A pouch’s usable capacity depends on its width, height and, for a stand-up pouch, its bottom gusset. Enter those dimensions in the calculator above for an estimate in milliliters, US fluid ounces and cups, or enter how much product you need to pack to shortlist Custom Printed Pouches (CPP) sizes to test. Treat every result as a planning range and confirm it with a fill test.
Pouch capacity chart: all 20 CPP sizes
Estimated usable capacity for every standard size in the CPP pouch configurator, calculated with the same model as the calculator from finished outside dimensions. Select a size code to open it in the calculator.
Stand-up pouch estimates (12 sizes)
| Size code | Format | Size (W × H × gusset, in) | Estimated capacity (mL) | Planning range (mL) | US fl oz | US cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | Stand-up | 3.25 × 4.75 × 2 | 175 | 150–200 | 6.0 | 0.8 |
| S2 | Stand-up | 4.375 × 6 × 2 | 330 | 280–380 | 11.3 | 1.4 |
| S3 | Stand-up | 5 × 6.5 × 2.5 | 570 | 480–650 | 19.2 | 2.4 |
| S4 | Stand-up | 5 × 7 × 3 | 770 | 660–890 | 26.2 | 3.3 |
| S5 | Stand-up | 5.75 × 7.5 × 2.5 | 780 | 670–900 | 26.5 | 3.3 |
| S6 | Stand-up | 6.5 × 8 × 2.5 | 960 | 820–1,100 | 32.6 | 4.1 |
| S7 | Stand-up | 6.75 × 8.5 × 3.5 | 1,625 | 1,375–1,850 | 54.5 | 6.8 |
| S8 | Stand-up | 7 × 9 × 3 | 1,500 | 1,275–1,725 | 50.4 | 6.3 |
| S9 | Stand-up | 7.25 × 6 × 2 | 580 | 490–670 | 19.6 | 2.5 |
| S10 | Stand-up | 8.125 × 10 × 3.5 | 2,350 | 2,000–2,725 | 79.9 | 10.0 |
| S11 | Stand-up | 9.875 × 10.5 × 3 | 2,550 | 2,175–2,925 | 86.4 | 10.8 |
| S12 | Stand-up | 12 × 12.5 × 3.5 | 4,550 | 3,850–5,250 | 153.9 | 19.2 |
Flat pouch estimates (8 sizes)
| Size code | Format | Size (W × H × gusset, in) | Estimated capacity (mL) | Planning range (mL) | US fl oz | US cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L13 | Flat | 3.25 × 4.5 | 95 | 80–110 | 3.2 | 0.4 |
| L14 | Flat | 3.375 × 5.5 | 135 | 115–160 | 4.6 | 0.6 |
| L15 | Flat | 4 × 6 | 220 | 185–250 | 7.3 | 0.9 |
| L16 | Flat | 5 × 5.5 | 280 | 240–330 | 9.6 | 1.2 |
| L17 | Flat | 5 × 7 | 410 | 350–470 | 13.9 | 1.7 |
| L18 | Flat | 6 × 7 | 560 | 480–650 | 19.1 | 2.4 |
| L19 | Flat | 7 × 9 | 1,075 | 910–1,225 | 36.4 | 4.5 |
| L20 | Flat | 7 × 12 | 1,625 | 1,375–1,875 | 54.8 | 6.8 |
Calculator estimates, not measured fills. Real capacity varies with the product, fill method and pouch construction, zipper placement and required headspace.
How does the pouch volume calculator work?
The calculator subtracts assumed allowances from a pouch’s finished size, then applies a shape model for the format. Both formulas are below so you can check any result by hand.
Stand-up pouches
First it subtracts default planning allowances: 0.5 in from the width, 1 in from the height and 0.5 in from the gusset. These are model assumptions, not seal or zipper measurements from your exact dieline. A filled stand-up pouch is deepest at its base and flat at its top seal, so the box formed by those usable dimensions is multiplied by 0.70.
capacity (in³) = (W − 0.5) × (H − 1) × (G − 0.5) × 0.70 capacity (mL) = capacity (in³) × 16.387
Worked example, CPP S6 (6.5 × 8 × 2.5 in): 6 × 7 × 2 = 84 in³ × 0.70 = 58.8 in³, or about 960 mL (32.6 US fl oz).
Flat pouches
A flat pouch has no gusset; it puffs into a pillow as it fills. The calculator subtracts 0.5 in from the width and height, then uses the published approximation for the volume of a filled rectangular paper bag, where w is the shorter usable side and h the longer. It applies a 0.85 planning factor to that figure. This adjustment has not been calibrated from measured CPP fills.
V (in³) = w³ × ( h ÷ (π × w) − 0.142 × (1 − 10^(−h ÷ w)) ) × 0.85
Worked example, CPP L17 (5 × 7 in): usable 4.5 × 6.5 in. 4.5³ = 91.1; 6.5 ÷ (π × 4.5) = 0.460; 0.142 × (1 − 10^(−1.44)) = 0.137. So 91.1 × 0.323 = 29.4 in³ × 0.85 = 25.0 in³, or about 410 mL in this model.
