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FRAKTA over time
Everyday hero

It's blue, shiny and strong and can handle pretty much anything, from laundry and waste sorting to moving home. But what is it about the FRAKTA carrier bag that makes it so iconic and so unmistakably IKEA? As we celebrate 30 years of the world-famous carryall, let's take a look at the story behind the bag.

A person carrying two FRAKTA bags places one filled with laundry in front of a washing machine.

Democratic Design in a bag

Working in collaboration with Ingvar Kamprad, his assistant Sten Lundén and then Head of Purchasing, Lars Göran Peterson, IKEA designers Marianne Hagberg and Knut Hagberg were tasked with designing the perfect shopping bag. Born as a solution and created in collaboration, the FRAKTA carrier bag is the embodiment of the IKEA Democratic Design Principles of form, function, quality and sustainability, at a low price.

Photo of Marianne and Knut Hagberg in black and white.
Marianne Hagberg and Knut Hagberg stand in a field of long green grass in front of a large concrete building. They are opening a FRAKTA bag.

How the big blue bag came to be

At IKEA, we believe in creating quality, affordable products that solve problems around the home, but the FRAKTA carrier bag was born in our stores. Seeing customers struggling with their purchases, Ingvar Kamprad came up with the simple but brilliant idea of creating something that could carry lots of small items from the shelves to the store exit, as well as strong and sturdy enough to carry their purchases home. Inspiration came on a trip to Taiwan. The strength and durability of rice bags was just what Ingvar was looking for. In 1996 the large, blue 71 litre FRAKTA carrier bag we’ve all come to love was born.

  • 1989

    Welcome the first iteration of the FRAKTA carrier bag. The original bag was first tested in a store in Germany. Did you know that it was originally yellow, like the ones still used in IKEA stores today?

    Two people take IKEA products from a yellow FRAKTA bag on a trolley and load them into the back of their car in an IKEA car park.

  • 1996

    Destined for greatness: the large 71 litre blue bag. The blue bag was introduced as a distinct option for shoppers to buy and take home to avoid confusion; yellow for shopping, blue for buying.

    A father and child walk away from the camera hand-in-hand, toward a street filled with shops. He is carrying a FRAKTA bag.

  • 2017

    In 2017 we introduced 60% of recycled content into the material mix, significantly reducing the use of virgin plastic.

    A blue FRAKTA bag filled with empty PET bottles on a floor, against a white background.

  • 2020

    Becoming a force for good: FRAKTA's rainbow coloured counterpart, STORSTOMMA, was released in 2020 in two sizes. Profits from the bags went to the UN Refugee Commission (UNHCR) and its work for LGBTQ+ refugees.

    The bottom half of a person carrying a rainbow striped FRAKTA bag.

A world-famous designer bag – for less than $1!

What’s big, blue and always in fashion? The FRAKTA carrier bag, of course! After 30 years in the IKEA range, it's one of the most used bags in the world. In fact, more than 44 million 36 litre and 71 litre FRAKTA carrier bags are welcomed into homes around the globe each year. And thanks to its durability and timeless style, it's no surprise our customers say they keep their FRAKTA carrier bag for years!

Inspiration in a bag

Over the past decade, the FRAKTA carrier bag has played muse to many of the leading names in design and fashion. Let's take a look at some of our most famous creative collaborations, who found inspiration in a FRAKTA bag.

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  • Three YPPERLIG carrier bags in different colours hang on a wall next to a staircase.

    HAY – YPPERLIG (2016)

  • A person holds a brown bag with the word "sculpture". Their face is obstructed by the bag and behind is a blue sky with clouds.

    Virgil Abloh – SCULPTURE (2019)

  • A black bag is placed on a chair, next to a pair of headphones in a beige room setting

    Swedish House Mafia – OBEGRÄNSAD (2022)

  • A green and blue patterned bag is placed on a matching patterned beach towel.

    Marimekko – BASTUA (2023)

  • Two people stand outside a pink building with a brightly decorated bag on the ground.

    ÖMSESIDIG – (2023)

  • Zandra Rhodes - KARISMATISK (2021)

  • A white bag with two large blue dots, against a white background.

    Colette – (2018)

  • Evelina Kroon – VINTERFINT (2025)

  • Question 1 of 4

    Can you guess?

    Question 1 of 4.

    "Frakta" is the Swedish word for:

    Answer options
  • Question 2 of 4

    Can you guess?

    Question 2 of 4.

    In 2024 IKEA opened a temporary pop-up museum dedicated to FRAKTA on one of the world’s most famous shopping streets. Was it:

    Answer options
  • Question 3 of 4

    Can you guess?

    Question 3 of 4.

    In 2017, which luxury brand released a $2,145 leather tote bag with an uncanny resemblance to FRAKTA?

    Answer options
  • Question 4 of 4

    Can you guess?

    Question 4 of 4.

    Who painted the famous stolen artwork that was returned to the Groninger Museum in a FRAKTA carrier bag?

    Answer options

Part of the FRAKTA family

A large blue rectangular bag, being pulled on a two-wheeled trolley.

FRAKTA trunk

When paired with the RULLEBÖR trolley, this large trunk makes transporting even easier.

A hand puts frozen food into a chill bag.

FRAKTA cool bag

Perfect for picnics or popping to the supermarket, this handy chill bag keeps food cool for two hours.

A close-up of a piece of blue tarpaulin.

FRAKTA tarpaulin

FRAKTA tarpaulin is lightweight and water-repellent (just like the FRAKTA bag). Throw this over the things you want to protect.

The FRAKTA bag carries on

After more than 30 years in the IKEA range, the FRAKTA carrier bag is still going strong.