If you sell ice, the bag is the product’s only protection between the freezer and the customer’s esky. A bag that cracks at sub-zero, splits when filled or fails to seal turns a simple retail line into a mess on the forecourt floor. The right ice packaging bags are built for the cold, sized to the way you sell, and cheap enough per bag to keep the margin on a low-cost product.
This guide covers what servos, bars, bottle shops and ice vendors need to know before ordering: the sizes, the film spec, how the bag is filled and sealed, and how to set up a reliable bulk supply. Plastpack manufactures ice bags in Australia, extruding the film and forming the bags in-house, so the detail here comes from making the product rather than reselling it.
What are ice packaging bags?
Ice packaging bags are clear, freezer-grade plastic bags made for bagging and selling ice. The key word is freezer-grade. They are produced from polyethylene film engineered to stay flexible at sub-zero temperatures, so the bag does not go brittle, crack or split when it is filled with ice and frozen solid. An ordinary poly bag will do exactly that in a freezer, which is why a general-purpose bag is the wrong choice for ice.
Because ice is a food product, the film also has to be food-grade. And because the film is clear, staff and customers can see the ice quality through the bag. Plastpack’s ice bags are made for retail, hospitality and events, from film built to hold up in the cold.
Ice bag sizes and what each one holds
Plastpack stocks ice bags in three clear sizes, each supplied in a box of 1000 bags, and the right one comes down to how much ice you fill per bag. The current stock range is:
The 9kg bag measures 305mm wide by 460mm long in a 38 micron film. It is the lighter option, suited to retail bags of ice, convenience store freezers and events where a smaller, easy-to-carry fill works best.
The 17kg bag measures 305mm wide by 610mm long in a heavier 50 micron film. The extra length and thicker gauge take a larger fill, which suits higher-volume retail and busy hospitality venues.
The 23kg bag measures 355mm wide by 710mm long, also in 50 micron film. This is the largest stock size, built for bulk fills through ice vending, wholesale supply and large functions where fewer, bigger bags are easier to handle.
If you need a smaller party fill such as a 5kg or 10kg bag, or a size that sits outside the stock range, an ice bag can be made to your exact width, length and gauge. Match the bag to your fill weight so it is neither overloaded nor half empty.
Food-grade and freezer-grade: the spec that matters
Two specifications separate a proper ice bag from a bag that only looks similar. First, food grade. Ice is consumed, so the bag has to be made from food-grade film. Plastpack ice bags are manufactured to food-grade material standards, as part of our wider food-grade food packaging range.
Second, freezer-grade strength. The film has to stay flexible and hold its seal at freezing temperatures, and it needs the puncture resistance to survive ice edges without splitting. Gauge matters here: the lighter 9kg bag runs on a 38 micron film, while the larger 17kg and 23kg bags step up to 50 micron to carry the heavier fill. When you enquire, tell us the fill weight, and we will match the gauge so the bag performs at volume.
How you bag: by machine or by hand
How the bag is filled and closed depends on your setup. Higher-volume ice packers often run automatic bagging lines, while servos, market stalls and smaller operations fill by hand and close with a twist tie or a heat seal. The stock ice bags are clear, open bags suited to hand filling and tying, which covers most retail and hospitality use.
If you run a bagging machine or need a specific format for your line, tell us how you pack ice and we will advise on the right bag for the job rather than leaving you to force a bag through a process it was not made for.
Plain vs printed ice bags
An ice bag sitting in a forecourt freezer or a bottle shop chest is prime brand space. Plain clear bags do the job where price is the only concern, but printed ice bags carry your business name to the point of sale at very little extra cost per bag. For ice vendors and manufacturers supplying multiple outlets, branded bags reinforce who packed the ice at every stop.
Plastpack prints ice bags in-house with up to six colours through our custom printed bags service, on food-grade film. Your logo, business name or seasonal artwork goes straight onto the bag, so the pack promotes the brand while it holds the product.
Buying ice bags in bulk
Ice is a high-volume, low-margin line, so a steady bulk supply at a sensible per-bag cost is what keeps it worthwhile. Stock ice bags are supplied in boxes of 1000 across Australia, direct from the manufacturer, and because we hold around 50 tonnes of film on site, the material for most orders is already here, which keeps lead times short. For regular buyers we can hold your size, gauge and print on file so reordering is a phone call rather than a fresh brief each time.
When a stock size does not fit, ice bags are made to your size, gauge and print, and samples can be arranged before a run is confirmed. If you are setting up supply for a food business, our food-grade packaging for food businesses page covers the wider range, and our guide on buying plastic bags wholesale explains how to lock in a reliable bulk supply.
To order ice bags or set up a bulk account, contact the Plastpack team with your sizes, fill weight, quantities, and whether you want them printed, and we will sort the supply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size ice bags do I need?
Plastpack stocks three sizes: a 9kg bag (305 x 460mm), a 17kg bag (305 x 610mm) and a 23kg bag (355 x 710mm), each in boxes of 1000. Smaller party sizes such as 5kg or 10kg can be made to order if you need a lighter fill.
What are ice bags made from?
Ice bags are made from food-grade polyethylene film engineered to stay flexible at sub-zero temperatures. Unlike an ordinary poly bag, freezer-grade film will not go brittle, crack or split when filled with ice and frozen.
Are ice bags food-grade?
Yes. Ice is a food product, so ice bags must be made from food-grade film. Plastpack manufactures its ice bags to food-grade material standards, suitable for bagging ice for retail and hospitality.
Can I get ice bags printed with my logo?
Yes. Ice bags can be supplied plain or printed, and we print in-house with up to six colours on food-grade film. Branded bags carry your business name to the point of sale in the freezer.
Can I buy ice bags in bulk or in custom sizes?
Yes. Stock ice bags come in boxes of 1000, and as the manufacturer, we produce custom sizes, gauges and print to order, with film held on site to keep lead times short.