One chart for every common product, a 30-second way to measure, and the size mistakes that quietly cost D2C brands money.
Quick answer: Pick a courier bag 1 to 2 inches wider and longer than your folded product. For boxed items, add the box height to both width and length. Common sizes in India: 8x10 for accessories, 10x12 for one T-shirt, 12x14 for shirts and kurtis, 14x18 for jeans or kurta sets, and 16x20 for jackets and shoe boxes.
Order the wrong courier bag size once and you’ll remember it for a year. Too big, and the kurta slides around and arrives looking slept-in. Too small, and your packer is fighting the flap at 11 pm before a sale.
This guide to courier bag sizes is built around what Indian brands actually ship: tees, kurtas, jeans, cosmetics, books and boxed products. Find your product, find your size, and order once.
How to Read Courier Bag Sizes
Courier bag sizes are written in inches. A 12x14 bag is 12 inches by 14 inches.
Here’s the catch. Sellers don’t agree on which number comes first. Some write width first, some write length first. Before you order, ask which side is the opening.
The second catch is the flap. Most sellers quote the size without the flap, which adds roughly 2 inches on top. So two "12x14" bags from two suppliers may not be the same bag.
Thickness is measured in microns. Plastic courier bags in India usually run from 50 to 75 microns. Compostable courier bags usually run from 50 to 60.
Pick a courier bag 1 to 2 inches wider and longer than your folded product; for boxed items, add the box height to both width and length.
Courier Bag Size Chart for Common Products
One thing changes everything: the fold. A T-shirt folded in thirds fits a 10x12. Folded in half, it needs a 12x14. Fold the product the way your packers fold it, and only then measure.
| Bag size (inches) | What fits | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|
| 6x8 | Earrings, phone covers, cables, small cosmetics | Jewellery, accessories |
| 8x10 | Wallets, socks, a small skincare kit | Beauty, accessories |
| 10x12 | One folded T-shirt, a paperback | Basics, books |
| 12x14 | A shirt, a kurti, two tees | Fashion, ethnic wear |
| 12x16 | A nightsuit, leggings set, a thick textbook | Fashion, education |
| 14x18 | Jeans, a kurta set, three or four tops | Apparel |
| 16x20 | A hoodie, a light jacket, a bedsheet, a small shoe box | Winter wear, home linen |
| 18x24 | A heavy jacket, a blanket, a large shoe box | Winter wear, home |
How to Measure Your Product in 30 Seconds
For clothes and other soft products:
- Fold the product exactly as it ships, with tissue, tag and thank-you card.
- Measure the width and the length.
- Add 1 inch to the width and 1.5 to 2 inches to the length.
- Round up to the nearest standard size. That’s your bag.
For boxed products, a box has height, and the bag has to wrap around it. So the height gets added to both sides.
Bag width = box width + box height + 1 inch. Bag length = box length + box height + 1 inch.
Example: a skincare box of 6 x 8 x 2 inches needs a bag of at least 9 x 11 inches. A 10x12 does the job.
50, 60 or 75 Microns: Which Thickness Do You Need?
Size gets all the attention. Thickness decides whether the parcel survives the trip.
50 microns works for soft, light products: clothes, linen, and accessories already in their own pouch.
60 microns and above is better for boxes with sharp corners, heavier parcels, and anything travelling across states. Those parcels get thrown, stacked and sorted many times.
Still unsure? Ship a few test parcels of each thickness to a faraway pincode, and see how they arrive.
Does Courier Bag Size Change Your Shipping Cost?
It can. Couriers charge on whichever is higher: the actual weight or the volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is length x width x height in centimetres, divided by 5,000 for most Indian couriers. Some divide by 4,000, which makes bulky parcels cost even more.
A flat, snug parcel barely registers. A loose bag stuffed with bubble wrap to stop the product moving turns into a pillow. And pillows have height.
A right-sized bag keeps the parcel flat, and keeps the bill down.
5 Courier Bag Size Mistakes That Cost Brands Money
- One size for everything. Easy to stock. It also means half your parcels are too loose.
- Forgetting the flap. Always check whether the quoted size includes it.
- Packing too tight. A strained bag splits at the seal or a corner during sorting.
- Ignoring the invoice. If the label or invoice sleeve sits on the bag, leave room on the face for it.
- Ordering lakhs before a trial. Order samples in two sizes, pack your real products, then commit.
Most brands need only two or three courier bag sizes. For apparel, a 10x12, a 12x14 and a 14x18 cover most orders.
Biodegradable Courier Bags: Same Sizes, Different Material
If you’re moving away from plastic courier bags, your courier bag sizes don’t change. Certified compostable courier bags come in the same standard sizes, with the same peel-and-seal strip and tamper-evident flap.
One warning about labels. "Biodegradable" printed on a courier bag can mean almost anything. Look for IS 17088 certification and a certificate number registered with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). That’s what separates a compostable mailer from a plastic bag with a green print.
Our compostable courier bags run from 9x12 to 16x20 inches, at 50 to 60 microns, with custom sizes for bulk orders.
Two things to know before you switch. Store compostable mailers in a cool, dry place away from direct sun. And use your stock within its 12-month shelf life. Treat them like a product with a shelf life, because they are one.
Not Sure Which Size You Need?
Send us your product’s dimensions. We’ll suggest a size and send samples to test with your real packing.