What packaging weighs in a parcel

Sep 20, 2026

Short answer: An ordinary clothing parcel consists of the item plus five to twenty grams of packaging. Most of it is a plastic bag around the item and a mailing bag outside. The weight is small, but it takes up space in transport.

Two layers are normal

The item sits in a bag that protects it from dirt and moisture, and that bag sits inside a mailing bag. This applies to bamboo boxers and to larger items in the same order. The inner bag keeps the item clean in the warehouse and during packing, while the mailing bag takes the knocks on the way to you.

Why the item has its own bag

Clothing is handled several times before it reaches you. It is shelved, picked, packed and shipped. Along the way it can meet dust, moisture and dirty hands. The small bag around the item makes sure it arrives in the same condition it left production, so you unpack something clean and new.

The mailing bag takes the knocks

The outer bag has to cope with being thrown, stacked and carried through the delivery system. It also has to keep out rain and damp. That is why it is usually sturdier than the bag around the item. It carries the address and label, and it is what you see first when the parcel is on your doorstep.

Weight is small, volume is the issue

Packaging weighs very little, but it takes up space in transport, and that is where the real cost lies. That is why socks for men and women and everything else are packed flat. A flat parcel takes up less room in the van and the warehouse, so more parcels fit on the same trip.

Five to twenty grams

For an ordinary clothing parcel, the packaging weighs five to twenty grams in total. That is the bags and a label. It is little compared with the item itself, especially when several things share a parcel. The more items share the same mailing bag, the less packaging there is per item.

What you can do

Order several items in one order so they all share the same mailing bag. This applies to everything from our most popular pieces for men to small items. Combining purchases means fewer parcels and less packaging overall. It is also easier for you, since you only have to receive or collect one parcel.

Can you ask for less

Some shops offer less packaging when you order, such as several items sharing one bag. It depends on the shop and on how well the items need protecting. Look for an option at checkout, or send a message if you have a request. It is not always possible, but it does no harm to ask.

Reuse and recycling

Clean plastic film can be recycled in most places. Remove paper and labels and put the bag with other soft plastics. A mailing bag in good condition can also be reused if you need to send something yourself. That gives the packaging a second life before it goes for recycling.