If you already screen print shirts, tote bags are the closest thing to free money in your shop. There are no size runs to manage, the print surface is flat and stable, one screen covers the whole job, and a blank that costs $2–$3 wholesale routinely sells printed for $12–$18. Retail shops, breweries, bookstores, farmers markets, weddings, and conference organizers all buy them by the hundred.
The catch: “canvas tote” covers everything from a 4 oz giveaway bag to a 12 oz grocery hauler, and printing on the wrong one wastes ink and kills reorders. This guide sorts the market into three tiers and names the blanks worth stocking in each.
The three tiers of blank totes
| Tier | Fabric weight | Wholesale cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promo cotton | 4–6 oz sheeting | $2.00–$3.00 | Giveaways, event swag, goodie bags |
| Mid-weight canvas | 8–10 oz | $3.50–$4.50 | Retail resale, merch tables, markets |
| Heavyweight canvas | 10–12 oz+ | $4.00–$10.00 | Premium retail, bookstores, grocery |
The three tote tiers, by wholesale cost per bag
$2–$3
Promo cotton (giveaways)
$3.50–$4.50
Mid-weight canvas (resale)
$4–$10
Heavyweight / organic (premium)
Quantity breaks apply automatically in the cart, so case quantities land below every number shown.
Best promo tote: BAGedge Canvas Promo Tote (BE007)
For conference swag and event giveaways where the customer is buying 500 pieces on price, the BAGedge Canvas Promo Tote (BE007) is the answer: a flat cotton body around $2.60 wholesale that takes a one-color print cleanly. In the same lane, the Liberty Bags Nicole Tote (8860) starts around $2.20 — when a fundraiser asks for “the cheapest bag that doesn’t look cheap,” this is it.
Print notes for light cotton: these bags are thin, so use a sharp one-hit print with a 156–196 mesh and keep coverage moderate — a heavy flood of ink on 4 oz sheeting wrinkles the panel as it cures.
Best mid-weight: Liberty Bags Susan & BAGedge Canvas Tote
The middle tier is where resale happens. The Liberty Bags Susan Tote (8861) and the BAGedge Canvas Tote (BE003) both give you a true canvas hand at under $4 wholesale. Prints look richer on the denser weave, the bags hold their shape on a merch table, and there’s enough margin to wholesale the printed bag to a retailer at $8 and still let them double it.
Best heavyweight: econscious Everyday Tote
When the customer is a bookstore, coffee roaster, or brand that wants the bag itself to feel like the product, step up to a 10–12 oz organic canvas like the econscious Everyday Tote (EC8000). The organic cotton story is a genuine selling point for exactly the customers who buy heavyweight totes, and the thick panel takes multi-color prints with tight registration beautifully. econscious also makes the Eco Promo Tote (EC8056) if you want the sustainability story at a promo price point.
Printing tips that make totes profitable
- Gang them on the platen. Many shops print totes two-up on a standard platen — doubles your hourly output on flat bags.
- Use a piece of cardboard or a platen insert inside gusseted bags so the back panel doesn’t pick up ink.
- Center the art low. A design centered on the panel optically sits too high once the bag hangs from a shoulder — drop it 1–2” below center.
- Quote one-color first. Totes are an impulse add-on; a one-color print at a $6–$8 sell keeps the conversation easy, then upsell a second color.
- Watch the seam. Bottom-gusset seams creep into large prints. Keep art at least 1.5” above the bottom seam.
On sourcing: totes are the classic “add it to the order” product, and that works best when your bag supplier is the same as your shirt supplier. At B2B Sportswear blank totes ship in the same box as your tees from the nearest of 12 US warehouses, with true wholesale pricing from the first piece and six quantity-break tiers applied automatically in the cart — no separate bag vendor, no second freight charge.
FAQ
What is the best tote bag for screen printing?
For resale, a mid-weight cotton canvas tote like the Liberty Bags Susan (8861) or BAGedge BE003 is the sweet spot — dense enough to print richly, under $3 wholesale. For pure giveaway volume, drop to a promo-weight tote like the BAGedge BE007 or Liberty Bags Nicole.
Can you screen print on any tote bag?
Cotton and canvas totes print with standard plastisol or water-based ink, exactly like a T-shirt. Polyester and non-woven polypropylene bags need low-cure inks and lower flash temperatures — see our guide to printing on bags by material.
How much does a blank tote bag cost wholesale?
Promo-weight cotton totes run around $2–$3 wholesale, mid-weight canvas runs $3.50–$4.50, and heavyweight or organic canvas runs $4.00–$10.00. Quantity breaks bring all three tiers down further on case quantities.
Where can I buy blank tote bags in bulk with no minimum?
B2B Sportswear stocks Liberty Bags, BAGedge, econscious, Q-Tees, and OAD blank totes at wholesale pricing with no minimum order and no membership fee. Orders placed by 1 PM EST ship the same day from the closest US warehouse.