Home › Blog › 1.5 vs 2 vs 3 Mil Poly Bags: Which Thickness to Choose
Materials1.5 vs 2 vs 3 Mil Poly Bags: Which Thickness to Choose
Mil thickness is the single most common spec question we get, and it’s also the one most first-time buyers guess wrong on. A mil is one-thousandth of an inch, and the difference between 1.5 and 3 mil is bigger in practice than the numbers suggest.
Here’s a straightforward breakdown of what each thickness is actually good for.
1.5 mil: lightweight and economical
The thinnest option in our line, 1.5 mil is the standard choice for soft, lightweight goods — t-shirts, printed materials, small accessories. It keeps shipping weight and per-unit cost down, but it’s not the right call for anything with sharp corners or real weight behind it.
2 mil: the versatile middle ground
Most of our resealable and self-seal orders land at 2 mil. It resists puncture from folded fabric edges and light hardware, handles repeated zip-track use well, and still keeps cost reasonable at volume — the default we recommend when a customer isn’t sure.
3 mil: built for weight and edges
Reserved for heavier goods, components with sharp edges, or anything that needs to survive rough freight handling. Manufacturers shipping parts and hardware lean on 3 mil almost exclusively.
| Mil thickness | Best for | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 mil | T-shirts, light accessories, printed goods | Lowest |
| 2 mil | General apparel, e-commerce, subscription inserts | Moderate |
| 3 mil | Components, hardware, heavier or sharp-edged goods | Highest |
Not sure which mil fits your product? Get a custom quote — free mockups in 24–48 hours. Learn more about how we work, or browse more guides.
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