We Compared 6 Poultry Shrink Bags on Size Against Dressed Weight
We compared six poultry shrink bags on bag size against dressed weight, not mil thickness, because an oversized bag never shrinks flat and freezer burns the breast.
By Sam Reddick Lead gear reviewer, Chicken Geek
Fact checked by Marta Voss
Published Prices and stock checked 7 min read
A shrink bag is the cheapest item on processing day and the one that decides whether the meat is still worth eating in March. Almost everybody shops mil thickness. That is a strange habit, because four of the six packs here never state a thickness at all.
The specification that actually decides the outcome is bag size against the dressed weight of your bird. A dressed bird runs roughly 70 to 75 percent of live weight, so a 6 lb live broiler comes off the chill tank at around 4.5 lbs. That bird belongs in a 10 x 16 bag. Put the same bird in a 13 x 18 and you get a loose skirt of film around the legs and neck that never shrinks flat. The skirt traps air, and trapped air sitting against skin in a freezer is a pale dry patch on the breast by the end of the season.
So the first question is not how tough the film is. It is whether the bag matches the bird you actually raise. Get that right and a 20 cent bag beats a 60 cent bag that is two sizes too big.
Our picks at a glance
Every product below wins one specific situation. Pick the row that matches your flock, your yard and your budget rather than reading top to bottom.
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Best Overall
Morepack 100-Pack
Keepers running batches of standard broilers or dual purpose cockerels who want one pack that covers a season without reordering.
Check price on Amazon for Poultry Shrink Bags 10x16 In 100 PCS Chicken Bags Heat Shrink for Freezer on AmazonAbout $26.99 checked Aug 8, 2026
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Best Budget
Anmboor 50-Pack 10x16
Keepers processing a small batch once or twice a year who want the correct 10 x 16 size without paying for branding or US manufacture.
Check price on Amazon for 50 Pack Transparent 10x16 In Poultry Shrink Bags For 2-5lb Chicken, Rabbit on AmazonAbout $9.99 checked Aug 8, 2026
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Best Kit for a First Processing Day
TAXRATINER 13x18 Kit
Someone packing their first turkey or a batch of large roasters who wants the labels, gloves and instructions in one box rather than three orders.
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Best Curved Base for a Plump Broiler
TPSB 2.5 Mil 10x16
Keepers packing short plump broilers who want a published film thickness and a base shaped to the bird rather than square corners.
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Best Against Sharp Hocks and Wing Tips
FPSB 3 Mil 12x16
Keepers packing large roasters, older dual purpose birds or small turkeys where prominent hock ends have torn thinner film before.
Check price on Amazon for Poultry Shrink Bags 12"x16" (50pk) Zip Ties and Labels, 3 MIL, BPA/BPS Free, MADE IN USA on AmazonAbout $42.90 checked Aug 8, 2026
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Best Small Pack for Larger Birds
Morepack 30-Pack 13x18
Keepers who process a handful of turkeys or large roasters a year and do not want 50 bags sitting in a drawer.
Check price on Amazon for Poultry Shrink Bags 13x18 In 30 PCS Chicken Bags Heat Shrink for Freezer on AmazonAbout $17.99 checked Aug 8, 2026
Compare every pick side by side
Swipe the table sideways to see every column on a phone.
| Product | Award | Price band | Bag Size | Pack Quantity | Film Thickness | Bird Weight Fit | Included Extras | Dip Temperature | Best use case | Buy link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morepack 100-Pack | Best Overall | Under $30 | 10 x 16 in | 100 bags | Not stated, listing says food-grade | Whole 2 to 6 lb chicken, rabbit or other small game | 100 zip ties, no straw listed in this pack | 180 to 195 degrees F | Keepers running batches of standard broilers or dual purpose cockerels wh… | Check price for Poultry Shrink Bags 10x16 In 100 PCS Chicken Bags Heat Shrink for Freezer on Amazon |
| Anmboor 50-Pack 10x16 | Best Budget | Under $30 | 10 x 16 in | 50 bags | Not stated | 2 to 5 lb chicken per the title, 2 to 6 lb in the bullets | 50 zip ties and a silicone straw for extracting air | 180 to 195 degrees F for about 30 seconds | Keepers processing a small batch once or twice a year who want the correc… | Check price for 50 Pack Transparent 10x16 In Poultry Shrink Bags For 2-5lb Chicken, Rabbit on Amazon |
| TAXRATINER 13x18 Kit | Best Kit for a First Processing Day | Under $30 | 13 x 18 in | 50 bags | Not stated, listing says BPA-free film | About 5 to 14 lbs depending on shape | 50 zip ties, 50 freezer labels, 1 silicone straw, 1 marker, 1 pair of gloves and a paper instruction guide | Not stated, listing says a simple hot water process | Someone packing their first turkey or a batch of large roasters who wants… | Check price for Poultry Shrink Bags - 50 Pack 13x18" Clear Heat Shrink Wrap Bags, BPA Free Poultry Freezer Bag with Zip Ties,Silicone Straw, Freezer Labels and Gloves for Turkey, Chicken, Rabbit on Amazon |
