Burlap Sack / Gunny Sack

Material: Woven jute
Common size: Approx. 94 × 57 cm / 37 × 22.5 inches
Bag weight: Approx. 665–753 g, depending on construction
Carrying capacity: Approx. 40–50 kg
Mouth: Hemmed or buyer specified
Sewing: Overhead dry sewn, Herakles sewn, or custom
Packing: Approx. 500 bags per export bale for common 40–50 kg specifications
Suitable for: Rice, wheat, grains, maize, pulses, seeds, potatoes, onions, coffee, cocoa, and other agricultural commodities
Treatment options: Normal, VOT, hydrocarbon-controlled, or buyer-specified
Customization: Size, weight, construction, printing, treatment, stitching, stripe, and packing available for bulk orders

Request a Quote

A Burlap Sack or Gunny Sack is a woven jute bag used for packing, storing, handling, and transporting agricultural commodities and other dry bulk products. Depending on the market, buyers may also use terms such as jute sack, hessian sack, sacking bag, or burlap bag for related jute packaging.

Gunny sacks can be produced in different sizes, bag weights, weave constructions, carrying capacities, treatments, stitching styles, and printing configurations. For bulk sourcing, the exact specification should be matched with the commodity and required filling weight.

What are the typical specifications of a Burlap or Gunny Sack?

Burlap and gunny sacks do not have one universal specification. A commonly traded 40–50 kg gunny sack measures approximately 94 × 57 cm and is available in heavy and lightweight constructions. Current trade listings show approximately 753 g for a heavy version and 665 g for a lighter version.

Specification	Typical / Available Requirement
Product	Burlap Sack / Gunny Sack
Material	Woven jute
Common Capacity	Approx. 40–50 kg
Common Size	Approx. 94 × 57 cm / 37 × 22.5 in
Heavy Bag Weight	Approx. 753 g / 1.66 lb
Light Bag Weight	Approx. 665 g / 1.46 lb
Fabric	Jute sacking or burlap/hessian according to specification
Mouth	Hemmed or buyer specified
Sewing	Overhead dry sewn, Herakles sewn, or buyer specified
Identification	Stripe configuration where required
Printing	Plain or custom printed
Treatment	Normal, VOT, hydrocarbon-controlled, or buyer specified
Packing	Approx. 500 bags per bale for some 40–50 kg gunny specifications
Custom Sizes	Available according to order specification

The final dimensions, bag weight, carrying capacity, fabric construction, sewing, treatment, and packing should be confirmed before production.

What is a Gunny Sack used for?

Gunny sacks are commonly used for agricultural and commodity packaging where buyers require a woven natural-fibre sack for filling, storage, handling, and transportation.

Typical applications include:

Rice
Wheat
Maize
Grains
Cereals
Pulses
Seeds
Potatoes
Onions
Coffee
Cocoa
Groundnuts
Other compatible agricultural commodities

The correct construction depends on the product being packed. Commodity density, filling weight, ventilation requirement, stacking, storage period, and transportation conditions can all affect bag selection.

Is a Burlap Sack the same as a Gunny Sack?

The terms are often used interchangeably in commercial markets, but they do not always describe one exact fabric specification.

“Burlap” generally refers to woven jute fabric, also called hessian in many markets. “Gunny sack” is a broader traditional term for a coarse woven sack used for agricultural and bulk packaging.

For purchasing purposes, buyers should specify measurable requirements such as:

Dimensions
Bag weight
Fabric or weave construction
Carrying capacity
Stitching
Treatment
Printing
Packing

This avoids relying on regional product names alone.

What is the difference between a Burlap Sack and a heavy Jute Sacking Bag?

A burlap or hessian construction is generally finer than heavy jute sacking, while heavy-duty jute sacks such as B-Twill, A-Twill, and Binola use different constructions for demanding bulk applications.

Feature	Burlap / Hessian Sack	Heavy Jute Sacking Bag
Fabric	Finer woven jute	Coarser, heavier jute
Typical Use	Produce, coffee, cocoa, grains, lighter commodity packing	Heavy agricultural and commodity packing
Weight	Varies widely	Usually heavier
Construction	Plain/hessian-type weave	B-Twill, A-Twill, Binola, Cees and others
Printing	Available	Available
Treatment	Available	Available

The required product should be selected by specification rather than by name alone.

What sizes are available for Burlap and Gunny Sacks?

Gunny and burlap sacks can be produced in different sizes according to the commodity and filling requirement. Current commercial jute sack listings include sizes ranging from smaller 40–50 kg sacks to larger 80–100 kg sacks.

Common formats may include:

37 × 22.5 in: Common 40–50 kg gunny sack format
38 × 26.5 in: Mid-weight commodity sack format
40 × 28 in: Common burlap/hessian commodity format
44 × 26.5 in: Standard agricultural sack format
48 × 28 in: Larger heavy-duty sack format

Custom dimensions can also be produced according to the buyer’s packing requirements.

Are heavy and lightweight Gunny Sacks available?

Yes. Gunny sacks can be supplied in different bag weights for the same general packing capacity.

