THE MARKET STANDARD FORMAT
45 kg / 100 lb used clothing bales in Montreal
The reference format for resellers and exporters.
The roughly 45 kg bale — sold commercially as a 100 lb bale — is the most common unit in the second hand clothing trade. This page explains what the format actually contains, how it is handled, who it suits, and how it fits into a volume order prepared in Montreal.
What a 45 kg bale actually means
45 kg is a weight, not a piece count. The bale is machine-compressed and wrapped so it stays stable through handling, stacking and transport. The practical consequence: two bales of identical weight can hold very different quantities. A bale of t-shirts or summer wear holds far more pieces than a bale of coats, jeans or footwear. That is why experienced buyers think in weight and category rather than in advertised piece counts.
Why this format became the standard
The 45 kg / 100 lb bale balances three realities of the trade:
- Handling: a weight that stays manageable with a pallet jack or forklift, without specialised equipment.
- Stacking: a consistent volume that palletises and loads cleanly into a container.
- Assortment: enough goods to judge a category without tying up an entire purchasing budget.
Categories usually requested in 45 kg bales
Women, men, kids and mixed are the four main families. Depending on season and intake, more specific categories may be requested: summer wear, winter wear, jeans, outerwear. Availability is confirmed at the time of enquiry.
Who this format is for
The 45 kg bale serves very different B2B profiles:
- Thrift and second hand stores refreshing their assortment regularly.
- Market and stall vendors buying small quantities frequently.
- Online resellers who sort and photograph piece by piece.
- Exporters building an order of dozens or hundreds of bales.
Volume orders and handling
Past a few bales, logistics becomes a real cost line. We prepare volume orders at our Montreal warehouse: grouping bales by category, palletising where it makes sense, counting and preparing the load. Our fleet (4 × 20-foot trucks and 2 × 53-foot units) covers pickup and delivery across Quebec and Ontario.
International shipping from Montreal
If your order leaves the country, we can arrange container loading and ocean booking from Montreal to the destinations we serve. All of our international departures are from Montreal; the destination port is confirmed before booking.
The reference format for resellers and exporters.
1 BALE
45 KG / 100 LB
10 BALES
≈ 450 KG
50 BALES
≈ 2,250 KG
100 BALES
≈ 4,500 KG
CONTAINER
LOADED IN MONTREAL
Weight equivalents are rounded and indicative only.
FAQ — 45 kg / 100 lb bales
How many pounds is 45 kg exactly?
45 kg is about 99.2 lb, which is why the trade calls it a 100 lb bale. In the used clothing business both terms describe the same format.
How many garments are in a 45 kg bale?
There is no fixed number: it depends on the average weight of the pieces. A bale of lightweight items holds several hundred pieces, while a winter clothing bale holds far fewer. We tell you the exact category so you can estimate your yield.
Can one order mix several categories?
Yes, an order can combine several bale categories subject to availability. It is common among resellers covering multiple sections.
Are the bales sorted?
Sorting level depends on the category and the intake. For each available lot we state what type of goods it is, without promising a grade we cannot guarantee.
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