| TPSB 2.5 Mil 10x16 | Best Curved Base for a Plump Broiler | Under $30 | 10 x 16 in with a curved base | 50 bags | 2.5 mil | Whole 2 to 7 lb chicken, rabbit or other small game | 50 zip ties, a straw and printed instructions | 180 to 190 degrees F | Keepers packing short plump broilers who want a published film thickness… | Check price for Poultry Shrink Bags - 50 Clear 10" x 16" for Whole Chickens or Rabbits w/ 50 zip ties included / 2.5 Mil/Freezer Safe/Commercial Grade/BPA/BPS Free on Amazon |
| FPSB 3 Mil 12x16 | Best Against Sharp Hocks and Wing Tips | $30 to $60 | 12 x 16 in | 50 bags | 3 mil, listed as 75 micron with 7-layer protection | 7 to 13 lb bird | Zip ties and labels, no straw, instructions included | 185 to 200 degrees F for 3 to 5 seconds | Keepers packing large roasters, older dual purpose birds or small turkeys… | Check price for Poultry Shrink Bags 12"x16" (50pk) Zip Ties and Labels, 3 MIL, BPA/BPS Free, MADE IN USA on Amazon |
| Morepack 30-Pack 13x18 | Best Small Pack for Larger Birds | Under $30 | 13 x 18 in | 30 bags | Not stated | Not stated, listing says a whole chicken, rabbit or other small game | 30 zip ties and a silicone straw | 180 to 195 degrees F | Keepers who process a handful of turkeys or large roasters a year and do… | Check price for Poultry Shrink Bags 13x18 In 30 PCS Chicken Bags Heat Shrink for Freezer on Amazon |
The full reviews
Each review below follows the same order: what it is, why it won its category, how it behaves in real use, and who should buy something else.
1 Best Overall
Poultry Shrink Bags 10x16 In 100 PCS Chicken Bags Heat Shrink for Freezer
A 10 x 16 bag rated for a 2 to 6 lb bird, which is the size that matches the dressed broiler most backyard keepers raise, at 100 bags for about 27 cents each. It states no film thickness and this pack ships no straw.
What we liked
- 10 x 16 fits a 4 to 5 lb dressed broiler with no loose skirt of film left over
- 100 bags covers a full batch day and leaves spares for the next one
- About 27 cents a bag, the second cheapest per bag price in this guide
- 100 zip ties included, one per bag, so nothing runs out mid batch
- Dip window published as 180 to 195 degrees F rather than left to guesswork
What we did not
- This pack drops the silicone air straw that Morepack's own 30-pack includes, so you have no tool for pulling the last air out before you cinch the tie
- No film thickness is stated anywhere on the listing, so you cannot compare puncture resistance against the 2.5 and 3 mil bags here
- The 6 lb top of the stated range is the bird going into the bag, so a big roaster or any turkey needs a 12 x 16 or 13 x 18 instead
- Morepack claims three to five times longer shelf life with no test method and no storage conditions given
About $26.99 checked Aug 8, 2026
Key specifications
- Dimensions
- 16 x 16 x 10 in (L x W x H)
- Weight
- 0.440924524 pounds
- Colour
- Clear
- Bag Size
- 10 x 16 in
- Pack Quantity
- 100 bags
- Film Thickness
- Not stated, listing says food-grade
- Bird Weight Fit
- Whole 2 to 6 lb chicken, rabbit or other small game
- Included Extras
- 100 zip ties, no straw listed in this pack
- Dip Temperature
- 180 to 195 degrees F
Why the Morepack 100-Pack wins this category
It gets the one specification right that decides whether a bag works, and it does it at a price that lets you stop rationing bags.
A 10 x 16 bag rated for a 2 to 6 lb bird is the correct size for the birds most backyard flocks produce. A 6 lb live Cornish Cross dresses out near 4.5 lbs. A dual purpose cockerel is often closer to 3.5 lbs. Both land comfortably inside that range, which means the film has skin to shrink onto everywhere and no loose panel around the legs.
Quantity is the second reason. At 100 bags you are not deciding whether a scrawny bird is worth a bag, and there is no reordering halfway through a season.
Living with the Morepack 100-Pack
The zip tie count matches the bag count, which sounds obvious and is not always true in this category.
The published dip window of 180 to 195 degrees F is genuinely useful information. Boiling water is the common beginner mistake, and it is harder on the seams and on the outer layer of skin. A stated range gives you a target for the thermometer instead of a guess.
At about 27 cents a bag this is the second cheapest per bag price on this page, behind the Anmboor 50-Pack 10x16 at roughly 20 cents.
Where the Morepack 100-Pack falls short
The missing straw is the honest complaint. Morepack includes a silicone straw in its own 30-pack and leaves it out of this one. Drawing air out through the neck by hand is slower and less complete, and trapped air is the thing shrink bags exist to remove.
There is also no stated film thickness. The listing says food grade and stops there, so if you are packing older birds with bony hocks you have no number to compare against the 2.5 mil TPSB or the 3 mil FPSB bags.
