Custom Stick Pack Packaging
Custom printed stick packs for coffee, powders, collagen, electrolytes, supplements and other single-serve products. Choose premade bags for small runs and market testing or printed rollstock for automatic high-volume packing. Back-seal and three-side-seal formats are available, and matching retail boxes can also be supplied.
| Stock stick pack overprinting | From about 200 pcs; recommended 1,000+ pcs |
|---|---|
| Stock printing | Generally one side, one color, using available stock bag dimensions |
| Digital printing | From about 100 pcs; normally recommended around 1,000–3,000 pcs |
| Gravure printing | Because stick packs are small, normally more practical from around 30,000+ pcs |
| Supply formats | Premade finished stick packs or printed rollstock |
| Common seal styles | Back seal / center seal or three-side seal. Confirm before artwork approval. |
| Minimum custom premade width | Approximately 40 mm |
| Below 40 mm | Printed rollstock is normally required |
| Matching box packaging | Custom printed retail boxes can be produced together with the stick packs |
What Is Stick Pack Packaging?
A stick pack is a narrow flexible package designed for measured, portable and single-serve portions. Its long slim format is especially suitable for products that are poured, mixed, dissolved or consumed in one dose.
Stick pack and sachet are not exactly the same. Stick packs are normally long and narrow, while sachets are usually wider and flatter. Both can be single-serve packages, but their dimensions, sealing styles, artwork layouts and filling equipment can differ.
- Compact format for single-dose products
- Suitable for powders, granules and selected liquid applications
- Available in different sealing structures
- Supplied as premade bags or rollstock
- Can be combined with matching printed retail cartons
Products Commonly Packed in Stick Packs
Stick packs work especially well for portable, portion-controlled products that require compact packaging and convenient single-use dosing.
Instant Coffee
Single-cup coffee, latte powder and soluble beverage mixes.
Electrolyte & Drink Mixes
Hydration powder, energy mixes and functional beverage powders.
Collagen & Supplements
Collagen powder, supplement blends and wellness products.
Cocoa & Powder Drinks
Chocolate powder, cocoa mixes and flavored powdered beverages.
Herbal & Functional Products
Botanical blends, herbal powders and functional drink products.
Milk & Nutrition Powder
Milk powder, nutrition blends and measured powdered portions.
Stock Stick Packs & Stock Bag Overprinting
For very small orders, customers can choose from selected stick pack sizes already available in stock. We can then add simple one-color printing to the existing bag.
Stock Stick Pack Bags
These are examples of existing stock stick packs. Customers choosing this option must select from the dimensions and colors currently available in inventory. The bag dimensions cannot be freely customized.
Stock Bags With Custom Printing
This shows the effect after adding customer artwork to an existing stock bag. Stock overprinting normally starts from about 200 pieces, with 1,000+ pieces recommended, and is generally limited to one side and one color.
Premade Stick Packs vs Printed Rollstock
The right format depends primarily on your filling equipment, order volume and stage of production.
Premade Stick Packs
Premade finished bags are practical for customers who do not yet have an automatic stick pack packing machine or who are still testing a new product.
- Can be manually filled and sealed
- Can work with suitable premade-pouch filling equipment
- Useful for market testing
- Suitable for smaller initial production
- Avoids purchasing automated stick pack equipment too early
Printed Rollstock
Printed rollstock is used directly on automatic stick pack machines that form, fill and seal the packaging continuously.
- Higher filling speed
- Lower labor requirements
- More consistent filling and sealing
- Better for narrow stick formats
- More efficient for larger production runs
- Suitable for widths that are difficult as premade bags
Small Orders and Large Orders Should Not Use the Same Packing Method
For a startup testing the market, buying automatic packing equipment may not make sense. Premade bags allow the product to launch with a lower equipment commitment.
Once production increases, manually opening, filling and sealing narrow stick packs becomes labor intensive. Rollstock used with automatic packaging equipment provides much higher production efficiency.
See Printed Rollstock FilmBack Seal vs Three-Side Seal Stick Packs
Stick packs are commonly produced in back-seal and three-side-seal structures. Customers should confirm the required seal style before artwork approval and production.
Back Seal / Center Seal
A back-seal stick pack normally has a longitudinal sealing seam running along the back of the package.
