Short answer
Key takeaways
- LDPE describes a polyethylene family, not a finished bag spec.
- Gauge, finished dimensions, and gusset have to be written down, including the unit and how you measure.
- Count every print color, including white if the art uses it.
- A logo on a bag is a print job. Send the art or a color count.
- PCI's standard lead time is 3 to 4 weeks after artwork approval.
What printed LDPE bags are
LDPE means low density polyethylene. In bags, buyers also say LDPE plastic bags, LDPE poly bags, or LDPE polythene bags. The film is usually soft, flexible, and relatively clear, and it heat seals readily. Many bags sold as LDPE are LDPE, linear low density polyethylene, or a blend of the two. An LDPE bag specification is the list on this page, not the words LDPE bags by themselves. Say which resin you know, or say you do not know and send a sample.
Custom printed poly bags with a logo
Custom printed poly bags, custom printed plastic bags, and custom plastic bags with a logo are the same request when the bag is polyethylene and the graphic is yours. Custom printed poly bags wholesale, printed poly bags wholesale, and wholesale plastic bags with a logo usually mean a production program rather than a single sample bag. Send the order quantity and the annual usage so the quote matches the program. This site does not publish prices.
Gauge
Gauge is the thickness. Specs may say mil, micron, or gauge. These are different units, and a higher number is not automatically a stronger bag, because the resin and the product matter too. Send the number and the unit exactly as they appear on your spec or bag. If you only know how the bag feels, say that, and send a sample. Use a gauge converter to translate units, and keep the original unit in the request.
Dimensions
Send finished width and finished length, and say whether the length includes the lip, the header, or the seal. Flat bags, side gusset bags, and bottom gusset bags are measured differently. A drawing or a sample with the measurements marked is better than a pair of numbers with no legend.
Gusset
A gusset is the folded panel that gives the bag extra volume. Say whether it is a side gusset or a bottom gusset, and send the gusset size and how it was measured. A bottom gusset changes how the bag stands. A side gusset changes the width when the bag is open. If the bag has no gusset, say it is flat.
Print colors and artwork
Count every ink, including white and any coating if you know them. PCI prints by flexographic printing only on 10 color presses, so one pass can carry up to ten inks. Send print ready artwork when you have it, plus any brand color standard. If the art is not ready, a bag drawing and a color count are enough to start, and the quote is confirmed when the art is approved. PCI's standard lead time is 3 to 4 weeks after artwork approval.
Bag style
Name the style you buy today: flat, side gusset, bottom gusset, wicket, header, or tape. PCI poly bag options that this site already describes include tape and wicket, plus bottom gusset and flat pack. If you need a style that is not on that list, say so in the request rather than assuming it is offered.
What to send
Send the product, whether it is food, the bag style, finished dimensions, gusset, gauge and unit, resin if known, closure, print color count, artwork or a note that art is pending, order quantity, annual usage, ship to location, and a sample if you have one. For food, ask for food contact letters. PCI is SQF certified for food safety and GMI certified for print quality.
How to compare your shortlist
Ask every supplier the same questions on the first call. Which plant will run the job, and does its certificate cover that site? Which print method and how many colors in one pass? How is color approved and by what standard? What starts the lead time clock, purchase order or approved artwork? What documents come with the first order? Who is your day to day contact when something goes wrong? Write the answers in one table. The supplier that answers clearly and in writing is usually the one that will run your job the same way every time.
Where PCI fits
Where PCI fits: Matt Louie, who writes this site, sells for Poly Craft Industries (PCI). PCI prints by flexographic printing only, runs new 10 color presses, is SQF and GMI certified, quotes a standard lead time of 3 to 4 weeks after artwork approval, and supplies brands sold at major retailers. That makes PCI one supplier to put on a short list, not an automatic answer. Use the checks on this page to compare PCI with every other supplier you are considering.
Next step
If you want PCI to quote the bags, use the quote form or Ask Matt, email Matt@PolyCraftInd.com, or call 516 849 6237.
| Spec | What to write down | Why it is on the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge | Number and unit, such as mil, micron, or gauge | Thickness is only one part of the film, and the unit has to be explicit |
| Dimensions | Finished width and length, and what the length includes | A bag quote follows the finished size |
| Gusset | None, side, or bottom, plus the size and how it was measured | Volume and bag style depend on it |
| Print colors | Count of inks, including white if used | Press stations follow the count |
| Artwork | File, or a statement that art is not ready | The quote is confirmed when the art is approved |
Questions buyers ask
What is an LDPE bag?
An LDPE bag is a polyethylene bag made from low density polyethylene, or often from a blend that includes it. It is a film family, not a size, a gauge, or a print.
Are custom printed poly bags the same as plastic bags with a logo?
When the bag is polyethylene and the graphic is printed for you, yes. Send the bag spec and the art so the quote is for that bag, not for a generic plastic bag.
Do you publish wholesale prices for printed poly bags?
No. A wholesale program still needs a spec, a quantity, and a ship to location. Send those for a quote.
What gauge should a printed poly bag be?
There is no single gauge. It depends on the product, the weight, and how the bag is filled and handled. Send the gauge you use today, or a sample.
See something that needs correcting? Tell Matt.