Finally, treat the three to five times shelf life claim as marketing. No test method, no storage temperature and no baseline are given, so there is nothing to check.
Research based, not hands-on
Assessed on the published 10 x 16 bag size and 2 to 6 lb fit range converted against typical dressed weights, on the stated dip temperature, and on cost per bag compared with the other five packs here.
- Best for
- Keepers running batches of standard broilers or dual purpose cockerels who want one pack that covers a season without reordering.
- Skip it if
- You raise turkeys, geese or large roasters, because a 10 x 16 bag cannot be stretched over a 9 lb dressed bird.
- The limitation to plan around
- There is no straw in this pack, so plan how you will draw air out. A drinking straw or a length of clean silicone tubing does the same job, and it is worth having one ready before the first bird is bagged.
2 Best Budget
50 Pack Transparent 10x16 In Poultry Shrink Bags For 2-5lb Chicken, Rabbit
The cheapest bag on this page at about 20 cents each, and it is the same nominal 10 x 16 size as packs costing three times as much per bag. It also includes the silicone straw the Morepack 100-pack leaves out.
What we liked
- About 20 cents a bag, the lowest per bag price in this guide
- Same nominal 10 x 16 size as the TPSB pack that costs three times as much per bag
- Silicone straw included for drawing air out through the neck of the bag
- 50 zip ties included, one per bag
- Stated dip of 180 to 195 degrees F for about 30 seconds gives you a time as well as a temperature
What we did not
- The title says 2 to 5 lb birds and the bullets say 2 to 6 lb, so the top of the usable range is genuinely unclear before you buy
- No film thickness is stated at all, which matters most at the hocks and wing tips where thin film tears first
- Bags carry a light corn starch dust to stop them sticking together, so they need a rinse or a wipe if you object to powder on the skin
- At 50 bags a single batch of 40 broilers leaves you almost nothing in reserve for the next one
About $9.99 checked Aug 8, 2026
Key specifications
- Dimensions
- 10 x 10 x 16 in (L x W x H)
- Weight
- 0.440924524 pounds
- Colour
- 50 Pcs
- Bag Size
- 10 x 16 in
- Pack Quantity
- 50 bags
- Film Thickness
- Not stated
- Bird Weight Fit
- 2 to 5 lb chicken per the title, 2 to 6 lb in the bullets
- Included Extras
- 50 zip ties and a silicone straw for extracting air
- Dip Temperature
- 180 to 195 degrees F for about 30 seconds
- Listing Note
- Title and bullets disagree on the bird weight range, and the bags carry a light corn starch dust to stop them sticking
Why the Anmboor 50-Pack 10x16 wins this category
Because size is what decides a shrink bag, and this is the correct size at the lowest price on the page.
At about 20 cents a bag it undercuts everything here. It is also the same nominal 10 x 16 as the TPSB 2.5 Mil 10x16, which works out near 60 cents a bag. If your birds dress out at 3 to 5 lbs, the film wraps them the same way. What the extra money buys elsewhere is a stated thickness, a curved base and US manufacture, not a better fit.
It also includes the silicone straw, which the Morepack 100-Pack does not, so drawing the last air out is straightforward.
Living with the Anmboor 50-Pack 10x16
The dip instructions are more specific than most. Rather than a temperature alone, the listing gives 180 to 195 degrees F for about 30 seconds, which is a useful starting point on a first batch.
The corn starch dust is worth knowing about. It stops the bags sticking to each other in the pack, and it leaves a faint white film on the outside of the bag. It rinses off. It is cosmetic rather than a fault, but nobody expects it the first time.
Fifty bags and fifty ties is a sensible small batch quantity, and the pack is the natural first purchase for someone who has never bagged a bird.
Where the Anmboor 50-Pack 10x16 falls short
The weight range contradiction is the real problem. The product title says 2 to 5 lb chicken. The bullet points say 2 to 6 lb. That is a full pound of ambiguity right at the boundary where a bird either fits or leaves a loose skirt of film, and it is the exact number you are buying the bag for.
Our reading is to plan around 5 lbs. A dressed bird at the top of the range in a bag that turns out to be slightly small is a bag that will not close over the legs.
There is also no thickness figure. For young broilers with soft joints that rarely matters. For an older bird with prominent hocks, the 3 mil FPSB bags are the safer film.
Research based, not hands-on
Assessed on the published 10 x 16 size, the conflicting stated weight ranges, the included straw and zip ties, and cost per bag set against the two other 10 x 16 packs in this guide.
- Best for
- Keepers processing a small batch once or twice a year who want the correct 10 x 16 size without paying for branding or US manufacture.
- Skip it if
- You want a documented film thickness, because this listing publishes no mil figure and no micron figure anywhere.
- The limitation to plan around
- The listing contradicts itself on bird weight, giving 2 to 5 lb in the title and 2 to 6 lb in the bullets. Treat 5 lbs as the safe working ceiling and keep bigger birds for a larger bag.
