Pouches are laminating supplies which are used with a laminator to create durable ID Cards, or protect business cards, certificates, restaurant menus, leaflets, tags, and photos, as well as many other printed items. Pouches are usually sealed on one side during production, and the inside of the top and bottom layers are coated with a heat or pressure-activated adhesive film to bond the printed item to the pouch substrate. Once the printed item is inserted into the pouch, the product is passed through a laminator.

For heat lamination, the pouch/printed item is usually inserted between carrier sheets which prevent the plastic from sticking inside the machine. The heated rollers then ensure the adhesive layers bond to each other as the item passes between them to create a completely sealed and waterproof product. Pouches are available in various thicknesses, quality, styles and sizes, including advanced features such as magnetic stripes, pressure-sensitive adhesive backs, security coatings, barcode masks and pre-punched slots or holes.

The thickness of laminate is often referred to in the Imperial measurement of milli-inches (0.001 inch) or mils or in the metric system in micrometers or thousandth of a millimetre.  For reference, a credit card thickness is usually 0.030", 30 mils or 0.76 millimetres.  Below is a table of the standard thickness laminate, although some sizes may be available in extra light-duty 3 mil.

In general, increased thickness and size of laminate increases the cost.  Many of the available sizes are listed below.

The picture below illustrates some of the laminate sizes that are available.

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