How big is a regular sack and how much can it hold?

[Mars Ultor]

The PHB says a sack is made of burlap or something similar but doesn't mention a size or how much it can hold. The description for a Bag of Holding says it appears to be a common cloth sack 2-feet wide by 4-feet long. I expect that ordinary sacks and the Bag of Holding look essentially the same and are pretty much around the same dimensions.

How much can an ordinary sack hold? Presumably you can fit more coins than the bag can actually hold without ripping, so what's the everyday carrying capacity of a typical sack?

I tried using 5E as a reference but the description of that edition's Bag of Holding and the stats given for an ordinary sack aren't comparable.

[Buufreak]

I've always thought of it like a common schoolkid backpack. Given the dimensions, I can't speak well of weight, but 4 long and 2 deep gives roughly 8 cubic feet, if it was roughly a foot wide.

[Thurbane]

Interesting question. Seems to have been asked before, but no RAW answer anyone could find.

D&D 101: Backpack vs. Sack (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?221095)

Container Capacity (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?402967)

Maximum Coin Carry capacity? (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?561302)

Someone referenced the 2E rules, if that helps?


I am way late into the conversation and my info is 2nd ed. BUT what they heck, why not.

A small sack was 200 coins of weight (20 pounds), backpack was 400 cns (40 lbs.) and large sack was 600 cns (60 lbs)

Balance that with the info that everyone else mentioned of the ease to carry things and I think you can see why the backpack is a good idea.

Though the Mule or Cart is an excellent idea.

[Maat Mons]

These guys (https://www.uline.com/BL_227/Burlap-Bags) rate all the bags they sell for 50 pounds, regardless of size.

[Mars Ultor]

I've always thought of it like a common schoolkid backpack. Given the dimensions, I can't speak well of weight, but 4 long and 2 deep gives roughly 8 cubic feet, if it was roughly a foot wide.

The description of a sack makes it seem more like a Santa bag with a drawstring.

[Mars Ultor]

Interesting question. Seems to have been asked before, but no RAW answer anyone could find.

It's strange, carrying gold is an issue from the first adventure. I think many DMs just give out Bag's of Holding and forget about it.

Thank you for the links.

[Mars Ultor]

These guys (https://www.uline.com/BL_227/Burlap-Bags) rate all the bags they sell for 50 pounds, regardless of size.

Unfortunately, the weights aren't carrying capacity, they're the weight per bundle of bags. Thank you though.

[Maat Mons]

If you click the link for any particular size of bag, and then open up "Additional Info," you do get carrying capacity. It's 50 pounds for every size of bag that I've checked.

[Elkad]

It's strange, carrying gold is an issue from the first adventure. I think many DMs just give out Bag's of Holding and forget about it.

Thank you for the links.

My latest table I broke extra/non dimensional storage as part of the world setup. Party has to figure out how to carry everything.

[Mars Ultor]

If you click the link for any particular size of bag, and then open up "Additional Info," you do get carrying capacity. It's 50 pounds for every size of bag that I've checked.

I see that now, thanks. I found a couple of sites that sell bags meant for agricultural use, those bags are about 2' x 3-1/2' and one kind holds 100 lb., the other is meant for coffee beans and holds about 160 lb.

The 50 lb. and 100 lb. bags are both a bit more than a half-pound each, which is the weight in the PHB. I'm thinking I'll say the sacks have a 75 lb. weight limit.