Ziplock bags, pressure-seal bags, slider bags, drawstring closures – they all promise resealability, but they differ in closure mechanism, ease of use, tightness and price. This guide explains the closure types technically, shows where each bag fits best, and gives you the decision aids you need to make the right choice – whether for food, small parts, cosmetics or industry.
Table of contents
- What is a ziplock bag?
- Closure types at a glance
- What are ziplock bags suitable for?
- Pressure-seal vs. slider – which to choose?
- Materials & wall thicknesses
- Sizes and standard dimensions
- Food-grade ziplock bags
- With write-on panel & special variants
- Sustainable ziplock bags
- Logo printing and custom production
- Frequently asked questions
What is a ziplock bag?
“Ziplock bag” is a colloquial umbrella term for resealable bags with a zip-like closure mechanism. The closure consists of two small profiles – one male, one female – that interlock when pressed together and thus seal tightly. The technically correct term is usually pressure-seal bag; “ziplock bag” is the popular short form. For a complete overview of all resealable variants, see our resealable bags guide.
Closure types at a glance
- Classic pressure-seal (single-zip): two individual profiles that interlock when pressed together. The standard for most applications. → View pressure-seal bags
- Double-zip: two parallel zip profiles for extra tightness. Ideal for aroma protection or vacuum preparation.
- Slider: an additional slider that opens/closes the seal. Faster and easier to operate – ideal for frequent opening or limited manual dexterity. → Slider bags
- With write-on panel: ziplock bags with one to three white strips for labelling. → Pressure-seal with write-on panel
- With Euro hole: for retail display racks
- With aluminium inner layer and zip: aroma-tight, light-tight, premium → common in stand-up pouches
What are ziplock bags suitable for?
Ziplock bags are extremely versatile. The typical areas of use:
- Small parts: screws, spare parts, jewellery, repair kits, coins
- Food: spices, tea, dried fruit, snacks – as a food-grade variant
- Sample shipping: powders, granulates, material samples
- Travel: cosmetics, pills, liquids (TSA-compliant)
- Pharmacy & medicine: tablets, dosing packaging, sample shipping
- Industry: sorting, spare-part storage, material kits
- Cosmetics & beauty: sample packaging, return kits, product mini-sets
- Office & school: storing small items, sorting-box replacement
- Farm shop & direct marketers: portioned food
- Workshop & construction: small-part storage, screw-box contents
Pressure-seal vs. slider – which to choose?
| Criterion | Pressure-seal | Slider |
|---|---|---|
| Operation | two hands, press together | one-handed with slider |
| Tightness | very good | good |
| Comfort with frequent opening | good | excellent |
| Price per unit | cheaper | higher (+30–60%) |
| Sensitivity to dirt/powder | less sensitive | can wear out |
| Food-grade availability | standard | available |
| Reuse | 500+ cycles | 300+ cycles |
Rule of thumb: pressure-seal is the economical, tightest choice for 90% of applications. A slider is worthwhile when the bag is opened very frequently or the target group has limited manual dexterity (older users, children, practice staff wearing gloves).
Materials & wall thicknesses
The standard material is LDPE (low-density polyethylene) – flexible, tear-resistant, recyclable. For food-grade applications it is additionally certified to EU 10/2011. More about LDPE and alternatives in the PE bags guide.
| Wall thickness | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| 40–60 microns | Light contents: tablets, jewellery, sample packaging |
| 60–80 microns | Standard for food, screws, travel |
| 80–120 microns | Medium-heavy: tools, repeated reuse |
| 120–150 microns | Heavy/sharp-edged contents, industry |
| 150+ microns | Custom production for extreme loads |
Sizes and standard dimensions
Ziplock bags are available in practically any size – from mini (60×80 mm for single tablets) to large format (300×400 mm and more). Common standard dimensions:
- 40×60 mm – mini, tablets, coins
- 60×80 mm – small jewellery, pills, samples
- 80×120 mm – screws, coins, material samples
- 120×170 mm – travel cosmetics, snacks, medium sorting
- 160×220 mm – medium contents, food portion
- 200×300 mm – large contents, larger food portion
- 300×400 mm and more – XL contents, industrial use
Full size table in the pressure-seal bags overview.
Food-grade ziplock bags
For direct food contact, ziplock bags need EU 10/2011 certification – often additionally LFGB. We send the declaration of conformity on request. Recommended collections:
- Food-grade pressure-seal bags
- Food-grade slider bags
- Stand-up pouches with zip (often food-grade)
With write-on panel & special variants
Practical for workshop, practice and logistics are ziplock bags with a write-on panel – one or three white strips allow direct labelling with a ballpoint pen or permanent marker. Ideal for:
- Spare-part sorting in the workshop
- Sample packaging in the practice (patient data)
- School and office supplies
- Bench sorting in industry
→ Pressure-seal with write-on panel
Sustainable ziplock bags
The ziplock bag segment also offers sustainable options:
- Recycled LDPE (GRS-certified) → Sustainable pressure-seal bags
- Mono-material bags without composite – easier to recycle by type
- Compostable materials to EN 13432 (custom production)
- Bio-PE from sugar cane (custom production)
Detailed overview in the sustainable packaging range.
Logo printing and custom production
Ziplock bags can be printed with a logo, branding or notices – flexographic, gravure or digital printing depending on quantity and requirements. For custom production (custom size, wall thickness, colour, print) see request a custom production. Before large orders, request free samples.
Frequently asked questions
Are ziplock bags food-grade?
Only the food-grade certified variants meet EU 10/2011 and are approved for direct food contact. Declaration of conformity on request.
Can I have ziplock bags printed?
Yes – we print pressure-seal bags with your logo. → Custom production.
What sizes are available?
From mini (60×80 mm) to large format (300×400 mm and more). Exact dimensions in the pressure-seal overview.
How often can I open a ziplock bag?
High-quality pressure-seal bags withstand 500+ opening cycles. Slider bags typically 300+ cycles. Careful handling and keeping the profiles clean significantly extend the service life.
Are ziplock bags waterproof?
Yes – a cleanly closed pressure-seal reliably keeps out splash water. For immersion or pressurised-water applications, special bags or welded film bags are better.
Can I vacuum-seal ziplock bags?
A standard pressure-seal does not hold a true vacuum. For vacuum applications you need sealed-edge bags or vacuum bags with embossed structure.
Which wall thickness for workshop use?
At least 90–120 microns – resistant to sharp-edged contents and tools. For particularly robust applications, 150 microns or custom production.
What does a ziplock bag with a logo cost?
It depends on the printing process, run size and bag size. Per unit, printing costs are often in the cent range at high volumes. We calculate individually → submit a request.
Are ziplock bags UV-resistant?
Standard LDPE becomes brittle under UV radiation over months. For outdoor or shop-window applications, UV-stabilised materials are available as custom production.
Are there ziplock bags with a hanging hole?
Yes – with a punched Euro hole for retail display racks. On request as standard or custom production.
Which variant for powders/granulates?
Pressure-seal with 80–120 microns wall thickness. With very fine powders, check the closure before filling. Avoid sliders – powder can wear out the slider.
Order ziplock bags directly now: → Pressure-seal bag range · → Slider bags · → Food-grade