Tote bag gsm explained

GSM stands for grams per square metre. Cut a piece of the fabric one metre by one metre, weigh it, and that's the gsm. A 150gsm cotton weighs 150 grams per square metre; a 280gsm canvas weighs 280 grams. The heavier the fabric, the more cotton (or jute) is packed into it, so it's thicker, stronger and holds its shape better.

It's the weight of the cloth, not the weight of the finished bag. To give you a feel for it, our Cotton Drawstring Bag is made from 140gsm cotton and weighs about 85g, while the Premium Cotton Drawstring Bag is the same size in 200gsm cotton and weighs about 120g.

What gsm doesn't tell you

GSM is the best single number for comparing bags, but it isn't the whole story:

• Construction matters. Gussets, cross-stitched handles and hemmed seams make a bag stronger at any weight.
• Fibre matters. Recycled and organic cotton can be woven to the same weights as conventional cotton, so check both the gsm and the fibre.
• Jute is different. Jute is a coarse, open weave, so a 340gsm jute bag feels nothing like a 340gsm cotton. Compare jute with jute and cotton with cotton.

The best gsm is the lightest one that does the job, because a heavier bag costs more and uses more cotton. Start with what the bag is for.

Giveaways and events: 140 to 150gsm

If you're handing out hundreds of bags at a conference, a trade show or a freshers fair, a 150gsm bag is the sensible choice. It's light to post and carry in bulk, folds small, and takes a clean one or two colour print. This is where most promotional bags sit, including our Recycled Cotton Tote Bag and Cotton Tote Bag Long Handle. They'll carry a light shop or an armful of brochures, but they won't stand up on their own.

Bags you want kept: 200 to 220gsm

Step up to around 200gsm and the bag feels different straight away: thicker, smoother and less see-through. It's the right weight for staff gifts, welcome packs and bags you'd like people to use for years. The Premium Cotton Maxi Tote Bag and Premium Organic Cotton Wave Tote Bag also have a gusseted base, so they hold more. The Premium Recycled Canvas Stand Up Tote is 220gsm with a coating that helps it stand upright while you pack it.

Retail, merch and heavy use: 280gsm and up

This is canvas: still cotton, just woven heavier. A 280gsm bag holds its shape when packed, carries books and bottles without sagging, and feels like something worth paying for. At 340 to 407gsm, our heaviest canvas totes feel stiff and substantial, like a bag from a good shop. Choose canvas if you're selling the bags, using them as a bag for life in a shop, or printing merch. See our canvas bags and premium tote bags for the full range.

Jute: 340gsm and up

Jute bags are heavy because jute is a thick, coarse fibre. Our jute bags are gusseted and structured, and most are laminated inside for strength. They suit food and drink, farm shops and wedding bags. There's more on the differences in cotton vs jute vs canvas.

We screen print in 1 to 4 spot colours on every weight in our range, and a bold logo looks good on all of them. The difference shows in the detail. Heavier fabric has a denser, smoother surface, so fine lines and small text print crisper on a 200gsm cotton or a 280gsm canvas than on a light 150gsm shopper. Jute's coarse weave is best with bold, simple shapes.

If your design has fine detail, go for 200gsm or above. If it's a simple logo in one or two colours, 150gsm does the job well. If you're printing on a black or coloured bag, our guide to printing on dark bags explains what to expect.

Weight also affects price. A heavier bag costs more to buy, and the print costs the same whatever the weight, so the step from 150gsm to 280gsm is mostly the cost of the bag itself. Each bag's page shows the live price at every quantity.