cost fairly, request quotes with the same dimensions, material, quantity, and shipping from each company.

Comparison at a Glance

Every company here lists production or dispatch time separately from shipping transit. Rollstock is printed film on a roll for your own packaging machine, not a finished pouch.

The Packaging Lab

We print, laminate, and convert pouches at our own facility in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on HP Indigo digital presses.

• Formats and quantities: 12 standard stand-up sizes and 8 standard lay-flat sizes, from one pouch. We also print rollstock film. Custom sizes typically need 5,000 pieces and 5 to 10 business days of production.
• Materials and finishes: White, clear, or metallized high-barrier film, FDA-compliant for direct food contact. Each pouch takes one finish: gloss or matte. Zippers are push-to-close.
• Artwork and samples: Free dielines, Design For Me for a one-time $450, and file setup at $125 per file if your artwork needs reworking for our press. The free sample pack covers our standard sizes, materials, and finishes, and ships free.
• Timing: 5 business days standard, with expedited options down to 1 business day. The clock starts once we have print-ready artwork, with a 3 p.m. Central daily cutoff, excluding weekends and holidays. If we miss the production time you chose, we upgrade your shipping to make up the lost time. FedEx Ground to U.S. addresses is included; faster FedEx services cost extra.

Worth considering: A single pouch runs through the same press and pouch machines as a 5,000-piece order; it is not a hand-made prototype. A short run is the cheapest way to see your own artwork, colors, and fill on our film before you commit to volume. We print without plates, so changing artwork between orders costs nothing extra.

Know before ordering: Your digital proof arrives by email, and if you don't accept or reject it within 12 hours, the order goes to press. That protects your ship date, but if your label needs a second person's sign-off, line them up before you check out. We don't provide physical proofs, proofread text, or test barcodes, QR codes, or links. We also don't currently offer child-resistant zippers, valves, spouts, spot varnish, or recyclable or compostable films.

Sources: Manufacturing and services · FAQ · Ordering instructions

Vistaprint

Vistaprint is an online printer whose packaging range includes stand-up and flat pouches.

• Formats and quantities: 12 stand-up sizes, in quantities from 100 to 10,000. The pouch hub lists a 100-pouch minimum for both stand-up and flat pouches.
• Materials and finishes: White, clear, or metallized film, with gloss or matte chosen at checkout. Zippers and round or Euro hang holes are optional.
• Artwork and samples: Upload your own artwork, start from a template, or hire a designer through its design service. The pouch sample kit costs $4.99 plus shipping.
• Timing: The pouch hub says most orders ship within a few business days. The dispatch and delivery dates for your specifications and address appear before checkout.

Worth considering: If you already order labels, cards, or mailers from Vistaprint, adding pouches keeps your reorders in one account. Templates and a design service help if your artwork isn't finished.

Know before ordering: The stand-up page lists the sample kit as 20 printed examples, while the pouch hub lists it as an "order of 1" option that can be customized for your brand. Ask which you'll receive, because only a kit printed with your own artwork shows how your design comes out.

Sources: Stand-up pouches · Pouch range and FAQ

UPrinting

UPrinting sells regular and child-resistant pouches, with online design, upload, and ordering.

• Formats and quantities: Stand-up, flat, child-resistant stand-up and child-resistant flat. Regular printed stand-up pouches come in 12 sizes, with quantities from 100 to 10,000; check the requirements for other styles.
• Materials and finishes: The printed stand-up pouch page lists white, clear, or metallized barrier film with matte or gloss laminate.
• Artwork and samples: Free PDF proof, free file review, and a free sample kit. You can also buy now and upload artwork later.
• Timing: The stand-up page lists printing options including six, four or two business days. Confirm the available option and its start conditions for your order, then allow for shipping transit separately.

Worth considering: UPrinting is the only company here that sells child-resistant pouches straight from its order pages. Buying before your artwork is final lets you place the order while the design is still being finished.

Know before ordering: If you choose the PDF proof, your files aren't queued to print until you approve it, so a slow approval delays the order instead of pushing it through. The hard copy proof is for checking color; it won't show how the printed film looks or feels.

Sources: Stand-up pouches · Pouch range and FAQ

The Pouch House

The Pouch House describes itself as a domestic manufacturer with a facility in Mankato, Minnesota. Its site states that the facility is SQF and G7 Master Printer certified.

• Formats and quantities: Stand-up pouches, lay-flat pouches, and bar wrappers. Stand-up pouches come in 12 standard sizes, with a 100-piece minimum per run in increments of 100. Custom sizes carry a higher minimum and are quoted by a packaging specialist.
• Materials and finishes: Clear, white, or metallized high-barrier film with gloss or matte lamination, FDA-compliant for direct food contact. PCR (post-consumer recycled) films are available on custom projects.
• Artwork and samples: An online design studio, downloadable templates, and a free sample kit, shipped free. Variable data such as serial numbers or QR codes can be printed on every pouch.
• Timing: Typically 5 to 7 business days of production after proof approval, plus shipping.

Worth considering: The Pouch House prints several flavors or SKUs in one run and says this keeps unit costs down at small quantities. Child-resistant zippers certified to 16 CFR 1700.20 are available by custom quote, with a higher minimum and a longer lead time.

Know before ordering: The 100-piece minimum and 5-to-7-day lead time are stand-up figures. The company says lead time depends on quantity and SKU count, so get both confirmed for custom sizes, child-resistant zippers, and other formats.

