Custom Promotional Bags
Custom promotional bags that get carried for years, with your logo on every trip.
Crest Promos supplies custom promotional bags and custom bags to Australian businesses, event organisers, retailers, community groups and brands that need durable, reusable branded bags for giveaways, retail packaging, community events, retail promotions and wider marketing campaigns.
Choose from an extensive range of promotional and logo bags, including tote bags, backpacks, cooler bags, laptop bags, paper bags and more, in cotton, canvas, jute, recycled materials and non-woven fabrics as reusable alternatives to single-use plastic bags.
We'll help you choose the right bag for your audience, use case and marketing budget, then custom print or embroider your branding to your brand colours and deliver bags anywhere in Australia you need them, with a free digital proof before anything is made. From materials and durability to decoration methods, sustainability claims, bag types, ordering steps and FAQs, this page shows Australian organisations how to choose the right promotional bags for practical, long-term brand exposure.
Our custom promotional bags range
Crest Promos supplies custom bags and branded bags for Australian organisations that want practical merchandise people will actually use. Our extensive range covers everyday totes, event giveaways, premium gift options and bags made from cotton, canvas, jute, non-woven polypropylene and recycled materials. If you're comparing styles, we can help you choose the right bag for the job, whether you need custom printed logo bags for events, retail promotions or community events.
Cotton and calico tote bags
Best decoration: Screen printing
Suits: Markets, retail promotions, conferences, community events, everyday shopping
Canvas totes
Best decoration: Screen printing or embroidery
Suits: Premium gifts, retail, welcome packs
Jute and hessian bags
Best decoration: Screen printing
Suits: Food businesses, wineries, eco-minded brands
Non-woven tote bags
Best decoration: Screen printing
Suits: High-volume events, expos and trade shows on a tight budget
Recycled PET (rPET) totes
Best decoration: Screen printing or heat transfer
Suits: Brands wanting recycled content
Drawstring bags
Best decoration: Screen printing or heat transfer
Suits: Fun runs, schools, sports clubs, kids' events
Backpacks
Best decoration: Embroidery or heat transfer
Suits: Staff gifts, conferences, students, travel
Laptop bags and sleeves
Best decoration: Embroidery, debossing or a woven label
Suits: Corporate gifts, onboarding, executives
Cooler bags
Best decoration: Screen printing or heat transfer
Suits: Summer events, client gifts, field teams
Duffle and gym bags
Best decoration: Embroidery or screen printing
Suits: Gyms, sports teams, staff rewards
Toiletry and pouch bags
Best decoration: Screen printing or debossing
Suits: Travel kits, hotel and conference packs, tech organisers
Brand-name bags
For gifts from a name people already know, we also supply bags from Fjällräven, including the Kånken backpack.
See Fjällräven bags →Materials compared
The material decides how a bag feels, how long it lasts, how well your logo prints and what it costs across an extensive range of custom bags.
| Material | Feel and look | Durability | Printing | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calico (unbleached cotton) | Natural, light, soft | Good for light to medium loads | Prints well, especially dark inks | Low to medium |
| Cotton | Soft, available in many colours | Good, improves with heavier weights | Very good | Medium |
| Canvas | Thick, structured, premium | Very high, lasts for years | Very good, and embroidery gives a premium finish | Medium to high |
| Jute | Rustic, stiff, textured, made from natural vegetable fibre | High for heavy loads like wine and groceries | Bold, simple logos only | Medium |
| Non-woven polypropylene | Light, papery fabric | Moderate, handles can tear under heavy loads | Good for simple logos | Low |
| Recycled PET (rPET) | Smooth, light, made from recycled materials | Good | Good, suits heat transfers | Low to medium |
| Polyester and nylon | Water-resistant and technical, common in backpacks and sports bags | High | Good, suits heat transfers and embroidery | Medium to high |
Details that make a bag last
A heavier bag made with high quality materials costs more but is far more likely to be used for years.
Fabric weight
Fabric weight is the best single guide to quality. Cotton totes are often around 140 to 180 GSM at the budget end and 220 GSM or more for a sturdier bag, while heavy canvas starts around 340 GSM.
Handles
Long handles, around 60 to 70 cm, let people carry the bag on the shoulder, which suits laptops and groceries. Short handles, around 35 to 40 cm, suit hand-carry gift bags. Reinforced stitching where the handles join the bag is where cheaper totes usually fail.
Gusset and features
A gusset, the panel that gives the bag depth, lets it hold boxes and bottles without straining. Inside pockets, a zip or snap closure and a flat base all make a bag more useful day to day, and more likely to be kept, while a durable bag with useful features can also make customers feel appreciated.
Are reusable bags really better for the environment?
