- Karaca Çanta
- 5 min read
Short answer: In a nonwoven bag, fabric weight is the weight in grams of one square metre of the fabric (gsm). A high weight generally means a fuller, stiffer fabric that is better suited to carrying loads, and a low weight means a lighter, more flexible fabric. However, fabric weight alone is not a measure of durability; the stitching, handle and base also decide. Our catalogue includes 60 gsm ultrasonic-welded bags and 100 gsm stitched nonwoven bags.
When asking for a quote or looking at a product page, you see an expression such as 100 gsm and wonder what it says about the bag. This number does not give thickness directly; it gives weight, and thickness and stiffness are a consequence of it.
Below you will find what fabric weight measures, what it means in nonwoven and cotton bags, which jobs low and high weights suit, and how to describe fabric weight in a quote.
What Is Fabric Weight and How Do You Read gsm?
Fabric weight shows how many grams one square metre of fabric weighs and is written as gsm or g/m². One square metre of a fabric marked 60 gsm weighs 60 grams, and one marked 100 gsm weighs 100 grams. The higher the number, the more material there is in the same area; this often makes the fabric fuller, more opaque and stiffer.
Because fabric weight is a unit of weight, it does not correspond exactly to thickness. Of two fabrics with the same weight, one may be tight and the other fluffy; the type of fibre and the way the fabric is made also change the result. Read the weight as starting information and make the final decision with the sample you hold in your hands.
What Does Fabric Weight Tell You on a Nonwoven Bag?
In nonwoven, that is non-woven, fabric no yarn is woven; the fibres are bonded together as a sheet. Here fabric weight tells you how many grams of fibre the sheet contains. Low-weight nonwoven is light and flexible; high-weight nonwoven feels thicker and the bag stands more upright.
Fabric weights in our catalogue
| Model | Fabric weight | Joining | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultrasonic-welded bag | 60 gsm (cream-coloured fabric) | Ultrasonic bonding | Stated this way on the product pages |
| Stitched nonwoven bag | 100 gsm nonwoven fabric | Stitching | The product pages give the printing method as offset |
| Other weight needs | Different weights | Depends on the model | Production is possible; confirmed in the quote |
Low Weight or High Weight?
The question is not which is better, but what the bag will carry and how many times it will be used. For a bag that is handed out once and will hold a few brochures or a small package, a light fabric is often enough. For a bag that will meet the weight of products when shopping, or that the customer will use again and again, a higher weight is considered.
If you are looking for a weight other than the 60 gsm and 100 gsm in our catalogue, you just need to state it in the quote; production in different weights is possible and the options are confirmed at the quote stage. If you do not know the weight, describing the load does the same job.
- If brochures, catalogues or a small gift package will be carried, a light fabric is often enough.
- If the bag will be handed out at a short event, the fullness of the fabric takes second place.
- If boxed products, clothing or several products will be carried together, consider a higher weight.
- If you want the customer to reuse the bag, durability of the fabric and stitching over a long time becomes the priority.
- As the weight rises, so does the amount of fabric; in a nonwoven bag, fabric weight is one of the items that affect the quote.
How Do You Choose Fabric Weight for a Raw Cotton Tote Bag?
Because the fabric of a cotton tote bag is woven, thickness depends not only on fabric weight but also on yarn fineness and weave density. Raw cotton is untreated cotton fabric; the thin kind is light and flexible, while the thick kind is fuller and stands more upright. We do not publish a separate weight figure for raw cotton in our catalogue; we determine the thickness by looking at the weight the bag will carry.
When choosing, look at three things: what the bag will carry, how long it will be used and whether it will be folded and stored. For heavy loads such as books and files a fuller cloth, and for a light gift package a thinner cloth, will do. If you want a sample, pass your request on during the quote; whether it is available and on what terms is confirmed at that stage.
Does Fabric Weight Alone Mean Durability?
No. A bag's carrying strength works like a chain: the fabric, the stitching or welding line, the handle attachment and the base. A bag made of high-weight fabric can come apart at the handle if the handle attachment is weak; a low-weight but well-designed bag can do its job without problems with light loads.
For this reason, make the fabric weight decision together with the choice of handle type, size and gusset. In our carrying safety article we explained how to look at each link of the chain; for the size side, you can also take a look at our cotton tote bag sizes guide.
How Should You Describe Fabric Weight in a Quote?
If you do not know the fabric weight figure, that is not a problem; describe the use instead of the figure. The quote form has fields for product type, material, size and a details message; you can write your weight preference in the material or message field, and if you do not know it, you can simply describe the use.
- Write what will go in the bag and the weight of a single item, using your own scales.
- State whether the bag will be given for one-off use or for reuse.
- If there is a bag you like, add the weight information from its label or a photo.
- Write the size in centimetres as width x height x gusset.
- Add your desired delivery date and estimated quantity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Bag Always Get More Durable as Fabric Weight Rises?
No; a high weight generally means a fuller, more upright fabric, but it does not determine durability on its own. The stitching or welding line, the handle attachment and the base structure also carry the load. If you tell us what you will carry and how many times the bag will be used, we can evaluate the fabric weight together with these elements.
Does Fabric Weight Affect the Price of a Nonwoven Bag?
Yes, fabric weight is one of the items that affect the price; quantity, size, number of print colours and additional details such as the handle are also reflected in the quote. Because we do not have a fixed price list, every job is priced by quote. If you have no target weight, it is enough to describe the load you will carry.
Which Bag Fabric Weights Are in Your Catalogue?
On our product pages, ultrasonic-welded models list 60 gsm cream-coloured fabric and stitched nonwoven models list 100 gsm nonwoven fabric. Production in different weights is possible; if you pass on your need via the quote form, by telephone or on WhatsApp, the options are confirmed at the quote stage.
Can You Give a Fabric Weight Figure for Raw Cotton Tote Bags?
There is no published weight figure for raw cotton in our catalogue; we determine the thickness according to the weight the bag will carry. For heavy loads such as books and files a fuller cloth is considered, and for light packages a thinner one. Pass on a sample request during the quote; the terms are confirmed at that stage.