- Front panel remains relatively clean for branding
- Common for rollstock formed on automatic packing equipment
- Back-seal location should be considered during artwork design
- Film direction and machine setup should be confirmed
Three-Side Seal
A three-side-seal stick pack uses sealed edges around three sides of the finished narrow pouch.
- Different visible seal area from a back-seal format
- Common in selected premade stick pack applications
- Artwork must avoid required heat-seal zones
- Filling and sealing method should be reviewed before production
Stick Packs With Matching Custom Retail Boxes
Runlong Pack can produce not only the individual stick packs, but also matching printed retail boxes so that the inner packaging and outer presentation can be developed together.
One Supplier for Stick Packs and Retail Cartons
If your product is sold as multiple stick packs inside a retail carton, we can coordinate the dimensions, artwork and visual design of both packaging components.
Useful for Retail-Ready Product Lines
A common retail configuration places multiple individually packed sticks inside one printed box. This works especially well for coffee, supplements, collagen, electrolyte powder and functional drink products.
Send us the number of sticks per box, individual stick dimensions and your target box style. We can review both packages together.
Stick Pack Printing Options & MOQ
Because each stick pack uses only a small amount of film, the practical quantities for digital and gravure printing are different from larger pouch formats.
Stock Bag Overprinting
Selected stock stick packs can be overprinted for small projects. We recommend around 1,000 pieces or more for better overall value.
Usually limited to one-side, one-color printing. Size must match available inventory.Digital Printing
Suitable for custom artwork, market testing, multiple SKUs and smaller custom runs. The recommended practical range is commonly 1,000–3,000 pieces.
Digital printing avoids gravure cylinder setup and works well for frequently changing artwork.Gravure Printing
Better suited to stable designs and larger repeat orders. Because stick packs are small, the economical gravure quantity is normally higher.
Final recommendation depends on size, material, seal structure, artwork and total quantity.Stick Pack Width & Size Limitations
Not every narrow stick pack can be efficiently manufactured as a premade finished bag. The production method changes as the package becomes narrower.
Below 40 mm: Use Rollstock
For digitally printed or gravure-printed premade stick packs, the practical minimum finished width is about 4 cm / 40 mm. Narrower formats should normally be formed from printed rollstock on an automatic stick pack machine.
Barrier, Sealing & Easy-Open Features
Film structure should be selected according to product sensitivity, shelf-life requirements, filling conditions and sealing equipment.
Moisture Barrier
Important for powders that may absorb humidity, clump or lose product quality.
Oxygen & Light Barrier
Metallized or foil structures can be considered when stronger barrier protection is required.
Reliable Heat Sealing
Seal layers should match the filling, forming and sealing conditions.
Easy Opening
Tear features can be incorporated depending on format and customer requirements.
Multiple SKUs, Colors & Product Variations
Stick pack products are often sold in multiple flavors, formulas or functional varieties. Digital printing is especially useful when each design is needed in a relatively small quantity.
- Different flavors within one product family
- Multiple coffee or supplement formulations
- Short production runs for market testing
- Coordinated artwork between stick packs and retail boxes
- Artwork adjusted for back-seal or three-side-seal formats
Stick Pack vs Sachet Packaging
Both formats can be used for single-serve products, but their shape, seal structure and filling characteristics are different.
| Feature | Stick Pack | Sachet |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Long and narrow | Wider and flatter |
| Common applications | Coffee, drink powders, collagen, supplements and nutrition powder | Powders, sauces, liquids, samples and portion packs |
| Common seal formats | Back seal or three-side seal | Commonly three-side or four-side seal |
| Manual filling | Possible, but narrow opening makes filling more difficult | Usually easier because the opening can be wider |
| High-volume production | Commonly formed and filled automatically from rollstock | Can also be automatically formed and filled from rollstock |
From Packaging Requirement to Production
The packaging route should be selected only after confirming your product, filling method, required seal structure, size and order quantity.
Share Product Details
Product type, fill weight, quantity and target use.
Choose Supply Format
Stock bag, premade custom bag or printed rollstock.
Confirm Seal Style
Back seal or three-side seal must be confirmed before artwork approval.
