Bosch vacuum bags
Bosch's mainstream cylinder vacuums, including the GL-30, GL-40 and Ergomaxx ranges, share the same Type G bag family with sister brand Siemens, which simplifies sourcing but also means the wrong Type is easy to buy if you shop by model number alone.
How to identify your Bosch model
The model number sits on a plate on the underside of the cylinder body and normally begins with BGL, BGS or BSG followed by digits. Bosch also prints the bag type on a sticker inside the dust compartment lid, which is the quickest place to look before ordering anything.
Bosch's mainstream cylinder range uses the Type G family, and the family is deliberately backward compatible: bags sold as Type G, G ALL, GXL and GXXL are built to the same collar so that a machine from one year takes a bag bought several years later.
Bags for Bosch machines
Each reference below has its own page on this site with the full list of machines it fits, the fitting steps and the mistakes that cost people a pack of bags.
| Bag reference | Fits | Capacity | Bags per box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch/Siemens Type G (BBZ52AFG2U / VZ52AFG2U family) | Bosch GL-30, GL-40 and Ergomaxx cylinder ranges; Siemens VSZ and Q-series cylinder ranges built on the same platform | 4 litres | 4 bags plus a micro-hygiene filter (standard retail pack) |
Where Bosch owners go wrong
- Assuming a bagless Bosch model takes a bag because an older machine in the same range did. Check the compartment: if there is a clear bin rather than a bag holder, no bag reference applies.
- Buying by machine range name rather than by the Type printed inside the lid. The range names changed more often than the bag standard did.
- Overlooking the sister brand. A Siemens bag of the same Type is the same bag, and is sometimes the cheaper of the two on the same shelf.
When to change the bag
Bosch cylinders have a bag-full indicator in the window on the top of the body, and it is honest as long as the hose is clear. If it shows full immediately after a bag change, check the hose and the inlet for a blockage rather than fitting another new bag.
Bosch bags: common questions
Is Type G the same as Type G ALL?
For fitting purposes, yes. The suffixes mark filtration grades and pack contents rather than a different collar shape.
Can I fit a Siemens bag in my Bosch?
Yes, where both are the same Type. The two brands share the cylinder platform and the bag standard.
What if my machine is older than the Type G standard?
Read the sticker inside the lid. Older Bosch cylinders used earlier type letters and those are not interchangeable with Type G.