Just as important as length and width, it is also important
to specify the right bag thickness for the bags you are ordering. Before
specifying a bag’s thickness, think about the application.
What item(s) will your bag contain? Consider both the
size and weight of the item(s). For example, a heavy, medium-sized item would
require a thicker bag than a light, large-sized item.
Does your bag need to provide protection? If the item
is delicate or easily scratched, use a thicker bag.
How long will your bag be used? If you want the bag to be reusable, specify a thickness
of at least 2 mils (.002”).
What is a Mil?
Bag weight is measured by a micrometer (pictured above). A Mil is a unit of measurement used to measure the thickness
of plastic film in thousands of an inch.
To provide context, a human hair is about 1 mil. Mils are sometimes listed in decimal format
as thousands of an inch. 1 mil = 1/1000 inch or 0.001
The best way to understand the thickness of a Mil is to
share some examples of common everyday bags and their associated Mil
thicknesses:
A grocery store bag is 0.5 mil
A
dry-cleaning bag is 0.75 mil
A bread
bag is 1.5 mils thick
A freezer
bags is generally 1.75 mils
A retail
shopping bag is usually 2 mils
Choosing the Right Mil Thickness
Use the guidelines below when choosing the Mil thickness of
the product you are looking for. Keep in
mind that the clarity of a bag is also affected by the thickness. A 4 Mil bag
would not be a clear as a 1 mil bag.
Thickness
Protection Level
Uses
1 mil bags
Lightweight
Perfect for packaging of lightweight products, 1 mil bags are an
economical choice.
1.5 - 2 mil bags
Lightweight
This is the most commonly used thicknesses for storing,
shipping, or displaying everyday items.
1.5 mil – 2 mil bags also offer lightweight protection from dirt and
moisture
3 - 4 mil bags
Heavy duty
Heavy duty 3 mil and 4 mil bags protect and support heavy &
abrasive items. The offer protection for hardware, nuts, bolts and industrial
parts.
6 mil bags
Extra heavy duty
Our toughest stock
bags, 6 mil bags offer total protection for the heaviest products. These bags provide extra
heavy-duty protection against punctures and tears on bulky items or items
with sharp corners.
