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For every type of storage need. resealable coffee bags
If vacuum sealed bags aren’t a tool in your organizing arsenal yet, they should be. Oversized linens, off-season clothing, and even bulky pillows are no match for those with even the smallest of spaces. Plus, there’s something seriously satisfying about seeing all that extra space once the air is sucked out.
That said, there are a lot of vacuum storage bags out there, and not all of them are worth your money. That’s why we tested an assortment of vacuum storage bags for capacity, ease of use, compression time, and value to find the very best ones to have on hand at home.
Our picks range in size from small to extra large and include flat pack bags, hanging garment bags, and cube bags—with so many options, there’s bound to be one on this list that will help you take control of all your storage.
The durable plastic held up extremely well during testing.
The hand pump gave our arms a mini workout.
No matter what your storage needs are, these vacuum storage bags are well-equipped to handle it—the 12-pack comes with three of each of the following sizes: jumbo, large, medium, and small, so you can tailor your belongings to the bags.
The plastic never felt like it was going to rip or stretch, which was impressive because we put a lot of items in there. We expect these sturdy plastic bags to hold up well over time—the bags remained compressed throughout our testing and didn’t inflate or raise any issues. We even submerged the bags in water—at full capacity—and not a drop of water got inside.
We found the sealing process easy and straightforward, too. To shrink the air from the bags, you can either use your existing vacuum or try your hand at the included hand pump. While the hand pump was easy to use overall, it did require some effort and took us longer than using a vacuum.
Number of Bags: 12 | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: Jumbo: 40 by 30 inches; large: 32 by 24 inches; medium: 28 by 20 inches; small: 24 by 16 inches | Seal Type: Zipper | Included Accessories: Hand pump
The bags have a built-in hanger that makes it perfect for storing clothing.
A pump isn’t included with the bags.
Right off the bat, we loved the innovative design that included a built-in hanger. We’ve run into problems figuring out the best way to store other garment bags in the past once they’re compressed, and this model gave us no issues whatsoever.
For $29, we thought the value was pretty incredible, given that you receive four bags with two different sizes. They held up well to keeping their seal, too, and we found that they were lightweight even after adding and sealing the clothes. We found that the bag comfortably held five coats during our testing.
Our biggest concern was matching the appropriate garment to the right length. Initially, it was a little difficult to fit the coats inside and align them properly. It also took longer to remove the air from this bag than any other on the list, even using a vacuum.
However, once everything was inside and sealed, the coats stayed put and didn’t inflate with air after time. The bag also didn’t allow any water inside during our waterproof test, making this a high-quality pick that lives up to the effectiveness you want in a vacuum bag.
Number of Bags: 4 | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: Long: 53 by 28 inches; short: 41 by 28 inches | Seal Type: Zipper | Included Accessories: N/A
The bag shrunk 10.5 inches when deflated.
The zip seal is packaged separately and is difficult to install.
These supersize storage bags easily held two pillows and three sheet sets—and could’ve even handled anywhere from 25% to 50% more. The vacuum valve was simple to open and close for easy inflating and deflating, and it took less than 30 seconds to remove the air from the bag with a vacuum.
When deflated, the bag shrunk 10.5 inches—one of the most significant changes from the bag’s initial size to its deflated size. Even with our storage inside, the bag fit easily under the bed, including when we folded it in half to test its clearance at double the height.
The bag held its compression well over time, too, and didn’t fill with water when immersed. The plastic of this bag is moderately thick and feels durable, and there was no sign of stretching, leading us to believe it will last for plenty of uses.
Because of its extra large capacity, we never felt that we were compromising the bag or risking a tear when putting our items inside—it’s sturdy enough to accommodate almost any bedding, linen, and clothing items. Keep in mind that there’s no pump included with this purchase, but because of its size, a vacuum will likely be your best bet anyway.
Number of Bags: 5 | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 47 by 35 inches | Seal Type: Zipper | Included Accessories: N/A
The included vacuum pump was super easy to use.
Water leaked into the bag during one of our tests.
From the very first use, we were impressed with the amount of air we were able to extract from this bag and how compressed the contents were. It only took us 32 seconds to get all the air out with the included pump, which was all-around easy to set up and use.
We also tested removing the air with a vacuum, which was similarly straightforward. However, this bag deflated very quickly using the vacuum—the fastest of any model we tested (though the bag’s smaller size likely affected this).
Some water also leaked into the bag during our waterproof test, but when we tested it with the hand pump, the bag remained deflated, and no water got into the bag—all this to say, the hand pump is definitely the way to go.
We also don’t recommend storing towels with these bags. It was very difficult to get the towels into the bag, and we questioned how thicker items would fare. We were able to store one very thick, plush towel, but we needed a thinner towel as the second towel and don't know that we could've gotten two thick, plush towels inside. That said, we think these would be great for toddler or baby clothing.
Number of Bags: 10 | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 27.6 by 19.7 inches | Seal Type: Zipper | Included Accessories: Hand pump
The massive bag held all of our bulky items without issue.
It took a couple attempts to close the bag using the zipper.
This extra large cube-shaped bag comfortably held two pillows and three sets of sheets—and likely could have held more. Its shape makes the bag easier to fill from the start, rather than the 2D bags you have to lay on their side to fill, and the capacity was a total plus. It stayed sealed and deflated during our testing, and no water leaked inside during our waterproof test.
