Choosing mailing bags looks simple until a customer emails a photo of a cracked candle jar or a bent art print. The bag you pick decides how much knock and crush protection your product gets between your packing bench and their letterbox, and it also decides what you pay in postage, because a padded bag is lighter and flatter than a box.
The two padded options most Australian businesses weigh up are paper padded mailers (the classic Jiffy bag) and bubble mailers. Both sit side by side in our mailing bags range, and they do different jobs. This guide explains how each is built, which products suit which bag, how to size them, and when you should skip a mailer altogether.
Padded vs Bubble Mailers: The Short Answer
A padded mailer (Jiffy style) is a kraft paper bag lined with shredded recycled paper. It is firm, absorbs knocks well and resists crushing, which makes it good for books, cosmetics, small hardware and anything with a hard edge that could punch through a thinner lining.
A bubble mailer has an air bubble lining inside a paper or plastic outer. It is lighter and slimmer than a paper padded bag of the same size, so it is usually the cheaper option to post, and it cushions small, delicate items well. The trade off is that bubbles can pop under a sharp point or heavy load.
Quick rule of thumb: sharp, heavy or rigid items lean towards paper padded bags; light, delicate and flat items lean towards bubble mailers. If moisture is a risk (outdoor letterboxes in a Queensland wet season, for example), a plastic outer bubble mailer is the safest pick.
The Main Types of Padded Mailing Bags
QIS stocks five padded styles. Here is how they differ in practice.
Jiffy padded mailing bags (paper padded)
Strong brown kraft outer, shredded paper padding inside and a peel and seal strip. They feel thick in the hand and handle rough sorting well. Available in sizes 1 to 7, from 150x225mm to 360x480mm.
Paper mailer bags with bubble interior
Kraft paper outside, bubble wrap inside. They weigh less than a Jiffy of the same size and are one of the more economical padded options. Eight sizes, from 101x178mm to 361x483mm.
Maxi plastic bubble mailers
Plastic outer with a bubble lining. The plastic face shrugs off rain and wet mail bags, so these suit anything that must arrive dry, such as prints, electronics accessories or paper goods. Six sizes, from 150x220mm to 360x470mm.
Bubble wrap bags (with or without flap)
Simple pouches made from 10mm bubble wrap. They are not a posting bag on their own; use them as an inner layer inside a courier satchel or carton. The flap style folds over to keep the item from sliding out.
Honeycomb paper padded mail bags
A paper based padded bag using a honeycomb paper cushion instead of bubbles. A good fit if your customers expect plastic free packaging.
Popular padded and bubble mailers
Side by Side: How the Mailers Compare
| Feature | Jiffy (paper padded) | Paper outer, bubble inside | Plastic outer, bubble inside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crush and puncture resistance | High | Medium | Medium |
| Weight and thickness | Heaviest, bulkiest | Light, slim | Light, slim |
| Water resistance | Low | Low | High |
| Look and feel | Classic kraft | Kraft | Glossy plastic |
| Best for | Books, rigid or sharp edged items | Small gifts, cosmetics, accessories | Prints, electronics, anything that must stay dry |
A note on postage: carriers charge on weight and size, and many also have thickness limits for letter or small parcel rates. A slimmer bubble mailer can sometimes keep a parcel in a cheaper band than a thicker Jiffy. Check your carrier's current limits before you standardise on one bag.
Which Mailer Suits Which Product?
Books, diaries and printed matter
Jiffy bags. The paper padding protects corners from bumping and the firm outer resists bending. For fine art prints, add a sheet of card and use a plastic bubble mailer so rain cannot reach the paper.
Jewellery, cosmetics and small gifts
A paper outer bubble mailer is usually enough, and it keeps postage down. Wrap the item in tissue paper first for a nicer unboxing and a snug fit.
Phone cases, cables and small electronics accessories
Plastic bubble mailers. You get cushioning plus water resistance, and the smooth outer takes a shipping label cleanly.
Glass, ceramics and anything truly fragile
Do not rely on a mailer alone. Wrap the item in bubble wrap, fill empty space with void fill and ship in a carton. Our checklist on how to pack fragile items for shipping walks through the steps.
How to Size a Mailing Bag
Measure the item's length, width and thickness, then allow for the bag closing around it:
- Width: add roughly the item's thickness plus 20-30mm, so the bag is not stretched tight across the padding.
- Length: add the item's thickness plus about 40mm to leave room for the seal strip to close flat without strain.
- Test first: buy a small pack in two neighbouring sizes and trial them on your bestsellers. A bag that is too big lets items slide and hit the seams; a bag that is too tight splits at the seal.
Bubble mailers have slightly more usable internal space than a Jiffy of the same outside size, because bubble lining is thinner than paper padding. If you are switching from one to the other, recheck the fit.
When a Courier Satchel or Box Is the Better Choice
Padded mailers are not always the answer. Clothing, soft goods and items already in their own rigid packaging travel perfectly well in a plain courier satchel, which is lighter again and has a tamper evident seal. Our courier satchel sizes guide covers those options.
At the other end, once an item is heavier than about 1kg, taller than a few centimetres or genuinely breakable, a carton sealed with good packaging tape will protect it better than any bag.
Sustainability: What Happens to the Bag After Delivery?
This matters to more customers every year, so it is worth choosing with care:
- Jiffy and honeycomb paper padded bags are paper based. Many councils accept paper packaging in kerbside recycling, but rules vary, so point customers to their local council's guidance.
- Paper outer bubble mailers combine paper and plastic, so they generally need separating before recycling.
- Plastic bubble mailers are sturdy enough to be reused, which is often their best second life.
Whichever you choose, a short line on your packing slip about how to dispose of the bag goes a long way.
FAQ
Are padded mailers better than bubble mailers?
Neither is better across the board. Paper padded (Jiffy) bags resist crushing and sharp edges better; bubble mailers are lighter, slimmer and usually cheaper to post. Match the bag to the item.
Can I send fragile items in a mailing bag?
Small, lightly fragile items such as cosmetics or jewellery, yes. Glass, ceramics and anything heavy or brittle should go in a carton with bubble wrap and void fill.
Are bubble mailers waterproof?
Plastic outer bubble mailers are water resistant and handle wet weather well. Paper outer bubble mailers and Jiffy bags are not, so they are better for items that can tolerate a little damp.
What size mailing bag do I need for an A4 document or book?
An A4 sheet is 210x297mm, so a bag of around 241x343mm (Size 4 Jiffy or the equivalent paper bubble mailer) gives room for thickness and a clean seal. For thicker books, go a size up.
Can I buy mailing bags in bulk?
Yes. Mailing bags are sold in packs of 50 to 700 depending on size and style, and larger volume orders can be priced through our bulk quote form.
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