Big bag dimensions: use truck and warehouse space to the maximum
The right bag size fills the truck to the legal limit, fits the pallet and matches your filling machine. DIV Trades produces every size from 50 × 50 × 50 cm to 140 × 140 × 240 cm.
Big bag dimensions are driven by product density, truck and pallet sizes and the filling line. 91 × 91 cm and 95 × 95 cm bases fill a truck to 24 or 25 tonnes.
The dimension of a big bag (FIBC) is the width, length and height of the bag body, measured on the empty bag. The most common bases are 91 × 91 cm for 1,000 kg and 95 × 95 cm for 1,200 to 1,250 kg, because 24 bags of the first or 20 bags of the second fill a standard truck to 24 or 25 tonnes. Height is free, from 50 cm to 250 cm, and is calculated from the bulk density of your product.
How to choose the dimension of a bulk bag
- Bulk density of the product: each product has a specific weight, from which the volume and therefore the bag size for a given SWL follow.
- Filling and discharging conditions: a filling machine limits the bag dimensions to what fits in the machine.
- Your customers' equipment: if they have limited handling or discharge capacity, the bag has to comply with it.
- Transport and storage: the width, length and height of the truck, container, rail wagon or ship, and the racking and layout of the warehouse where the bags are stacked.
Maximum use of truck space
Bulk bags are usually transported by truck with a loading area about 2.46 m wide and 13.6 m long. The most common external bases are therefore:
| Base (external) | Product per bag | Bags per truck | Total per truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91 × 91 cm | 1,000 kg | 24 | 24 t |
| 95 × 95 cm | 1,200 kg or 1,250 kg | 20 | 24 t or 25 t |
| 100 × 100 cm (Q-bag) | 1,000 kg | 24 | 24 t |
| 110 × 110 cm (Q-bag) | 1,200 kg or 1,250 kg | 20 | 24 t or 25 t |
Big bags on pallets
Bags are often shipped on pallets, so the base can also be chosen to suit the pallet. For a Euro pallet of 80 × 120 cm a slightly smaller rectangular base is used. Bags optimized for Euro pallets are usually formstable Q-bags, because they keep their rectangular shape when filled.
Square or rectangular base?
Equal sides (square), e.g. 91 × 91 cm
- The operator does not need to find the right side; with a small difference such as 91 × 95 cm and no printing the sides are hard to tell apart anyway
- No restriction on how the forklift grabs the bag, the fork distance is the same on both sides
- Space is not fully used, for example on pallets
Different sides (rectangle), e.g. 80 × 120 cm
- Space is used to the maximum, for example on Euro pallets
- Handling is a little more complicated, because the bag has a right way round
Standard widths of big bag fabric
DIV Trades weaves circular PP fabric in standard widths that give the following external bag widths. Because the external dimension is 4 cm larger than the internal one, the usable internal width follows directly.
| External width | Internal width |
|---|---|
| 70 cm | 66 cm |
| 75 cm | 71 cm |
| 80 cm | 76 cm |
| 85 cm | 81 cm |
| 91 cm | 87 cm |
| 95 cm | 91 cm |
| 100 cm | 96 cm |
| 105 cm | 101 cm |
| 110 cm | 106 cm |
| 115 cm | 111 cm |
| 120 cm | 116 cm |
Big bag height
There is no standard height; it ranges from 50 cm to 250 cm. For stability the height should not exceed twice the shorter side of the base. The height is set so that the bag holds exactly the required quantity of product plus about 10 % empty space for easier filling and closing.
Individual dimensions
DIV Trades produces any other dimension on request. Unusual sizes such as 50 × 50 × 50 cm or 140 × 140 × 240 cm are no problem, see individual designs.
About the dimensions of big bags
What counts as the dimension?
The dimension is the width, length and height of the FIBC body. The inlet, outlet and loop length are not part of it. When you compare offers, make sure all suppliers quote the same thing.
External and internal dimension
The external dimension is measured from fabric edge to fabric edge, the internal dimension from seam to seam. The external dimension is 4 cm larger: a 95 × 95 cm bag has an internal dimension of 91 × 91 cm. Only the internal volume is available for the product. Our stock bags are listed with both values.
The belly of a filled big bag
When a standard bag is filled, its diameter grows by about 25 cm compared with the empty bag. Baffles sewn into the corners prevent this belly: a Q-bag grows by only about 10 to 15 cm, which is why it stacks and palletizes better.
One- and two-loop bags
One- and two-loop bags are made from circular fabric with typical dimensions of 62.5 × 62.5 cm or 90 × 90 cm (others possible). With no side seams there is no difference between internal and external dimension.
What is the most common big bag size?
91 × 91 cm base with a height of 130 to 155 cm for 1,000 kg, and 95 × 95 cm for 1,200 to 1,250 kg. Both fill a truck to 24 or 25 tonnes.
How do I calculate the height of a big bag?
Divide the required weight by the bulk density of the product to get the volume, divide by the internal base area and add about 10 % for filling space. We do this calculation for you.
Why is the internal dimension 4 cm smaller?
The external size is measured over the fabric, the internal size from seam to seam. The seams take 2 cm on each side, so 95 × 95 cm external equals 91 × 91 cm internal.
Which big bag fits a Euro pallet?
A rectangular base slightly smaller than 80 × 120 cm, usually as a Q-bag so the filled bag keeps its shape and does not overhang the pallet.
Can you make non-standard big bag sizes?
Yes. From 50 × 50 × 50 cm up to 140 × 140 × 240 cm and other dimensions on request, with the fabric width chosen from our standard range or woven to order.
Let us size your big bag
Send us the product, bulk density, required weight per bag and how you ship it. We will propose the dimension that fills the truck or pallet best.
Request a quote