3 Best Kit for a First Processing Day
Poultry Shrink Bags - 50 Pack 13x18" Clear Heat Shrink Wrap Bags, BPA Free Poultry Freezer Bag with Zip Ties,Silicone Straw, Freezer Labels and Gloves for Turkey, Chicken, Rabbit
A 13 x 18 bag with the rest of the packing station in the box: 50 labels, a marker, a straw, gloves and a printed guide. The bag size is turkey and large roaster territory, which is the wrong fit for a standard broiler.
What we liked
- Fifty freezer labels and a marker included, so every bird gets a date without a separate order
- Silicone straw included for pulling air out through the neck of the bag
- A pair of gloves and a printed instruction guide help on a genuinely first attempt
- 13 x 18 handles a turkey or a large roaster that will not fit a 10 x 16 bag
- The cheaper of the two 13 x 18 packs here on a per bag basis, at about 46 cents
What we did not
- 13 x 18 is far too large for a 4 to 5 lb dressed broiler, leaving a skirt of film that will not shrink flat and traps air against the breast
- No dip temperature is published anywhere, only a reference to a simple hot water process, so you are setting the thermometer by guesswork
- No film thickness is stated, only that the film is BPA free, which tells you nothing about puncture resistance at the hocks
- The stated 5 to 14 lb fit range is qualified as depending on shape, which is a wide and unhelpful window at the small end
Key specifications
- Size
- 13x18"
- Bag Size
- 13 x 18 in
- Pack Quantity
- 50 bags
- Film Thickness
- Not stated, listing says BPA-free film
- Bird Weight Fit
- About 5 to 14 lbs depending on shape
- Included Extras
- 50 zip ties, 50 freezer labels, 1 silicone straw, 1 marker, 1 pair of gloves and a paper instruction guide
- Dip Temperature
- Not stated, listing says a simple hot water process
Why the TAXRATINER 13x18 Kit wins this category
Because a first processing day is short of more things than bags.
Most people discover halfway through that they have no way to label a bird, no gloves and no clear idea what temperature the water should be. This kit answers three of those four. Fifty freezer labels and a marker mean every bag leaves the kitchen dated. The gloves and the printed guide are small things that reduce the number of interruptions on a day that already has plenty.
The straw is included too, which matters more than it sounds. Pulling air out through the neck before you tie is the step that makes the difference between a tight pack and a bag with a bubble over the breast.
Living with the TAXRATINER 13x18 Kit
The bag itself is a turkey and large roaster bag. The listing quotes about 5 to 14 lbs depending on shape, which is honest about the fact that a long lean bird and a short plump one of the same weight do not pack the same way.
On a per bag basis this is the cheaper of the two 13 x 18 packs here, at roughly 46 cents against about 60 cents for the Morepack 30-Pack 13x18. You also get 50 bags rather than 30, so a full holiday batch is covered.
Zip ties come one per bag, which is the sensible count.
Where the TAXRATINER 13x18 Kit falls short
Size is the thing to be clear about. If you raise standard broilers, this is the wrong bag. A 4.5 lb dressed Cornish Cross in a 13 x 18 leaves several inches of film with nothing to shrink against, and that loose material holds air right against the breast where freezer burn shows up first.
The missing dip temperature is a real gap on a kit sold to beginners. Every other brand here publishes a range. A simple hot water process is not an instruction, and the most common first mistake in this category is dropping a bird into boiling water.
No thickness figure is given either. For a heavy turkey with prominent hock ends, that is exactly the specification you would want to check.
Research based, not hands-on
Assessed on the published 13 x 18 size against typical turkey and roaster dressed weights, on the contents of the kit, and on the absence of any published dip temperature or film thickness.
- Best for
- Someone packing their first turkey or a batch of large roasters who wants the labels, gloves and instructions in one box rather than three orders.
- Skip it if
- Your birds are standard broilers dressing out at 4 to 6 lbs, because a 13 x 18 bag leaves a loose skirt of film on a bird that size.
- The limitation to plan around
- The listing gives no dip temperature. Use the 180 to 195 degrees F range published by the other brands here and keep the water below boiling, because boiling stresses the seams and starts to cook the skin.
4 Best Curved Base for a Plump Broiler
Poultry Shrink Bags - 50 Clear 10" x 16" for Whole Chickens or Rabbits w/ 50 zip ties included / 2.5 Mil/Freezer Safe/Commercial Grade/BPA/BPS Free
A 10 x 16 bag with a curved base and a stated 2.5 mil film, made in the USA and rated for a 2 to 7 lb bird. At about 60 cents a bag it costs three times the Anmboor pack for the same nominal size.
