Curbside-recyclable paper for buyers who care about plastic.
Typical price
$36 to $48
Why we pick it
- Typical price
- $36 to $48
- Works with
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.
Good for
- Plastic-free shops
- Clothing and soft goods
Not for
- Rainy-day drop-offs without extra tape
Our approved alternative for the same job: Gray poly mailers, 10 × 13 in, 100 pack
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Who paper mailers suit
Paper mailers suit you if your shop sells on character: vintage clothing, handmade knitwear, small-batch beauty and gifts on Etsy, Depop and Poshmark. Buyers notice curbside-recyclable paper, and some mention it in reviews.
They work for soft items that fold flat. At 50 mailers a pack, a weekend seller lasts a couple of months and a shop shipping 50 orders a week reorders every week.
Paper weight, gussets and seal strips
Choose kraft paper with a stated weight. Heavier paper resists tearing on sorting machines, and a gusset at the base lets the mailer take a folded sweater without splitting. Paper can't stretch around a bulky item the way poly does, so the peel-and-seal strip has to be strong.
If you accept returns, pick mailers with a second adhesive strip, and find FSC or recycled-content claims on the supplier's own page. Describe the packaging to buyers using only the claims the supplier makes.
Paper handles rain worse than poly. Some mailers carry a water-resistant coating; find out whether that coating changes the recycling advice.
Storing, labeling and finishing
Fold the garment to fit the mailer, wrap it in a sheet of acid-free tissue paper and slide it in flat. Paper creases and scuffs, so stack the mailers flat in a drawer or tray.
Thermal labels stick well to plain kraft. Smooth the label from the center out: paper mailers flex, and an air bubble under the label can stop the barcode scanning.
Finish with a thank-you sticker on the back, if your stickers are paper too, so the whole package goes in one bin.
Kit for this step
Poly mailers, bubble mailers or honeycomb
Poly mailers cost a fraction as much each and keep rain out. Pick them for low-priced clothing on tight margins, or for bulky items that might split paper.
For items that need padding, use kraft bubble mailers, which have a bubble lining. For a package with no plastic, pair these mailers with honeycomb paper wrap to cushion anything inside.
Paper against poly, per mailer
Expect $36 to $48 per 50, or 72 to 96 cents apiece, several times a poly mailer. On a $25 vintage sale that extra cost is small next to the price, and buyers notice the paper.
Weigh a sample mailer before you switch. Paper weighs more than poly film, and on a light order close to a weight break the extra ounce can change the label price.
Common mistakes
Each one costs you money or reviews, and each has a fix.
- A bulky coat tears a paper mailer at the seam. Heavy knitwear goes in a box or a large poly mailer.
- Keep mailers flat; stood upright in a box, the paper creases.
- Repeat only the supplier's claim. Calling a mailer compostable when the supplier says recyclable misleads buyers.
- Keep paper packages indoors until pickup, because rain soaks through them.
- Smooth a label from the center out; pressed from one edge, it traps air.
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.
Can buyers put paper mailers in the recycling?
Uncoated kraft mailers go in curbside paper recycling in most areas. Buyers should check local rules and peel off the plastic label if their program asks.
Do paper mailers survive rain?
A short shower is fine, but paper resists water less well than poly. Keep packages dry until pickup.
Do paper mailers cost much more than poly?
Several times as much per mailer at our price bands, about 65 to 80 cents more per order.
Will a thermal label stick to paper?
Yes. Press the label on flat, working from the center out, so the barcode scans.
Can I ship heavy items in a paper mailer?
Keep them for folded clothing and soft goods. Heavier or bulky items belong in a box.
Alternatives
Other picks for the same job, cheaper and pricier.
Gray poly mailers, 10 × 13 in, 100 pack
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.
Typical price$8 to $15
See on AmazonKraft 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 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