What Is a Tote Bag? Types, Sizes and Why Businesses Brand Them
A tote bag is a large open-topped bag with two parallel handles. Learn its parts, types, common sizes, how it differs from other bags, its drawbacks and why businesses brand...
A tote bag is a large, open-topped bag with two parallel handles, usually made from a strong fabric such as cotton canvas, jute or non-woven polypropylene. It has one main compartment and is carried in the hand or over the shoulder. Businesses brand tote bags because people reuse them every day for shopping, work and events.
Key takeaways
- A tote is defined by its open top, two parallel handles and a simple single compartment. Most have no zip or flap.
- The word "tote" means "to carry". Merriam-Webster dates the first known use of "tote bag" to 1900.
- Totes come flat (no gusset) or gusseted (box-shaped). The gusset decides whether the bag stands up and how much it holds.
- Common materials are cotton, canvas, jute, non-woven polypropylene, recycled PET and felt. Each prints and wears differently.
- Australia's bans on lightweight plastic shopping bags have made reusable totes an everyday item, which is why they work well as branded merchandise.
What does "tote bag" mean?
Merriam-Webster defines a tote bag as "a large 2-handled open-topped bag (as of canvas)" and gives 1900 as the first known use of the term (Merriam-Webster). The verb "tote" is older. It is a colloquial North American word meaning to carry, especially something heavy, first recorded in Virginia in 1677. Its origin is uncertain (Wikipedia, Tote bag).
In everyday Australian English, "tote", "tote bag", "canvas bag", "calico bag" and "shopping bag" are often used for the same thing. Strictly speaking, a tote is a style, not a material. A jute tote, a canvas tote and a non-woven tote are all totes because they share the same open top and two-handle shape.
What are the parts of a tote bag?
Knowing the parts makes it much easier to compare bags and write a clear brief for a supplier. A tote has five main parts.
| Part | What it is | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Body panels | The front and back faces of the bag | This is the main print area. A flat, unbroken panel gives the cleanest logo. |
| Handles (straps) | Two parallel straps sewn to the top edge | Short handles are for hand carry. Long handles go over the shoulder. How they are stitched decides how much weight the bag can take. |
| Gusset | An extra panel at the sides and/or base | It lets the bag expand into a box shape, stand up and carry bulky items. Without a gusset, the bag is flat. |
| Base | The bottom of the bag, sometimes reinforced | A flat, squared base keeps bottles, boxes and groceries upright. |
| Opening and trims | The open top, and any zip, press stud, pocket or lining | Most totes are open. Closures and pockets add cost but make the bag more useful for work and travel. |
What types of tote bags are there?
Totes vary in material, construction and purpose. These are the types Australian businesses ask about most.
By construction
- Flat tote: two panels sewn together with no gusset. It is light, folds flat, posts cheaply and has the largest print area. It suits documents, conference programs and samples.
- Gusseted tote: side and/or base gussets give a box shape. It stands up, holds groceries, wine and boxed items, and looks more premium.
- Foldable tote: thin fabric that folds into its own pouch. It suits keeping in a handbag or glovebox.
- Zip or lined tote: a tote with a closure and lining, used for work, laptops and travel.
By material
- Cotton and calico: soft, light and natural-looking. Calico is unbleached cotton.
- Canvas: heavier, tightly woven cotton that holds its shape.
- Jute (hessian or burlap): coarse plant fibre that is stiff and rustic.
- Non-woven polypropylene: plastic fibres bonded by heat. It is light and low cost.
- Recycled PET: fabric spun from recycled plastic bottles, often foldable.
- Felt: thick, pressed fibres that suit structured office bags.
Our complete guide to custom tote bags compares each material on fabric weight, print methods and uses in detail.
What is a normal size for a tote bag?
There is no official standard size for tote bags, but most fall into three practical bands. Use the largest item the bag needs to hold as your guide. An A4 sheet measures 210 x 297 mm, so any bag for documents must be comfortably larger than that.
| Size band | Roughly fits | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Small | A book, a lunch container, a small gift | Retail purchases, gift packaging, small giveaways |
| Medium (the most common promotional size) | A4 folders, a notebook and drink bottle, a light shopping load | Conferences, events, everyday shopping, welcome kits |
| Large or oversized | A laptop, beach towels, a full grocery shop | Retail, travel, beach and market bags, premium merchandise |
When you compare suppliers, ask for the finished dimensions as width x height x gusset, plus the handle length. Two "medium" bags can differ a lot.
What is the difference between a tote bag and other bags?
