Uline Alternatives for Bulk Shipping Supplies: An Honest Comparison
Disclosure: JiaroPack sells packaging and competes with Uline. This guide tells you where Uline is the better choice, and the prices below are from the product pages named, checked on October 25, 2026.
The quick answer
Stay with Uline if you need one supplier for a very wide range of products, fast delivery and a dedicated sales rep. Look at an alternative if most of your spend is on standard packaging, such as poly mailers, bubble mailers, bags and food packaging, and unit price matters more than catalog size. The only way to know is to compare the same item with the same specs, which is what the rest of this guide shows you how to do.
Who should stay with Uline
- You buy many different product types. Uline is a very large catalog supplier. If you need boxes, tape, pallets, janitorial and industrial items in one order, one account saves time.
- You need fast delivery and reliable stock. If a delay costs you more than the price difference, a large distributor with its own warehouses earns its premium.
- You value a named sales rep and phone support. Larger accounts can negotiate pricing with a representative.
- You need a specific heavy-duty spec. As the table below shows, Uline's standard 10x13 poly mailers are 3 mil, thicker than ours.
What to compare when you look at an alternative
| Factor | What to check |
|---|---|
| Price per unit | Case price divided by the count in the case, at the quantity you actually buy |
| Specs | Thickness (mil), material, closure, and whether the listed size includes the flap |
| Shipping | The full delivered cost, not just the product price |
| Minimum order | The smallest case you can buy, and what a split case costs |
| Lead time | When it arrives, and what happens if it is out of stock |
| Range | Whether one supplier covers everything you buy, or you would split orders |
| Returns and samples | Whether you can test before you commit |
A real price check: 10x13 poly mailers
Here is the same size, 10x13 inches, from both suppliers. Uline prices come from the Uline product pages; JiaroPack's come from our 10x13 poly mailers page. Freight is not included on either side.
| Product | Thickness | Per case | Price, 1 case | Per mailer | Price at 20+ cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uline S-21878, plain white | 3 mil | 1,000 | $194 | 19.4¢ | $176 (17.6¢) |
| Uline S-21880P, colored | 3 mil | 100 | $30 | 30.0¢ | $26 (26.0¢) |
| JiaroPack 10x13, white | 2 mil | 1,000 | $65.99 | 6.6¢ | See note |
Notes on the comparison:
- The mailers are not identical. Uline's are listed at 3 mil. Ours are listed at 2 mil. Thicker film costs more to make, so part of the gap is the thickness. For heavy or sharp items, the thicker mailer may be the right buy.
- Sizes may be measured differently. Uline lists outside dimensions with the flap not included (the flap is 2 in). Our page lists an inner size of 10 x 13 in and does not give a separate usable size, so measure a sample.
- JiaroPack's price depends on the order. Our page shows $65.99 (regular $70.99) for the 10x13 case of 1,000 and says wholesale pricing scales with order size. We have not shown a 20-case price for ours.
- Shipping. Our site states free shipping on all US orders. Uline's product pages do not show shipping charges, so check the total at checkout before you compare.
What it adds up to
A store that ships 2,000 mailers a month uses 24,000 a year. At the listed prices that is about $4,656 a year for Uline's S-21878 at one case, about $4,224 at 20+ cases, and about $1,584 a year for our 10x13 at the single-case price. If you need 3 mil, ask us whether we can supply it; if 2 mil is enough for your orders, the saving is large.
How to test a new supplier safely
- Start with a sample or one case. JiaroPack has a free samples page.
- Test with your real orders. Pack your heaviest and sharpest items, seal them, and drop one.
- Check the seal and the size. Look at the adhesive strip and measure the usable space.
- Add up the delivered cost. Include shipping, and the cost of anything that fails.
- Move over one item at a time. Keep your current supplier for everything else until the new one has proved itself.
What JiaroPack does and does not cover
JiaroPack focuses on mailers, bags and food packaging: poly mailers, bubble mailers, trash bags, paper bags, thank you bags, food containers, cups and straws. We do not try to replace a full-line industrial supplier, so if you also need boxes, pallets or janitorial equipment from the same account, you may keep Uline for those and move only the standard packaging.
FAQ
What is the best alternative to Uline?
It depends on what you buy. For poly mailers, bubble mailers, bags and food packaging bought by the case, a specialist such as JiaroPack is worth a price check. For a broad catalog, other large distributors are the closer match.
Is Uline more expensive than other suppliers?
On the 10x13 poly mailers above, Uline's list prices are higher per mailer, but its mailers are thicker, so compare the same spec before you decide.
Does Uline have a minimum order?
Uline sells by the case, and the case size is set per product. Check the product page for the quantity.
Can I switch only some products?
Yes. Many buyers move standard mailers and bags first and keep their current supplier for everything else.
How do I try JiaroPack before buying a full case?
Request a free sample from our samples page, or buy a single case.
Is shipping free?
JiaroPack's site states free shipping on all US orders. Confirm the terms at checkout.
Ready to compare?
Get free samples or request a wholesale quote for your own volume.
Related reading: why is Uline expensive?, Uline poly mailers vs. JiaroPack, what to pay per poly mailer, other suppliers besides Uline.
Sources
- Uline: S-21878 Tear-Proof Polyethylene Mailers Bulk Pack, 10 x 13 (checked October 25, 2026)
- Uline: S-21880P Poly Mailers, 10 x 13, Pink (checked October 25, 2026)
- JiaroPack: 10x13 poly mailers (checked October 25, 2026)
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