Choosing BOS Disposal Bags: Size, Gussets and Room for a Knot

Choose a BOS disposal bag for the item you need to discard, then check its dimensions and gusset. The contents must fit with enough room left to tie the opening. An S label, a diaper illustration or pink packaging cannot answer all of those questions.

I’m Irene, a Taiwan-born, Japan-licensed pharmacist working in a Japanese drugstore. This guide explains Japanese product labels so you can check whether a product suits your needs before buying.

Official information checked October 23, 2026 (Japan time). The examples below are two ordinary BOS packs, not a complete size chart. No hands-on capacity or odour test was performed.

Start with the brand and three Japanese label words

Look for the BOS logo. A bag marketed as odour-resistant is not necessarily BOS, and pink is not a brand identifier. Then check サイズ (size), マチ (gusset or expandable fold) and 枚 (number of bags).

The manufacturer says ordinary BOS products have the same odour-barrier performance across use categories and bag colours. Baby, pet or adult-care packaging can help you find a product, but it is not a performance ranking. BOS＋ is a separate range and is outside this comparison.

Two packs marked S, with different specifications

The second product is named どこでも臭わない袋BOS. This is a BOS-SHOP-exclusive set, not a promise of availability at every drugstore. Ten bags × twelve packs does not mean 120 bags in each small pack. Pink and black describe the bags, not the outer packaging.

S is not one universal measurement across packs. If the packaging differs, read that product’s dimensions, gusset and count instead of relying on the box you bought last time.

Check the fit after allowing for closure

1. Consider the whole item as it will be discarded. Include any wrapping around a diaper or sanitary item. A diaper’s S or M size does not map directly to the bag’s letter size.
2. Do not treat the stated length as usable filling height. The contents occupy three-dimensional space and the opening needs room for a knot. A gusset alone does not guarantee a fit.
3. Choose another suitable size rather than forcing the contents in. Avoid stretching the film or filling to the opening. This guide does not convert flat dimensions into litres or promise a number of diapers per bag.

For a short outing, consider whether a small pack fits conveniently in your day bag. For routine home use, decide where a box will sit. These are practical packaging choices, not tested capacity or value-for-money rankings.

Tie ordinary BOS as directed; do not copy BOS＋ clipping methods

The manufacturer describes temporary clipping for some BOS＋ products, while warning that clips may damage the thinner ordinary BOS film. Follow the instructions for the pack you bought: ordinary BOS is filled and tied. Do not transfer closure demonstrations between ranges.

Limits that still apply

• An odour barrier is not a promise of zero smell. Damage, contamination above the knot and the surrounding conditions can affect odour.
• Sharp or protruding objects can tear the film; liquids may seep out. Do not use the bag as a leakproof liquid container.
• Keep bags away from fire, heat and children. They pose a suffocation risk. Do not microwave them or use them to heat food in hot water.
• Follow local waste rules and your accommodation’s instructions for rubbish and diapers. A disposal bag does not make every bin suitable.

A quick checkout check

BOS logo → exact dimensions and gusset → room for a knot → bags per pack and packs per set. Choose a specification you can use correctly before deciding which packaging is most convenient.

Official sources

• BOS: product questions, use and precautions
• BOS: official specifications for the two S-size examples
• Manufacturer-run BOS-SHOP: pink S, 200 bags (BOS-2047A)
• Manufacturer-run BOS-SHOP: black S, 10 bags × 12 packs (BOS-1452)