Plastic Bags

Plastic Bag Buying Guide

Choosing the right plastic bag for your needs can be a difficult proposition considering all of the decisions that are made when selecting a plastic bag. That is why the company has created this guide and related cheat sheet for you so that you can make an informed decision when purchasing plastic bags. The following are the three major decisions that are made when purchasing a plastic bag:

• Choosing the material the plastic bag is made from

• Choosing the gauge (thickness) of the bag

• Choosing the dimensions of the bag (Width X Length)

Knowing what specifications are right for your needs will help you select the most affordable product that meets those needs.

Material

Plastic bags are made out of different types of plastics. Each type of plastic has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the right material for your plastic bags means choosing the type of plastic that has the strengths that align with your specific needs. The following is a comparison of the different types of polyethylene used in plastic bags:

Gauge (Thickness)

The gauge of a plastic bag is measured either in microns or mils. The relationship between microns, mils, and inches is as follows: 25.4 microns = 1 mil = 1/1000 inch. HDPE bags are usually measured in microns as HDPE bags are usually thinner bags and LDPE and LLDPE bags are usually measured in mils as they are usually thicker bags. HDPE bags are not usually manufactured with gauges over one mil because HDPE bags become much more stiff when they are one mil or thicker. If you need a plastic bag that is thicker than one mil you should use LDPE or LLDPE as the material for the plastic bag.

Bag Width

The width of the bag should be one half the circumference of the container. The circumference of a circle can be calculated by using the following formula: Diameter*3.14. Note that most square/rectangular trash containers have rounded corners which reduce the width required.

Bag Styles

Access a listing of plastic bag styles.

Please note that we might not have all bag styles in stock. For more information about bags sold by Island Plastic Bags, Inc., contact us.

Cheat Sheet

Below is a list of standard sizes of plastic bags, the capacity of the plastic bags, and trash containers the plastic bags are known to fit in. Note that the material used to make the bag, the size of the container, and the shape of the container could affect whether or not the plastic bag actually fits in the trash container. Use this cheat sheet only as an estimate of the dimensions of the plastic bag you will need for a given container.