Size guide
What size paper bag or mailer for books?
Short answer · paperback book to carry
V-Bottom Flat Handle Paper Bags, Small
20 × 26 cm (6 cm V-fold) · 8" × 10" · rated to 2 kg (estimated)
Books are small but dense. A paperback is around 20 × 13 × 2.5 cm, a hardcover about 24 × 16 × 3 cm and 700 g — so a stack of hardbacks gets heavy long before it gets big. Bookshops generally stack books flat in a square-bottom bag; for shipping, a paper mailer suits a single book, and stiff board protects the corners better than a bigger mailer does.
Sizes at a glance
Worked out from typical item sizes against every standard size we make, allowing room for handles and packing.
| Packing | Best standard size | Fit | Also works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback book to carry | V-Bottom Flat Handle Paper Bags — Small · 20 × 26 cm (6 cm V-fold) | Roomy | V-Bottom Twisted Handle Paper Bags — Small · 20 × 26 cm (6 cm V-fold) |
| 3 × Paperback book to carry | Square Bottom Flat Handle Paper Bags — Small · 18 × 10 × 23 cm | Good fit | Square Bottom Twisted Handle Paper Bags — Small · 22 × 10 × 28 cm |
| Hardcover book to carry | Square Bottom Twisted Handle Paper Bags — Small · 22 × 10 × 28 cm | Roomy | V-Bottom Flat Handle Paper Bags — Medium · 25 × 31 cm (8 cm V-fold) |
| 2 × Hardcover book to carry | Square Bottom Twisted Handle Paper Bags — Small · 22 × 10 × 28 cm | Good fit | V-Bottom Flat Handle Paper Bags — Medium · 25 × 31 cm (8 cm V-fold) |
| Hardcover book to ship | Paper Mailer Bags — Small · 26 × 33 cm + 5 cm flap | Roomy | Corrugated Boxes — Medium · 36 × 28 × 20 cm |
Typical item sizes used
- Paperback book: 20 × 13 × 2.5 cm (7.9″ × 5.1″ × 1″), about 0.3 kg
- Hardcover book: 24 × 16 × 3 cm (9.4″ × 6.3″ × 1.2″), about 0.7 kg
Your items may be a little different. Enter your own measurements in the finder below to check.
What to watch for
- Stack books flat and check the weight: five hardcovers is already 3.5 kg.
- A book-sized mailer with a snug fit protects corners better than a loose, oversized one.
- Branded carriers are a cheap way for independent bookshops to advertise every purchase.
Try your own quantities
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Questions
What size bag for three paperbacks?
Three paperbacks stacked flat fit a small square-bottom bag about 18 × 10 × 23 cm.
What mailer fits a hardcover book?
A standard hardcover fits a paper mailer of about 26 × 33 cm; add board for protection against bent corners.
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