Poly mailers. Bubble mailers. Poly bags. Plastic bags. Mailing bags. Poly bubble mailers. Whatever you call them, they have gained a lot of popularity in the e-commerce shipping world.
Choosing the right packaging or mailing envelope for shipments will determine everything from shipping costs to whether products arrive safely at the customer’s doorstep. High shipping costs and damaged products hurt customer acquisition and retention. While you may associate cardboard boxes with online shopping, many orders don’t come in a box at all.
Poly mailers are a common packaging option because they can protect certain products with built-in cushioning at a lower cost than corrugated cardboard packaging.
In this guide, we’ll go over how poly mailers work, when to use mailer bags instead of boxes, and how to get them.
What are poly mailers?
Poly mailers are lightweight but sturdy plastic bags designed to ship products. They have a self-sealing foldover lip so no tape is needed, and a shipping label can be directly affixed to the bag. They are thin, yet durable so they don’t take up much space on a truck while in transit.
Mailing bags, are available in various sizes and styles, some padded for safe shipping without extra dunnage.
Poly mailers vs boxes: Why should I use poly mailers?
Boxes are a staple for shipping, but they can be unnecessary for shipping certain products. For example, shoes are often packaged in strong cardboard boxes, so shipping them inside another cardboard box wouldn’t make sense.
Apparel is also a great option for poly mailing bags as clothing isn’t susceptible to being crushed or broken without a box. Here are a few reasons why you might consider using a poly mailer instead of a box.
Significantly cheaper shipping costs
While corrugated boxes are sturdy, cheap, and resistant to damage, mailing bags protect while reducing shipping costs. Due to their lightweight and small size, poly mailers cost less per shipment when compared to boxes.
Shipping costs are based on the higher amount, a package’s actual weight, or its dimensional weight. This way, carriers can charge more money for a lightweight package that takes up a lot of room on the truck. They also have surcharges for heavyweight shipments, so keeping packages small and light is in any e-commerce company’s best interest.
Mailing bags take up less space than boxes, so they help reduce dimensional weight to help you save even more on shipping costs. The more shipments that go out in a box that could go out safely in a poly mailer, the more shipping costs will eat into your margin over time.
Smaller and lighter
Since mailer bags are made out of plastic, they’re much easier to store from a warehousing standpoint. Their small size also means they take up less space in carrier’s vehicles, so you pay less for shipping too.
When it comes to delivery, they can sometimes fit in a mailbox, which reduces the chance of theft as compared to a package that’s sitting on a porch.
Custom branding options
Custom packaging that uses your branding helps your shipments stand out. Like boxes, poly mailers can include your logo, colors, and imagery if you desire a sleek look.
Eco-friendly options
While you might think plastic poly bags are a terrible option for the environment, many packaging companies provide eco-friendly packaging options for poly mailers.
If your brand foundation is built on an environmental-conscious mission, it wouldn’t look suitable for your brand to use standard plastic mailers. You can use everything from recycled poly mailers to biodegradable poly mailers.
Opt for a little extra padding
Shipping damages are an unfortunate reality that can be prevented in many cases. Some poly bags come with a bubble-lined interior to maximize security. Bubble mailers add protection for some items, but for fragile items consider stronger packaging.