What is the difference between a poly bag and a poly mailer?

A poly mailer is opaque and self-seals for shipping a product on its own. A poly bag is usually clear or frosted and is made to overwrap, display, or protect a product, whether that bag then goes inside a box or ships with a separate label.

What mil thickness should I choose for a custom poly bag?

1.5 mil for light apparel and small parts, 2 mil for standard retail goods and most small business orders, 3 mil for heavier or roughly handled items, and 4 mil or higher for bulk, industrial, or frequently reopened bags.

Can custom poly bags be resealable?

Yes, as a zip or press-to-close top. This is standard for food, small parts, and anything the end customer will open and close more than once, and it costs more than a flat or flap-seal bag because of the extra closure strip.

Are custom poly bags food safe?

Food-contact grade film is available and is required whenever the bag touches food directly rather than holding a separately wrapped or boxed item. Tell us the contents when you request a quote so we spec the right grade.

Custom Poly Bags | Flat, Gusseted, Resealable

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Free design proofs, free samples, no minimum order, and we will beat any written quote from a competitor. Fast turnaround on flat, gusseted, and resealable poly bags.

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A poly bag is an open-top or resealable plastic bag, usually clear or frosted, used to overwrap, display, or protect a product rather than ship it on its own. That is the difference from a poly mailer: a mailer is opaque and self-seals for shipping, a poly bag is typically see-through and made to show the product inside, whether that bag then goes into a box or ships as-is with a separate label.

We cut and print poly bags in four formats: flat (open on one end), gusseted (expandable sides for bulkier items), flap-seal (a self-adhesive flap, like a mailer but clear), and zip or reclosable (a press-to-close top for a bag the customer reopens). Film runs clear or frosted, and food-contact grades are available for anything going straight against food.

Thickness, by use

Thickness	Typical use
1.5 mil	Light apparel, single small parts, retail overwrap
2 mil	Standard retail goods, multi-item kits, most small business orders
3 mil	Heavier goods, hardware, anything handled roughly in transit
4 mil and up	Bulk or industrial parts, reusable bags, bags that get reopened often

Closures and format

Flat bags are the cheapest and fastest option for anything that does not need to be reopened; a header card or a piece of tape closes them if needed. Gusseted bags fold flat but expand at the sides, which is the right call for anything with depth, like a folded garment or a boxed accessory. Flap-seal bags carry a peel-and-stick strip for a permanent one-time close, useful where a bag doubles as light shipping protection. Zip and reclosable bags are the choice whenever the end customer is expected to open and close the bag more than once, which is standard for food, small parts, and subscription refills.

Print and finish

Clear film shows the product; frosted film softens it and hides minor imperfections while still showing shape and color. Printing runs from a single spot color logo up to full-color photographic graphics, and a matte or gloss finish is available on the printed area. Food-contact grade film is available for anything that touches food directly rather than sitting inside separate packaging.

In short

What to send us: the product dimensions, the format you need (flat, gusseted, flap-seal, or zip), whether it touches food, and your logo file. What you get back: a mil-thickness and format recommendation, a digital proof, a free physical sample, and a production quote with no minimum order.

Poly bag questions

What is the difference between a poly bag and a poly mailer?
A poly mailer is opaque and self-seals for shipping a product on its own. A poly bag is usually clear or frosted and is made to overwrap, display, or protect a product, whether that bag then goes inside a box or ships with a separate label.
What mil thickness should I choose for a custom poly bag?
1.5 mil for light apparel and small parts, 2 mil for standard retail goods and most small business orders, 3 mil for heavier or roughly handled items, and 4 mil or higher for bulk, industrial, or frequently reopened bags.
Can custom poly bags be resealable?
Yes, as a zip or press-to-close top. This is standard for food, small parts, and anything the end customer will open and close more than once, and it costs more than a flat or flap-seal bag because of the extra closure strip.
Are custom poly bags food safe?
Food-contact grade film is available and is required whenever the bag touches food directly rather than holding a separately wrapped or boxed item. Tell us the contents when you request a quote so we spec the right grade.
What is the minimum order for custom poly bags?
There is no fixed minimum order. Pricing improves with volume, but a small business can order a first run without committing to a large batch.

A poly bag is one way to package or protect a product. For shipping a product directly with no box, see custom poly mailers. For a foil barrier bag instead of clear plastic, see mylar bags, and pair any bag with custom roll labels for a closure or contents label.