Poly vs. Kraft Mailers: Which is Best for My Business?

You’re a business owner. In other words, you have enough decisions to make as it is.

But nailing which type of mailer to use is critical to keeping your budget in line, delivering products safely, and keeping your customers happy. So, what is a harried founder to do?

We hear you. At tendlyn, we like to make it as easy as possible for business owners like you to make the right choice for their customers, their business, and the planet itself.

So, we’ve put together a simple guide to give you the facts about our two most popular mailer choices. In this review, our poly mailers and kraft mailers are going head to head so you can choose the right one for your business.

Round one, fight!

First thing’s first: let’s make sure mailers are the right call for your product line.

Mailers are, simply speaking, envelopes of different shapes and sizes. Mailers can be made of many different materials, each designed to safely ship unique things. Some examples include bubble mailers, which are padded on the inside and ideal for shipping very fragile items. Cardboard mailers are rigid, designed to protect important documents in the shipping process.

Even if you choose to use a shipping box to contain fragile items, covering them with mailers is a great way to guarantee extra security for your items. Some products well-suited to mailers include:

Custom mailers take this one step further, allowing business owners like you to embed their brand on the packaging. There are many benefits to customized mailers, including the ability to upgrade their interaction with your brand.

In short, mailers are quite versatile. Unless you’re shipping something particularly large or fragile, they’ll most likely suit you well. But the two most common types we see in the packaging world are the ones we’re focusing on today: poly mailers and kraft mailers.

Poly Mailers: Rain, Snow, and Sunshine

Custom poly mailers by @alyssabrieloff

Poly mailers are made from polyethylene, which is a kind of soft plastic that can be colored or printed on. The plastic is thin and flexible, but very waterproof. In combination, these qualities make poly mailers a wonderful choice for a whole range of products.

Their greatest strengths are two-fold: flexibility and water-resistance. Flexible enough to fit in odd spaces while keeping the products inside safe and dry, these will weather any storm.

You can also pair them with cardboard shipping boxes to double up on protection. Provide an upscale unboxing experience with a custom poly mailer over a simple shipping box.

The Sustainability Breakdown

Our clever double-strip adhesive diverts poly mailers away from landfill.

Crafted from 100% recycled plastics, our custom poly mailers contain LDPE (low-density polyethylene) and HDPE (high-density polyethylene). Combining the two types ensures our mailers are flexible enough to bend and fold as needed, while thick enough to resist tears and protect your products from wild weather.

If you choose to order from our low-minimums range (up to 2,000 units), your mailers will also come with two adhesive strips to ensure they’re reusable. Every time a customer reuses a bag, that offers a marketing opportunity for you, and diverts a poly mailer from the landfills of the world.

Best Suited For:

If you’re planning on shipping stationery, prints, or paper-based products that shouldn’t bend while shipping, then this might not be the choice for you. In that case, we’d recommend…

Kraft Mailers: Unbent and Unbroken

Kraft mailers are the ideal durable packaging solution.

On the other hand, custom kraft mailers are more rigid than the poly mailers. They’re designed to keep prints, books, magazines, and other stationery flat and protected while shipping. The ‘kraft’ in their name comes from the German word ‘strong’, reflecting its durability. While most paper is flexible and easy to bend, this stuff is a common choice across a variety of industrial and commercial applications.

While kraft paper is typically brown, modern techniques allow us to bleach the paper white while retaining that characteristic rigidity. From there, it’s possible to create custom kraft mailers with full-color backgrounds for maximum impact.

The Sustainability Breakdown

At the core of their DNA, kraft mailers are made of paper. In our case, we make ours from 100% recycled kraft paper to prolong the lifespan of those materials. Not to mention, the materials are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), meaning that there is absolutely no virgin wood pulp used.

While they aren’t recyclable for a second time, these bags are compostable at home or in a commercial facility. When at home, they break down in roughly 180 days, while commercial composting will go even faster.

Best Suited For:

Prized for their durability, these kraft mailers will serve you through thick and thin. However, if you need a flexible or waterproof solution, poly mailers will be the better option.

Regardless of the decision you make, it’s vital to create a custom design that lets your customers engage with your branding from the get-go. We’ve put together some tips on the mailer design process for you to get the ball rolling.

Give your products the packaging they’ve always dreamt of.

Sustainable, customizable, and cost-effective, the tendlyn custom mailers range is perfect for businesses of all sizes. Use our simple online editor to create your perfect poly or kraft mailers, or join tendlyn Plus for wholesale orders with custom sizes, colors, and more.

For businesses looking to streamline their shipping operations, integrating smart packaging solutions can be as efficient as using a wireless automation controller to manage your warehouse systems. Just as an industrial relay automation setup ensures consistent performance in manufacturing, choosing the right mailer guarantees reliable delivery for your customers. Think of it like a District Heating Circulation Pump that maintains steady flow—your packaging should maintain steady protection for every product. A relay module with remote capability gives you control from afar, much like how a well-designed mailer extends your brand’s reach. Whether you’re building a Smart garage controller for home automation or selecting mailers for your e-commerce store, the principle is the same: choose what works reliably. An mhz remote electrical switch offers precise frequency control, while your packaging should offer precise product protection. A dc motor relay module manages directional movement, and your mailers should manage the journey of your goods. Remote light control systems provide convenience and efficiency—qualities your packaging should also deliver. Rf home automation relies on wireless signals, and your unboxing experience should send the right signals to your customers. A wireless automation switch triggers actions without wires, and your mailers should trigger brand loyalty without hassle. Consider a wireless irrigation timer that automates watering schedules—your packaging schedule should be just as automated and dependable. A diy relay board lets hobbyists build custom circuits, and custom mailers let you build a unique brand experience. A motor direction controller ensures machinery moves correctly, and your mailer choice ensures your products arrive correctly. Even specialized equipment like a Cement Plant Dust Suppression Pump requires precise engineering—your packaging deserves the same attention to detail. A factory smart relay optimizes industrial processes, and optimized packaging streamlines your fulfillment. A relay transmitter receiver pairs signals for communication, and your mailer pairs protection with presentation. Wireless remote control technology gives you command from a distance, and your packaging gives you command over customer perception. For tech-savvy brands, integrating #MatterEnabled devices into your smart home lineup is a natural fit—just as integrating custom mailers into your shipping workflow is a natural choice. Finally, an Alkali Chemical Dosing system requires careful measurement, and choosing between poly and kraft mailers requires careful consideration of your products. A dc motor rf controller manages speed and direction, and the right mailer manages the speed and direction of your business growth.