Zip Lock Bag Sizes: A Buying Guide for Australian Food Businesses
A plain-English guide to zip lock bag sizes, micron ratings and carton quantities - so you match the right resealable bag to the job and order the right carton the first time.
Zip lock bags are one of those back-of-house items every food business runs through without much thought - until you order the wrong size and a carton of 1,000 sits unused in the dry store. Get the size, gauge and quantity right and they quietly do their job: portioning, labelling, freezing and keeping product fresh from prep bench to service.
This guide breaks down the three things that actually matter when you buy: size (the internal dimensions in millimetres), micron (how thick and tough the film is) and carton quantity (how you buy at trade volume). Whether you run a cafe, deli, catering kitchen or aged care facility, it will help you spec the right bag the first time. Browse the full zip lock bags range as you read.
The short version
- Small (50-150mm): spices, sauces, sample portions, small parts.
- Medium (150-230mm): sandwiches, snacks, deli portions, coffee.
- Large (250-400mm): bulk prep, marinating, catering and event quantities.
- Standard micron (40-50um) covers most kitchen storage; step up to a heavy-duty freezer bag for long-term freezing or liquids.
- Trade buyers order by the carton of 1,000 - mix sizes to cover the whole prep line.
Size guide
Zip Lock Bag Sizes Explained - A Reference Chart
Internal dimensions, what each size is best for, and how it sells at trade volume.
| Size (W x H) | Common name | Best for | Carton qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 x 75mm | Mini | Spices, seeds, tablets, small parts, jewellery | 1,000 |
| 75 x 100mm | Extra small | Sauces, condiments, sample portions | 1,000 |
| 100 x 150mm | Small | Snacks, coffee portions, stationery | 1,000 |
| 125 x 205mm | Small-medium | Lollies, hardware, retail singles | 1,000 |
| 150 x 205mm | Medium / sandwich | Sandwiches, rolls, baked goods | 1,000 |
| 205 x 255mm | Large | Deli portions, cheese, smallgoods | 1,000 |
| 250 x 330mm | Extra large | Bulk portions, marinating, produce | 1,000 |
| 300 x 400mm | Catering | Event prep, bulk catering quantities | 1,000 |
Sizes shown are the clear LD (low-density) zip lock range. Need a size that is not listed? Talk to the trade desk and we will match it.
Small vs large
From spice sachets to catering packs - matching the bag to the task
Small zip lock bags (50-150mm) are the workhorses of portion control - single-serve sauces, spice refills, sample packs and bakery toppings. They take up almost no shelf space and keep a tidy, labelled prep line.
Large zip lock bags (250-400mm) are built for volume - marinating proteins, freezer batching, and packing catering quantities for an event. The rule of thumb: leave 2-3cm of clear space above the contents so the zip seals cleanly and the bag lies flat.
- Small: condiments, spices, seeds, small parts
- Medium: sandwiches, snacks, deli portions
- Large: marinades, bulk prep, catering and freezer batches
Micron guide
Standard vs heavy-duty: how thick a bag you actually need
Micron (um) is the thickness of the film. DPack's standard clear zip lock bags run 40 to 50 micron - plenty for room-temperature storage, refrigeration and short-term freezing. For anything that lives in the freezer for weeks, or holds liquid, step up to a heavy-duty freezer bag.
Our heavy-duty freezer range uses a thicker gauge that resists splitting and freezer burn, in sizes up to 300 x 450mm and cartons from 1,000 right up to 10,000 for high-volume kitchens.
- 40-50um standard: fridge, dry store, short-term freezing
- Heavy-duty: long-term freezing, liquids, sharp-edged or bony portions
- Practical rule: freezing for more than two weeks - go heavy-duty
Are zip lock bags food safe?
DPack's clear zip lock bags are made from food-grade LDPE (low-density polyethylene) - the same family of material used for the inner liners in most commercial food packaging. It is BPA-free and safe for direct contact with food, which is what you want for anything moving from prep bench to fridge, freezer or display.
For bakery and retail presentation where you want a crisp, sealed look rather than a resealable zip, a peel and seal (self-adhesive) bag is the better tool - covered next.
Closure types
Peel and seal vs zip lock - which closure does your business need?
Two different jobs: resealable storage versus one-time sealed presentation.
| Feature | Zip lock (LD) | Peel & seal (BOPP) |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | Resealable zip strip | One-time adhesive peel tab |
| Reusable | Yes - open and reseal | No - single seal |
| Best for | Portion control, kitchen storage, freezer | Bakery display, retail, market stalls |
| Look | Practical, frosted-clear | Glossy, crystal-clear presentation |
| Typical pack | Cartons of 1,000 | Cartons of 1,000 |
Packaging baked goods for a display cabinet or a market stall - peel and seal looks cleaner. For kitchen prep and freezer storage where you open and reseal, zip lock is the right call.
Trade buyers order by the carton of 1,000 - mix sizes across one delivery to cover the whole prep line.
How many zip lock bags should you order?
Zip lock bags sell by the carton - 1,000 pieces for the standard clear range, and up to 10,000 for the high-volume heavy-duty sizes. Because they store flat and do not date, most kitchens buy a few sizes at once and keep a small buffer in the dry store.
A rough guide by business type:
- Cafe (daily sandwich and portion prep): one carton a month of 150 x 205mm, plus a small size for sauces.
- Restaurant (portioning plus freezer): two to three cartons a month across small, medium and a heavy-duty freezer size.
- Caterer (event batching): five or more cartons, weighted to large and freezer sizes.
- Aged care and offices: one to two cartons a month of medium sizes for portioning and storage.
Orders over $150 ex GST ship free across Melbourne metro, with Australia-wide delivery on everything else. Compare all zip lock bag sizes and carton prices to build your order.
Shop the guide
Zip lock and freezer bags our trade customers reorder
Wholesale pricing shown ex GST · cartons of 1,000+ · free Melbourne metro over $150 ex GST
Spices, sauces & small parts
Snacks & coffee portions
Deli & smallgoods
Bulk prep & catering
Heavy-duty freezer
Common questions
Zip lock bag FAQs
What sizes do zip lock bags come in?
DPack's clear zip lock range runs from 50 x 75mm mini bags up to 300 x 400mm catering packs, with common sizes at 100 x 150mm, 150 x 205mm and 205 x 255mm in between. See the full size chart above to match dimensions to your use case.
What is the difference between standard and heavy-duty freezer bags?
Standard zip lock bags are 40 to 50 micron - fine for the fridge, dry store and short-term freezing. Heavy-duty freezer bags use a thicker film that resists splitting and freezer burn, so they suit long-term freezing, liquids and bony or sharp portions. As a rule, anything frozen for more than two weeks belongs in a heavy-duty bag.
Are zip lock bags food safe?
Yes. DPack's clear zip lock bags are food-grade LDPE, BPA-free and safe for direct food contact - suitable for commercial kitchens, cafes, delis and aged care.
Can you buy zip lock bags in bulk for a cafe or restaurant?
Yes - we sell by the carton (1,000 pieces for standard sizes, up to 10,000 for heavy-duty), with no minimum order. Orders over $150 ex GST ship free across Melbourne metro, and we deliver Australia-wide. Browse the zip lock bags range to order.
What is the largest zip lock bag you stock?
The largest in the standard clear range is 300 x 400mm, with heavy-duty freezer bags going up to 300 x 450mm for catering and bulk-prep quantities.
What is the smallest zip lock bag you stock?
The smallest is 50 x 75mm - a mini bag used for spices, seeds, tablets, small hardware and jewellery components.
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