- Karaca Çanta
- 6 min read
Short answer: Cotton tote bags are classified by body shape (flat or gusseted; the gusset is added at the bottom, the sides or both), carrying style (attached handle, hand-hole, vest cut) and mouth closure (open or drawstring). A flat bag suits light, flat items, a gusseted bag suits bulky and boxed products, and a drawstring bag suits light belongings carried on the back.
When people ask about cotton tote bag types, fabric usually comes to mind, yet the model of the bag determines its use at least as much as the fabric. Made from the same fabric, a flat bag is for carrying brochures and a gusseted bag for carrying a cake box; a drawstring bag is worn on the back and used for school or sport.
Below we have separated the models by body, handle and mouth style, gathered them all in a single table and listed the questions to ask when deciding between a gusseted and a flat bag.
How Are Cotton Tote Bags Classified?
The shape of a bag is described by three questions: is the body flat or gusseted, how is the handle formed, is the mouth open or drawstring? When these three axes combine, the model name emerges. In product names, the phrase gusseted stitched nonwoven bag describes the body and fabric, while the phrase drawstring backpack describes the mouth closure and the way of carrying.
Of the 171 products in our catalogue that list a size, 76 have no gusset and 95 are gusseted. Gusseted products have a side gusset or a bottom gusset, and some models have both. So slightly more than half of the products with a listed size are gusseted; which is suitable for you depends on the volume of the product you will carry.
- Body: flat (no gusset), side-gusseted, bottom-gusseted or both; the box look is achieved with the gusset.
- Handle: a handle attached to the body (grip-handle, long-handle), a hand-hole cut in the body or a vest cut.
- Mouth: open mouth or a drawstring mouth that is gathered with a cord.
- Fabric and joining: raw cotton, coloured fabric or nonwoven; stitched (stitched nonwoven) or ultrasonic-welded.
What Is a Gusseted Cotton Tote Bag and What Is It For?
A gusset is a folded section of fabric added to the bag body that gains volume when opened. In a flat bag the two faces sit side by side and the product placed inside finds only as much room as the width x height area; in a gusseted bag the fabric opens out from the sides or the bottom to create depth. In this way the bag can carry a thick folder, a box or several products at once, as well as a thin booklet.
When the size is written, the gusset is given as the last value in the order width x height x gusset; a bag without a gusset has no such value. In our catalogue the most common gusset sizes are 8 cm and 10 cm.
What Is the Difference Between a Bottom Gusset and a Side Gusset?
A bottom gusset is at the base of the bag; when the bag is put on the floor the base widens, the bag stands up and flat boxes sit comfortably. A side gusset is on the two edges; when the bag fills it opens out at the sides and thick or bulky products fit inside. On some models both are used together and the bag takes on more of a box-like form.
On our product pages the side gusset and bottom gusset sizes are listed separately. If you are not sure which you need, it is enough to describe the size of the product you will carry and how it will sit in the bag; we determine the gusset type and size together at the quote stage.
Which Model Suits Which Job? Decision Table
The table sets the common models side by side in terms of use and what to watch out for. There is a separate row for the box cotton tote bag: this form is achieved by using the bottom and side gussets together.
Bag model decision table
| Model | Suitable use | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Flat (no gusset) bag | Brochures, thin folders, light and flat items; event handouts. | Volume is limited; a thick product will not fit. |
| Side-gusseted bag | Thick folders, stacks of books, carrying several products together. | Choose the gusset size according to the thickness of the product. |
| Bottom-gusseted bag | Flat, wide products that need to stand upright. | The base width should match the base of the product. |
| Box cotton tote bag (bottom and side gusset) | Upright, bulky products such as a cake, dessert or gift box. | The bag height should be taller than the box. |
| Hand-hole bag | Light products, brochures, documents; handouts where a plain look is wanted. | With a heavy load, the edge of the hole squeezes the hand. |
| Vest-cut bag | High-volume handouts of light products. | There is no model under this name on our product pages; ask in the quote. |
| Drawstring bag | Light belongings for school, courses, sport and the beach; carried on the back. | With heavy items the thin cord strains the shoulder. |
Hand-Hole, Vest-Cut and Drawstring Bags: The Differences
A hand-hole bag is one held through a hole cut in the body fabric rather than through a separately attached handle. Because there is no handle attachment stitching, the look is plain; however, since the edge of the hole bears the weight in the hand, the load should be kept light. On our product pages this construction appears under the name hand-hole ultrasonic-welded bag.
The vest-cut bag is the colloquial name given to a bag whose handles are cut out like a vest, with no separate piece from the body. There is no model listed under this name on our product pages; if you are considering this style, describe it in the quote form, and whether it can be produced is confirmed at the quote stage.
A drawstring bag is in the form of a sack whose mouth is gathered with a cord; when the cords are passed over the shoulders it is carried like a backpack. Our catalogue includes the drawstring backpack category and stitched nonwoven bags with drawstring mouths. It is suitable for jobs that carry light belongings, such as school, courses, sport and the beach.
Gusseted or Flat Cotton Tote Bag? Four Questions to Decide
The question of gusseted or flat has no single right answer; the decision depends on what will go into the bag. When you answer the four questions below, the model usually emerges on its own; a question you cannot answer is a point to settle together in the quote.
For example, at a seminar of 50 people where only a thin programme booklet will be handed out, a flat bag is enough; if the same seminar will give attendees a thick folder and a boxed refreshment, a side-gusseted or bottom-gusseted model is more comfortable.
- Is the product thick or boxed? If so, consider a gusset, especially a bottom gusset; if it is flat and light, a flat bag is enough.
- Does the bag need to stand upright? If it needs to stand on a counter or table, a bottom gusset is useful.
- Will large numbers of bags be transported together and stacked? A flat bag takes up less space.
- Can you write the size of the product as width x height x gusset in centimetres? If you can, add it to the quote request.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Gusseted Bag For?
Thanks to the folded fabric in its body, a gusseted bag gains volume when opened and carries a thick folder, a box or several products together. The gusset can be at the bottom, at the sides or both. When giving a size, use the order width x height x gusset; set the gusset value according to the thickness of the product.
What Is the Difference Between a Bottom Gusset and a Side Gusset?
A bottom gusset widens the base of the bag; the bag stands up and flat boxes sit well. A side gusset opens out the two edges to make room for thick or bulky products. If both are used together the bag takes a box-like form. On our product pages the sizes of the two are listed separately.
Should I Buy a Gusseted or a Flat Cotton Tote Bag?
If the product you will carry is flat and light, a flat bag is suitable; if it is thick, boxed or bulky, a gusseted bag is. If the bag will stand upright on a table, a bottom gusset is also useful. If you are not sure, write the size of the product and how it will be carried in the quote request, and we will decide together.
What Is a Hand-Hole Bag?
A hand-hole bag is one held through a hole cut in the body fabric instead of a separately attached handle. Because there is no handle attachment stitching, its look is plain; since the edge of the hole bears weight in the hand, it suits light products and documents. On our product pages it appears as a hand-hole ultrasonic-welded bag.
What Purposes Is a Drawstring Cotton Tote Bag Suitable For?
A drawstring bag is suitable for uses that carry light belongings, such as school, courses, sport and the beach; it is carried on the back with the cords over the shoulders. With heavy items, the thin cord can strain the shoulder. Our catalogue includes the drawstring backpack category and stitched nonwoven bags with drawstring mouths.
