Compostable Mailers Made to Your Size and Design
Compostable Mailers are soft, flexible bags with a self-seal flap, sized by length x width. They suit clothing, textiles and other soft goods that do not need rigid walls in the post.
From £0.25 a box exact price on a written quote, within one working day
- Free design proof before anything is printed
- Production takes 4 to 6 working days after proof approval
- Free tracked UK mainland delivery in 2 to 3 working days
- Misprints or damage reported within 10 days with photos are reprinted or refunded
- Low minimums, quoted per job
Specification
What compostable mailers from us are made of and how they are measured. Anything not listed here, ask in the quote.
| Style | Soft flat bag with a fold-over flap |
|---|---|
| Size range | 200 x 150 mm to 600 x 450 mm, length x width |
| Typical start | 350 x 250 mm, adjusted to your folded item |
| Closure | Peel-and-seal adhesive strip on the flap |
| Base colour | White or black, other shades quoted per job |
| Plain, one colour, two colours or full colour, front, back or both | |
| Supplied | Flat, packed in counted bundles |
| Price | From £0.25 a box; exact price depends on size, board, print and quantity |
How to measure for a compostable mailer
Fold the item exactly as you will pack it and measure its length, width and height. Add the height to both the length and the width, then add about 30 mm so the flap closes over the top without strain.
Send us the length x width you arrive at, and tell us the folded height too. We check that the filled bag still sits within the postal band you have in mind.
Which mailer for which item
A soft mailer suits goods that can bend and will not break, such as clothing, bedding and fabric accessories. Anything with corners that must stay crisp, or anything that can crack, belongs in a padded mailer or a box.
Design Your Compostable Mailer
Drop your logo on a real photo of our compostable mailers, set the size and quantity, and send it. A designer sets up the real dieline and sends a free proof.
Your logo is placed on a real photo of our box. A designer redraws it to scale on the dieline and sends a free proof before anything is printed.
What are Compostable Mailers?
They are flat, flexible postal bags made from thin film. One end is open, with a flap that folds over and seals on a peel-off adhesive strip. There is no padding and no board, so the bag follows the shape of whatever is inside.
The appeal is speed and space. A folded jumper goes in, the strip comes off, the flap goes down, and the parcel is ready for a label. They sit in our range of mailers and padded mailers beside the paper padded envelope.
Clothing shops, craft sellers and small homeware brands use them most. They post soft orders every day and want a parcel that is light, quick to label and printed with their own name.
What can you post in a soft mailer bag?
Soft goods that can take a squeeze. The bag keeps the contents together and covered, while the item itself absorbs any knock.
- T-shirts, hoodies, jumpers and leggings, folded flat.
- Bedding, cushion covers, tea towels and other fabric homeware.
- Scarves, hats, gloves and socks.
- Swimwear, sportswear and baby clothing.
- Fabric bags, pouches and soft toys.
- Patterns, fabric cuts and yarn for craft sellers.
Fold garments around a sheet of tissue to keep them tidy. The bag does not stop creasing, so fold along the lines the customer would use.
How does a compostable mailer seal?
The closure is a strip of adhesive along the flap, protected by a peel-off backing. Done right, it closes in one movement.
- Lay the bag flat with the open end facing you.
- Slide the folded item in until it touches the far end.
- Smooth out trapped air by pressing from the bottom towards the opening.
- Peel the backing from the adhesive strip.
- Fold the flap down and run your hand across it from side to side.
- Place the address label on the flat front, clear of the seal.
What size compostable mailer do I need?
A soft bag gives a little, but it still has to wrap around the depth of the item. A thick hoodie uses far more bag than a thin T-shirt with the same footprint.
| Item, folded | Bag size to try | Band to check |
|---|---|---|
| Pair of socks or a scarf | 200 x 150 mm | Large Letter |
| One T-shirt | 300 x 230 mm | Large Letter |
| Leggings or a vest top | 320 x 250 mm | Large Letter |
| One hoodie or jumper | 350 x 250 mm | Small Parcel |
| Two or three tops | 450 x 350 mm | Small Parcel |
| Single duvet cover set | 600 x 450 mm | Medium Parcel |
Use these as starting points and test with your own stock folded the way you pack it. Our page of sizes and measuring help covers how to take each figure.
Will a soft mailer pass as a Large Letter?
It can, if the filled bag stays inside 353 x 250 x 25 mm. A single thin T-shirt usually manages it. A hoodie almost never does, because the fold alone is deeper than 25 mm.
Press the packed bag flat on a table and measure its thickest point. Check the current band limits before you order, and size the bag so the filled parcel sits comfortably within the band, not right on the edge.