That said, it took more than one try to close the bag before deflating it. The bag relies on a zipper, and we had to pinch it together while closing it to fully seal it. There’s also no connector that holds the vacuum to the valve when removing the air. Instead, you simply hold the vacuum over the valve while it sucks up the air, which is a little awkward.
Still, their overall effectiveness made us think we’d even be willing to pay more than the listed price. It shrank significantly, and the thickness of this bag was what we'd hope for. The plastic feels sturdy, and we didn’t find any tears or holes in the plastic while doing a final check.
Number of Bags: 4 | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 27.5 by 39.35 by 12.6 inches | Seal Type: Zipper | Included Accessories: N/A
There are plenty of great vacuum storage bags on this list, but we recommend the Gongshi Vacuum Storage Bags as our overall best pick. The sturdy design, impressive performance, various sizes, and included hand pump make these bags an excellent option for most uses. For those who primarily need to store things like jackets and coats, the TAILI Hanging Vacuum Storage Sealer Bags also have our stamp of approval. The built-in hanger makes them super easy to store in our closets, and they comfortably held up to five coats.
We judged the vacuum storage bags on this list based on their design, capacity, durability, value, and quality—after all, they have to do what they say they’re going to do. We noted how much the bag reduced in size once deflated, how well it stowed under a bed or hung on a rack after the air was removed, and whether it remained compressed during testing.
To put it to the test even further, we also conducted a stress test by immersing each bag in water to see if any would leak inside. We paid attention to how easy it was to fill, close, and deflate the bag and considered whether the vacuum or pump was simple to use or if we felt tired after removing the air from the bag.
To judge capacity, we considered whether its size claims matched how many towels, sheets, coats, pillows, or other items we could actually fit in it. We took note of the quality of the bag afterward and whether it felt sturdy and the plastic felt sufficiently thick. Value was taken into account by how well the price of the product matched its capabilities. If a bag met or exceeded expectations for its price, we thought it was worth our money.
The size and number of vacuum storage bags you buy should correspond to the type and quantity of items you want to store in them. In our testing, most manufacturer claims about what type of items and how many of them should fit in a given bag were accurate. In some cases, it was a little difficult to fit the maximum number of items in the bag initially, but once inside, they sealed just fine with no issues.
If you have a wide range of storage needs, a multipack like our overall favorite, the Gongshi Vacuum Storage Bags, should do the trick. For a limited number of smaller items, you may only need one pack of the AirBaker Vacuum Storage Bags. For a larger quantity of big items, get something like the Vacwel Vacuum Storage Bags or the Smart Design MagicBag Instant Space Saver Storage.
All of the products on this list are made of plastic. Depending on the specific brand, certain bags had thicker plastic than others. Some of our testers noted that a bag with very thick plastic would be less flexible and more difficult to fold or otherwise store as needed, but a bag that’s too thin could stretch and tear with repeated use.
Some testers noted a preference for a middle ground between the two extremes—plastic thick enough to hold up over time, but not so thick as to be challenging to store, like the Vacwel Vacuum Storage Bags.
The vacuum storage bags we tested used Ziploc-style zipper closures. In terms of removing the air from the bags, all of them were compatible with vacuums; some also came with pumps as an alternative to deflate the bag. Check the compatibility of your specific bag to ensure you have what you need to remove the air properly. If it doesn't hold the seal, returning it is your best bet.
All of these vacuum storage bags are capable of holding clothes, bedding, towels, and more. Most manufacturers share what types (and quantity) of items are designed to fit in a given bag. Whether it’s six sweaters or five sets of sheets, we found these specs to be mostly accurate in our testing.
Also, ask yourself whether you're using vacuum bags to put off giving an item away or if it really serves a purpose in your home. For anyone who is downsizing or has young children who grow out of clothes quickly, vacuum bags are especially helpful.
Spacesaver Vacuum Storage Bags: We liked that we were able to fit three pillows, a duvet, and two sets of sheets in this bag, but it was hard to get them in there initially. The included electric pump also worked better for us than a vacuum, but unfortunately, the bag reinflated quickly, making it an ineffective vacuum bag overall.
Cozy Essential Vacuum Storage Bags: This bag comfortably held five sets of sheets during our testing and with a hand pump if you don’t want to use a vacuum (though both options worked well). The bag also remained deflated and didn’t let in any water during our waterproof test, but the zipper used to seal the bag came off too easily.
Hibag Vacuum Storage Bags: This bag held two thicker bath towels, even though it was difficult to get them in the bag at first. We used a vacuum and the included hand pump to deflate the bag without issue, and it remained compressed without any water leaks during our waterproof test. That said, the towels were wrinkled when we removed them later.
Most vacuum storage bags claim to be waterproof, and we found this to be largely accurate in our testing. To assess this ourselves, we immersed each vacuum-sealed bag in water and then checked to see whether any water had leaked inside. In a small number of cases, a little water got inside a sealed bag.
That depends. If you already have a compatible vacuum to seal the bag—or the pack comes with a hand pump or an electric pump—then you won’t need anything else. Conversely, if the purchase doesn’t include a pump and you don’t have a vacuum that works with a vacuum storage bag, you’ll need to invest in one (or borrow one!) to get the job done.
ziplock pouch packaging This article was written by Megan Wollerton, a Real Simple contributor with 11 years of experience testing and writing about a wide variety of products. To find the best vacuum storage bags on the market, we tested several sizes and styles by filling each bag to capacity. We then looked at how well the bag remained deflated and, during our waterproof test, whether any water leaked inside the sealed bag.