Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Air-Filled Packing Materials
Sourcing Guide & Market Intelligence
Smarter cost management starts with comprehensive market intelligence
United States
Global
Quick Navigation
Air-Filled Packing Materials Global Overview
Definition
Summary
Air-filled packing materials are made of plastic film and are inserted into shipping containers to provide protection for the goods being shipped. Manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers supply air-filled packing materials. Major buyers include manufacturers, the hospitality industry, retailers, and fulfillment companies.
This Report Includes:
- Bubble Rolls
- Air-Filled Cushions
Not in this Report:
- Plastic Film
- Flexible Packaging
- Packing Peanuts
- Polystyrene Foam
Global Air-Filled Packing Materials Procurement Trends
Discover the top international trends affecting procurement in the global Air-Filled Packing Materials market.
Warning Trends
Reciprocal tariffs drive up packaging product prices
- The Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs, which apply general tariff rate increases to all products imported from most nations, are set to take effect on August 7 after the national tariff rates were finalized on August 1. Additionally, 50.0% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, except those from the United Kingdom, went into effect in June.
- These tariffs will have a significant effect across the packaging industry as the United States imports a combined total of more than $127 billion worth of plastic, steel, and lumber annually, the three most common materials in packaging products.
- Leading packaging product importers include Canada, Mexico, and China, which face tariff rates of 35.0%, 25.0%, and 20.0%, respectively, with the Chinese import tariff rate set to rise to 54.0% in August. However, United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA)-originating goods, meaning those produced entirely in Canada or Mexico, are exempt from these tariffs.
- China accounts for 48.6% of imported plastic products in the United States, making current and upcoming tariffs on Chinese goods particularly impactful for the price of plastic packaging materials, which the Yale Budget Lab projects will rise in price by 11.0%.
- Likewise, Canada and Mexico provide a combined 51.6% of lumber imports, driving a 6.8% increase in the price of wooden products. Steel and aluminum tariffs are projected to fuel a 39.2% increase in the cost of metal packaging products on average.
Global Air-Filled Packing Materials Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1 Europe | 30,265 |
| #2 Oceania & Southeast Asia | 24,260 |
| #3 China | 20,280 |
Explore supplier concentration across the globe
We've uncovered the 11 top regions for global procurement, based on feedback from our most strategic clients. Access vendor counts for each unique region when you subscribe.
2
Geography Drilldown - US
Average Cost of Air-Filled Packing Materials
United States
2026 Market Pricing$15.00 to $XXX.XX
per 300-foot rollAverage Price
Prices in the Air-Filled Packing Materials market range from $15.00 to $XXX.XX, depending on Roll Width, Bubble Size, Additional Features and Brand Name. For example, lower prices are associated with 12 inches ($15.00 to $60.00 per 300-foot roll), whereas higher prices are associated with 48 inches ($120 to $300 per 300-foot roll) and 24 inches ($60.00 to $115 per 300-foot roll).
Need the scoop on international price trends?
Between our Europe and Canada collections, we provide price data for 350 markets so you can instantly compare prices across borders. Or, use our custom research services for intel on prices in any region across the globe.
Air-Filled Packing Materials Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Air-Filled Packing Materials market, prices in the US have grown 0.3% from 2022 to 2025. Subscribers can access price trend forecasts, price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data. Learn more
United States (2022-2025)
United States (2025-2028)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Wondering where prices are heading?
Price trend forecasts are available to subscribers, along with price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data.
Cost Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for Air-Filled Packing Materials
Total cost of ownership is Low in the Air-Filled Packing Materials market. The average cost of ownership differs depending on the contract but generally includes costs negotiated before the contract begins, costs billed during the contract period and unforeseen costs.