What we liked
- Curved base follows the rounded end of a plump broiler instead of leaving two square corners of loose film
- 2.5 mil film thickness is actually published, which four of the six packs here never do
- Rated to 7 lbs, a pound above the other 10 x 16 packs in this guide
- Made in the USA and stated BPA and BPS free
- Straw, zip ties and printed instructions all included in the box
What we did not
- At roughly 60 cents a bag it is the most expensive of the three 10 x 16 packs here, and the extra money buys a stated thickness rather than a better fit
- The listing claims the thickest poultry shrink bag on Amazon at 2.5 mil, which the 3 mil FPSB bags in this same guide directly contradict
- Only 50 bags in the pack, so a large batch runs out where the 100-bag Morepack does not
- The narrower 180 to 190 degrees F dip window gives you less room for the temperature drop when a cold bird goes in
Key specifications
- Dimensions
- 10 x 16 x 0 in (L x W x H)
- Colour
- Clear
- Bag Size
- 10 x 16 in with a curved base
- Pack Quantity
- 50 bags
- Film Thickness
- 2.5 mil
- Bird Weight Fit
- Whole 2 to 7 lb chicken, rabbit or other small game
- Included Extras
- 50 zip ties, a straw and printed instructions
- Dip Temperature
- 180 to 190 degrees F
- Listing Note
- Made in the USA and BPA/BPS free; the listing claim of thickest poultry shrink bag on Amazon at 2.5 mil is contradicted by the FPSB 3 mil bags in this same roundup
Why the TPSB 2.5 Mil 10x16 wins this category
The curved base is the genuine design difference here, and it is aimed at a real problem.
A square bottomed bag on a short plump bird leaves two corners of film that have nothing behind them. They shrink into stiff little wings of plastic at the tail end. A curved base follows the shape of the bird, so more of the film ends up in contact with skin and less of it ends up as a flap.
The published 2.5 mil thickness is the other reason. Four of the six packs in this guide state no thickness at all, so this is one of only two where you can actually compare the film rather than trust an adjective.
Living with the TPSB 2.5 Mil 10x16
The stated range runs to 7 lbs, a pound higher than the other 10 x 16 packs here. That is useful headroom if you occasionally grow a bird out longer than planned.
Everything you need is in the box, including the straw and printed instructions. US manufacture and stated BPA and BPS free status are on the listing too, which some buyers care about and which is at least verifiable in the sense that it is a stated claim about a specific product.
The dip window is 180 to 190 degrees F, narrower than the 180 to 195 most brands quote.
Where the TPSB 2.5 Mil 10x16 falls short
Price per bag is the honest issue. At roughly 60 cents each these are the dearest of the three 10 x 16 packs in this guide, against about 27 cents for the Morepack 100-Pack and about 20 cents for the Anmboor 50-Pack 10x16. Same nominal size, three times the money. What you are buying is the stated thickness, the curved base and the country of manufacture, and it is worth being clear that none of those change the fit.
The thickest bags on Amazon claim also does not survive contact with this page. The FPSB 3 Mil 12x16 bags are thicker and sit in the same roundup. Treat the superlative as sales copy and the 2.5 mil figure as the useful part.
Pack size is 50, so a big processing weekend will need two boxes.
Research based, not hands-on
Assessed on the published 2.5 mil thickness, the curved base geometry, the stated 2 to 7 lb range and the dip window, with the thickness claim checked against the other packs in this guide.
- Best for
- Keepers packing short plump broilers who want a published film thickness and a base shaped to the bird rather than square corners.
- Skip it if
- You are buying on price, because the Anmboor pack is the same nominal 10 x 16 size for roughly a third of the cost per bag.
- The limitation to plan around
- The 2.5 mil figure is the reason to pay the premium, so judge it on that. A curved base and a stated thickness are real, but they do not change which birds fit a 10 x 16 bag.
5 Best Against Sharp Hocks and Wing Tips
Poultry Shrink Bags 12"x16" (50pk) Zip Ties and Labels, 3 MIL, BPA/BPS Free, MADE IN USA
The thickest film in this guide at a stated 3 mil, sized 12 x 16 for a 7 to 13 lb bird. It is also the most expensive pack here at about 86 cents a bag, and it ships no straw.
What we liked
- 3 mil film, listed as 75 micron, is the thickest published thickness in this guide
- 12 x 16 covers the 7 to 13 lb gap between broiler bags and full turkey bags
- Zip ties, labels and printed instructions included in the pack
- Made in the USA and stated BPA and BPS free
- Published dip of 185 to 200 degrees F for three to five seconds gives both a temperature and a time
What we did not
- At about 86 cents a bag this is the most expensive pack in this guide, roughly four times the per bag cost of the Anmboor 10 x 16 bags
- No straw is included, so you have no supplied way of drawing the last air out before you cinch the tie
- The 7 lb bottom of the stated range means a standard 4 to 5 lb dressed broiler is too small for this bag and will pack loose
- The listing claims to be the only BPA and BPS free bags on the market, which is not true given the TPSB bags in this same guide state the same
About $42.90 checked Aug 8, 2026
Key specifications
- Dimensions
- 12 x 12 x 16 in (L x W x H)
- Weight
- 2.12084696044 pounds
- Colour
- Clear
- Bag Size
- 12 x 16 in
- Pack Quantity
- 50 bags
- Film Thickness
- 3 mil, listed as 75 micron with 7-layer protection
- Bird Weight Fit
- 7 to 13 lb bird
- Included Extras
- Zip ties and labels, no straw, instructions included
- Dip Temperature
- 185 to 200 degrees F for 3 to 5 seconds
- Listing Note
- Made in the USA; listing claims to be the only bags on the market both BPA and BPS free and the thickest on the market, both of which are unverifiable superlatives
Why the FPSB 3 Mil 12x16 wins this category
Because torn bags fail in one place, and this is the film built for it.
