Poly Mailers vs Bubble Mailers: Which Is Best for Shipping in the UK
The right packaging can make a big difference when you ship a product across the UK. The packaging you use needs to protect your product and give a positive experience to the customer.
Two popular options for e-commerce businesses, online sellers, and online businesses are poly mailers and bubble mailers. They are both lightweight and effective, but there is a slight difference between them during shipping.
Which is better for shipping in the UK: poly mailers vs bubble mailers
The answer depends on the product you are shipping. “Poly mailers are usually the better choice for soft and flexible products like clothes and other accessories. Bubble mailers are best for the product which needs extra cushioning against bumps and handling during delivery.”
In this guide, we will understand which bags are best for shipping in the UK: poly mailers or bubble mailers, including their durability, cost, protection, and their uses.
What Are Poly Mailers?
A custom poly mailer is a lightweight mailing bag generally made from plastic films. These bags normally have a self-sealing adhesive strip that is usually used for products that do not require extra protection.
Poly bags are mostly popular among UK online retailers because they are so lightweight and easy to store. Clothing brands and fashion sellers mostly use these bags to pack their orders, such as
- T-shirts and jean
- Hoodies and jumpers
- Bedding and textile
- Other accessories
- Shoes, depending on the products and packaging requirements.
One of the biggest advantages of poly mailers in shipping is that it does not need extra protection during shipping, and they are so light weight to handle them easily. For those businesses that send hundreds of orders every month, use these poly mailers because of their flexibility.
Characteristics Of Poly Mailers
- Water resistant: polythene is inherently waterproof; that’s why poly mailers keep moisture out and become water resistant.
- Self-seal adhesive: most bags have a self-seal strip that makes packaging faster.
- Flexible and space-saving: poly mailers are thin. They hug the product and take up less storage space in your warehouse and delivery vehicle.
- Customizable: these bags can be customised in a wide range of colours or with your brand’s logo, which makes these bags an affordable branding tool.
What Are Bubble Mailers?
Bubble mailers are also called bubble-lined envelopes that combine an outer mailing layer with an internal bubble lining. The bubble provides cushioning for the product from shocks and punctures.
Custom Bubble mailers can be useful for products that are relatively lightweight but need more protection than standard mailing bags provide.
Common example includes
- Electronic accessories
- Books and stationery
- Cosmetics that are suitable for this packaging
- Small household items
Characteristics Of Bubble Mailer
- Cushioning and shock absorption: the bubble wrapping provides the protective lining for the fragile product from scratches and breakage.
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- Water resistant: the outer layer of the mailer provides multiple sizes: protection to the product from moisture during shipping.
- Protective but heavier: the cushioning layer provides protection to the product but makes the packaging heavier than poly mailers. The additional thickness makes the product more costly during shipping.
Best Product For Bubble Mailers
Bubble mailers are made to prevent the product from breaking. CDs, DVDs, books, and jewellery get the benefit of cushioning from bubble mailer wrapping. The laminated bubble‑wrap construction reduces shipping weight while ensuring the contents remain safe.
Difference Between Poly Mailer And Bubble Mailer
The biggest difference is protection. A poly mailer protects the product from dirt and moisture during shipping. A bubble mailer provides cushioning to the product to protect it from breakage and knockouts during shipping.
| Feature | Poly Mailer | Bubble Mailer |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Light, usually just a few grams. Helps keep the shipment in lower categories. | Heavier because of the bubble lining; may increase the weight and thickness of the product. |
| Protection | Waterproof and tear-resistant. Best for unbreakable items. | Provides cushioning to the products that protects the product from breakage. Best for fragile items. |
| Cost | Inexpensive to buy and ship. Lightweight means lower postage. | More expensive and heavier, which can cause higher shipping costs. |
| Best Use | Clothes, textiles, non-fragile products, shoes. | CDs, DVDs, jewellery, fragile products. |
| Eco Option | Poly bags are recyclable and compostable because they are made with biodegradable plastics. | Recyclable bubble mailer with paper exterior and recyclable plastic interior. |
Which Mailer Is Best For Shipping In The UK: Poly Mailer Or Bubble Mailer
Poly mailers are significantly better mailer bags for shipping than bubble mailers in the UK. The main reason is their size and weight restrictions.
Postage savings( 25mm rule)
In the UK, postal rates are heavily dictated by thickness.
Poly mailer: a poly mailer adds zero virtual thickness to the product. They allow soft and flat products (T-shirts and documents) to stay within the 25 mm thickness rule.
Bubble mailer: the built-in cushions add a thickness to the product of 5 mm to 10mm by itself. Even if the product is relatively flat, the bubble mailer mostly pushes the thickness over 25mm.
Packaging material cost
Poly mailers are also much less expensive to get in bulk in the UK.
| Mailer Type | Average Cost per Unit | Why It’s Expensive or Less Expensive |
|---|---|---|
| Poly Mailer | 3p-10p per mailer | Made from a simple thin layer of polythene. |
| Bubble Mailer | 15p-40p+ per mailer | Multilayered, manufactured with paper and plastic. |
Benefits Of Poly Mailer For Packaging
Poly mailer bags are the top choice for UK e-commerce businesses because of their light weight and lower costs. It is also best for non-perishable items. So here are the benefits of poly mailer bags
Saves costs massively: These bags are made with simple polythene; they are highly economical to manufacture. They cost as little as 3p-10p per unit; also, these bags are cheaper to ship because they add virtually no thickness. They help you to give a chance to stay within 25 mm.
Water resistant: The material that is used in the manufacturing of the poly bags makes it water-proof.
Space-saving: These bags consume less space as compared to other mailers. You can store thousands of mailer bags by folding them under the table.
Ultra-lightweight: These are also lightweight. They add no extra weight to your product.
One of the biggest benefits of poly mailers is that these bags are recyclable.
Benefits Of Bubble Mailers For Packaging
While poly mailers are best for cutting costs for soft goods. Bubble mailers are the best choice if you want to give extra protection to your product. Here are the benefits of bubble mailers.
Built-in cushioning: Wrapping the product in built-in cushioning helps protect the product from breakage.
Neat presentation: they hold the presentation rather than losing the plastic packaging. They give a premium feel to the customer while unboxing the packaging.
Fast packaging time: there is no need to wrap the product manually and tape it. You just have to simply insert the product into the mailer and seal it.
How To Choose The Right Shipping Bag?
To choose the right shipping bag, you must have to strike between the product protection, cost, and UK courier postage.
Assess your product’s nature:
When choosing the right shipping bag, firstly watch the product’s nature. If it is soft and non-fragile, then the poly mailer is best for your product. And if it’s fragile, like glassware, makeup, CDs, etc then you have to choose a bubble mailer because of its built-in cushions that protect your product from scratches and breakage.
Match the bag to your brand’s value.e
Your packaging is the first impression to the customer, so choose the right mailbags according to your product.
| Material Type | Brand Image | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Co-extruded poly | Low | High-volume fast fashion |
| Kraft paper bubble | Traditional, secure | Books, media, standard e-commerce |
| Paper padded | Eco-conscious, premium | Sustainable brands, skincare |
Conclusion
Selecting the right mailer is vital for keeping shipping costs down,d protecting your products, and delivering. Poly mylar bags are lightweight and moisture-resistant and perfect for clothes and textiles, while bubble mailer bags add cushioning to your fragile products to prevent them from breaking.
If you want to order poly mailers or bubble mailers, you can order them from a Mylar bag maker in affordable, high-quality material, so go to our library and place your order now to give the best packaging to your product.
