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RetailA Retailer’s Guide to Poly Bag Margins
Packaging is a line item that’s easy to underprice, especially for retailers used to thinking of poly bags as a disposable cost rather than a branded asset. Here’s how to think about landed cost, price points, and volume tiers when a custom poly bag program is part of your retail or wholesale operation.
The math is simpler than it looks once you separate cost from perceived value.
Landed cost basics
Per-unit pricing on custom poly bags runs roughly $0.06 to $0.20 depending on quantity, mil thickness, and decoration — and that cost drops meaningfully as order volume increases. At 500 units you’re paying toward the top of that range; by 5,000 to 10,000 units, per-unit cost is typically 30–50% lower.
Where the margin actually comes from
A branded poly bag isn’t a cost center on its own — it’s part of what lets a retailer justify a slightly higher shelf price versus an unbranded competitor, and it reduces returns by keeping product protected and presentable through handling. Factor packaging into your landed cost per unit, not as a separate overhead line, and the math holds up.
Volume tiers to plan around
| Order volume | Typical per-unit range | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| 500–1,000 | Higher end of range | New SKU test, single style |
| 2,500–5,000 | Mid-range | Established SKU, seasonal reorder |
| 10,000+ | Lowest per-unit | Core SKU, full retail rollout |
Want a volume-tiered quote for your line? Get a custom quote — free mockups in 24–48 hours. Learn more about how we work, or browse more guides.
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