Prices are (not) down, down at Coles, with news the supermarket giant has increased the cost of its paper bags – and it's not the first bag price rise this year.
Shoppers who forget their reusable bags will now pay 30 cents for a paper bag at the checkout, up from 25 cents. That's a 20 per cent jump, and it makes Coles' paper bags the most expensive of the major supermarkets, with Woolworths and Aldi still charging 25 cents.
The change appears to have rolled out quietly in stores in recent weeks, with some shoppers only noticing when the new price flashed up on the checkout screen.
A Coles spokesperson told Canstar the supermarket had recently changed the price of selected bags, and that it had tried to limit the impact on shoppers.
"We know value remains important to our customers, and we've worked to keep these increases as low as possible," they said.
"Unfortunately, from time to time, prices of individual products may need to increase due to changes in costs such as materials and transport."
It's not just paper bags
The paper bag isn't the only one getting pricier. Coles' larger chiller bags have also gone up, from $4 to $4.20.
Online shoppers were hit earlier in the year. In May, Coles lifted the flat bag fee on online orders from $1.50 to $2, a 33 per cent increase. Shoppers were notified of the change at checkout before their orders were finalised.
How Coles compares
Supermarket | Paper bag price at checkout |
|---|---|
Coles | 30c (up from 25c) |
Woolworths | 25c |
Aldi | 25c |
Prices accurate for October 2026.
From free to 30 cents
It's a far cry from the days when supermarket bags were free. Coles and Woolworths phased out free single-use plastic bags in 2018, replacing them with reusable plastic bags that cost 15 cents. Paper bags arrived later: when Woolworths rolled them out nationally in 2020, they cost 20 cents. That means Coles' paper bag now costs 50 per cent more than the price paper bags launched at just six years ago.
The increase also comes shortly after Coles Group reported a profit after tax of $1.09 billion for the 2025–26 financial year – a figure that's unlikely to win over shoppers already feeling the pinch at the checkout.
What it could cost you
Five cents might not sound like much, but it adds up. A household that buys three paper bags every week would now pay $46.80 a year, up from $39 – an extra $7.80 for something that usually ends up in the recycling bin.
For online shoppers, a weekly Coles delivery now carries $104 a year in bag fees, compared with $78 before May's increase.
Canstar Consumer Editor Meagan Lawrence said bag fees were an easy cost to cut.
“Five cents a bag doesn't sound like much, but these small charges quietly add up over a year, especially for families doing a big weekly shop,” Ms Lawrence says.
“It can feel like every trip to the supermarket brings another price rise, and for a lot of shoppers that's really draining. When even the bag at the checkout costs more, it's understandable people feel disheartened.
“The good news is this is one cost you have complete control over. Keeping a few reusable bags in the car or your handbag means you never have to pay for a bag at the checkout again.”
How to avoid paying for bags
• Keep reusable bags in the car: Put them back in the boot as soon as you've unpacked, so they're there for the next shop.
• Carry a foldable bag: A compact bag that fits in a handbag or pocket covers unplanned trips.
• Use a box or the trolley: For a big shop, load items straight back into the trolley and pack them in the car.
• Choose a no-bag option online: Check whether your supermarket offers bagless delivery or click and collect when you order.
• Compare your whole shop: Bag fees are small change next to your grocery bill. Comparing supermarkets and specials is where the real savings are.
