Tote Bag Case Study: 500 Pieces for a Company — Material and Printing
A real project example: how we chose 240 g/m² cotton and single-colour screen printing for 500 tote bags, what it cost, and how long it took to produce.
This tote bag case study covers an order we recently completed for a services company in Riga: 500 cotton bags with a single-colour logo print on 240 g/m² fabric, long handles, sized 38 × 42 cm. The total cost was approximately 1,450 EUR excl. VAT, i.e. around 2.90 EUR per bag including screen printing setup, and we delivered the full batch within 8 business days after artwork approval. The client allowed us to publish the project description and photos but asked that we not name the company, so we'll refer to the task and decisions made rather than the brand.
The Task and Its Constraints
The bags were intended for two purposes: as gifts for clients at a conference and for everyday office use as a shopping bag. This immediately set two requirements — the bag couldn't look disposable, and it had to hold at least a few kilograms of weight.
The budget was set: up to 3 EUR per piece excl. VAT, including printing. The deadline was two weeks before the event. The logo is single-colour, with thin lines and text as small as 6 pt at its smallest element.
Before production, we prepared a specific quote with three material options and two printing technologies, so the client could compare price against quality rather than guess.
Choosing the Material: 140, 180 or 240 g/m²
The thickness of a cotton tote bag is the main factor affecting both price and feel. We offered three options from our catalogue, all cotton with long handles.
| Material | Feel and durability | Approximate price for 500 pcs, 1 colour |
|---|---|---|
| 140 g/m² cotton | Thin, suitable for a single event, fabric is slightly see-through | from 1.60 EUR/pc |
| 180 g/m² cotton | Medium, good everyday compromise | from 2.20 EUR/pc |
| 240 g/m² cotton | Dense, holds its shape, carries 5–8 kg | from 2.90 EUR/pc |
The client chose 240 g/m², since the bags were meant for repeated use. In practice, the difference between 140 and 240 g/m² is noticeable right away by hand — the thinner fabric wrinkles and loses shape after a few washes, while the thicker one stays firm and works as a proper shopping bag.
The second decision concerned handle length. Short handles (around 35 cm) are carried by hand, while long handles (60–70 cm) go over the shoulder. At a conference, people carry the bag along with a jacket and laptop, so we chose long handles with reinforced stitching.
Colour
Natural unbleached cotton is the cheapest option and looks good with a dark single-colour logo. Coloured bags (black, navy) cost approximately 0.30–0.60 EUR more per piece and require a light print colour, which means an extra base layer in screen printing. For this project, we stuck with natural cotton and a navy logo.
Printing: Screen Printing vs DTF
For 500 pieces with a single-colour logo, screen printing is the logical choice. Screen printing involves a one-off screen setup fee (approximately 25–40 EUR per colour), but after that, each additional bag costs very little. DTF (film transfer) is more cost-effective for smaller quantities and multi-colour designs, but on coarse cotton fabric it creates a slightly more noticeable surface texture.
| Criterion | Screen printing | DTF |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-effective from | around 50 pcs | 1–50 pcs |
| Number of colours | 1–4 (each with its own fee) | full colour, photo-quality |
| Setup fee | 25–40 EUR/colour | none |
| Appearance on cotton | soaks into fabric, matte | thin film layer |
| Wash durability | very good | good |
For this logo, screen printing also gave a better result for the small text: 6 pt letters on 240 g/m² fabric came out legible with screen printing, since the fabric is dense and the ink doesn't bleed. On thin 140 g/m² cotton, we would have recommended enlarging such text to at least 8 pt.
Print size — 22 × 14 cm on the front of the bag, centred 10 cm from the top seam. This is a safe zone: closer to the handles, the screen frame hits the seam and the print may come out uneven.
Files and Artwork Approval
The client sent the logo as a .pdf, but with the text as live text rather than outlines. We converted the letters to outlines and checked the line thickness — two lines were 0.15 mm, which screen printing on fabric can't reproduce accurately. We increased them to 0.4 mm, which didn't visually change the logo but ensured a clean result.