If a garment sits just over the limit, try folding it in thirds rather than halves. A wider, flatter fold often saves the band without needing a different bag size.
How are compostable mailers printed?
The outside of the bag takes plain, one colour, two colour or full colour print on the front, the back or both. A dark base with one pale colour on top gives strong contrast, while a white base suits bold full colour artwork.
Keep the address area clear and allow for the flap, which folds over part of the back. Fine text and thin lines can blur on film, so we suggest a minimum of about 8 point for body text. Your free proof shows the artwork laid flat with the flap and seal marked. See the print options in our finishes range for colour ideas.
Soft mailer, padded envelope or box?
Pick the soft bag for clothes and fabric, where nothing can break and the parcel should be light and quick to pack. Pick a padded envelope for slim items with corners, such as books, prints and jewellery.
Choose a box when the item is hard, breakable or needs to arrive in a set layout. If you are torn between a bag and an envelope, compare our paper padded mailers with cushioned lining for slim, firmer items.
How do the mailers arrive and store?
They come flat in counted bundles, with free tracked UK mainland delivery in 2 to 3 working days. A whole run takes up little more than a shelf, which suits a packing table in a spare room.
Store them cool and dry, out of direct sunlight and away from heaters. Warmth can soften the adhesive strip, so keep them in their outer carton until needed.
Count out a day's worth at a time and leave the rest bundled. Loose bags slide off a bench, collect dust and get creased at the flap.
Which mistakes do sellers make with soft mailers?
- Ordering a bag that matches the folded footprint and ignoring its height.
- Overfilling so the flap only just reaches the strip and lifts in transit.
- Posting something hard or breakable that needed a box.
- Running print through the area where the flap folds over.
- Using thin light text on a white bag that disappears from a distance.
How to order Compostable Mailers
Send the length x width, the folded height of your item, the quantity and your print plan. We quote in writing within one working day, from £0.25 a mailer, with low minimums quoted per job.
A free design proof comes first, and printing waits for your approval. Production takes 4 to 6 working days after approval. Report a misprint or damage within 10 days with photos for a reprint or refund. Ask for a written quote for soft mailers or message us on WhatsApp at +44 7578 382054.
Related mailer boxes
Other closures and finishes that start from the same idea.
Paper Padded MailersPaper cushioning inside, peel and seal stripFrom £0.25 a box
Brown Kraft Mailer BoxesPlain kraft, one or two colour print if you want itFrom £0.25 a box
Literature MailersShallow and rigid for brochures, prints and samplesFrom £0.25 a box
Subscription Box MailersSame size every month, fresh print every quarterFrom £0.25 a boxCompostable Mailers questions
What sizes do Compostable Mailers come in?
We make them to your length x width, from about 200 x 150 mm to 600 x 450 mm. Most clothing sellers start near 350 x 250 mm.
Do Compostable Mailers have any padding?
No. They are single-layer soft bags with no cushion, so they suit fabric and clothing rather than anything that can break.
How does a compostable mailer close?
With a peel-and-seal adhesive strip on the flap. Peel the backing, fold the flap down and press along it.
Can Compostable Mailers be printed on both sides?
Yes. Front and back can each carry plain, one colour, two colour or full colour print.
What base colours do Compostable Mailers come in?
White and black are the usual bases. Other shades can be quoted per job and shown on the proof.
Can a T-shirt go as a Large Letter in a compostable mailer?
Often, if the filled bag stays under 25 mm thick and within 353 x 250 mm. Check the current band limits before you order.
Will a hoodie fit in a 350 x 250 mm compostable mailer?
A folded adult hoodie usually does, though it will post as a Small Parcel. Test with your own garment folded as you pack it.
Can I put a printed card inside a compostable mailer?
Yes. A thank-you card, care note or returns slip slides in with the garment.
Where should the label go on a compostable mailer?
On the flat front, away from the flap and seal. We can leave a clear panel in the print so the label lands there every time.
Are Compostable Mailers right for jewellery?
Not on their own, as there is no padding. Use a paper padded mailer or a small box for jewellery.
How should I store unused Compostable Mailers?
Cool, dry and out of sunlight, in their carton. Heat can soften the adhesive on the flap.
How long do printed Compostable Mailers take to reach me?
Production is 4 to 6 working days after proof approval, then free tracked delivery in 2 to 3 working days. Our delivery times and tracking page has the details.
Your question is not here? Ask on WhatsApp or call +44 7578 382054.
Tell us what you post
Send the product, a rough inside size and a quantity. We reply in writing within one working day with a price and a free design proof. Prefer to talk? Call +44 7578 382054 or message us on WhatsApp.