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Buying guide

Poly courier bag vs kraft bag: when each wins

Use a tamper-proof poly courier bag for soft, light marketplace apparel and accessories that must stay dry and cheap to ship; choose a kraft paper courier bag when brand look and plastic-reduction matter more than monsoon abuse — and never use either as a substitute for a rigid box on bottles or crush-prone goods.

Updated 11 Sept 2026 · PackWorks By Velun, Karnal

Poly (LDPE) tamper-proof bags

Permanent adhesive strip, low dead weight, shrug off a rain splash. Document pouch options help COD paperwork. Default for Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho soft-goods sellers. Punctures on sharp hardware — pad or box those SKUs instead.

Kraft paper courier bags

Paper face for stamps, illustration prints and a less “plastic” unboxing. Heavier when wet and easier to tear on rough sortation. Use for fashion brands that accept a higher damage discipline and mostly indoor handovers.

Poly tamper bagKraft courier bag
RainBetterWeaker — needs dry lane or overwrap
Dead weightLowestHigher
Tamper evidenceStrong adhesive stripDepends on seal design
LookUtilitarianBrand / eco signal
Typical HSN3923Paper bag heading — see product page
Best forMarketplace apparel FBMBrand D2C soft goods

Size like a garment, not like a box

Pick the smallest bag that closes without stress wrinkles. Oversized bags bill little on volumetric compared to boxes, but they look sloppy and let products migrate into corners. Common PackWorks marketplace sizes include 6.5 × 8, 10 × 12 and 12 × 16 inch class bags — match the folded garment, not the hanger span.

When to abandon bags entirely

Glass, bottles, jars, ceramics, framed art, anything with a corner that can pierce film, and any SKU with a high claim rate in bags. Move to a snug 3-ply mailer or RSC — see the mailer vs shipper vs bag guide.

FAQ

Questions this guide answers

Will a kraft bag satisfy “eco” claims on Amazon?

It can support your brand story; it does not change Amazon fee math. Stay accurate in listing claims — kraft is paper, not a certified compost guarantee unless stated.

Can I put a box inside a poly bag?

Yes — common monsoon trick: close the carton, then bag it. Cost a bag + box only on wet lanes or high-AOV SKUs.

Do bags use HSN 4819?

Plastic bags typically do not — see 3923 on poly lines. Each PackWorks product page shows its HSN.