Say you’re starting an online jewelry business. After market research and product development, you launch an online store featuring handmade metal bracelets and earrings. Before you know it, you’ve got your first customers. But what’s the best way to get your beautiful pieces to them?
Since weight and size determine shipping costs—and shipping can account for nearly 90% of total order fulfillment prices—you need something small and light to package your jewelry. A small jewelry box weighs four to six ounces empty, but a poly mailer bag weighs less than an ounce—the choice is obvious. As the orders pile in, these small differences add up to big savings you then reinvest in your growing business.
For ecommerce companies selling non-fragile items like clothing products, accessories, and books, poly mailer bags are a great shipping option. Here are some of the products best suited for poly mailers and how different types can help reduce your shipping costs.
What is a poly mailer?
A poly mailer is a lightweight plastic bag used for shipping non-breakable items. Made from polyethylene, the most common plastic family, poly mailers are flexible and designed to protect items from dust, tearing, and water damage. They often feature a tear strip for easy opening and come in various sizes, from six by nine inches to 24 by 36 inches.
Unlike more sturdy packaging options like cardboard boxes or corrugated boxes, poly mailers offer a lightweight packaging option to help reduce shipping costs. However, poly mailers provide less protection than other shipping methods, making them unsuitable if you sell fragile items like glassware or electronics. Since poly mailers are typically plastic, they may not align with your brand values if you’re focused on sustainability.
You can buy poly mailer bags in bulk from retailers like Amazon or Walmart. Prices range from roughly $15 to $55 for a pack of 100, depending on the type. Shipping suppliers like FedEx also offer poly mailers, including bubble wrap-lined options, priced between $1.29 to $3.99 per unit.
Benefits of poly mailers
Ecommerce merchants shipping non-fragile, lightweight items can benefit from using poly mailers because they are:
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Cost-effective. Since they’re lighter and smaller than traditional cardboard boxes, poly mailers can reduce shipping costs.
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Reusable. Poly mailers are typically strong enough for multiple uses, with packing tape easily sealing the tear strip after its initial opening.
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Customizable. Although it costs more than buying standard poly mailers in bulk, ecommerce companies can create custom poly mailers using branded packaging elements like logos, colors, and slogans.
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Compact. Since they’re flexible envelopes, poly bags typically take up less space than more traditional packaging materials like boxes.
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Waterproof. Poly mailers are plastic bags designed to be water-resistant and tear-resistant.
What can you ship in a poly mailer?
If you’re shipping light items not at risk of breaking, poly mailers can potentially improve your shipping operations. Here are some best types of products to ship in poly mailers:
Clothing items
Poly mailers are a practical choice for small businesses shipping clothing like t-shirts, pants, and sweaters. Use poly bags to prevent your items from tearing or getting wet while saving space. For bulkier items like shoes, sturdy packaging is better, but lightweight poly mailers work perfectly for cotton, wool, or linen apparel.
Accessories
If you’re shipping supplies people use to accessorize—from phone cases to belts, handbags, and hats—you can use poly mailers as a low-cost shipping method. Poly mailers can also work well for durable items like dog toys, hair ties, and bedding items like duvet or pillow covers.
Cosmetic products
Poly mailers serve as a budget-friendly packaging option for certain cosmetic products. While fragile items like glass bottles or liquid-based products may not be suitable, more durable items like makeup remover pads or wipes can ship well in poly mailers.
Books
Poly mailers offer booksellers a cost-effective way to ship standard paperbacks. For hardcover or vintage books, bubble-wrapped-lined poly mailers offer extra protection.
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Types of poly mailers
There are several types of poly mailers to choose from depending on your shipping needs and product packaging requirements, including:
Layflat
Layflat poly bags, named for their flat shape, are one of the most affordable options for buying in bulk. They come in standard sizes like 7.5 by 10.5, 12 by 15.5, and 14.5 by 19 inches. If you sell midsize items like hats or scarves, layflat poly mailers provide a simple, low-cost shipping solution.
Bubble-lined
Bubble-lined poly mailers feature an inner layer of bubble wrap for extra protection. Bubble mailers work well if you’re shipping items like headphones, jewelry, beauty products, or books. Although they tend to cost more than thinner options like layflat mailers, they provide extra security for more fragile items.
Clear-view
Clear-view poly mailers include a clear plastic window on one or both sides of the mailer envelope. Designed to show off the contents inside, clear-view poly bags can work well for items that customers may want to show off, like vintage magazines, brochures, or catalogs. You can also use clear-view poly mailers to protect postcards with stamps on the inside—the clear plastic allows the postage on the inside to help mail the entire poly mailer package.
Recycled
Recycled poly mailers are made from materials like recycled polyethylene and paper materials. Kraft mailers, for example, are made from recycled kraft paper and offer an eco-friendly shipping solution. Although they may not be as tear-resistant as traditional poly bags, they’re ideal for smaller, durable items like belts or wallets.
For example, a merchant selling handmade crafts online—like knitted accessories—could use poly mailers made from recycled materials as an inexpensive and sustainable packaging option.
Compostable
Compostable poly mailers are made from organic materials that break down completely into natural compost. For example, Grounded Packaging offers renewable poly mailers made from compostable bioplastics. Using biodegradable poly mailers helps reduce your environmental impact and makes your shipping process more sustainable.
Expansion
These expandable poly mailers are for shipping multiple items or bulkier items—like thick jackets or heavy blankets—that don’t fit in a traditional poly mailer bag. With a side gusset that adds two to four inches of height, expansion poly mailers provide extra space for oversized shipments.
Poly mailer FAQ
Does the USPS accept poly mailers?
Yes, the United States Postal Service (USPS) ships items in poly mailer bags.
Is a poly mailer considered an envelope or package?
Poly mailers are technically envelopes, but they can be classified as packages if they’re thicker items in expansion poly mailers (typically any shipment over three-quarters of an inch is considered a package).
Why use poly mailers?
Poly mailers can provide a lightweight, cost-effective, and durable shipping option for non-fragile items like clothing and accessories.
What can I ship in a poly mailer?
Poly mailers are best for non-breakable items like clothing products, textile accessories, and books.