We determined the colour using a Pantone reference rather than CMYK, since screen printing inks are mixed by recipe. For single-colour printing, this is more precise. You can find more about file requirements and our other printing services in the services section.
The client approved the digital artwork on the second day, and we started production that same day.
Timeline and Cost Breakdown
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Quote and material samples | 1 business day |
| Artwork preparation and approval | 2 business days |
| Pre-press preparation | 1 business day |
| Printing 500 pcs | 3–4 business days |
| Sorting, packing, handover | 1 business day |
Total: 8 business days. In urgent cases, we can produce 500 pieces with a single colour in 5–6 business days if the material is in stock and the artwork is ready, but this needs to be arranged in advance.
The price included the fabric, screen setup, printing and packing in boxes of 50 pieces. Had the client chosen two colours, the price per piece would have increased by approximately 0.45–0.60 EUR plus the fee for the second screen.
What to Take Away for Your Own Order
- Start by considering how many times the bag will be used. For a single event, 140–180 g/m² is enough; for everyday use, go with 240 g/m².
- For single-colour logos at 200+ pieces, screen printing is almost always the more cost-effective choice.
- Check thin line thickness before printing — on fabric, this matters more than on paper.
- If your logo contains a gradient or photo, plan for DTF and a slightly higher price per piece.
You can browse our selection of bags and other printable products in the tote bags and shopping bags and promotional products with logo sections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do 500 tote bags with a logo cost?
As a guideline, from 1.60 EUR per piece excl. VAT for 140 g/m² cotton with single-colour screen printing, and from 2.90 EUR for 240 g/m². The exact price depends on fabric density, bag colour, handle length and the number of print colours.
What is the minimum order quantity?
We also work with single pieces, but below 50 pieces the screen printing setup fee makes the per-unit price high, so for small batches we recommend DTF.
Will the print withstand washing?
Screen printing on cotton, with proper curing, withstands regular washing at 30–40 °C. DTF also holds up well, but we recommend washing inside-out and avoiding the tumble dryer.
How quickly can 500 bags be delivered?
The standard timeline is 7–10 business days from artwork approval. Urgent jobs can be done in 5–6 business days by separate arrangement.
What format should the logo be sent in?
Vector graphics — .ai, .eps or .pdf with text converted to outlines. For single-colour printing, specify a Pantone colour; if you don't have one, we'll match it and confirm with you.
Can I see a material sample before ordering?
Yes, we can prepare fabric samples of 140, 180 and 240 g/m² for viewing at Kandavas iela 29A, or send them to you.
If you're planning a similar order, email info@attaprint.lv or call or message us on WhatsApp at +371 25776699 — we prepare a quote with material options and printing prices within one business day. You'll find full contact details on the Contacts page.
FAQ
How much do 500 tote bags with a logo cost?
As a guideline, from 1.60 EUR per piece excl. VAT for 140 g/m² cotton with single-colour screen printing, and from 2.90 EUR for 240 g/m². The exact price depends on fabric density, bag colour, handle length and the number of print colours.
What is the minimum order quantity?
We also work with single pieces, but below 50 pieces the screen printing setup fee makes the per-unit price high, so for small batches we recommend DTF.
Will the print withstand washing?
Screen printing on cotton, with proper curing, withstands regular washing at 30–40 °C. DTF also holds up well, but we recommend washing inside-out and avoiding the tumble dryer.
How quickly can 500 bags be delivered?
The standard timeline is 7–10 business days from artwork approval. Urgent jobs can be done in 4–5 business days by separate arrangement.
What format should the logo be sent in?
Vector graphics — .ai, .eps or .pdf with text converted to outlines. For single-colour printing, specify a Pantone colour; if you don't have one, we'll match it and confirm with you.
Can I see a material sample before ordering?
Yes, we can prepare fabric samples of 140, 180 and 240 g/m² for viewing at Kandavas iela 29A, or send them to you.
