Fammart journal
Clear stadium bags: the 12 x 6 x 12 rule, explained
At an NFL game you may carry one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus one small bag up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. The logo may sit on one side only, nothing may hide any part of the bag, and your team's own site has the last word for its stadium.
What the NFL clear bag policy allows
In its policy, the NFL writes the limit as 12" x 6" x 12", or 30.5 x 15.25 x 30.5 centimeters, for a bag of clear plastic, vinyl or PVC. Clear backpacks, clear fanny packs and clear cinch bags count as that one bag as long as they fit inside those numbers. Instead of a bag, you may bring a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag, the zipper kind from the kitchen drawer.
On top of the clear bag comes one small bag no larger than 4.5" x 6.5". It does not have to be clear, and it may have a handle or a strap. That is room for a phone, a card and a set of keys, and little else.
Read the policy to the end and two more lines stand out. The league strongly encourages fans not to bring any bags at all, and it tells you to look up your team site, because the rules at a given stadium may differ. Open that page the week of the game, not at the gate.
What counts and what does not
| Item | What the NFL policy says |
|---|---|
| Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag | One, no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 in (30.5 x 15.25 x 30.5 cm) |
| Clear backpack, fanny pack or cinch bag | Counts as the clear bag if it fits 12 x 6 x 12 in |
| One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag | Allowed in place of the clear bag |
| Small bag, clear or not | One, no larger than 4.5 x 6.5 in, with or without a handle or strap |
| Logo | On one side of the bag only |
| Buckles, grommets, hardware or decor | May not conceal any part of the bag |
| Diapers | Can be carried in a clear bag |
| Diaper bags and coolers | Not allowed, except for medical necessity |
| Blanket | May be carried over the shoulder |
Our clear stadium bags are built around the first line of that table. The rest is up to how you dress the bag and what you put in it.
Logos, charms and trim
A bag can measure right and still break the policy on looks. The logo rule is one side only, so a print that wraps around the bag is a problem even when the size is fine. Decor has a stricter line: no buckles, grommets, hardware or decor may conceal any part of the bag.
Before a game, take off the bow, the plush charm and the iron-on patch, or move them to the strap. A sticker or a row of letters across the front panel covers exactly the part a gate check wants to see through. If you are unsure about a strip of trim or a large buckle, your team site is the place to ask, a few days before kickoff.
How to measure a bag in two minutes
Pack the bag first. A soft clear bag bulges once a jacket and a water bottle go in, and the depth you measure empty is not the depth at the gate.
- Stand the bag on a table and measure the length across the widest point of the body.
- Take the depth from front to back at the base, where the bag sits widest.
- Run the tape from the table to the top edge of the bag for the height, with the handles lying flat.
- Compare the three numbers with 12, 6 and 12 inches, in that order.
- Measure the small bag the same way against 4.5 by 6.5 inches.
- Write the numbers on a slip of paper and tuck it into the small bag, so a question at the gate gets an answer in inches.
Depth is the number that catches people out. Six inches is not much, and a stuffed front pocket adds to it. Our clear backpack measures 10.6 by 6 by 12 inches, which puts it right at the depth limit, so keep that front pocket flat.
Length catches the jelly totes. The smaller iridescent tote on our clear and jelly shelf measures 13.8 by 5.1 by 11 inches, and 13.8 runs past the 12-inch limit. At 19 by 8 by 12, its larger sister is a pool bag through and through.
A clear tote for the shoulder
The clear stadium tote measures 12 inches long, 5.3 wide and 11.5 high. It is PVC with nylon, closes with a zipper across the top, and carries a zipper pocket and a front pocket for the phone, wallet, sunglasses and keys. Woven handle straps and a vegan leather trim give it some color. When a drink spills on it, wipe it with a damp cloth.
A clear backpack for the stairs
On stadium stairs, a backpack leaves both hands free for the rail and the food. Ours is clear PVC with a zipper top, a front zipper pocket, two side mesh pockets and padded adjustable shoulder straps, in gray or pink. It is sized for kids from 3 years old and for small adults. Since the side pockets are mesh rather than clear plastic, read your team page on pockets before the first home game.
What to pack for game day
Start from the smallest bag and work out. The 4.5 x 6.5 inch bag takes the phone, a card and the keys, and it can hang from your wrist all afternoon.
- Small bag: phone, ID, one card, keys.
- Clear bag: a light jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen, a team scarf.
- For a baby: diapers in the clear bag, since the NFL lets them ride there but does not allow diaper bags.
- Over the shoulder: a blanket for a cold evening.
- At home: the cooler, unless you need it for a medical reason.
Concerts and festivals run their own bag rules, and the NFL policy covers only NFL stadiums. Look up the venue page before you go, the same way you would for a game. For a beach day with the same tote, our beach bag guide covers sand and sunscreen.
Every product named here belongs to the Fammart collection.