Sources: Stand-up pouches · Facility · Samples · Child-resistant zippers

MakeStickers

MakeStickers, best known for stickers and labels, also sells custom printed stand-up zipper pouches.

• Formats and quantities: One style in three sizes: 4.375 x 6 x 2 in., 5.75 x 7.5 x 2.5 in., and 7 x 9 x 3 in. Every pouch has a push-to-close zipper, a hang hole, and tear notches. The product page doesn't list quantities, so check them in the order form.
• Materials and finishes: Matte exterior and metallized interior, FDA-compliant for direct food contact.
• Artwork and samples: A digital proof with unlimited revisions. The sample pack holds one pouch in each size and ships free with 2-day delivery.
• Timing: Made in the USA and shipped within 7 days of ordering, with free shipping. That is a ship date, so add transit time.

Worth considering: If one of the three sizes fits and matte metallized film suits your product, ordering is quick, and unlimited proof revisions help when artwork changes a few times before approval.

Know before ordering: The page states that the zipper is not child-resistant. Every pouch is matte metallized film, so clear windows and gloss finishes aren't available.

Source: Stand-up pouches · Sample pack

Packlane

Packlane sells boxes, mailers, and other packaging alongside stand-up and flat pouches, and says its pouches are produced in the USA.

• Formats and quantities: Six stand-up sizes and five flat sizes, from 100 to 10,000 pieces. Flat pouches can be set up to fill from the top or the bottom. Packlane Plus quotes larger or custom runs.
• Materials and finishes: White, clear-with-window or metallized film, with gloss or matte laminate. Packlane states that none of the three films is currently recyclable.
• Artwork and samples: Design in the online 3D tool or upload artwork built on a free dieline. Prepress will check artwork emailed before you order, within 4 hours during business hours, and send a PDF proof within 24 hours of checkout. Ask about pouch samples if you need to check fit or material.
• Timing: The pouch order pages list standard production of 7 business days and rush of 5. Production starts after proof approval, shipping is separate, and checkout dates are estimates, not guarantees.

Worth considering: The 3D tool shows your artwork on the pouch before you request a proof, and if you also need mailer or shipping boxes, both can go on one order.

Know before ordering: You have 3 business days to approve or change the proof. If Packlane hasn't heard from you by the fourth, it approves the proof and starts production, and after that changes and cancellations aren't possible. Its film specifications also match UPrinting's layer for layer, so if you're comparing the two, material won't be what separates them.

Sources: Stand-up pouches and ordering FAQ · Flat pouches

How to Choose

Start with the one requirement you can't compromise on. It usually narrows six companies to two or three.

• Fewer than 100 pouches: The Packaging Lab takes orders from one pouch in standard sizes.
• A child-resistant closure: UPrinting sells child-resistant pouches online, and The Pouch House quotes certified CR zippers on request.
• A firm ship date: The Packaging Lab guarantees both production timing and ship date. Packlane describes its checkout dates as estimates.
• Recycled content: The Pouch House offers PCR film on custom projects. The Packaging Lab and Packlane both say their current films aren’t recyclable.
• Time for internal sign-off: UPrinting holds files until you approve the PDF proof. Packlane auto-approves on the fourth business day. We auto-approve after 12 hours.

Then test the details for your exact pouch. Fill samples with your actual product, because volume and shape decide fit, not weight. If you sell several flavors, ask whether the minimum applies per size, design, or order. You’ll heat-seal these pouches yourself; The Packaging Lab and Vistaprint specify 250 to 350°F. The Packaging Lab and Packlane don’t check spelling or scannable codes, so proofread and scan before you approve. Last, ask when the order ships, when it arrives, and what the daily cutoff is; ours is 3 p.m. Central.

Common Questions

Can I order fewer than 100 custom pouches?

Yes. The Packaging Lab accepts orders from one pouch in standard sizes, produced the same way as a larger run. UPrinting's pouch hub says you can order one pouch to check fit, but its stand-up order form starts at 100, so ask how to request it. A sample kit is a different thing: unless it says otherwise, it holds stock examples rather than your artwork.

Where can I look for child-resistant pouches?

UPrinting sells child-resistant stand-up and flat pouches on its order pages. The Pouch House offers zippers certified to 16 CFR 1700.20 by custom quote. MakeStickers states its zipper is not child-resistant, and The Packaging Lab doesn't currently offer child-resistant zippers. If your product is regulated, check the closure's certification against your state's requirements before ordering.

Does production time include shipping?

No. Every company here lists production or dispatch separately from transit. Our FedEx Ground shipping usually takes 1 to 7 days, depending on where you are. MakeStickers' 7 days is a ship date, so add transit to that too.

Can I get a custom pouch size?

The Packaging Lab, The Pouch House, and Packlane all quote custom sizes. Ours typically start at 5,000 pieces with 5 to 10 business days of production. The Pouch House says custom sizes carry a higher minimum than its 100-piece standard runs. Compare the minimum, materials, and lead time in each quote.

Get a Price From The Packaging Lab

If you’re still deciding, we’d love to help you get it right. Our free sample pack lets you hold every standard size, film, and finish before you spend a dollar, and it ships free. If you already know your size, the Pouch Pricing Calculator shows your price in seconds, whether you need one pouch or thousands. And if you’d rather talk it through, call us at 612-383-1960. You’ll reach the people who run the press, and they’re happy to look at your project with you.