Confirm Size
Width, length, fill volume and equipment compatibility.
Confirm Material
Barrier, sealing layer and required protection.
Artwork Review
Graphics are checked against seal areas and printing zones.
Printing & Conversion
Stock overprint, digital, gravure or rollstock conversion.
Inspection & Shipment
Printing, dimensions, sealing and general quality are checked.
Packaging Based on Your Actual Production Stage
A startup manually filling a few hundred stick packs does not need the same solution as a factory operating an automatic stick pack line. We help compare practical packaging routes according to how the product will actually be packed.
Small-Run Options
Stock overprinting and digital printing support product trials and launches.
Seal Structure Support
Confirm back seal or three-side seal before artwork and production.
Scale-Up Path
Move from premade bags to rollstock as filling volume increases.
Stick Packs + Boxes
Coordinate flexible packaging and matching retail cartons within one project.
Custom Stick Pack Examples
Examples of different products, printing styles, seal structures and packaging presentations.
Stick Pack Packaging FAQ
Common questions about MOQ, stock bags, printing, seal styles, rollstock, dimensions and matching retail boxes.
What is the MOQ for custom stick pack packaging?
It depends on the production method. Selected stock stick packs can be overprinted from around 200 pieces, with 1,000 or more recommended. Digital printing can start from around 100 pieces and is commonly recommended around 1,000–3,000 pieces. Because stick packs are small, gravure printing is generally more practical from around 30,000 pieces or more.
What is stock stick pack overprinting?
Stock overprinting means choosing an existing stick pack size and color from our inventory and adding customer artwork to the finished bag. It normally starts from around 200 pieces and is generally limited to one side and one color.
Can I choose any size for stock stick packs?
No. Stock stick pack dimensions are limited to the sizes currently available in inventory. If the required dimensions are different, digital, gravure or rollstock production can be evaluated.
What seal styles are available for stick packs?
Stick packs are commonly produced in back-seal or three-side-seal formats. Customers should confirm the required seal style before artwork approval and production because the sealing structure can affect artwork layout, usable print area, filling method and machine compatibility.
What is a back-seal stick pack?
A back-seal stick pack has a longitudinal sealing seam running along the back of the package. This format is common for rollstock formed on automatic stick pack equipment.
What is a three-side-seal stick pack?
A three-side-seal stick pack uses sealed edges around three sides of the finished narrow pouch. The wider visible seal area needs to be considered during artwork and filling-process confirmation.
Do you supply premade stick packs or printed rollstock?
We can supply both. Premade stick packs are useful for startups, manual filling and smaller production runs. Printed rollstock is normally better for larger-volume automatic filling.
Can stick packs be manually filled?
Yes. Premade stick packs can be manually filled and sealed. This can work for product trials or smaller quantities. However, the opening is narrow, so manual filling becomes slower and more difficult as production volume increases.
When should I use rollstock instead of premade bags?
Rollstock is normally recommended when production volume increases or when an automatic stick pack filling machine is used. Automatic packaging provides higher filling speed, more consistent sealing and lower labor requirements.
What is the minimum width for a custom premade stick pack?
For digitally printed or gravure-printed premade stick packs, the practical minimum finished width is approximately 40 mm. If the required width is below about 40 mm, printed rollstock is normally required.
Can you produce matching retail boxes for stick packs?
Yes. Runlong Pack can produce matching custom printed retail boxes together with the stick packs. Box dimensions and artwork can be coordinated with the number of stick packs, pack size and product presentation.
What products are suitable for stick pack packaging?
Common applications include instant coffee, electrolyte powder, drink mixes, collagen, supplements, nutrition powder, cocoa, herbal products and other portion-controlled products.
How do I choose between digital and gravure printing?
Digital printing is normally better for smaller custom runs, multiple SKUs and market testing, with 1,000–3,000 pieces being a common practical range. Gravure is better suited to stable designs and larger repeat orders and for small stick packs is generally evaluated from around 30,000 pieces or more.
Tell Us Your Product, Size, Quantity and Seal Style
For a faster quotation, send us your product type, fill weight, width × length, order quantity, premade bag or rollstock requirement, required seal style Back Seal or Three-Side Seal, filling method and whether you also need a matching retail box.