Bags / Polythene (Popular) / Heavy (76-102mu)

 

* Many of our poly bags are suitable for food use, however there may be exceptions and if you specifically require this then it is best to get specific confirmation of this.

Heavy Clear Polythene Bags (76–102 micron) — quick overview

This collection covers clear, heavy-duty polythene bags in the popular “heavy” range (approximately 76–102 micron). These bags are commonly used where a standard light-duty poly bag may be too thin for handling, stacking, or products with corners that can stress the film. Clear film helps with fast identification, barcode scanning, and visual checks without opening the pack.

Thickness is often discussed in microns (µm). A widely used conversion is that 76 micron is about 3 mil, and 100–102 micron is about 4 mil (very similar in practical use). Bag sizes are typically stated as width × length for flat bags, where width is across the opening and length is from the opening to the bottom seal.

Food use note: Many polythene bags are suitable for food use, but there can be exceptions. If you specifically require food-contact suitability, confirm the specification for the exact bag you intend to use.

Heavy Clear Polythene Bags — Helpful Guide

Below is a practical guide to the bag types and sizes in this category, with direct links to the products listed on this page. Use it to match bag dimensions and thickness to your product’s shape, weight, and handling conditions.

1) Heavy clear poly bags (102 micron / “400g heavy”)

These are the thickest options shown in this collection (around 102 micron). They’re typically chosen for heavier items, products with sharper edges, or where bags are handled repeatedly during picking, kitting, or internal distribution. They can also be useful as an outer protective bag to reduce scuffing and keep items clean.

• 6x8 - 400g Heavy Clear Poly Bags (150x200mm - 102mu)
  Compact heavy-duty bag for small parts, fittings, samples, and dense items where puncture resistance matters.
• 7x9 - 400g Heavy Clear Poly Bags (175x225mm - 102mu)
  Useful for small kits, hardware sets, and components that need a little more room than 6x8.
• 9x12 - 400g Heavy Clear Poly Bags (229x305mm - 102mu)
  A versatile mid-size for documents, accessories, and mixed kits; the heavier film helps when contents are dense.
• 10x12 - 400g Heavy Clear Poly Bags (254x305mm - 102mu)
  Common choice for folded items, manuals with parts, and general-purpose packing where extra strength is preferred.
• 10x15 - 400g Heavy Clear Poly Bags (254x381mm - 102mu)
  Extra length for bulkier folded goods, larger kits, or items that need more loading clearance.
• 12x15 - 400g Heavy Clear Poly Bags (305x381mm - 102mu)
  Good for larger folded products and grouped packs; thicker film helps reduce tearing during handling.
• 20x30 - 400g Heavy Clear Poly Bags (508x762mm - 100mu)
  Large-format protective bag for bulky items, grouped packs, or as an over-bag to keep products clean and visible.
• 24x36 - 400g Heavy Clear Poly Bags (610x914mm - 102mu)
  Very large bag for over-bagging, protective covers, and bulky soft goods; thickness helps with lifting and dragging stresses.
• 18x40 - 400g Heavy Clear Poly Bags (457x1016mm - 102mu)
  Long-format bag for elongated items (profiles, long components, rolled goods); thicker film helps where stress concentrates at corners.

2) Heavy clear poly bags (76 micron / “300g heavy”, paper wrapped)

76 micron sits in the heavy-duty range but is lighter than 100–102 micron. It’s often selected for general protection, apparel, printed materials, and many kitting tasks where the contents are not especially sharp. Paper-wrapped packs can be convenient for storage and dispensing in some packing environments.

• 9x37½ - 300g Clear Poly Bags (229x953mm - 76mu) - Paper Wrapped
  Long, narrow bag for posters, long printed items, elongated components, or bundled parts that need visibility and dust protection.

Case study: reducing damage and rework in a kitting process

A small assembly and spares operation was packing mixed hardware kits that included metal brackets and fasteners. Using a thinner bag led to occasional punctures during handling, which created rework (recounting parts, re-bagging, and relabelling). By switching to a heavier clear bag for the densest kits and keeping a slightly lighter heavy-duty option for softer contents, the team reduced split bags and improved pack consistency. The key change was matching thickness to the sharpest component in the kit, not the average component.

In practice, this approach often means: (1) identify the most puncture-prone item, (2) choose a bag size that loads easily without stretching the film, and (3) standardise a small set of sizes so packers don’t improvise with “almost fits” bags.

