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Plastic Bags Measurement Tolerances

We sell the highest quality plastic packaging products available, but they are made in factories, not Heaven. Equipment limitations require allowing for certain tolerances in the measurements. The following standards are used to determine whether or not an over-sized or under-sized product is within the specifications.

Poly Bag Tolerances

The actual width and length measurements of our poly bags can be slightly different than the dimensions listed. The amount of the difference which is tolerated as "within industry standard" depends on the size and style of the bag. The following list of tolerances represents the amount of variation you may expect - And we strongly recommend that you take these tolerances into consideration to avoid buying a product which may not work for its intended purpose.

Ziplock Poly Bags

Ziplock bags' measurements represent the interior dimension of the bags. The width is the open side from left seal to right seal, and length is from the zipper to the bottom.

Ziplock Width Tolerances:

  • Under 4 inches + 1/8 inch / - 1/16 inch
  • 4 inches up to 15 inches + 1/4 inch / -1/8 inch
  • 15 inches and above + 1/4 inch / - 1/4 inch

Ziplock Length Tolerances:

  • 2 inches to < 6 inches + 1/8 inch / - 1/16 inch
  • 6 inches to < 12 inches + 1/4 inch / -1/8 inch
  • 12 inches to < 24 inches + 1/4 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 24 inches to and above + 1/2 inch / - 1/4 inch

Flat Poly Bags

Flat poly bag measurements represent the interior dimension of bags under 12 inches in length. The first dimension is always the width (opening), and and the second dimension is always the length. Flat poly bags of 12 inches or longer are measured from the opening to the bottom of the bag including the space used to make the seal, so please calculate an extra 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch to your length measurement when creating a new specification for a bag of 12 inches or greater in length. The width is the open side from left to right.

Flat Width Tolerances

  • Under 4 inches + 1/8 inch / - 1/16 inch
  • 4 inches up to 15 inches + 1/4 inch / -1/8 inch
  • 15 inches up to 30 inches + 1/4 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 30 inches up to 60 inches + 1/2 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 60 inches up to 80 inches + 1/2 inch / - 1/2 inch
  • 80 inches and above + 1 inch / - 1/2 inch

Flat Length Tolerances:

  • 2 inches to < 6 inches + 1/8 inch / - 1/16 inch
  • 6 inches to < 12 inches + 1/4 inch / -1/8 inch
  • 12 inches to < 24 inches + 1/4 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 24 inches to < 60 inches + 1/2 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 60 inches to < 1200 inches + 1/2 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 120 inches and above + 2% / - 2%

Gusseted Poly Bags

Measuring (side) gusseted poly bags requires adding the first two dimensions together to determine the total width (opening). Other than that key difference, the tolerances are the same as those for flat poly bags. (Side) Gusseted poly bag measurements represent the interior dimension of bags under 12 inches in length. The total of the first and second dimensions is always the width (opening), and the third dimension is always the length. (Side) Gusseted poly bags of 12 inches or longer are measured from the opening to the bottom of the bag including the space used to make the seal, so please calculate an extra 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch to your length measurement when creating a new specification for a bag of 12 inches or greater in length. The width is the open side from left to right.

Gusseted Width Tolerances:

  • Under 4 inches + 1/8 inch / - 1/16 inch
  • 4 inches up to 15 inches + 1/4 inch / -1/8 inch
  • 15 inches up to 30 inches + 1/4 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 30 inches up to 60 inches + 1/2 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 60 inches up to 80 inches + 1/2 inch / - 1/2 inch
  • 80 inches and above + 1 inch / - 1/2 inch

Gusseted Length Tolerances:

  • 2 inches to < 6 inches + 1/8 inch / - 1/16 inch
  • 6 inches to < 12 inches + 1/4 inch / -1/8 inch
  • 12 inches to < 24 inches + 1/4 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 24 inches to < 60 inches + 1/2 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 60 inches to < 1200 inches + 1/2 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 120 inches and above + 2% / - 2%

While the majority of gusseted bags are "side gusseted" with the gussets running equally along the length of each side, we also offer some bottom gusseted poly bags. Bottom gusseted poly bags are measured the same as flat bags, but the final dimension represents the bottom gusset total (inches in and inches out = total bottom gusset).

The bottom gusset dimension should be divided by two, with that result added to the length to determine the length tolerance on the flat poly bag chart.

Poly Tubing

Poly tubing is sold by flat width. Since the linear footage of each roll is listed in each description, we do not have a length tolerance for this product.

It is very important to remember that this is the" flat " measurement and not the "diameter" of the tubing when opened.

The tolerances allowed on our poly tubing are the same as the width tolerances on our bags. This is because poly tubing is constructed like a poly bag, but there is no sealed bottom. It is therefore sold on rolls, and must be cut and or sealed as per your length requirement.

Tubing Width Tolerances:

  • Under 4 inches + 1/8 inch / - 1/16 inch
  • 4 inches up to 15 inches + 1/4 inch / -1/8 inch
  • 15 inches up to 30 inches + 1/4 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 30 inches up to 60 inches + 1/2 inch / - 1/4 inch
  • 60 inches up to 80 inches + 1/2 inch / - 1/2 inch
  • 80 inches and above + 1 inch / - 1/2 inch

Valuable Poly Tubing Tips!

If you need to calculate the correct flat width of poly tubing needed to cover a cylindrical roll of your product, there are two easy ways to determine the right answer.

Diameter-based measurement (Width of the round end from one side to the other): Multiply the diameter of your product (in inches) times 3.14, divide the result by 2, then add an inch or more so that your tubing can be pulled around your product. For tighter fit, add only one inch. For a loose fit, add up to 4 inches.

Circumference-based measurement (Total distance all the way around the cylinder from one side to the other): With this measurement, you can simply divide the circumference by two, then add an inch or more to allow the tubing to be pulled around your product. For tighter fit, add only one inch. For a loose fit, add up to 4 inches.

Gauge/Thickness

The gauge of our products is usually measured and defined in thousandths of an inch, or "mil." 2 mil is two thousandths of an inch, 1 mil is one thousandth of an inch, etc.

To measure the thickness requires a special micrometer designed for plastic films. Metal micrometers, or micrometers used to measure the thickness of non-plastic-film items will not give you correct readings.

We guarantee our gauge to average between plus (+) or minus (-) 10% of the described thickness. Although rare, it may be possible to find some isolated portion of the product where the gauge exceeds the 10% guarantee, but unless prevalent throughout the lot, it is normal and expected.

Five Star Guarantee

If you believe that you have received a product that does not fall within our stated tolerances, please contact us at your earliest convenience so that we can begin to troubleshoot, replace or refund your purchase. View our Five Star Guarantee for complete details of our industry-leading customer satisfaction guarantee.

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