Only if they're reused, and how often depends on the material. Making a cotton bag uses far more water, energy and land than making a thin plastic one, so the cotton bag has to be used many times before it comes out ahead.
Life cycle studies put numbers on this. As reported in The Conversation, a 2018 Danish government study found a conventional cotton bag would need to be reused around 7,100 times to match a lightweight plastic bag across a broad range of environmental impacts, while a polypropylene bag would need 37 uses. A UK study that looked only at climate impact put the figures at 131 uses for cotton and 11 for non-woven polypropylene. The exact numbers vary between studies, but they all point the same way.
The bag that wins is the one that keeps getting used. Cotton needs far more uses than polypropylene to come out ahead.
For custom promotional bags, that means the most sustainable bag is the one people use for years. Choose a sturdy design in a style people want to carry for things like grocery shopping, rather than the cheapest material in the largest quantity, because a bag that gets carried every week keeps building brand impressions. Order quantities that match how many you'll actually hand out, and avoid giving a bag to people who already have plenty.
Plastic bag rules
Lightweight single-use plastic shopping bags are banned in every Australian state and territory, and several states are phasing out more single-use plastics. Fabric and reusable bags aren't affected, but if you're considering any plastic bag for an event or retail use, check your state's current rules first.
Making accurate claims
If you describe a bag as eco-friendly, recycled or sustainable, the claim needs to be specific and backed by evidence, such as the percentage of recycled content or a recognised certification like GOTS for organic cotton or GRS for recycled polyester. Our guide to sustainable branded merchandise explains what the ACCC expects.
Sources: The Conversation, reporting the 2018 Danish government and UK life cycle studies · Planet Ark, single-use plastic bans · Product Safety Australia, care labelling mandatory standard · ACCC, environmental and sustainability claims.
Branding your bags
Each branding method suits different bag materials. Screen printing is the most cost-effective for higher quantities, while embroidery and debossing give a premium finish on thicker fabrics.
| Method | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Screen printing | Cotton, calico, canvas, jute, non-woven | Inks mixed to your Pantone references. Each colour adds a screen, so one or two colours keep costs down |
| Heat transfer | rPET, polyester, nylon, cooler bags | Good for full-colour logos, names and smaller runs |
| Embroidery | Canvas, backpacks, duffles, premium totes | Hard-wearing and premium, priced by stitch count |
| Debossing or a woven label | Laptop bags, leather-look and premium bags | Subtle, suits understated brands |
| Digital or full-colour print | Detailed artwork, photos and gradients | Colours print in CMYK, so some Pantone shades shift. Print quality depends on the artwork supplied and the bag material |
Print areas, branding methods and artwork
A standard tote usually takes a front print around 25 by 25 cm to 30 by 30 cm, and many can be printed on both sides. Backpacks and cooler bags have smaller flat areas on a front pocket or panel, often around 10 to 15 cm wide. Every proof shows the size and position of your logo on the actual bag, along with the branding method, so you can see how the finished product will look before artwork approval.
On textured fabrics such as jute and canvas, fine lines and small text can break up, so a bold, simple version of your logo prints best. Light ink on a dark bag may need a white underbase, which we'll include in the quote. Send your logo as a vector file, such as AI, EPS, SVG or a vector PDF, for the sharpest result and better print quality.
Design that gets the bag used
People carry bags in public, so they're more likely to use one that looks good, with a modest logo, an interesting design or a marketing message rather than a large logo filling the whole front. For retail and events, choosing the right bag for the audience and your marketing campaign matters as much as the artwork.
A design on one side with a smaller logo on the other often gives premium styles a higher perceived value, and your proof helps you visualise the finished product before artwork approval.
Choosing a bag by how it'll be used
| Use | Recommended bag |
|---|---|
| Expo and conference handouts | Conference bag, or a non-woven or light cotton tote with a one-colour print |
| Markets and retail | Cotton or calico tote with long handles |
| Welcome packs and staff gifts | Heavier canvas tote or backpack |
| Wineries and food businesses | Jute bag, often with bottle dividers |
| Summer events and client gifts | Cooler bag for outdoor events and client gifting |
| Fun runs, schools and sports | Drawstring bag |
| Corporate and executive gifts | Promotional laptop bags or premium backpacks |
| Travel-heavy teams and client gifting | Promotional travel bags for businesses in the travel industry or teams on the move |
| Compact travel kits or conference packs | Promotional toiletry bags |
Prices vary with the bag, decoration, colours and quantity. In our range, listed prices start from under $1 for non-woven and paper bags, about $2.25 for tote bags and about $9 for backpacks, before printing and setup. See our bags range for current prices.
The right bag should match your audience's lifestyle so it's carried more often, and durable, useful travel bags are more likely to be kept. The design and message should fit the event or campaign rather than simply fill the print area. When people reuse it, a bag works like a long-lasting mobile billboard for your business and can support loyalty or referrals.