Negotiated Before
Transportation
Billed During
Depreciation
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2026, buyer power amounts to -0.5 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Recent Developments. It is most negatively impacted by Product Specialization. Subscribers can access details on eight other factors that impact buyer power. Learn more
United States
Buyer power forecasts: your glimpse into the future
Develop strategies for the upcoming year and identify unforeseen opportunities for buying now
- Actionable "Buy Now" and "Buy Later" insights
- Near-real-time updates to current and forecast Buyer Power Scores
- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as Medium, which has a negative impact on buyer power. The level of supply chain risk is affected by industry volatility, barriers to entry, competition, import penetration, regulation and industry financial risk. Buyers in this market can mitigate procurement and supply chain management risks by monitoring risk levels for individual first and second tier suppliers:
1st
Tier Suppliers
- Plastic & Resin Manufacturers
- Industrial Machinery & Equipment Wholesalers
- Commercial Leasers
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Gasoline & Petroleum Wholesalers
- Plastics & Rubber Machinery Manufacturers
- Commercial Real Estate Firms
Biggest Air-Filled Packing Materials Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Air-Filled Packing Materials vendors by revenue in the US are Smurfit Westrock PLC, W.W. Grainger, Inc. and Pregis LLC. Subscribers can sort and filter by market share concentration, profit level and other factors. Learn more
| Supplier | Operational Size | Headquarters | Number of Employees | Market Share (%) | Market Share Performance (3yr trend) | Total Revenue ($ million) | Profit Level (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3m Company | Global | ST PAUL | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| W.W. Grainger, Inc. | Global | LAKE FOREST | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Smurfit Westrock PLC | Global | Dublin, IE | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| Veritiv Corporation | Global | ATLANTA, GA | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Sealed Air Corporation | Global | CHARLOTTE, NC | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Pregis LLC | National | Deerfield, IL | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Staples Inc. | Global | Framingham, MA | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Storopack Hans Reichenecker Gmbh | Global | Metzingen, DE | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Uline, Inc. | International | Pleasant Prairie, WI | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
Looking for a list of suppliers by country?
Subscribers can access vendor information on Canadian and European suppliers, too. We also offer custom research services to help with vendor sourcing anywhere in the world.
Profit Analysis
The average profit margin across vendors in the Air-Filled Packing Materials market is 6.5% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Purchases. The cost trend for this component is stagnating, when considering movement between 2025 and 2026. To understand cost forecasts for 2027 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
Market share concentration in this market is very low due to the commoditized nature of air-filled packing materials and low barriers to entry, which allow a wide range of manufacturers to compete in the market. As a result, buyers benefit from more leverage due to this competition among vendors.
Supply chain risk is moderate in this market due to the instability of upstream input and manufacturing equipment markets, which may be affected by ongoing changes in US tariff policy. This level of supply chain risk may lead to mild fluctuations in the price or availability of air-filled packing materials.
As most of this market's vendors are small to mid-sized businesses with little revenue diversification, average vendor risk is moderate. Due to this level of average vendor risk it may be beneficial for buyers to look into a vendor's finances before entering into a contract with it.
The United States is a net importer of plastic packaging products, offering buyers a diverse range of international products. Buyers should consider that dependence on foreign supply could introduce potential risks related to product availability and price fluctuations due to global market conditions.
Supplier Information
3m Company
3M Company is a diversified technology company offering a range of products for safety and industrial, transportation and electronics, and consumer markets. It develops, manufactures, and markets, among others, industrial abrasives and finishing for metalworks, autobody repair solutions, industrial specialty... Subscribe to learn more
Atlantic Corporation of Wilmington, Inc.
Atlantic Corporation of Wilmington, Inc. is a private company operating internationally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include air-filled packing materials. Founded in 1946, the company is currently headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America with an estimated... Subscribe to learn more
McMaster-Carr Supply Company
McMaster-Carr Supply Company is a private company operating internationally in the manufacturing and manufacturing sectors. The company's offerings include metal cutting tools, air-filled packing materials, pneumatic motors, mechanical cable and bearings. Founded in 1901, the company is currently headquartered... Subscribe to learn more
Pregis LLC
Pregis LLC is a private company operating nationally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include cushioning supplies and air-filled packing materials. Founded in 2005, the company is currently headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, United States of America with an estimated 5500 employees.... Subscribe to learn more
Sealed Air Corporation
Sealed Air Corporation is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include plastic film, wooden shipping crates & boxes, flexible packaging, cushioning supplies and air-filled packing materials. Founded in 1962, the company is currently headquartered in CHARLOTTE,... Subscribe to learn more
Smurfit Westrock PLC
Smurfit Westrock PLC is a public company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include paper bags, slip sheets and cushioning supplies. Founded in 2012, the company is currently headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with an estimated employee count of over 10,000. Subscribe to learn more
Staples Inc.
