When a company orders 50 embroidered duffels for a sales kickoff, or a team orders player bags with numbers, the decorator’s margin per piece is usually double what a shirt pays — and the bag stays in service for years. Bags are also the natural upsell on any uniform or corporate polo order: same logo file, same order, one more line item.
The blank decides most of the outcome. Here’s the field, from giveaway to premium.
The budget ladder
| Tier | Blank | Wholesale | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giveaway | Liberty Bags 8895 mesh drawstring | ~$2.20 | Camps, events, swag bags (screen print it) |
| Team basic | Augusta 1920 tri-color drawstring | ~$10 | School teams, club colors |
| Workhorse duffel | Independent Trading 29L Day Tripper | ~$16 | Gyms, staff gifts, resale |
| Classic canvas | Liberty Bags canvas duffel | ~$19.50 | Heritage look, monogramming |
| Retail brand | Under Armour Undeniable duffel | ~$39–$57 | Executive gifts, coach bags, premium teams |
The bag budget ladder (wholesale, qty 1)
the retail brand carries the invoice
Every tier embroiders the same logo file — the blank alone moves the finished price from $8 to $80.
The premium play: Under Armour
For corporate gifting and coach/staff bags, the Under Armour Undeniable 5.0 MD Duffel is the strongest quote in the book. The brand does half your selling: an embroidered UA duffel invoices at $70–$90 without pushback, because the recipient knows exactly what the bag is worth. It comes in XS through LG sizes (XS for daily carry, LG for travel), and the UA Hustle Backpack 6.0 is the matching backpack for new-hire kits.
The workhorses: Independent Trading & Liberty Bags
Between giveaway and premium sits the volume market. The Independent Trading Co. 29L Day Tripper Duffel (~$16 wholesale) is the gym-bag shape every fitness studio and rec-league team asks for, and the Liberty Bags Canvas Duffel gives you the heritage canvas look that monograms beautifully for wedding parties and country clubs. Liberty Bags also covers the low end with the Recycled 18” Small Duffel at about $4.40 — a legitimate player-bag option for youth teams on a budget.
Drawstrings: the $2 add-on
Drawstring packs are to bags what koozies are to drinkware — nearly free to add and printed, not embroidered. The Liberty Bags Mesh Drawstring and Q-Tees Polyester Drawstring Backpack run around $2 wholesale; the Augusta Tri-Color Drawstring adds team-color panels for spirit packs. Screen print or DTF these — the fabric is too light to hoop cleanly.
Embroidering bags without ruining them
- Hoop the panel, not the bag. Unzip fully and isolate the front panel; on duffels, embroider the end pockets or the top grab-handle panel where you can get a flat field.
- Watch for waterproof backing. Coated 600D poly shows every needle hole — get the placement right the first time, and size the design conservatively.
- Use a larger needle (75/11 or 80/12) and slow down over webbing, zippers, and seams.
- Quote left-chest-sized logos. 3–4” designs suit most bag panels; oversized art fights the curvature.
- Names and numbers are the upsell. Personalization adds $5–$8 per bag for 90 seconds of machine time.
Every bag above ships blind from our nearest US warehouse with automatic quantity-break pricing and no minimums — order two UA duffels for a sample kit or two hundred for a rollout at the same wholesale account. Browse the full selection in bags & accessories.
FAQ
What is the best blank duffel bag for embroidery?
For premium corporate work, the Under Armour Undeniable 5.0 — the retail brand justifies a $70+ finished price. For volume team and gym orders, the Independent Trading Co. 29L Day Tripper at about $12 wholesale is the price-performance winner.
Can you embroider a drawstring backpack?
Usually not well — the fabric is too light and shifts in the hoop. Screen print or DTF drawstring packs instead; save embroidery for structured backpacks and duffels.
Where should the logo go on a duffel bag?
The end pocket or the front-center panel are the standard positions. Keep designs 3–4” wide, isolate a flat field in the hoop, and avoid stitching across seams or webbing.
Where can I buy blank bags for embroidery wholesale?
B2B Sportswear carries Under Armour, Liberty Bags, Independent Trading Co., Augusta, and Oakley blank bags at true wholesale pricing with no minimum order — same-day shipping on orders placed by 1 PM EST.