Buyers often weigh a tote against other bag styles. The differences come down to how the bag is closed and how it is carried.
| Bag | How it differs from a tote | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping bag (plastic or paper) | Usually lighter and often single-use. A reusable tote is designed to be used many times. | You need packaging for a single transaction |
| Drawstring bag | Closes with a cord and is worn on the back | Hands-free carry matters, such as at school, sport or fun runs |
| Messenger or satchel | Has a flap closure and a single cross-body strap | Security and organisation matter more than capacity |
| Backpack | Has two shoulder straps, compartments and closures | People carry heavy loads or laptops every day |
| Handbag | Usually smaller and structured, with closures. Some "tote handbags" blur the line. | Fashion and personal use |
What are the disadvantages of tote bags?
Totes are simple, and that simplicity has trade-offs:
- Open top: items can fall out or be seen, and rain can get in. A zip or press stud fixes this at extra cost.
- Shoulder load: one shoulder carries all the weight, so heavy loads are less comfortable than in a backpack.
- Little organisation: one compartment means small items get lost unless there is an inner pocket.
- Uneven quality: thin fabric, short handles and weak stitching make a bag people discard quickly. That is the opposite of what a branded bag needs.
- Environmental footprint: a fabric tote takes more resources to make than a plastic bag, so it only pays off environmentally when reused many times. Our guide to eco-friendly promotional products explains how to choose and describe them honestly.
Why do businesses brand tote bags?
Australia has moved away from lightweight plastic bags. Victoria banned single-use plastic shopping bags of 35 microns or less from 1 November 2019 (Victorian Government), and New South Wales banned lightweight plastic shopping bags from 1 June 2022 (NSW EPA). Carrying a reusable bag is now normal, and a branded tote fits straight into that habit.
The business case comes down to five points:
- Visibility in public: a tote is carried through shops, offices, transport and events, so your logo is seen by people other than the recipient.
- Large print area: few promotional items offer as much flat space for a logo as a tote's body panel.
- Repeated use: a good tote is used for years, so the cost is spread over many uses.
- Practical at events: the tote is also the packaging for everything else you hand out.
- Brand fit: material choice signals values. Natural jute suits food and wine, heavy canvas suits retail, and non-woven suits high-volume promotions.
Wikipedia notes that totes "have also been given away as promotional items" and are sold as alternatives to disposable plastic bags (Wikipedia). For more ideas on combining totes with other items, see our event merchandise planning checklist.
How are logos added to tote bags?
Ethergifts offers seven branding methods and chooses the one that suits the material and the artwork. For fabric totes, the usual choices are:
- Screen printing: ink is pushed through a mesh screen, one colour at a time. It is ideal for bold one- or two-colour logos on cotton, canvas, jute and non-woven fabric.
- Heat transfer printing: a printed film is applied with heat and pressure. It handles detailed, multi-colour artwork on smoother fabrics.
- Deboss or emboss: used on leather or PU patches sewn onto premium totes.
Every branding position gets a digital proof before production, and nothing is made until it is signed off. To prepare your logo, see what artwork files you need before printing a logo.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tote bag used for?
Tote bags are used for grocery shopping, carrying work or study items such as laptops, folders and books, trips to the beach or market, and as gift or retail packaging. Businesses use them at conferences and expos to hold programs and giveaways, and as branded merchandise that keeps the logo in public view each time the bag is reused.
What is the difference between a tote bag and a normal bag?
A tote bag has an open top, two parallel handles and one main compartment, usually without a zip or flap. Many other bags, such as backpacks, messenger bags and handbags, have closures, more compartments or different straps. A tote is also designed to be reused, unlike a single-use plastic or paper shopping bag.
What is a normal size for a tote bag?
There is no official standard. Most promotional totes are a medium size that comfortably holds A4 folders (an A4 sheet is 210 x 297 mm) plus a notebook and drink bottle. Smaller totes suit retail purchases and gifts, while large or oversized totes suit laptops, beach gear and full grocery shops. Always ask for width x height x gusset.
What are the disadvantages of tote bags?
Totes have an open top, so contents can fall out or get wet. They put all the weight on one shoulder and usually have little internal organisation. Cheap totes with thin fabric or weak stitching wear out quickly. Fabric totes also need to be reused many times to beat single-use bags environmentally, so quality matters.
Why are they called tote bags?
"Tote" is a colloquial North American word meaning to carry, first recorded in Virginia in 1677, and its exact origin is uncertain. A tote bag is literally a bag for carrying things. Merriam-Webster records the first known use of the phrase "tote bag" in 1900.
Thinking about branded tote bags?
Tell us what the bags are for, how many you need and when. We will suggest suitable materials and branding methods, and send a digital proof before production. Request a free quote or browse our custom canvas tote bags.
