# Onion big bags: what they are and how many kilograms they hold

Onion big bags: how many kg they hold, common sizes, why they must breathe and when to choose them over mesh sacks. Explained by an onion grower from Żuławy.

A big bag is a large, breathable sack for transporting loose onions, and it usually holds between 500 and 1250 kilograms. It is the most common way to pack onions in wholesale trade, because it simplifies loading, storage and moving large batches. In this post we explain how many onions really fit into a big bag, how to pick the right size and when mesh sacks are the better choice.

We write this from the perspective of a farm that packs onions every day. We grow around 150 hectares of onions in Żuławy, we have our own store for around 1300 tonnes and an automated packing line with a palletiser. Big bags are our daily routine, not theory.

## What a big bag is

A big bag, also called a container bag or FIBC, is a flexible sack made of woven polypropylene with lifting loops, raised by a forklift or a loader. The version for vegetables has sides and a base made of mesh or ventilation fabric, so the onions get a constant flow of air. This sets it apart from a big bag for sand or grain, which is sealed.

Onions are still alive after harvest, they breathe and give off moisture. Sealed without ventilation, they start to sweat and rot. That is why we only use breathable packaging for onions and never plastic film.

## How many onions a big bag holds

Capacity depends on the size of the sack and the size of the onions. The larger and more even the onions, the less empty space there is and the tighter they pack. In trade practice you will come across a few standard options.

| Big bag size | Typical onion capacity |
| --- | --- |
| small (approx. 80 x 80 x 100 cm) | 500-600 kg |
| standard (approx. 90 x 90 x 120 cm) | 700-900 kg |
| large (approx. 95 x 95 x 150 cm) | 1000-1250 kg |

We most often work with big bags holding around 1000 kg, because they stack well on a pallet and in a trailer. We always match the final capacity to the buyer: to their warehouse, forklifts and way of unloading.

{% captionedImage src="/images/video/cebula-na-tasmie.webp" alt="Onions on the belt of an automated packing line" caption="Onions sorted on the line before they go into a big bag or a sack." /%}

## Big bag, mesh sacks or loose

The form of packaging is not random, it is a decision driven by the buyer and the logistics. Each of the three options has its place.

| Form | Who it is for and why |
| --- | --- |
| Loose | large processors and packing houses that pack the produce themselves |
| Big bag | bulk transport to packing houses and plants, fast loading and unloading |
| Mesh sacks (e.g. 25, 15, 10 kg) | distribution and retail, produce ready for the shelf |

The big bag wins wherever volume and turnover speed matter. One sack is close to a tonne of onions lifted in a single move of the forklift, without handling hundreds of small packages. We choose mesh sacks when the onions are headed closer to the shelf and the end customer. We write more about the formats and trade grades themselves in our guide to [onions in wholesale](/blog/cebula-hurt-dostawca).

## Why an onion big bag must breathe

Air is the foundation. Onions stored in a big bag need ventilation from every side, so they can release heat and respiratory moisture. That is why an onion sack has mesh walls, and we set big bags on a pallet so air can pass between them.

Before the onions even reach the sack, we dry and cool them in our store. This stage decides whether the produce reaches the buyer healthy, so we described it separately in our guide to [onion storage](/blog/przechowywanie-cebuli). Well prepared, dry onions in a breathable big bag easily withstand transport and longer storage.

## How we pack big bags

We fill big bags on an automated packing line. The onions first go through sorting and grading, so what ends up in the sack is even produce, free of impurities and damaged pieces. We explain how we match the size to the buyer in our post on [onion size for processing](/blog/jaki-kaliber-cebuli-do-przetworstwa).

We stack the filled sacks with a palletiser and prepare them for shipping on pallets. This speeds up loading and protects the onions from bruising in transit. We show the equipment we use for this in our [machinery](/park-maszynowy).

{% callout tone="info" %}
A large big bag is convenient at high tonnage, but it needs the right facilities: a forklift with enough lifting capacity and room for pallets. We always agree the form of packaging around the buyer's unloading capabilities.
{% /callout %}

## Who we pack onions in big bags for

The big bag is a B2B format. It goes to packing houses that pack onions further, and to processing plants that handle large volumes of raw material. It also works well for export deliveries, where fast turnover of whole pallets matters. Our vegetables reach market leaders such as Onix, Farm Frites and FreshPol, partners who supply the largest retail chains and processing plants in Poland and Europe.

Every batch, whatever the packaging, is quality checked at our farm, and we run the farm in line with the GlobalG.A.P. and GRASP certificates. For the buyer, a big bag is not just logistical convenience, it is also the assurance that inside is produce of consistent, documented quality.

## How much onions in big bags cost

We do not quote onion prices in advance, because they change with the market, the season, the size and the order volume. We calculate the price based on current market rates and the parameters of the specific delivery. Tell us the size, the quantity and the timing you need, and we will prepare a quote through our [contact page](/kontakt). On request we send a free sample.

## Frequently asked questions about onion big bags

### How many kilograms of onions does a big bag hold?
Usually between 500 and 1250 kg, depending on the size of the sack and the size of the onions. Big bags of around 1000 kg are the most common, because they stack well on a pallet and in a trailer.

### What big bag sizes are typical for onions?
Popular dimensions are around 80 x 80 x 100 cm for smaller sacks, and 90 x 90 x 120 cm and larger for one-tonne sacks. We match the size to the buyer's logistics.

### Does an onion big bag have to be ventilated?
Yes. After harvest onions breathe and give off moisture, so the sack must have mesh or ventilation-fabric walls. A sealed big bag for sand or grain is not suitable.

### Big bag or mesh sack, which to choose?
Big bag for bulk transport and fast turnover of large volumes. Mesh sacks (e.g. 25, 15, 10 kg) when the onions are headed closer to retail and the end customer.

### Do you also pack onions loose?
Yes. We deliver onions loose, in big bags and in mesh sacks. We match the form to the buyer and the way it will be processed further. Details in our guide to [onions in wholesale](/blog/cebula-hurt-dostawca).

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Need onions in big bags or another packaging, in consistent quality and with certificates? Write to us through our [contact page](/kontakt) or see the full [onion offer](/oferta/cebula).