Insulated shipping bags for shipping food
Insulated bags for shipping food are flexible bags with reflective layers that you place inside a cardboard box, so chilled and frozen products warm up more slowly in transit. You put the food in the bag, add a coolant and close the bag. A bag does not create cold itself: it holds on to what your gel ice packs or ice packs give off. Below you will find how to choose the right version and how to build up the shipment.
Insulated bags for shipping food: choosing 2, 4 or 6 layer
The difference is in the number of insulating layers. A 2-layer bag consists of insulating foam with a reflective outer film and a fully white inside. The 4-layer and 6-layer versions combine reflective metalized PET film with bubble film, and the 6-layer bag has extra insulating layers. The number of layers sets the insulation value.
Which one you need depends on the transit time, the contents and the outside temperature. We therefore do not give a number of hours. If you are unsure, request a sample. To see the three versions side by side, read our article insulated bag: 2, 4 or 6 layer.
| Version | Construction | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 2 layer | Foam with reflective outer film, white inside, closing strip | Same-day and next-day shipments |
| 4 layer | Metalized PET and 8 mm bubble film | The standard choice for chilled transport, shorter to medium transit times |
| 6 layer | Metalized PET, bubble film and extra insulating layers | Warm periods and longer transit times |
Insulated bag for shipping: how to build up the shipment
An insulated shipping bag works as inner packaging. You place the products in the bag and set the bag in a suitable cardboard box. This makes a cool box in one step, without the storage costs of preformed EPS boxes. The order:
- Place the food in the bag and fill the bag as tightly as possible. The less air, the better the bag does its job.
- Lay the gel ice packs or ice packs on top of the products. Cold air sinks, so it cools evenly.
- Close the bag properly. The 2-layer bags have a self-adhesive closing strip, and with other versions you close the bag with tape.
- Put the bag in the cardboard box.
More practical points are in our article packing an insulated bag. How much coolant you need depends on the transit time and the outside temperature. You will find the calculation method in Shipping ice packs: what determines the number?.
Insulated shipping bag for meat
Butchers with an online shop use the insulated bag a lot. For an insulated shipping bag for meat, the 4-layer bag is suitable for fresh fish, meat, dairy and meal kits. The 6-layer bag is meant for warm periods and longer transit. In insulation, the 6-layer bag compares well with a thick-walled EPS box, but it is more flexible and takes up less storage space.
The 4-layer and 6-layer bags come in 25 x 35, 50 x 30, 70 x 40, 70 x 55, 70 x 70 and 110 x 70 cm. For the practice around fresh meat, also read shipping fresh meat chilled.
Insulated bags for shipping fish, dairy and meals
An insulated bag is not only for meat. You use the same bag for:
- fish, where the bag keeps the cold chain intact between sender and recipient;
- dairy, vegetables and fruit, optionally with an absorbent mat against moisture;
- meal boxes and prepared meals, which stay at temperature even if the recipient does not accept the parcel right away;
- chocolate, cheese and other fresh specialties.
For fish and meal boxes we have separate articles: shipping fish chilled and shipping meal boxes cool. As a coolant, choose ice packs or hard cooling elements, depending on the temperature you need.
Insulated bags for shipping frozen food
For frozen shipments, choose a bag with more layers, combined with a coolant. The 6-layer bag is meant for frozen shipments and longer transit. The number of gel ice packs depends on transit time, contents and outside temperature.
Insulated bag or EPS box?
For many food shipments, a bag in your own cardboard shipping box is a more economical alternative to an EPS box. The bag is delivered flat and compact and takes up much less storage space. It is lighter and smaller in volume, which can lower shipping costs, and there is no crumbly waste stream as with polystyrene. The full overview is in insulated bag or EPS box.
Frequently asked questions about insulated bags for food
Is a cool bag the same as an insulated bag?
Yes. Cool bag, insulated bag, thermal bag and insulated shipping bag are different names for the same product: a bag that protects the temperature of your shipment.
Do I always need a coolant?
Yes, for chilled or frozen food. The bag insulates, and the coolant supplies the cold. Use gel packs, ice packs or cooling elements.
Is there a more sustainable alternative?
There are paper insulated bags with a closing strip for those who want to be more sustainable, in sizes from 145 x 228 to 341 x 483 mm. More options are in sustainable cooling packaging.
Ordering an insulated shipping bag for food
View our insulated shipping bags for food in 2 layer, 4 layer and 6 layer, made in our own production since 1972 and available directly from stock. Not sure about the version? Request a sample of our insulated bags. For a complete solution, also look at our cooling packaging.
You will find all names in our glossary.