Hock ends and wing tips are the sharpest points on a dressed bird, and they are what puts a hole in a bag that was fine everywhere else. A stated 3 mil film, listed as 75 micron, is the thickest figure published by any pack in this guide. If you have lost birds to a split at the leg before, this is the direct answer.
The size is the other reason to pick it. A 12 x 16 bag sits in the gap between a broiler bag and a turkey bag, covering the 7 to 13 lb bird that is too big for a 10 x 16 and swims in a 13 x 18.
Living with the FPSB 3 Mil 12x16
The dip instructions are the most specific here. 185 to 200 degrees F for three to five seconds gives you both numbers, which matters more with a thicker film because it takes marginally longer to react.
Zip ties and labels are included, so you can date a bird as it goes in the freezer. The listing states US manufacture and BPA and BPS free film.
At about 2.1 lbs the pack itself is noticeably heavier than the thinner 50-bag packs, which is a small confirmation that there is more material in each bag.
Where the FPSB 3 Mil 12x16 falls short
Cost is the first thing. At roughly 86 cents a bag this is the most expensive pack on this page, several times the per bag price of the Anmboor 50-Pack 10x16. For young broilers that money buys nothing useful, because a soft jointed 4 lb bird was never going to tear a bag.
The missing straw is a genuine omission at this price. Every cheaper pack here except the Morepack 100-Pack includes one.
The marketing claims are worth discounting. The listing says these are the only BPA and BPS free bags on the market and the thickest on the market. The TPSB bags in this same guide also state BPA and BPS free, so the first claim is already wrong on this page alone. The 3 mil figure is real and useful. The superlatives around it are not.
Research based, not hands-on
Assessed on the published 3 mil thickness against the other packs here, on the 12 x 16 size mapped to the stated 7 to 13 lb range, and on the published dip temperature and time.
- Best for
- Keepers packing large roasters, older dual purpose birds or small turkeys where prominent hock ends have torn thinner film before.
- Skip it if
- Your flock is standard broilers dressing out under 6 lbs, because a 12 x 16 bag is a size too big for that bird.
- The limitation to plan around
- There is no straw in the pack, so bring your own tube for drawing air out. Thicker film is also stiffer film, which means it needs a little more persuasion to lie flat around the neck before you tie off.
6 Best Small Pack for Larger Birds
Poultry Shrink Bags 13x18 In 30 PCS Chicken Bags Heat Shrink for Freezer
Thirty 13 x 18 bags with a silicone straw, which is the smallest quantity here and the lowest upfront cost of the two 13 x 18 packs. Per bag it costs about three times the Anmboor 10 x 16 bags.
What we liked
- Thirty bags suits a small holiday batch without paying for 50 or 100 you will not use
- Silicone straw included, which Morepack leaves out of its own 100-pack
- 13 x 18 handles a turkey or a large roaster that a 10 x 16 bag cannot close over
- Lowest upfront cost of the two 13 x 18 packs in this guide at about 18 dollars
- Published dip window of 180 to 195 degrees F rather than a vague hot water instruction
What we did not
- The listing states no bird weight range at all, so a 13 x 18 bag arrives with no guidance on the smallest bird that will pack tightly in it
- At about 60 cents a bag it costs three times the Anmboor 10 x 16 bags per unit, despite stating no film thickness
- No film thickness is published, which is the specification that matters most on the heavy birds this size is meant for
- Morepack claims three to five times longer shelf life with no test conditions and no baseline given
About $17.99 checked Aug 8, 2026
Key specifications
- Dimensions
- 17.99999998164 x 17.99999998164 x 12.99999998674 in (L x W x H)
- Weight
- 0.440924524 pounds
- Colour
- 30Pcs
- Bag Size
- 13 x 18 in
- Pack Quantity
- 30 bags
- Film Thickness
- Not stated
- Bird Weight Fit
- Not stated, listing says a whole chicken, rabbit or other small game
- Included Extras
- 30 zip ties and a silicone straw
- Dip Temperature
- 180 to 195 degrees F
- Listing Note
- Listing claims 3 to 5 times longer shelf life with no test or storage conditions given
Why the Morepack 30-Pack 13x18 wins this category
Quantity is the whole argument. Most people who need turkey bags need a few, not fifty.
If you raise three or four heavy birds for the holidays and buy your broiler bags separately, a 30-pack is the size that matches what you will actually use. It is also the cheapest 13 x 18 pack here to buy outright at about 18 dollars, which is the number that matters when the bags are a once a year purchase.
Morepack also puts the silicone straw in this pack, which it leaves out of its own 100-pack. That is a small oddity in the range and it works in your favour here.
Living with the Morepack 30-Pack 13x18
The published dip window of 180 to 195 degrees F is the same as the Morepack 100-Pack, and it is more than the TAXRATINER kit tells you.
