Polybag Size Guide for India: Measure, Thickness, POD or Non-POD

A polybag looks like the simplest thing in your packing table. But most packaging complaints we hear from sellers come back to the bag: "the flap opened in transit", "the courier said parcel was torn", "customer said bag was already open", "why did my shipping charge jump?".

The size is only one part of it. This guide walks through the four choices you make every time you buy polybags: size, thickness, POD or non-POD, and see-through or not. If you only want the size table, use our courier bag sizes chart.

Step 1: Measure the product the way it will be packed

Measure the product folded, in its inner packet if it has one, not the product lying flat on the table. A kurti folded in a transparent inner bag with a tag is thicker and longer than the kurti alone.

• Length and width of the folded product, in inches
• Height, which is the thickness at its thickest point

Then work out the bag:

• Bag width = width + height + 1 inch
• Bag length = length + height + 1 inch

Round up to the nearest size you can buy. If you land between two sizes, try folding the product differently before going up a size. One extra fold often saves a whole bag size and a weight slab.

The free polybag size calculator does this for you in inches or cm.

Step 2: Pick the thickness (micron)

Thickness is written in microns. Thinner bags are cheaper per piece but tear more on conveyor belts and sorting hubs, especially with sharp corners inside.

Thickness	Good for	Watch out
Below 50 micron	Very light, soft items over short distances	Tears and punctures more often; avoid for long routes
50 to 60 micron	Clothing, textiles, soft accessories, books in an inner cover	The common choice for marketplace sellers
60 micron and above	Heavier garments, combo packs, items with hard edges	Costs more; check that the flap still seals well

Amazon Shipping India, for example, asks for recyclable polybags thicker than 50 microns, labelled with manufacturer details. Other marketplaces don't publish a micron number, but 50 micron and above is a safe floor for courier use.

Two bags with the same micron number can still feel different. Good LDPE is stretchy and doesn't crack when you fold it. Recycled or mixed material can feel stiff and split along the fold in winter. Ask your supplier for a sample pack before buying thousands.

Step 3: POD or non-POD?

POD stands for proof of delivery. A POD bag has a clear pocket on the front where you slide in the invoice or a document. Non-POD bags have no pocket, and you stick the shipping label directly on the bag.

• On Meesho, Flipkart and Amazon, the shipping label you print usually carries the invoice details or the invoice goes inside, so non-POD is what most marketplace sellers use.
• POD bags are useful when you ship B2B or through your own courier account and need a printed invoice visible outside for the courier or the buyer's store.

If you are not sure, go non-POD. It is cheaper, and there is no pocket that can tear off.

Step 4: Transparent, opaque or printed?

• Opaque (white/grey or black inside): nobody in transit can see what's inside. Best for anything that might get pilfered, like branded clothing, cosmetics and phone accessories.
• Transparent barcode bags: some marketplace programs use clear bags with a printed barcode or QR. Meesho's branded packaging, for example, works by scanning the packet code against the shipping label. Read Meesho authorised packaging material before buying these.
• Printed with your brand: worth it once you ship enough volume on your own website or Instagram store. On marketplaces, the marketplace label covers most of the bag anyway.

When a polybag is the wrong choice

A polybag protects from rain, dust and opening. It does not protect from crushing. Use a box, or bubble wrap plus a box, for:

• Glass, ceramics, perfumes and anything liquid
• Shoes in their shoebox (put the shoebox in a bag or outer carton, never ship a bare shoebox)
• Electronics, even small ones like earbuds
• Rigid items with sharp corners that can pierce the bag

Our guide on reducing product damage in shipping covers boxes, ply and cushioning.

Quick checklist before you reorder

• Do I know my three best-selling product sizes, packed?
• Is the flap sealing across the full width every time?
• Is the label lying flat, not wrapping over an edge?
• Have I had any "torn bag" or "open packet" complaints this month? If yes, go up in micron or size.
• Am I paying for a weight slab I don't need? Check with the volumetric weight calculator.