Poly Bagging Rules: Suffocation Warnings and Thickness Standards

1) The 1.5 Mil Rule

Amazon requires poly bags to be at least 1.5 mil thick. Very thin bags tear too easily during handling. For heavier units, 2.0 mil is often more reliable.

2) Suffocation Warnings

Any bag with an opening of 5 inches or larger needs a visible suffocation warning. This can be printed directly on the bag or added as a compliant label.

Example text: "WARNING: To avoid danger of suffocation, keep this plastic bag away from babies and children."

3) Special Rules for Apparel

Apparel should be protected in transparent bags so the item can be verified without opening the unit. If hangers are used, bag selection must still allow proper sealing and safe handling.

4) Recommended Bag Sizes

These core bag sizes cover most common inventory profiles:

5) Build a repeatable poly bagging workflow

The easiest way to scale poly bagging without compliance drift is to standardize bag sizes by SKU family, define a single suffocation-warning label placement, and run sample scans before full carton sealing. This reduces prep variation across team members and lowers inbound rejection risk.

Create a short SOP checklist for each SKU group: bag spec, warning-label requirement, final seal method, and barcode visibility check. Then run weekly audits on random units to catch process drift early.

If you want a done-for-you workflow, see our FBA prep services, compare unit-level costs on pricing, and request a custom quote on contact.

FAQ

Can I use Ziploc bags?

They can be acceptable if clear and thick enough, but permanent-seal prep bags are generally preferred for security and consistency.