Thirty zip ties come with the thirty bags. A 13 x 18 bag gives you plenty of neck to gather before you cinch, which is easier to handle than a snug bag on a small bird.
Storage is the practical benefit of a small pack. Shrink film does not improve sitting in a warm garage for three years, so buying what you will use inside a season is not a bad habit.
Where the Morepack 30-Pack 13x18 falls short
The missing weight range is the real gap. Every other bag in this guide states the birds it is for, and this one says only a whole chicken, rabbit or other small game. A 13 x 18 bag is not a small game bag in any practical sense, and without a stated range there is nothing to check your bird against.
Per bag economics are the other issue. At roughly 60 cents each these cost about three times the Anmboor 10 x 16 bags and more per bag than the TAXRATINER 13x18 Kit, which also throws in labels, gloves and a marker. You are paying a premium for the small pack size.
No film thickness is stated, which is more of a concern on a bag sized for heavy birds with prominent hocks than it would be on a broiler bag.
Research based, not hands-on
Assessed on the published 13 x 18 size and dip temperature, the included straw and ties, the absence of any stated weight range or film thickness, and cost per bag against the other five packs.
- Best for
- Keepers who process a handful of turkeys or large roasters a year and do not want 50 bags sitting in a drawer.
- Skip it if
- You process standard broilers, because a 13 x 18 bag on a 4 to 5 lb dressed bird leaves loose film that never shrinks flat.
- The limitation to plan around
- No weight range is published for this size, so you are sizing by eye. As a working rule, treat 13 x 18 as a bag for birds above about 7 lbs dressed and use a 10 x 16 below that.
How we compared these shrink bags
Every pack here was judged against one question. Does the bag fit the bird you raise, tightly enough that the film has something to shrink onto everywhere?
That question breaks down into four checks. Stated bag size, converted into a realistic dressed weight rather than the live weight on your scale. Stated film thickness, which is only useful when a brand actually publishes one. The tools in the box, because a zip tie and a way to draw air out are the difference between a tidy pack and a bag full of trapped air. And cost per bag, since pack sizes here run from 30 to 100 and pack price tells you almost nothing on its own.
We also looked at what each listing claims and cannot show. Several of these packs make superlative claims that another product in this same guide contradicts.
What actually matters in a poultry shrink bag
Bag size against dressed weight
Work backwards from the bird, not from the box.
Live weight is what you carry to the cone. Dressed weight is roughly 70 to 75 percent of that, once the feathers, head, feet and organs are gone. A 6 lb live Cornish Cross is about 4.5 lbs dressed. A 5 lb dual purpose cockerel is closer to 3.5 lbs.
A 10 x 16 bag covers roughly a 2 to 6 lb dressed bird, which is the whole normal range of a backyard broiler. A 12 x 16 covers 7 to 13 lbs, which is a big roaster or a small turkey. A 13 x 18 is turkey territory.
If your birds are all standard broilers, a 13 x 18 pack is the wrong purchase even though it looks like a safe one. Extra film is not insurance. It is loose material that never lies flat.
Film thickness, and why it is the second question
Thickness matters at the sharp points, which means the hock ends and the wing tips. Thin film tears there and nowhere else.
Only two packs here publish a number. The FPSB 3 Mil 12x16 states 3 mil, listed as 75 micron. The TPSB 2.5 Mil 10x16 states 2.5 mil. The other four say nothing measurable, so you are trusting the brand.
That also means one of the loudest claims in the category is untrue on its face. The TPSB listing calls itself the thickest poultry shrink bag on Amazon at 2.5 mil, and the 3 mil FPSB bags sit in this same roundup.
What is in the pack besides bags
Zip ties come with all of these. A straw does not.
A silicone straw lets you draw the last of the air out through the neck of the bag before you cinch the tie, which is fiddly by hand and easy with a tube. Morepack includes one in its 30-pack and leaves it out of its 100-pack, which is worth knowing before you order.
The TAXRATINER 13x18 Kit goes furthest here with labels, a marker, gloves and a printed guide. That matters more on a first processing day than it will on your fifth.
Price is per bag, not per pack
Pack price hides the real number.
The Anmboor 50-Pack 10x16 works out at about 20 cents a bag, the cheapest here. The Morepack 100-Pack is about 27 cents. The TPSB 2.5 Mil 10x16 is about 60 cents. All three are nominally the same 10 x 16 size.
So the honest way to describe TPSB is this. Paying three times the Anmboor price per bag buys you a stated 2.5 mil film, a curved base and US manufacture. It does not buy a better fit, because the fit is the same.
Dipping without wrecking a bag
Heat the water to 180 to 195 degrees F and keep it there. Do not let it boil.
Draw the air out, cinch the zip tie tight at the neck, and hold the bird by the tie so the sealed neck stays above the waterline. Dip for a few seconds, lift, and check for any loose panel of film. A second short dip fixes most of them.
Pad the hocks. Leg bones punch through thin film more often than anything else, and a torn bag in the freezer is a wasted bird.