How to choose the correct heavy polythene bag

Step 1: Confirm what “size” means (width × length)

Flat polythene bags are commonly specified as width × length. Width is measured across the opening; length is measured from the opening down to the bottom seal. If you are packing a bulky or boxed item, remember that a flat bag must also accommodate depth, which effectively consumes width and length.

Step 2: Allow clearance for loading and sealing

A practical sizing rule is to add clearance so the product slides in without forcing the film. For flat items, allow roughly 0.5–1 inch extra width and 1–2 inches extra length. For bulky items, allow for depth by adding the item’s depth to the width (and often to the length as well), plus extra room if you plan to fold over or heat seal.

Step 3: Choose thickness based on handling risk

Thickness is only one part of performance, but it’s a useful starting point:

• 76 micron (≈ 3 mil): heavy-duty general protection for many soft goods, printed materials, and non-sharp components.
• 100–102 micron (≈ 4 mil): heavier items, sharper edges, frequent handling, or larger bags where the film experiences more stress.

Because 100 and 102 micron are very close, selection is often driven by specification requirements (for example, a customer calling for 102 micron) or by standardising on one thickness for consistency.

Step 4: Consider the seal and the load direction

For heavier contents, the bottom seal and how the bag is lifted matter. If a bag is routinely lifted by the film (rather than supported underneath), stress concentrates at the seal and corners. Choosing a heavier film helps, but also consider packing methods: support the bag during lifting, avoid overfilling, and keep sharp corners away from the film where possible (for example, by adding a small internal wrap or corner protection).

Step 5: Decide whether you need paper-wrapped packs

Paper-wrapped bags can be easier to store and dispense in some environments, and may help keep packs tidy on shelves. If your packing bench benefits from quick counting and controlled dispensing, paper-wrapped formats can be a practical choice—especially for long, narrow bags used repeatedly for the same item type.

Typical uses for heavy clear polythene bags

• Kitting and parts packing: clear film supports quick visual checks and reduces picking errors.
• Printed materials and documentation: protects against dust and light moisture while keeping labels visible.
• Textiles and soft goods: keeps items clean and presentable during storage and internal distribution.
• Over-bagging: adds a protective outer layer for grouped items or products with delicate surfaces.
• Long items: long-format bags help protect elongated components and rolled goods from scuffs and contamination.

Handling, storage, and compliance considerations

Clarity and identification

Clear bags are often chosen for operational efficiency: packers can confirm contents quickly, and end users can identify items without opening the pack. If you apply labels, ensure the label adhesive is compatible with polythene and that the surface is clean and dry before application.

Moisture and dust protection

Polythene bags provide a barrier against dust and light moisture exposure. For products sensitive to corrosion or humidity, consider whether you also need desiccants, corrosion inhibitors, or a more specialised barrier material. A heavier bag can be more robust, but it does not automatically provide a complete moisture-vapour barrier for long-term storage in harsh conditions.

Temperature and sealing method

If you plan to heat seal, confirm your sealing equipment settings for the film thickness. Thicker films typically require more heat and/or dwell time. For closure without sealing, consider how the bag will be opened and reclosed (for example, folding and taping) and whether repeated opening could stress the film.

Food-contact suitability

Where food contact is required, confirm the specific bag’s suitability and any relevant declarations. Even within a general category, specifications can vary by batch, material formulation, or intended use. If food use is critical, document the requirement and keep the confirmation on file for traceability.

Common sizing examples (using the products in this collection)

These examples illustrate how to think about size selection. Always test with your actual product, especially if it has depth or sharp corners.

• Small dense parts: choose a compact heavy bag such as 6x8 (102 micron) or 7x9 (102 micron) to reduce excess film and improve pack neatness.
• General-purpose mid-size packing: 9x12 (102 micron) and 10x12 (102 micron) are common choices where you want strength plus easy identification.
• More loading clearance: 10x15 (102 micron) or 12x15 (102 micron) can help when items are bulkier or you need extra length for folding/sealing.
• Large protective over-bags: 20x30 (100 micron) and 24x36 (102 micron) suit bulky items and grouped packs where handling stresses are higher.
• Long items: 18x40 (102 micron) and 9x37½ (76 micron) are useful for elongated products, rolled goods, and long printed materials.

Frequently asked questions (Q&A)