Shops and boutiques
Retail shopping bags
Your shop bag carries your name down the high street after every sale. We print cotton, canvas and jute shopping bags with your logo in Leeds, and quote logo-printed paper carrier bags by hand. There's no fixed minimum, so a small boutique can start with a modest first run.
Paper or fabric?
Most shops end up with both: paper for everyday sales, and a printed fabric bag to give with bigger purchases or sell at the till.
| Paper carrier bags | Cotton, canvas and jute bags | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Handing over with every sale | Bags customers keep, sold at the till or given with bigger purchases |
| Styles | Twisted handle, flat handle, luxury rope handle and laminated | Cotton totes, canvas totes, jute bags and mini totes |
| Printing | Your logo on the bag, with finishes such as foil quoted on request | 1 to 4 spot colours, on one or both sides |
| How long it lasts | A few trips | Years, if it's a bag people like |
| Uses to match a single-use plastic bag on climate impact | 3 (Environment Agency, 2011) | 131 for cotton (Environment Agency, 2011) |
| How to order | Quoted by hand, with no fixed minimum | Live prices on every bag, with no fixed minimum |
The Environment Agency figures compare each bag with a single-use plastic carrier used once. More in our guide: are tote bags sustainable?
Fabric bags shops choose
From a mini tote for jewellery and cards to a jute bag for the deli counter, each printed with your logo in 1 to 4 colours.
Mini Cotton Tote Bag
Printed from £1.20 +VAT
Sample £0.58 +VAT
Available colours
BlackNaturalOrangeWhiteFrench Navy
Cotton Tote Bag Short Handle
Printed from £1.38 +VAT
Sample £0.73 +VAT
Available colours
BlackNaturalWhiteFrench NavyGraphite Grey
Cotton Tote Bag Contrast Handle
Printed from £1.54 +VAT
Sample £0.87 +VAT
Available colours
Natural-BlackNatural-FuchsiaNatural-Lime GreenNatural-French NavyNatural-Classic Red
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
Premium Cotton Maxi Tote Bag
Printed from £2.08 +VAT
Sample £1.32 +VAT
Available colours
BlackNaturalWhiteFrench NavyGraphite Grey
Recycled Cotton Drawstring Stuff Bag
Printed from £1.90 +VAT
Sample £1.17 +VAT
Available colours
BlackNatural
Paper bags for every sale
Paper is still the everyday carrier for most shops: light, quick to hand over and printed with your logo. We print twisted handle, flat handle, luxury rope handle and laminated paper bags.
Paper bags are quoted by hand, because size, paper and finish change the price more than they do for fabric. There's no fixed minimum. Use the form at the bottom of this page and we'll email you a written price.
Selling a bag for life
Since 2015, sales of single-use carrier bags at the main retailers in England have fallen by more than 97% (gov.uk). Customers now expect to bring a bag or buy one, which makes a printed tote at the till a small product in its own right.
A bag people pay for has to be one they're happy to be seen with. Pick a bag colour that suits your shop, keep the design bold, and price it to cover its cost with a margin. Our merch tote bags page covers bags made to sell.
Whether you charge for paper bags is a separate question, and the rules differ across the UK. Our carrier bag charge guide explains them.
Match the bag to what you sell
- Jewellery, cards and cosmetics: the Mini Cotton Tote Bag (26 x 32.5 cm), or a small drawstring stuff bag as packaging.
- Clothes, books and gifts: a standard tote of about 38 x 42 cm, such as the Recycled Cotton Marl Tote Bag.
- Boxes, bottles and deli shopping: a gusseted bag that stands open, such as the Boutique Jute Bag (36 x 41 x 17 cm).
- Bigger buys: the Premium Cotton Maxi Tote Bag holds 18 litres and has a gusseted base.
- Still not sure? Our bag sizes guide draws every bag to scale.
Ideas for shop bags
Premium Recycled Cotton Tote Bag for a bookshop. 
Recycled Cotton Marl Tote Bag in red marl. 
Boutique Jute Bag, printed in one colour.
Questions people ask
Do I have to charge customers for bags?
It depends on the bag and on where your shop is. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own carrier bag charge, so check the current rules for your nation. In England the charge has been 10p since May 2021. Our carrier bag charge guide explains how it works.
What is the minimum order for printed shop bags?
There is no fixed minimum. Prices on each fabric bag's page start from 25, and you can type any quantity. Paper bags are quoted by hand, also with no fixed minimum. More on small runs.
Can you match our brand colours?
Yes. We match to your file, or to Pantone references if you give them. We print in 1 to 4 spot colours, and each colour is printed as its own ink.
How quickly can I restock?
Standard turnaround is 7 to 10 working days from approved artwork. Bags in our express range can be printed and delivered from the next working day, up to 500 of each bag, which helps when a busy weekend empties the shelf.
Can I see a bag before I order?
Yes. You can order an unprinted sample of any fabric bag from its page, and sample postage is a small fixed charge.
Can I sell the bags in my shop?
Yes, and plenty of shops do. A heavier canvas or organic bag feels worth paying for. See our merch tote bags for bags made to sell.
Get a price for paper bags
Tell us the style, size and quantity and we'll email you a written price. Fabric bags have live prices on each bag's page.
- A written price by email, with no obligation
- A free check of your artwork
- A proof to approve before anything is printed