Retail guide
The carrier bag charge
In England, the charge for a single-use carrier bag has been 10p since May 2021, and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own charge. The rules differ between nations and can change, so check the current rules for your nation before you set your bag prices. This guide covers the facts, where to check, and where printed reusable bags fit in.
6 min read · Updated 24 September 2026
The charge in numbers
- The single-use carrier bag charge in England since May 2021
- 10p
- gov.uk
- Fall in carrier bag sales at the main retailers since 2015
- 97%+
- gov.uk
- Uses a paper bag needs to match the climate impact of a single-use plastic bag used once
- 3
- Environment Agency, 2011
- Uses a cotton bag needs to match it
- 131
- Environment Agency, 2011
What the charge is
The single-use carrier bag charge, often called the plastic bag charge or the 10p bag charge, is a charge for a single-use carrier bag at the till. The idea is simple: when a bag costs something, people bring their own.
It has worked. In England the charge has been 10p since May 2021, and according to gov.uk, sales of single-use carrier bags at the main retailers have fallen by more than 97% since 2015.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each set their own charge, under their own rules. So the amount, the bags it covers and any exemptions depend on where your shop is. We can't give legal advice, and the rules change from time to time, so the best thing we can do is point you to the official sources.
Where to check the rules
Check the current rules for your nation on its government website before you set your prices.
| Nation | Where to check | What to look up |
|---|---|---|
| England | gov.uk | The current charge (10p since May 2021), which bags it covers, any exemptions, and any records you need to keep |
| Scotland | gov.scot | The current charge in Scotland, whether it covers paper bags as well as plastic, and any exemptions |
| Wales | gov.wales | The current charge in Wales, which bags it covers, and any exemptions |
| Northern Ireland | nidirect | The current charge in Northern Ireland, which bags it covers, and any exemptions |
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Always check the current rules for your nation.
Questions to answer before you set your bag prices
Take these to the official guidance for your nation.
- Which bags does the charge cover where you trade: plastic only, or paper as well?
- What is the current amount you must charge?
- Does the charge apply to every size of business?
- Are any bags, or any kinds of goods, exempt?
- Do you need to keep records of the bags you sell, or of what happens to the money?
- How do the rules treat a reusable bag that you sell, rather than give away?
Paper, cotton or plastic: what should you offer?
Once a bag costs money at the till, many shops ask whether they should switch to paper, or sell a reusable bag of their own. The honest answer is that no bag is green just because of what it's made of. What matters is how many times it gets used.
The Environment Agency's 2011 study compared bags by climate impact. To match a single-use plastic carrier bag used once, a paper bag needs 3 uses, a thick plastic bag for life 4, a woven polypropylene bag 11 and a cotton bag 131. The cotton figure rises to 327 if the plastic bag would have been reused as a bin liner. A later study by the Danish EPA in 2018 put the figure for a conventional cotton bag at about 7,100 uses across all impact categories.
For a shop, that points to two sensible choices:
- For one-off purchases, a good paper bag. A sturdy printed paper bag carries your name out of the door and is likely to be used more than once. We print twisted handle, flat handle, luxury kraft and laminated paper bags, all quoted by hand with no fixed minimum.
- For regulars, a reusable bag worth keeping. A printed cotton or canvas bag that people like will be used for years, which is exactly what the figures reward. Make it good enough to keep: a strong fabric, long handles and a design people are happy to carry.
There's more on the numbers in our guide to whether tote bags are sustainable, and a look back at the charge in ten years of the carrier bag charge.
Selling your own bag for life
Lots of independent shops keep a stack of printed tote bags by the till. Customers who forgot their own bag buy one instead of a paper bag, and then carry your name around town every time they use it.
Some things to think about:
- Pick a bag you'd use yourself. A 150gsm shopper is fine for a first bag. A heavier canvas bag feels worth paying for and lasts longer.
- Keep the print simple. One or two colours keeps the cost down and usually looks smarter.
- Order enough. Bigger runs cost less per bag, so it pays to think a season ahead.
- Check the rules for how reusable bags you sell are treated where you trade.
Our retail shopping bags page has more ideas for shops, and our lowest-price bag is a good place to start if you're giving them away.
Reusable bags for shops
From a low-cost shopper to heavyweight canvas, with live printed prices.
Recycled Cotton Tote Bag
Printed from £1.22 +VAT
Sample £0.60 +VAT
Available colours
BlackNaturalOrangePurpleWhiteNavyplus 6 more colours
Cotton Tote Bag Long Handle
Printed from £1.42 +VAT
Sample £0.77 +VAT
Available colours
BlackBottle GreenBurgundyCornflower BlueCranberryKelly Greenplus 42 more colours
Recycled Cotton Marl Tote Bag
Printed from £1.28 +VAT
Sample £1.50 +VAT
Available colours
NaturalGreen MarlOrange MarlRoyal MarlRed MarlSky Blue Marlplus 2 more colours
Premium Recycled Cotton Tote Bag
Printed from £1.64 +VAT
Sample £0.95 +VAT
Available colours
BlackNatural
Recycled Canvas Tote Bag
Printed from £1.76 +VAT
Sample £1.05 +VAT
Available colours
BlackFrench Dark NavyNaturalWhiteSandRose
Questions people ask
How much is the carrier bag charge in the UK?
In England, the charge for a single-use carrier bag has been 10p since May 2021. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own charge. Check the current rules for your nation on gov.uk, gov.scot, gov.wales or nidirect.
Do small businesses have to charge for carrier bags?
The rules on which businesses must charge are set by each nation, and they have changed over the years. Check the current rules for your nation on its government website before you decide.
Do shops have to charge for paper bags?
It depends on where you trade, because each nation sets its own rules on which bags the charge covers. Check the current rules for your nation.
Has the carrier bag charge worked?
Yes. According to gov.uk, sales of single-use carrier bags at the main retailers in England have fallen by more than 97% since 2015.
Is a paper bag better for the environment than plastic?
On climate impact, only if it's used at least three times. The Environment Agency's 2011 study found a paper bag needs 3 uses to match the climate impact of a single-use plastic bag used once. A cotton bag needs 131 uses, so it pays to give people a bag they'll keep.
Can you print my logo on paper carrier bags?
Yes. We print logos on twisted handle, flat handle, luxury kraft and laminated paper bags. They're quoted by hand, with no fixed minimum. See our paper bags.
Thinking of changing your shop's bags?
Tell us what you sell and roughly how many bags you get through, and we'll suggest paper or fabric bags to suit.