The 5 Best Air Pillow Makers
This wiki has been updated 10 times since it was first published in November of 2018. Shipping items is tiresome work, and if you run a small business or online store, you don't have time to rush out to buy packing materials every day. With a good void fill machine, you can ensure your carefully-crafted goods are protected by dependable air cushions. One of these compact models and a few rolls of film are a lot more convenient than a whole basement filled with excess bubble wrap. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. PPE Automatic
2. Mini Air EA 2
3. Mini Air CLASi
Editor's Notes
March 05, 2021:
There's a distinct price difference between commercial-grade machines with long duty cycles, and slightly less professional options ideal for small business owners. The Mini Air CLASi and IDL Packaging AIRmove2 both promise long-term reliability, high speeds, and reliable seals, although they do require a significant investment.
Alternatively, the Mini Air EA 2 offers impressive dependability at a mid-range price. It's not the absolute fastest, but its good enough that you won't have to sit around waiting for it, a problem its direct predecessor did have somewhat. The PPE Automatic, however, is less expensive and just a bit faster, and includes 1,000 feet of bags to get you started.
If you only need to send a few shipments and don't want to invest in a costly air pillow machine, Sealed Air Instapak Quick bags are a decent alternative. They do require you to buy a bulk box of 104 pieces, but for one-off mailings, they're perfectly suitable.
December 08, 2018:
Beyond size and speed, the main variable for these machines is the type of film they use. There is no industry standard, meaning certain models only use their own proprietary film. Though some models may seem overpriced for their features, if you plan to use this a long time, saving a penny per pouch on film may end up being a good deal in the end.
Special Honors
Sealed Air Packaging Equipment The four lines of air cushion inflators offered by this packaging-focused company range from compact and reasonably priced, to freestanding, high-volume, and suitable for commercial use. If you plan on using it all day long, one of their industrial models is almost certain to be the highest performer you'll find. sealedair.com
Rocket Industrial Subscriptions This interesting program lets you avoid a massive initial by offering to lend one of three high-quality machines in exchange for a commitment to purchase five rolls, ten rolls, or an entire pallet of bags per month. If at any point you no longer need the machine, you can simply cancel your plan and return it, with no further obligations. rocketindustrial.com
4. IDL Packaging AIRmove2
5. Sealed Air Instapak Quick
Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.