A commonly published 40–50 kg configuration includes:

Heavy Gunny Sack

Approx. 94 × 57 cm
Approx. 753 g
40–50 kg packing capacity
Approx. 500 sacks per bale

Lightweight Gunny Sack

Approx. 94 × 57 cm
Approx. 665 g
40–50 kg packing capacity
Approx. 500 sacks per bale

These specifications are useful reference points, but the final construction should be selected according to the commodity and handling requirements.

Can Burlap and Gunny Sacks be customized?

Yes. Burlap and Gunny Sacks can be manufactured according to buyer-specific technical and packing requirements.

Customization may include:

Bag size: Required length and width
Bag weight: Light, heavy, or custom construction
Fabric: Hessian/burlap or heavier sacking construction
Capacity: According to commodity and filling requirement
Mouth: Hemmed, selvedge, or specified finish
Sewing: Buyer-specified sewing construction
Printing: Branding, commodity details, weight, and shipping marks
Treatment: Normal, VOT, hydrocarbon-controlled, or other specified treatment
Identification: Custom stripes or markings
Packing: Buyer-specific bale configuration

An existing sack sample or technical specification can also be used as a production reference.

What printing can be added to Gunny Sacks?

Burlap and Gunny Sacks can be supplied plain or printed according to approved buyer artwork.

Printing may include:

Company name
Brand logo
Commodity name
Product grade
Net weight
Gross weight
Lot or batch number
Country markings
Handling instructions
Destination information
Shipping marks

The number of colours, print dimensions, position, and printed sides should be confirmed before bulk production.

What treatment options are available for Burlap and Gunny Sacks?

Treatment requirements depend on the commodity and buyer specification. The terms burlap sack and gunny sack do not automatically indicate whether a bag is food grade, VOT treated, hydrocarbon controlled, or produced under another treatment requirement.

Possible order specifications include:

Normal treatment
Vegetable Oil Treatment (VOT)
Hydrocarbon-controlled requirements
JBO-free requirements where applicable
Buyer-specified treatment

Food commodity buyers should clearly state treatment, testing, and documentation requirements when requesting a quotation.

Are Gunny Sacks suitable for food commodities?

Gunny sacks can be produced for food commodities when the bag construction and required treatment are specified for that application.

Jute sack suppliers currently offer food-grade configurations for products such as coffee, cocoa, rice, grains, nuts, and other agricultural commodities. Some current food-grade products use VOT treatment and specific construction requirements.

Food-grade suitability should therefore be confirmed for the exact bag rather than assumed because it is made from jute.

How are Burlap and Gunny Sacks checked during production?

Burlap and Gunny Sacks should be checked against the approved purchase specification so that finished production can be compared with measurable buyer requirements.

Typical checks include:

Bag dimensions
Individual bag weight
Fabric construction
Porter and shot where applicable
Stitching
Mouth finishing
Stripe placement
Printing
Treatment requirements
Quantity
Bale packing
Shipping marks

Where strength, food-contact, hydrocarbon, or other performance requirements apply, the required test and acceptance criteria should be agreed before production.

How are Gunny Sacks packed for export?

Gunny sacks are normally compressed into export bales. Bale quantity depends on the dimensions and individual bag weight.

For example, published 40–50 kg heavy and lightweight gunny sacks use approximately 500 bags per bale, while larger B-Twill, Binola, and other heavy jute sacks commonly use around 300 bags per bale.

The purchase specification should confirm:

Bags per bale
Bale binding
Bale identification
Total number of bags
Total number of bales
Shipping marks
Container type
Loading requirements

Container quantities should be calculated from the final approved bag and bale specification.

Who typically buys Burlap and Gunny Sacks?

Burlap and Gunny Sacks are commonly sourced by companies involved in agriculture, commodity trading, processing, distribution, and industrial packaging.

Typical buyers include:

Rice and grain mills
Agricultural commodity importers
Commodity exporters
Seed companies
Produce packers
Coffee and cocoa traders
Agricultural distributors
Packaging wholesalers
Jute sack distributors
Food processors
Industrial packaging companies

Procurement buyers typically compare suppliers based on the exact specification, treatment, printing, quality consistency, bale packing, order quantity, and commercial terms.

What information is required for a Burlap or Gunny Sack quotation?

An accurate quotation requires more than the words “Burlap Sack” or “Gunny Sack” because those names can cover several bag constructions.

Provide:

Required bag size
Bag weight
Fabric or construction
Required carrying capacity
Commodity to be packed
Order quantity
Mouth construction
Sewing requirement
Treatment requirement
Printing artwork
Stripe or identification requirement
Bale packing requirement
Destination country and port
Inspection or testing requirement
Required shipment schedule

For a common 40–50 kg Gunny Sack, 94 × 57 cm with approximately 665 g or 753 g bag weight can be used as a reference starting point.

How do you order Burlap or Gunny Sacks in bulk?

Bulk ordering starts by defining the exact construction required for the commodity rather than relying only on a regional product name.

A typical sourcing process includes:

Send the bag dimensions and weight.
Confirm the commodity and required filling capacity.
Specify the required fabric or construction.
Confirm treatment and sewing requirements.
Provide printing artwork or shipping marks.
Confirm the order quantity.
Select bale packing requirements.
Provide the destination country and port.
Review the quotation and technical specification.
Approve a sample or artwork where required.
Proceed with production, inspection, packing, and shipment.

Using the same approved specification from quotation through production helps maintain consistency across bulk and repeat orders.