Micron vs Mil — How to Spec Plastic Bag Thickness Correctly

Thickness is where a lot of wholesale orders go wrong, because two measurement systems are used around the world. Get this right before you request a quote.

The two units

Mil (used in North America) = one-thousandth of an inch. Micron / µm (used in Europe, Asia and most of the world) = one-thousandth of a millimetre. They are not the same.

The conversion

1 mil = 25.4 microns. So a 2.0 mil bag ≈ 50 µm; a 1.5 mil bag ≈ 38 µm. Always confirm which unit a supplier is quoting.

Gauge vs real strength

Thickness is only part of strength — resin type (HDPE vs LDPE), whether the film is single or co-extruded double-layer, and the seal all matter. A thinner LLDPE bag can outperform a thicker HDPE one for puncture resistance.

How to order

Tell us the finished size, the load it must carry, and either the mil or micron you need. If you're unsure, send a current sample and we'll measure and match it.

Request a wholesale quote

Send your sizes, thickness, colour and quantity — we reply with FOB pricing, samples and lead time.