How Many Fluid Bags Fit in a QED Fluid Warmer?

One of the most common questions we receive is: “How many fluid bags can I store in each warming cabinet?”.

While this may seem like a straightforward query, the answer is dependent on a number of factors, including:

• Size of fluid bag
• Orientation fluid bags are stored
• Basket configuration
• Whether cabinets are filled conservatively or optimistically

With these factors in mind, we've put together this blog post to help you understand and determine which cabinet size might be best for your specific needs.

How To Store Your Fluid bags

Should I Store My Fluid Bags on Shelves or in Baskets?

Before we get into how many fluid bags can be stored in the cabinets, it's first important to establish simply how they should be stored.

It's important to note that if you plan on using your cabinet to store bags of fluid, you should store these in baskets - not on shelves. Storing fluid bags in baskets is important for preventing the outer pouch from blocking the air flow within the cabinet. So, bear this in mind when considering your choice of cabinet.

Whilst shelves come within the QED Fluid Cabinets as standard, they can be configured with baskets. You can learn more about this in our QED Fluid Warmer FAQs.

Optimum Storage Practises

Getting the most out of your fluid warmer starts with smart storage. When placing fluid bags inside, think about their orientation; whether they’re laid lengthways or widthways in the basket can make a difference to how many fluid bags you can fit within the cabinet. For optimum storage, you should store the fluid bags with their length along the basket depth (i.e., bags lying front-to-back) - this is based on an average 1-litre IV bag measuring at 35cm x 11cm x 6cm.

This orientation gives equal or greater capacity for all of our cabinet models except the FW50 and the FW575, where rotating the bags (length across the width) can increase capacity. Of course, this may differ depending on the size of the fluid bags you use.

Airflow is another important consideration. It’s crucial not to overcrowd the cabinet, as this can block circulation, leading to uneven temperatures and slower warming times. A little breathing room between items helps the cabinet do its job efficiently and keeps your fluids at the perfect temperature when you need them. So, load thoughtfully and let the warm air do the work!

How Many Fluid Bags Fit in QED Fluid Warming Cabinets?

Fluid Bags Per Basket

With the aforementioned considerations in mind, let us look at approximately how many fluid bags the QED Fluid Warmers can hold.

Each basket typically holds between 4 and 12 bags, depending on your stacking approach:

• Conservative (1 layer): 4 bags
• Typical working capacity (2.5 layers): 10 bags
• Maximum (3 layers): 12 bags

While it’s tempting to focus on maximum capacity, keep in mind that practicality is key. Overloading - especially near the front, where the basket lip is lower - can cause bags to fall out each time the cabinet door is opened. That’s why the “typical” capacity is more reflective of real-world storage practises: it balances efficiency with safety by layering more bags toward the back and fewer at the front.

Of course, the size of the basket also comes into play. Larger cabinets like the FW575 come with bigger baskets, so will naturally fit even more bags per basket. But remember, these figures are based on standard 1-litre bags measuring around 35cm x 11cm x 6cm, so your actual numbers may vary.

Fluid Bags Per Cabinet

Based on these figures, here's an approximate example of how many fluid bags you could store in some of our most popular QED cabinet models:

Choosing the Right Cabinet for Your Space

Ultimately, while bag count may seem helpful, we recommend focusing on internal dimensions and basket layout when choosing a cabinet. That way, you’ll get a setup that truly fits your workflow - not just your fluid bags.

Need some help? We'll calculate it for you! Simply get in touch with us and and let us know which cabinet models you're interested in, then provide the details of the fluid bags you're looking to store in a warming cabinet (i.e. bag volume, bag size, number of bags) and upon request we'll happily calculate how many of your blankets could be stored in each cabinet model.