Ordering more lowers the price per bag, because setup costs are spread across the order, but ordering more than you'll hand out wastes money and materials. Most custom promotional bags start at 50 units, and some styles go lower.
For expos and conferences, our guide to trade show giveaways covers how many to order and how to hand them out. For small businesses choosing between bags and other items, see our guide to the best promotional items for small business.
Ordering custom promotional bags, step by step
One account manager looks after your order from the first quote to delivery, so the person who knows your logo is the person checking your proof.
Tell us how the bags will be used, how many you need, your budget per bag and your deadline. Send your logo, ideally as a vector file.
Your account manager recommends bags and decoration methods that suit the brief, with an itemised quote. We can also guide you on options for bulk orders, where larger quantities usually reduce the unit price.
You approve a free digital proof showing your logo's size, position and colours on the actual bag, so you can see the finished product before production starts.
For larger orders or a new style, you can check a decorated sample before the full run to assess print quality.
We confirm the delivery date in writing and start production after artwork approval. Standard turnaround is 10 to 14 business days from proof approval, depending on stock and branding method. Custom-made bags in your own size, fabric or colour are made to order and take much longer. Rush jobs are quoted on request, subject to capacity, and delivery time is extra.
Your bags arrive in bulk, or packed with other items for welcome packs and events if you need it.
Trusted for custom promotional bags across Australia
Crest Promos is led by owner Jerome Abrahams. With more than 30 years of experience in promotional products, we supply custom promotional bags to markets, retailers, event organisers, schools and other Australian organisations, as well as national brands including Meta, JCDecaux, Nutrien, White Claw and amps.
- ✓One account manager from quote to delivery, helping you choose the right promotional bags for your event, workplace or retail use
- ✓Free quotes and digital proofs, so you can check the finished product before production
- ✓Custom bags in cotton, canvas, jute, recycled and technical fabrics, with material and origin details on request
- ✓Decoration recommended for each bag and logo, with ink references on the proof
- ✓Delivery Australia-wide, in bulk or packed with other items
- ✓Registered business, ABN 70 694 082 249
"The bag I'd always rather quote is the slightly heavier one. A cheap tote with thin handles tears on the first heavy shop, and a good one ends up on someone's kitchen hook for five years."
Custom promotional bags FAQ
What's the minimum order quantity for custom promotional bags?
Most printed tote and drawstring bags start at 50 units, and some styles go lower. Backpacks and cooler bags vary by style, so check the listing or ask us. Custom-made bags in your own colours or shapes need much larger quantities.
What's the cheapest branded bag?
Non-woven polypropylene and light cotton totes with a one-colour print are usually the lowest cost per bag, and promotional non woven bags and woven bags suit large events and bulk orders. Promotional backsacks, single-compartment drawstring bags, are another low-cost option for schools, sports and kids' events, and calico bags are often the next-cheapest. Minimum order quantities vary by product and branding requirements. A slightly heavier cotton bag costs a little more and is far more likely to be kept and reused.
Which bag material is most sustainable?
The one that gets reused the most. The life cycle studies above show cotton bags need to be used many more times than polypropylene or recycled PET bags to offset the impact of making them, so a cotton bag only makes sense if it's sturdy and attractive enough to be used for years. Recycled PET reuses plastic bottles and is light and durable. Calico totes are a lightweight choice at the lower-cost end of reusable bags. Jute bags are made from a rough, natural vegetable fibre that is biodegradable, and jute wine carriers are a practical niche option for wineries or bottle gifting. Whatever the material, bulk discounts improve unit pricing as quantities increase.
How big can my logo be?
On a standard tote, a print around 25 by 25 cm to 30 by 30 cm is common, and both sides can usually be printed. Smaller bags and backpacks have smaller print areas. Your proof shows the exact size and position.
Can you print full-colour logos on bags?
Yes, using heat transfers or digital printing on suitable fabrics. Screen printing is usually better value for one to three-colour logos, and gives a bolder, more durable result on cotton.
How long do custom promotional bags take?
Printed stock bags usually take 10 to 14 business days after artwork approval. Full-colour logos are possible with heat transfer, digital transfer or digital printing on suitable fabrics, and the branding method available depends on the bag's material and style. Embroidery is often chosen when a premium finish matters more than full colour. Sports bags, duffle bags, travel bags and laptop bags with technical fabrics, premium trims or more complex construction can take longer. Custom-made bags take much longer, so order early for events and busy periods.
Do bags need care labels?
Bags are excluded from Australia's mandatory care labelling standard for clothing and textiles, so care labels aren't legally required. Including simple care instructions on a printed card still helps people keep the bag looking good.