Why results are shown as a range
Fixed allowances and shape factors can’t capture every product. Powders settle, chips leave air gaps and required headspace and zipper placement change the fill space. The calculator shows a planning range from 85% to 115% of its central estimate. This is not a measured accuracy or confidence interval; actual fills can fall outside it. A target below the lower end has more planning margin. A target nearer the central estimate needs a closer fill check.
How do I measure a pouch for the calculator?
- Width: straight across the pouch from left edge to right edge, including the side seals.
- Height: from the bottom edge to the top edge, including the top seal.
- Bottom gusset (stand-up only): the full front-to-back depth of the base when it is opened out, not the folded depth.
- Choose the basis: select Finished outside size for any listed size, such as a CPP size code. Select Usable inside space only if you measured the interior, so the allowances aren’t subtracted twice.
How do I convert pouch volume to weight?
Milliliters, fluid ounces and cups measure volume; grams, ounces and pounds measure weight. To connect them you need your product’s bulk density, its weight per unit of volume as it will actually be filled.
fill weight (g) = capacity (mL) × bulk density (g/mL)
- Tare a measuring cup or graduated container on a kitchen or bench scale.
- Fill it to a known volume, such as 100 mL, the way your product will be filled: poured, scooped or settled, without extra packing.
- Weigh it and divide: 45 g in 100 mL is 0.45 g/mL. Repeat three times and use the average.
Example: the model estimates an S6 stand-up pouch at about 960 mL. At 0.45 g/mL that is about 430 g, or 15.2 oz. Enter your density in the calculator to see the full weight range, or switch to Find a pouch size and enter your target weight directly.
How do I choose the right pouch size?
Use the calculator to narrow the field, then let physical samples decide. The custom pouch size guide covers each step in more detail.
- Measure the product volume. Fill a graduated container with your target amount, settled the way production will settle it.
- Shortlist two or three sizes. Use Find a pouch size; prefer sizes with more planning margin and leave headspace for the zipper and seal.
- Fill physical samples. Use your real product and fill amount, and check how it settles and stands on a shelf.
- Test closing and handling. Keep the seal area clean, open and close the pouch as a customer would and run it through storage and shipping.
- Approve the size. Choose dimensions once the filled sample works with your product, artwork, equipment and packing process. The pouch testing checklist helps you record each check.
Pouch volume FAQs
How do you calculate the volume of a stand-up pouch?
The model subtracts default allowances from the finished outside dimensions, then multiplies the remaining width, height and gusset by 0.70. For CPP S6, that gives about 960 mL. The full formula and assumptions are explained above.
How do you calculate the volume of a flat pouch?
The model uses a pillow-shaped bag approximation rather than treating the pouch as a box, then applies a 0.85 planning factor. A 5 × 7 in flat pouch is estimated at about 410 mL; confirm the fill with your actual product.
What size pouch holds 1 pound?
It depends on your product’s density. At 0.45 g/mL, 1 lb takes about 1,000 mL, and the model lists L19 flat as near the estimate and S8 stand-up (7 × 9 × 3 in) with more planning margin. A denser product at 0.80 g/mL needs about 570 mL, for which the model gives an S4 more planning margin (5 × 7 × 3 in). Use the calculator’s Find a pouch size mode with your measured density.
How many milliliters are in a fluid ounce?
One US fluid ounce is 29.57 mL, and one US cup (8 fl oz) is 236.6 mL. Fluid ounces measure volume; ounces on a scale measure weight, so you need your product’s density to convert between them.
Why is the calculated capacity lower than width × height × gusset?
Seals, the zipper and headspace take up part of the listed size, and a stand-up pouch narrows from the full gusset at its base to a flat seal at the top. Treating the outside dimensions as a rigid box can give more than twice the model estimate: an S6 (6.5 × 8 × 2.5 in) is a 2,130 mL box, compared with this model’s estimate of about 960 mL.
Should I enter outside or inside dimensions?
Enter the finished outside size when you’re working from a listed pouch size, such as a CPP size code; the calculator subtracts the seal and zipper allowances. Choose usable inside space only if you measured the interior yourself, so the allowances aren’t subtracted twice.
How accurate is the pouch volume calculator?
It is a planning estimate, shown as a range from 85% to 115% of the central figure. That range is a model assumption, not measured accuracy. Product shape, settling, fill method and pouch features all change real capacity. Use it to shortlist two or three sizes, then fill physical samples with your actual product before you order.
Sources and further reading
- Paper bag problem (Wikipedia): the approximation used for flat pouches
- Paper Bag Problem (Wolfram MathWorld)
- Custom pouch size guide and pouch testing checklist (CPP)
- NIST: unit conversion factors — distinguishes fluid volume from mass and gives the conversions used here.
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