What Are Tyvek Envelopes And Why Should You Use Them? A Brief Guide to Shipping Important Documents

Worried about whether that insurance policy you're shipping over to your client will arrive in one piece? Or maybe it's a physical copy of the contract you and a new partner have just signed recently?
Shipping envelopes come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. However, for businesses and organizations that have to ship important files, documents, or catalogs, it's not enough to just settle for just any shipping envelope.
As much as possible, the documents you want to send off should be safe and secure. So they have to be completely protected from damage, tears, or moisture. After all, the last thing you want to happen is for those documents to be compromised during transit.
Thankfully, that's where Tyvek envelopes can best serve that purpose.

What Are Tyvek Envelopes Made Of?
Tyvek is a brand of nonwoven high-density polyethylene fibers trademarked, developed, and manufactured by American multinational chemical company DuPont.
These high-density polyethylene fibers make Tyvek incredibly durable, giving them special properties such as being difficult to tear but easy to cut. This makes them ideal packaging material, protecting parcels from damage during transit while also making it easy for recipients to open.
Are Tyvek Envelopes Waterproof?
Yes, Tyvek is moisture-resistant, making it both water resistant and waterproof against liquids. Tyvek can also allow water vapor and moisture to escape, making them a versatile material that's ideal for other applications as well.
Those other applications include being used as housewrap, which is a weather-resistant barrier that prevents rain from seeping into a structure's walls while also allowing water vapor to escape and pass through to the exterior.
Tyvek is also chemical resistant and isn't affected by most acids, bases, and salts, ensuring that your documents are well-protected not just from rain but from some harmful chemicals as well.
What Are The Benefits of Tyvek Envelopes?
The use of Tyvek envelopes has a couple of benefits for both the mailers, the couriers, as well as the recipients.
- Lightweight–Has a high strength-to-weight ratio and is considered one of the lightest mailing options
- Resistant to tearing and puncturing
- But still easily cut and opened with scissors
- Heat-resistant–Though not entirely fire resistant and still combustible, Tyvek can endure temperatures up to +118°C.
- Recyclable–Though on the surface it resembles paper, Tyvek is actually plastic. This makes 100% recyclable to be used in the production of other useful objects and materials.
- Printable–Their paper-like structure allows them to printed on and used as tags, labels, and envelopes.
What Are the Sizes of Tyvek Envelopes?
Tyvek envelopes come in different sizes to suit different-sized documents and parcels. There are several readily-available sizes that are usually available in retail stores.
At the same time, Tyvek is also able to manufacture custom-sized envelopes for direct mail, if you have specific needs and measurements that are not available amongst the retail store sizes.
If you choose to order Tyvek envelopes and catalogs from us, we have them available in about 150 sizes, including the following:
Tyvek Catalog Sizes
- 5 1/2 x 7 1/2
- 7 x 10
- 9 x 12
- 10 x 13
Tyvek Catalog Expansion Sizes
- 9 x 12 x 12
- 10 x 12 x 3
- 10 x 15 x 2
- 12 x 16 x 4
We also have other Tyvek commercial envelopes, catalogs, booklets, and catalog tamper clear envelopes available for you to check out and browse through on our website.
Are Tyvek Envelopes Customizable?
Yes, Tyvek envelopes can be customizable both in terms of the sizes that you need or require, or in terms of their color and printing options. If you want your Tyvek envelopes to come with your own unique branding, for example, that is possible.
It's also possible for you or your organization to do the branding yourself, as Tyvek is a printable material.
When Should Tyvek Be Used?
Tyvek envelopes are perfect for businesses and organizations that tend to carry, send, and accumulate a lot of sensitive documents. So whether you're a law firm, an insurance agency, or a fledgling tech company, Tyvek envelopes are the perfect solution for shipping and sending important documents to your customers and clients.
Mainly, you want to make use of Tyvek envelopes if you're prioritizing any of the following:
- Security
- Confidentiality
- Durability

How Are Tyvek Envelopes Different From Other Mailers?
There are, of course, other options for mailing envelopes besides Tyvek, but how do they differ and compare to it?
ARMOR-Pac Envelopes–These envelopes are probably next in your line of choices if you're unable to find any Tyvek envelopes. Armor-Pac envelopes are tear and water resistant, but they don't have the interior padding that Tyvek has to further protect your documents.
Poly Mailers–Another polyethylene type of envelope. Poly mailers come in much the same sizes as Tyvek envelopes. They're also durable and moisture resistant, but not as much as Tyvek envelopes.
Kraft Paper–Most often used for mailing letters, kraft paper envelopes are not as durable and water resistant. Not to mention, they also weigh more than Tyvek envelopes.
Tri-Brite Envelopes–another paper-based envelope, Tri-Brite's biggest advantage over Tyvek is that they're more suited for laser printing. This is because laser printing makes use of heat, which has a chance of deforming a Tyvek envelope.
Use Tyvek Envelopes To Ship Your Documents
That said, in choosing the right type of packaging for those important and sensitive documents, you want to make sure that they're as secure as can be. And while other types of packaging and envelopes can get the job done, you want to be able to give your clients that extra level of care and attention.
That’s why you can’t go wrong with choosing the most durable, secure, and water resistant packaging to get those documents and catalogs to your customers and clients.
If you're having trouble looking for Tyvek envelopes at your local retailer, or you want to lessen the hassle of visiting a store and putting in an order, you can browse through our available selection and place an order through our website.