Cotton, canvas or jute bag: the differences

Short answer
Cotton is light and affordable, canvas is more heavily woven cotton and therefore sturdier, and jute is a coarse plant fibre with a natural, rustic look. For large runs you usually choose cotton, for a bag that lasts for years canvas, and for a striking natural look jute or a cotton and jute mix.

Cotton, canvas and jute compared

Material	Feature	Example	Price at 100 pcs
Cotton 135–145 g/m²	light, soft, affordable	Shoulder bag Regular 145 g/m²	€ 2,11
Canvas 250–380 g/m²	densely woven, sturdy	Canvas shopping bag 300 g/m²	€ 3,41
Cotton with jute base	canvas panels, jute gusset, 320 g/m²	Cotton-jute tote	€ 3,87
Jute with canvas side panels	laminated jute, logo on the canvas	Jute bag W422	€ 6,03

Prices per piece including printing, excluding VAT.

Cotton: light and affordable

A regular cotton bag weighs around 135 to 145 g/m². It is light, folds up small and is affordable in large quantities, which is why you see it at so many trade fairs and events. Read more about weight in fabric weight explained.

Canvas: the same fibre, woven sturdier

Canvas is cotton too, but more densely and heavily woven, usually from about 250 g/m². The bag feels sturdier, keeps its shape better and lasts longer. See custom printed canvas bags.

Jute: natural and coarse

Jute is a coarse plant fibre. The jute shoppers on this site are laminated and have canvas side panels where the logo goes. On the Printers’ jute shopper the maximum print area is 34 x 26 cm. Want the jute look with the ease of canvas? Choose a cotton bag with a jute base. The full jute range is at jutedraagtassen.nl.

One example per material

From left to right: cotton, canvas, cotton with jute base, and jute with canvas side panels.

$Custom printed cotton tote bags OEKO-TEX certified.$

$Custom printed cotton tote bags OEKO-TEX certified. — product photo 2$

$Custom printed cotton tote bags OEKO-TEX certified. — product photo 3$

Custom Cotton Shoulder Bag OEKO-TEX Regular 145g

Item number: A387-1900

Colors:

Weight: 145 g

Material: 100% Katoen OEKO-TEX®

from € 0,58

$Promotional cotton tote bags | heavy duty canvas printing | oeko-tex$

$Promotional cotton tote bags | heavy duty canvas printing | oeko-tex — product photo 2$

Canvas Shopping Bag OEKO-TEX Custom Printed Durable 300gsm Stable Bottom

Item number: A387-1953

Colors:

Weight: 300 g

Material: 100% Katoen OEKO-TEX®

Width - Length: 10cm x 40cm

from € 2,01

$Cotton Jute Bag Custom Print OEKO-TEX 320gsm 41x41cm$

$Cotton Jute Bag Custom Print OEKO-TEX 320gsm 41x41cm — product photo 2$

$Cotton Jute Bag Custom Print OEKO-TEX 320gsm 41x41cm — product photo 3$

$Cotton Jute Bag Custom Print OEKO-TEX 320gsm 41x41cm — product photo 4$

$Cotton Jute Bag Custom Print OEKO-TEX 320gsm 41x41cm — product photo 5$

Custom Printed Cotton Jute Tote OEKO-TEX 41x41cm

Item number: A53-LT95374

Colors:

Weight: 180 g

Width - Length: 13cm x 41cm

from € 1,99

Jute Shopper W422 Printable Laminated Canvas One-size

Jute Shopper W422 Printable Laminated Canvas One-size — product photo 2

Jute Shopper W422 Printable Laminated Canvas One-size — product photo 3

Jute Shopper W422 Printable Laminated Canvas One-size — product photo 4

Jute Shopper W422 Printable Laminated Canvas One-size — product photo 5

Printers Jute Shopper W422 Custom Durable Laminated One-size

Item number: W422

Colors:

Width - Length: 33cm x 42cm

from € 2,93

Frequently asked questions about cotton, canvas and jute

What is the difference between cotton and canvas?

Canvas is cotton too, but more densely and heavily woven, usually from about 250 g/m². A regular cotton bag is lighter, around 140 g/m².

Can you print on a jute bag?

Yes. The jute shoppers on this site have canvas side panels on which the logo is printed. On the Printers’ jute shopper the print area is at most 34 x 26 cm.

Which bag is the most affordable?

A light cotton bag. The Regular shoulder bag costs € 2,11 at 100 pieces, printing included. Canvas and jute cost more because of the heavier material.