If you run a commercial chamber vacuum sealer, the bag matters as much as the machine. Get the size or the film wrong and you'll fight bad seals, wasted product and slow cycle times. This guide covers how to pick the right vacuum bag for a commercial machine — the sizes, the microns, and the materials that actually hold a seal.
One thing up front: the bags below are smooth chamber-machine pouches. They are made for commercial chamber vacuum sealers, not the domestic "suck-out" sealers that need textured or embossed bags. If you're sealing at home with a channel machine, these aren't the bags for you — but if you're a butcher, pack house, café or manufacturer running a chamber unit, read on.
Chamber bags vs domestic embossed bags
This is the single most common mix-up, so it's worth being clear:
- Chamber machine bags (what we stock) are smooth on both sides. The chamber removes air from around the whole bag, so no texture is needed. They're cheaper per bag and seal cleanly at commercial speed.
- Domestic embossed/channel bags have a dimpled texture that lets a home sealer draw air out through the channels. They won't be needed on a chamber machine and cost more.
If your machine has a lid that closes over a chamber and a seal bar inside, you want smooth chamber bags — browse the full range in Vacuum Bags or the wider Vacuum Bags & Pouches collection.
Getting the size right
Measure your product and add clearance. As a rule of thumb, allow at least 30–50mm of extra width and enough length so the open end sits flat across the seal bar without product pushing into the seal zone. A bag that's too tight traps product against the seal and causes leakers; a bag that's too big wastes film and chamber space.
Common stocked sizes to match to your product:
- Small portions (cheese, spice, small cuts): 100 × 180mm or 150 × 175mm.
- Standard retail cuts: 175 × 200mm and 175 × 250mm are the everyday workhorses.
- Larger cuts and portions: 250 × 350mm or 300 × 400mm.
- Bulk and long products: 390 × 600mm.
What micron (thickness) do you need?
Micron (mu) is the film thickness. Thicker film resists punctures from bone, edges and frozen product, but costs more and can cycle slightly slower. Most of our chamber bags sit in the 65–70 micron range, which suits general food packing well.
- 65–70mu: everyday choice for soft to medium products — smallgoods, cheese, portioned meat, dry goods.
- Heavier film: step up if you're sealing bone-in cuts, sharp-edged or frozen items that tend to pierce thinner bags.
- Foil vacuum bags: for light-sensitive or long-shelf-life products, a foil vacuum bag adds an oxygen and light barrier.
Vacuum bags aren't the same as poly bags
Worth flagging, because it catches people out: standard polythene bags are not vacuum bags. Poly bags are single-layer and won't hold a vacuum or take a reliable seal in a chamber machine. If you need general bagging, use poly; if you're pulling a vacuum, use a purpose-made chamber bag.
The quick answer
For a commercial chamber machine, choose a smooth chamber bag in a size that leaves 30–50mm clearance around your product, in 65–70 micron for general use or heavier film for bone and frozen. Start with 175 × 250mm as an all-rounder and size up or down from there. Trade accounts get tiered pricing across the full vacuum range — and if you need a size or spec that isn't listed, email sales@nzpackaging.nz with your product, machine and volumes.
Frequently asked questions
Will these bags work in my domestic FoodSaver-style sealer?
No. Home channel sealers need textured/embossed bags. These smooth bags are for commercial chamber machines.
What size vacuum bag should I buy?
Measure your product and add roughly 30–50mm of width plus enough length to sit flat over the seal bar. When in doubt, size up slightly rather than squeezing product into the seal.
Can I vacuum-seal liquids or wet products?
Chamber machines handle wet and liquid products far better than domestic sealers because they seal before releasing the vacuum. Leave extra headspace so liquid doesn't reach the seal.
Do you stock bulk quantities?
Yes — bags come in cartons and trade accounts get tiered pricing. For high volumes or custom sizes, contact sales@nzpackaging.nz.