Staples Inc. is a private company operating globally in the manufacturing, manufacturing, manufacturing, information, professional, scientific & technical services and administration, business support and waste management services sectors. The company's offerings include printing & writing paper, business... Subscribe to learn more
Storopack Hans Reichenecker Gmbh
Storopack Hans Reichenecker Gmbh is a private company operating globally in the manufacturing sector. The company's offerings include cushioning supplies and air-filled packing materials. Founded in 1874, the company is currently headquartered in Metzingen, Germany with an estimated 5500 employees. Subscribe to learn more
Uline, Inc.
Uline, Inc. is a private company operating internationally in the manufacturing, manufacturing and manufacturing sectors. The company's offerings include personal paper products, paper towels, receipt tape, paper cups, newsprint & offset papers. Founded in 1980, the company is currently headquartered in Pleasant... Subscribe to learn more
Accelerate the vendor selection process
Get a clear picture of the competition in a market and discover which vendors are best-suited for your sourcing needs. Our supplier profiles include hard-to-find financial ranges for private companies, cover public company data and feature an interactive competitor matrix.
Procurement Management KPIs for the Air-Filled Packing Materials Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Customer Retention Rate and Defect Density. Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Quality and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Retention Rate |
|
Percent of customers that renew when a supply contract has ended Percent of customers that continue to purchase from the vender 1 to 5 years after their first purchase Customer refferals |
How well a vendor is able to retain customers can be a strong indicator of the quality of its products and the competitiveness of its prices. Because of the air-filled packing materials market's high competition, customer retention rates may tend to be lower for vendors in this market than for vendors in other markets. Nonetheless, when comparing vendors in this market, higher customer retention rates are likely to indicate better products, service, or prices. |
| Defect Density |
|
Percent items from the total number of items delivered that are defective or damaged |
To avoid quality control issues, buyers should ensure that a vendor has a good record of delivering intact, defect-free air-filled packing materials. Defect density, a measure of the percent of items delivered that are damaged or defective, can be a helpful indicator of a vendor's quality control. |
|
|||
Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Competition
How long have you operated in the packing material market?
How do your air-filled packing materials differ from your competitors' products?
Supplier Size
How much experience does your company have with supplying the type and specifications of packing materials I require?
Do you have experience with large orders?
Quality Control
What standards do you use to measure the durability and effectiveness of your air-filled packing materials?
Do you use computerized or manual systems to check for quality?
The ultimate prep for procurement negotations
View all 26 negotiation questions for this category when you subscribe.
Air-Filled Packing Materials RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should describe their operations, including providing all delivery locations and contact information.
Buyers should describe the materials they are hoping to protect with air-filled packing materials.
Statement Of Need
Buyers should describe the exact specifications of the air-filled packing material solution that they require.
Buyers should include all delivery details.
Project Budget
Buyers should state the maximum value of the contract.
Buyers should set expectations for how suppliers are able to adjust prices throughout the life of the contract.
The RFP process made easy
Find out how you can access RFP templates for 800+ procurement categories to start writing better, more consistent RFPs.
We display average pricing information, trends and market data.
Our Reports include:
- Opportunity assessment
- Market dynamics
- Recent developments
- Positive and warning trends
- Buyer power levers
- Price environment and market pricing
- Geographic wage rates
- Global market updates
- Total cost of ownership
- Cost structure benchmarks and analysis
- Supply chain and vendors
- Global supplier breakdown
- Market share concentration
- Regulation and business requirements
- Vendor management and KPIs
- Sourcing strategy guidance
