A light poly mailer at about 8 to 15 cents each, for folded clothing.
Typical price
$8 to $15
Why we pick it
- Typical price
- $8 to $15
- Works with
Self-seal poly mailers add almost no weight, so one garment usually ships at the lightest Ground Advantage tier. The film is opaque gray, so it hides the contents, and a 4 × 6 label sits flat on it.
Good for
- Folded clothing
- Lowest cost per package
Not for
- Anything that can bend or break
Our approved alternative for the same job: Recyclable paper mailers, 50 pack
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Folded clothing on Poshmark, Mercari and eBay
Gray poly mailers suit clothing orders on Poshmark, Mercari, Depop and eBay. A folded tee or a pair of jeans slides into a 10 × 13 inch mailer, you press the strip closed, and the package weighs barely more than the garment.
They also carry plush toys, pet beds and other items that survive being squashed.
Mailer size, film thickness and seal strip
Match the mailer size to your folded items. Ten by 13 inches takes one folded adult garment; a bulky hoodie or jacket needs a 12 × 15.5 or 14.5 × 19 inch mailer.
Film thickness is listed in mils. Around 2 to 2.5 mil resists tearing on sorting belts and sharp corners. The film should be opaque, with a permanent peel-and-seal strip that tears the mailer if someone opens it.
A thermal label sticks well to the matte gray outside, or you can write on it in marker. Some packs add a second strip for returns.
Packing a clothing order
Fold the garment to the mailer size and slide it in. Add a sheet of tissue paper first for a neat reveal. Press the air out before you peel the strip and seal, so the package sits flat.
Put the label on the flattest part of the front, away from the seal flap. Weigh the sealed mailer to the ounce before you buy a label, because Ground Advantage prices step up by weight, and a few ounces over a tier costs more.
Keep the mailers in an open box or a wall dispenser next to the folding area.
Kit for this step
Paper mailers, padded envelopes or a box
Recyclable paper mailers cost more each and go in curbside paper recycling. Pick them if your shop promises low-plastic packaging.
Fragile, flat or valuable items need more structure. Use a padded envelope for small items that need cushioning, and a small box for boxed goods that would crush.
About 8 to 15 cents a mailer
A pack of 100 mailers costs $8 to $15, so each order carries 8 to 15 cents of packaging. That suits low-priced clothing, where a few cents of packaging is a visible share of the margin.
Buy a larger size once you list jackets and sweaters. A thick knit forced into a 10 × 13 mailer splits the seam in transit.
Common mistakes
Each one costs you money or reviews, and each has a fix.
- Order a larger size for knits and jackets.
- Folding a garment wider than the mailer, so the seal strip catches fabric and won't close.
- Choosing a mailer far too big for the garment, so it slides about and the spare film snags.
- Ship fragile items in a padded envelope or a box.
- Choose thick opaque film: clear or thin mailers show the contents and tear on belts.
Ranked in
Where it places in our rankings, and the reason.
Setups that use it
Complete kits this product is part of.
Guides that use it
Step-by-step help where this product does a job.
Questions
Straight answers to what sellers ask about this.
What fits in a 10 × 13 inch poly mailer?
One folded adult tee, shirt or pair of jeans. Bulky knits and jackets need a larger mailer.
Are poly mailers waterproof?
The film keeps rain off the contents, and the strip seals the opening. Seal it fully and keep the label off the flap.
Can I reuse a poly mailer?
With an intact strip, or a new one added, yes. A resealed old mailer looks used, so save reuse for returns and your own shipments.
Gray poly or paper mailers?
Gray poly costs less each and resists rain. Paper suits shops that want plastic-free packages and curbside recycling.
Can I use one for a Poshmark label?
Yes. Poshmark sends a prepaid label; check its current weight limit in the Poshmark help center.
Alternatives
Other picks for the same job, cheaper and pricier.
Kraft bubble mailers, #0, 100 pack
Enough padding for a lipstick, a small figure or a sealed booster pack, with no box to fold.
Typical price$16 to $28
See on AmazonRecyclable paper mailers, 50 pack
Costs several times as much per mailer as a poly bag, and buyers notice the paper. It suits vintage and handmade shops that sell on character.
Typical price$36 to $48
See on AmazonRigid card mailers, 6 × 8 in, 100 pack
A sleeved and toploaded card in a rigid mailer stays flat through sorting machines and costs far less to ship than a box.
Typical price$35 to $50
See on Amazon