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Tote bag GSM and size guide: what to specify before a bulk order
A vague request gets a vague quote. "Cotton tote bags, 5,000 pieces" can mean a thin giveaway bag or a heavy retail one, and the two differ in cost, strength and shipping weight. If you give a supplier five specifications, you get a quote you can compare and a sample that matches what you pictured. Here is what each one means.
1. Fabric weight (GSM)
GSM stands for grams per square metre. It measures how heavy the fabric is, and therefore how thick and strong. Canvas is often quoted in ounces per square yard instead. A quick conversion: 1 oz per square yard is about 34 GSM, so 10 oz is roughly 340 GSM and 12 oz is roughly 400 GSM.
| Use | Cotton / canvas weight to ask for |
|---|---|
| Giveaway, light items, short life | 100 to 150 GSM cotton |
| Retail and promotion, everyday use | 180 to 250 GSM cotton or light canvas |
| Books, bottles, groceries, long life | 300 GSM and above, or 10 to 12 oz canvas |
| Heavy duty, premium retail | 12 to 16 oz canvas |
Higher GSM means a stiffer, stronger, longer-lasting bag, and also a heavier carton. Lower GSM drapes and folds small, but the handles carry less. Neither is better; match it to the job. (For jute, weights run around 250 to 450 GSM, with the stiffness coming from the fibre itself.)
2. Size
Always give three numbers in inches or centimetres: width x height x gusset. The gusset is the depth of the base. A bag with no gusset is flat and carries paper and light items. A 4 to 6 inch gusset lets it hold bottles, boxes and shopping.
Common starting points buyers use:
- Small, 8 x 10 in: gifts, samples, favours
- Standard, 12 x 14 in: promotions, everyday use
- Wide, 14 x 12 or 16 x 14 in: retail, events
- Large, 14 x 18 in: books, grocery, market
- Extra wide, 18 x 14 in: big shop, beach, bulk carry
If you already have a bag you like, send its measurements or a photo with a ruler beside it. Any size can be made to your drawing.
3. Handles
Three things matter: length, width and how they are attached. Short handles (around 8 to 10 in) are carried by hand; long handles (22 in or more) go on the shoulder. Wider flat handles are more comfortable under load. For the join, ask for reinforced stitching (box or cross stitch). It is the most common failure point on a cheap tote, and the cheapest to fix at order time.
4. Print
Tell us the method you expect and the number of colours. Screen print suits bold logos and large runs. Heat transfer suits detailed or multi-colour artwork. Embroidery suits premium bags and small logos. Give the print size and position (for example 10 x 10 in, centred, 3 in from the top). Send artwork as a vector file (PDF or AI) where you can. Whatever you send is reproduced as supplied; we do not redraw or recolour it.
5. Extras
Inside pocket, zip closure, lining, snap or button closure, woven neck label, care label. Each one changes the quote, so list every one you want rather than adding them later.
What to put in your quote request
Copy this into the form or a message:
- Quantity (and whether you want split sizes or colours)
- Fabric and weight (or the use, and we recommend one)
- Size: width x height x gusset
- Handle length and width
- Print method, colours, size, position, and artwork file
- Extras: pocket, zip, lining, labels
- Delivery destination, and any deadline
With these seven items, the quote is specific, the sample matches, and the bulk run does not surprise you.
Ready to send yours? Request a bulk quote, or browse cotton and canvas styles first.
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