Branded tote bags: how to choose and brand them
Short answer
For most branded tote bags, a heavier cotton or canvas bag with a screen-printed logo is the best choice: the flat panel takes a large, crisp print and a sturdy bag is more likely to be reused. Embroidery suits heavier canvas and smaller logos. Fabric weight, handle length and a gusset decide whether people actually carry it.
Which branded tote bags to choose.
A thin tote ends up in a drawer. A sturdy one goes to the shops, the gym and the next conference. Choose the bag first, then the print.
- Fabric weight
- Weight in grams per square metre tells you how sturdy the bag is. Westford Mill’s standard Bag for Life is 140 gsm cotton; its organic premium tote is 200 gsm. Heavier cotton and canvas hold their shape, carry more and feel like a gift.
- Organic and recycled cotton
- Organic cotton is grown to organic farming rules; look for certification to a standard such as GOTS, which also covers how the fabric is processed. Recycled cotton and recycled polyester reuse existing fibre. Whichever you choose, the greenest tote is the one that gets used most.
- Canvas
- Heavy canvas is the premium choice: it takes embroidery well, stands up on its own and lasts for years. It costs more and weighs more, so it suits smaller numbers and gifts.
- Handles
- Long handles go over the shoulder, which is what most people want from an everyday tote. Short handles suit a hand-carried shopper. Westford Mill’s Bag for Life, for example, has 67 cm handles.
- Gusset and pockets
- A gusset, the extra panel at the base and sides, turns a flat bag into one that carries a laptop or a food shop. An inside pocket or a zip top makes a tote an everyday bag.
How to brand tote bags: the best decoration methods.
Where the logo goes.
The front panel is the big canvas: a centred logo, a slogan or a full illustration all work. The print area is smaller than the bag, so leave room around the edges and the seams. A small second mark on the back, the gusset or a woven label near the handle is a quieter detail.
Artwork tips for tote bags.
- Send vector artwork. Screens and embroidery files are both made from it, and a big front print shows every rough edge. Send an AI, EPS, PDF or SVG file.
- Use the space. A tote is one of the few products with room for a big design. Bold artwork, a slogan or an illustration often works better than a small logo floating in the middle.
- Mind the weave. Cotton and canvas have texture, so hairlines and tiny text can break up. Keep strokes solid and text readable at arm’s length.
- Light ink on dark bags. White or pale ink on a navy or black bag needs a solid base layer to stay bright. Ask for a proof on the bag colour. We confirm the specification for every order.
Making it last.
Follow the bag’s care label: Westford Mill, for example, marks its Bag for Life and organic tote sponge clean. Don’t iron over the print.
Embroidery and woven patches have no print layer to wear. A heavier bag also keeps its shape, so it still looks good after a year of shopping trips.
Worth knowing
A 2018 Danish Environmental Protection Agency study found a conventional cotton bag must be reused at least 52 times, and an organic cotton bag at least 149 times, to match the climate impact of a basic plastic carrier bag that is reused as a bin bag.
Source: Danish Environmental Protection Agency, “Life Cycle Assessment of grocery carrier bags, Environmental Project no. 1985 (February 2018)”, accessed 6 October 2026. Source 3
When a tote is the right gift.
Events and conferences
A mid-weight printed tote carries everything else people pick up on the day, so it makes a good first thing to hand out at a stand.
Event swagWelcome packs
A heavier canvas or organic cotton tote holds the rest of the kit and goes on to be someone’s everyday bag.
Welcome packsSustainability stories
If the tote is your answer to single-use bags, choose a sturdy one people will use for years, with a certified organic or recycled fabric.
Sustainability
Brief your tote bags order.
Settle these before you order, then take the list to Select or to a call.
Before you order tote bags
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A straightforward order you place yourself: choose your tote bags, add your logo and order online, with UK delivery for now.
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For packed kits, many recipients or delivery outside the UK. We source and brand them, and send them with the rest of your programme.
Start your projectQuestions about branded tote bags.
What weight of cotton is best for a tote bag?
For a giveaway, a standard cotton bag around 140 gsm is fine. For a tote you want people to keep, go heavier: premium cotton totes are around 200 gsm, and canvas is heavier still. The extra weight holds the shape, carries more and makes the print look better.
Screen print or embroidery on a tote?
Screen print for most totes: the flat panel takes a large, crisp design and it suits bold colours. Choose embroidery on heavier canvas when you want a smaller, premium logo with texture. Avoid big areas of stitching on a light cotton bag, because they pucker and add weight.
Are organic cotton tote bags more sustainable?
Not automatically. A 2018 Danish study found organic cotton bags need more reuses than conventional cotton ones to pay back their climate impact. The real test is use: a sturdy tote people carry for years beats any bag left in a drawer.
How big can the print on a tote bag be?
It depends on the bag and the method. As an example, Westford Mill lists a maximum print area of 33 × 36 cm on its 38 × 42 cm Bag for Life. Leave a margin around the seams and handles, and check the area for the specific bag before you finalise the artwork.
Sources
4 sources
- 01Bag for Life, Long Handles (W101) (opens in a new tab) · Westford Mill, accessed 6 October 2026.Back to reference 1
- 02Organic Premium Cotton Tote (W261) (opens in a new tab) · Westford Mill, accessed 6 October 2026.Back to reference 2
- 03Life Cycle Assessment of grocery carrier bags, Environmental Project no. 1985 (February 2018) (opens in a new tab) · Danish Environmental Protection Agency, accessed 6 October 2026.Back to reference 3
- 04The Standard (opens in a new tab) · Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), accessed 6 October 2026.Back to reference 4
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