Size your tote from what it has to carry. Put the largest item it must hold on a table, add room around it, and that gives you the width and height; add a gusset if the contents have depth, and pick long or short handles depending on whether the bag goes on the shoulder or in the hand.
We do not work from a fixed size list for totes. Bag width, height, gusset and handle length are agreed for each style and confirmed at quotation. That means tote bag sizes and dimensions are yours to decide, and this post gives you a simple way to decide them.
The four measurements
Every tote is defined by four numbers.
| Measurement | What it is | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Width | Side to side across the bag | What fits flat, such as folders or boxes |
| Height | Base to top edge | How deep items sit, and how much the bag holds |
| Gusset | Depth added at the base and sides | Whether bulky items fit and whether the bag stands |
| Handle length | Length of each handle | Shoulder carry or hand carry |
Measure width and height on the bag laid flat. A gusset reduces the flat width and height you see from the front, so if you add one, allow for it when you set the other two.
Start from the contents
Work through these steps for your first order.
- List what the bag will carry. Groceries, books, a laptop, gym kit, a gift box, conference papers.
- Find the largest item. Measure its width, height and depth.
- Add room. Allow space on each side and at the top, so items go in and out easily and the top can be carried without strain.
- Decide on a gusset. If the largest item has real depth, such as a box or a stack of books, a bottom gusset helps. For flat items, a flat tote is simpler and lighter.
- Pick a handle length (see below).
- Compare with a bag you own. Measure a tote you like using and compare it with your plan. It is the quickest way to check the numbers feel right.
Send us these measurements, or simply tell us what the bag will carry and how it will be used, and we suggest a size, fabric and handle style that suit it.
Handle length: shoulder or hand
Handle length decides how the bag is carried.
- Long handles let the bag sit on the shoulder. They suit everyday totes, shopping bags and zip totes carried all day.
- Short handles suit carrying by hand. They keep the bag close and upright, which works for gift and display bags and for heavier loads carried short distances.
When you choose a length, think about the “drop”: how far the top of the bag hangs below the top of the handle when it is carried. Check it with winter clothing in mind if your buyers wear coats, since a thick coat takes up some of that length on the shoulder.
Handle width matters too. Wider handles spread the load on the shoulder or in the hand, which helps when the bag is full.
Size by style
Each of our four styles has its own sizing points.
Canvas and printed totes
These are the most flexible. A larger bag allows a larger print, because the print area depends on the bag size. If the artwork is the main reason to buy, size the bag so the design sits well, with margins around it.
Zip tote
The zip runs along the top opening, so the width sets the zip length. If you add an inner pocket, decide what it should hold, such as a phone or a notebook, and size it to that.
Drawstring bag
Drawstring bags are usually sized for a kit: gym clothes and shoes, a conference pack or a gift set. The cords close the top, so allow some extra height for the gathered opening.
One size or several?
For a first order, one size per style keeps things simple. If you want two sizes of the same bag, for example a small gift tote and a larger shopping tote, tell us at enquiry. Two sizes may be quoted as two styles, because the size changes the build, and we confirm this at quotation. The minimum is 50 pieces per style.
Check the size on the sample
The sample is where the numbers become a real bag. Load it with what it is meant to carry, put it on your shoulder or carry it by hand, and check the gusset, height and handle drop. Our post on choosing fabric for tote bags explains how cotton canvas and jute-cotton change the way a bag of the same size feels and stands.
To plan your order, look at the styles on our white label tote bags page and send us your measurements or a description of what the bag will carry, with the fabric, colours, quantity and artwork.