How to specify an FIBC bulk bag: what to send for a quote
To quote an FIBC bag accurately, a factory needs ten things: your product, fill weight and bulk density, size limits, how you fill and empty the bag, how it is lifted, the fabric and liner, the safety factor and use, printing, and quantity and destination. With these we can propose a structure in one reply instead of several rounds of questions.
This checklist comes from the questions our sales and production team ask on almost every new enquiry. Copy it into your email, fill in what you know, and leave blank what you do not — we will help with the rest.
The checklist
Product to be packed. Name, form (powder, granule, lump), and whether it is hazardous, moisture-sensitive, abrasive or food-contact.
Fill weight and bulk density. How many kilograms per bag, and the bulk density (kg/m³). Together they set the bag volume and size.
Size limits. Maximum footprint and height from your pallets, containers, trucks or filling station.
Filling method → top. Shovel/grab, chute or filling head? This decides open top, skirt top or filling spout (give spout diameter if fixed).
Discharge method → bottom. Cut/tip, discharge station or hopper? This decides flat bottom, discharge spout or conical bottom.
Lifting. Forklift or crane, 2 or 4 loops, and loop height if your equipment needs it.
Fabric, coating and liner. Coated or uncoated, breathable, liner, UV stabilisation for outdoor storage.
Safety factor and use. Single-trip or multi-trip use, and the safety factor or standard your market or customer requires.
Printing. Artwork, number of colours, sides to print.
Quantity, destination and documents. Order quantity, destination port, trade terms, and any test reports or certificates you need.
Why fill weight and bulk density matter most
The same one-tonne fill takes up very different volumes depending on how light or dense the product is. The bag size, fabric weight and loop strength all follow from these two figures, so they are the first thing we ask for. If you do not know the bulk density, tell us the product and, if possible, send a photo — we can work from that.
Top and bottom follow your equipment
Choose the top by how you fill and the bottom by how you empty. If you use a filling head or discharge station, send the spout diameter it needs. See all seven top and seven bottom options on our Custom FIBC page.
Safety factor, certificates and documents
Tell us whether bags are single-trip or multi-trip and which safety factor or standard your market or customer requires, plus any test reports you need with the shipment. We confirm these per specification rather than quoting a generic figure.