When setting up an e-commerce dispatch desk, choosing between flexible plastic poly mailing bags and rigid cardboard boxes fundamentally affects your operational expenses and shipping fees.
PACKAGING COST & COMPARISON
| Feature | Poly Mailer | Cardboard Box |
| Unit Cost | Very Low (approx 3p – 20p) | Moderate (50p+) |
| Tare Weight | Minimal (~10g – 25g) | Noticeable (120g+) |
| Storage Space Required | Compact | Bulky |
| Transit Protection | Waterproof / Flexible | Rigid Impact Protection |
1. Unit Purchasing Costs
Standard grey poly Mailing Bags cost a fraction of cardboard boxes. A high-quality 9″ x 12″ poly mailer averages 4p to 8p per unit in bulk, whereas a comparable small parcel postal box costs 35p to 65p per unit.
2. Tare Weight & Courier Thresholds
A standard cardboard postal box adds between 100g and 250g of unneeded weight to your shipment. In contrast, a poly mailer weighs under 20g. That difference often pushes a 900g item into a higher courier price band when boxed.
3. Storage Space Footprint
1,000 flat grey poly Mailing Bags fit neatly into a single compact cardboard box under a packing table. 1,000 flat-packed cardboard postal boxes require multiple large pallets of floor space.
4. When to Use Cardboard Boxes Instead
While poly Mailing Bags dominate clothing shipping, cardboard boxes remain essential for fragile, rigid, or high-value electronics, ceramics, and boxed footwear.