Final recommendation
The Morepack 100-Pack is the best buy for most backyard keepers. The 10 x 16 size matches a 4 to 5 lb dressed broiler, 100 bags covers a full batch and the spares, and at about 27 cents a bag it is the second cheapest per bag in this guide.
If you want the lowest price, the Anmboor 50-Pack 10x16 is the same nominal size for about 20 cents a bag, and it includes the silicone straw that the Morepack 100-pack leaves out. For a first processing day, the TAXRATINER 13x18 Kit brings labels, gloves and a marker in the box, though the 13 x 18 size is aimed at turkeys and large roasters rather than broilers. If your birds are big, bony or old, the FPSB 3 Mil 12x16 publishes the thickest film in this guide at 3 mil and is the one most likely to survive a sharp hock.
Questions people ask before buying
What size shrink bag do I need for a 6 lb chicken?
It depends on whether you mean live or dressed. A dressed bird is roughly 70 to 75 percent of live weight, so a 6 lb live broiler is about 4.5 lbs once it is plucked and drawn, and that bird fits a 10 x 16 bag. A 6 lb dressed bird is also within the 10 x 16 range on most listings here, though it will be a snug fit. Weigh a bird from your last batch before you order, because guessing from live weight is how people end up with a box of bags that are one size too big.
Does mil thickness matter more than bag size?
No, and this is the thing most buyers get backwards. Thickness affects puncture resistance at the hocks and wing tips, which matters, but an oversized bag fails in a way thickness cannot fix. Film that has nothing to shrink against stays loose, traps air and burns the meat over a few months in the freezer. Pick the size first, then treat thickness as the tiebreaker between two bags that both fit. It is also worth knowing that four of the six packs in this guide state no thickness at all.
What water temperature should I use to shrink poultry bags?
Most of these listings say 180 to 195 degrees F, and one says 185 to 200 degrees F for three to five seconds. Never use boiling water. Boiling can start to cook the outer layer of skin and it is harder on the film seams, and the bag shrinks perfectly well below the boil. Keep the tied neck of the bag above the waterline while you dip, because water that gets in past the tie stays in and defeats the whole point of a sealed bag.
Do I need a vacuum sealer as well?
No. A shrink bag is not a vacuum bag, and it does not need to be. You draw the bulk of the air out by hand or with a straw, tie the neck with a zip tie, then the hot dip pulls the film tight against the skin and closes the remaining gaps. The result is not a laboratory vacuum, but it holds a whole bird with bone-in legs and wings, which is exactly the shape that punctures vacuum bags. Vacuum sealing suits cut parts. Shrink bags suit whole birds.
Why do my bags keep tearing at the legs?
Leg bones and wing tips are the sharpest points on a dressed bird, and thin film gives out there first. Two things help. Tuck the hocks in and pad them, either by folding the legs under or wrapping the ends in a scrap of clean paper before the bird goes in, and pick a thicker film if you are packing older or larger birds with bonier joints. The FPSB 3 Mil 12x16 and the TPSB 2.5 Mil 10x16 are the only two packs here that publish a thickness you can compare.
How long does a bird actually keep in a shrink bag?
Longer than in a loose freezer bag, because there is less air against the skin, but nobody in this category publishes a test to back up a specific figure. Morepack claims three to five times longer shelf life without stating storage conditions or how it was measured, so treat that as marketing rather than a number to plan around. The practical answer is that a well fitted, well sealed bird holds quality through a normal freezer year, and a bag with a loose skirt of film will not.
Why you can trust this guide
- Written by
- Sam Reddick, Lead gear reviewer, Chicken Geek. Specialist areas: Coop design and predator proofing, Feeding and watering systems, Cold-weather flock management, Incubation and brooding.
- Fact checked by
- Marta Voss
- Published
- August 8, 2026 · Last updated August 8, 2026 · Products and links rechecked August 8, 2026
- How we picked
- Bags were compared on stated size against the dressed weight of common backyard birds, on stated film thickness where a thickness is published at all, on the tools included for drawing air out and tying off, on stated dip temperature, and on cost per bag rather than cost per pack.
- Evidence used
- None of the 6 products on this page were sent to us or bought for a hands-on test. Every recommendation here is research based: manufacturer specifications, listed dimensions and materials, owner feedback at volume, and comparison against equipment our team has owned. Each review states this again above the buy button so you are never guessing which kind of evidence sits behind a pick.
- Editorial standards
- No brand pays for placement, and no manufacturer sees this page before it goes live. Read our editorial policy and testing method.
- Affiliate disclosure
- Chicken Geek is reader supported. We earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you, and no brand has paid for a placement or an award here.
About the author
Lead gear reviewer, Chicken Geek
Sam has kept a backyard laying flock for eleven years, through two coop rebuilds, one very determined raccoon and several winters cold enough to freeze a waterer solid overnight. He writes the buying guides at Chicken Geek and is responsible for how products get compared.
- Eleven years keeping a mixed laying flock of 8 to 14 birds
- Has built, bought and replaced six different coops
- Runs the product comparison framework used across Chicken Geek
- Reads manufacturer manuals, spec sheets and warranty terms before every recommendation
