Polythene Pillow Bags

What is a pillow bag?

A pillow bag is a pre-made polythene bag, sealed on three sides and open at one end. The name describes the shape: once a uniform product is inside, the bag settles into a plump, even form rather than hanging loose around it. Pillow bags are made from lighter film, typically 25 to 75 micron, because they are filled and closed once rather than handled over and over.

They are used where the same product is packed repeatedly: identical items, consistent dimensions, decent volumes. Because every bag matches the last one, the finished packs look identical, which matters on a shelf, in a display, or in a case where packs have to sit squarely against each other.

What size and gauge should a pillow bag be?

Size is the most important decision on a pillow bag. Too tight and the bag is slow to open and awkward to fill. Too loose and the finished pack looks slack and wastes space in the outer case. Measure the product at its widest, deepest and longest points as it will be sold, then allow enough film above it to close or heat seal the bag. Send us those dimensions and we will work the bag size out with you.

Gauge is the second decision. Around 25 to 40 micron suits light, soft, clean products where the bag is presentation more than protection. From 40 to 75 micron gives more body, which helps a bag stand open on a machine and survive handling once filled. We manufacture pillow bags across the 25 to 75 micron range.

How do pillow bags speed up a packing line?

Pillow bags arrive already made, so a packer picks up a bag, fills it and closes it. There is no cutting, no folding and no forming step at the bench, which is what makes the format quick for repetitive work. On an automatic bagging machine, a consistent bag size and a consistent film thickness matter more than anything else, because the machine is set up once and then left to run.

Film slip is part of that. Film that is too grippy makes bags cling together and slows an operator down. Film that is too slippery lets finished packs slide off each other in a case. Because we extrude our own film, slip is specified alongside thickness rather than accepted as it comes.

How are pillow bags closed?

Pillow bags are supplied open ended, so the bag is closed by you at the point of packing. Heat sealing gives the cleanest finish and a tamper-evident pack. Tying, taping or clipping the neck is quicker to set up and suits lower volumes or mixed products.

Tell us how you intend to close the bag when you enquire. It changes the bag length, because a heat sealed bag needs a clear area of film above the product, and it affects the gauge we recommend, since lighter film seals faster and heavier film needs a little more dwell time on the jaw.

Common applications for pillow bags

• Textiles, bedding and soft furnishings
• Cushions, pillows and filled products
• Clothing and garment packing
• Toys, games and gift sets
• Print, stationery and paper goods
• Retail display packs
• Assembly kits and multi-part sets

Questions

Pillow bags FAQs

What is the difference between a pillow bag and a flat polythene bag?

Both are pre-made bags with one open end, but a pillow bag is sized around a specific product so it fills out into an even, plump shape instead of hanging loose. That matters when the pack goes on display, or through a bagging machine that expects the same bag every cycle. A general flat polythene bag is sized for convenience rather than for one product, and is usually there to store or protect rather than to present.

Can pillow bags run on an automatic bagging machine?

Yes. Pre-made pillow bags suit machines that open and fill a bag on each cycle, and consistent bag size, film thickness and slip are what keep a machine running without stopping to clear a jam. Tell us the make and model of your machine, and how the bags are presented to it, when you enquire. We will specify the film and bag dimensions to match rather than leave you to trial and error.

Would bags on a roll suit my line better than pillow bags?

It depends how your line works. Pillow bags are supplied pre-made and open ended, which is quick at a bench and suits machine filling. Perforation on reel bags are torn off a reel one at a time, which keeps the bench tidy and stops bags blowing about. Layflat tubing lets you cut and seal your own bag lengths where product sizes vary. We manufacture all three, so tell us how you pack and we will point you at the right format.

Can pillow bags be printed with branding or barcodes?

Yes. Bags are printed to your artwork during manufacture, so branding, product names, barcodes, care instructions and warning text can all go on the film. Print on the bag is more robust than a label because it cannot lift or peel in a warehouse. Send your artwork with your enquiry and we will confirm how it lays out on the bag size you have chosen.