Custom Drawstring Bags in Bulk: Prices, Fabrics and MOQ

Most enquiries we get for custom drawstring bags arrive with the same two lines: "We need 3,000 bags with our logo. What is the rate?" The honest answer is that a drawstring bag can cost Rs 16 or Rs 160 a piece, and both prices can be fair. The gap comes from the fabric, the cord, the corners, the print and how many colours your logo has.

The trouble starts when buyers compare two quotes that look identical on paper. One supplier quotes Rs 22, another quotes Rs 38, and nobody mentions that the cheaper bag is 40 GSM non-woven with a thin PP rope that cuts into the shoulder by the second kilometre of a run.

We have been cutting and stitching bags at our Mumbai factory since 1996, and drawstring bags are one of the quickest products on our floor. This guide puts down what we tell marathon organisers, HR teams, schools and promotion agencies on the phone every week: which fabric to pick, what size actually fits a kit, what printing costs, and where cheap bags fail.

Where drawstring bags make sense, and where they don't

A drawstring bag (people also call it a string backpack, gym sack or sling bag) is two panels of fabric, a cord channel at the top and two cords that double as shoulder straps. No zip, no handle, no gusset in the basic version. That simple build is why it is cheap and why it packs flat: 500 non-woven drawstring bags fit in one carton that a single person can lift.

They work well for:

• Marathons, cyclothons and walkathons, where the bag carries the bib, T-shirt, medal and sponsor samples on expo day.
• School and college sports days, house kits and summer camps.
• Gym memberships and fitness studio welcome packs, usually in polyester with a front zip pocket.
• Product sampling and brand activations, where a promoter hands out 2,000 bags in a mall over a weekend.
• Conference giveaways where the organiser wants something lighter than a full delegate bag.
• Shoe, jewellery and accessory packaging, in smaller sizes and softer fabrics.

They are a poor choice when people will carry a laptop, heavy documents or more than 4 to 5 kg. The load hangs from two cords, so the weight sits on a strip of shoulder a few millimetres wide. If your delegates have laptops, look at conference bags or a light laptop backpack instead. We would rather lose a drawstring order than have 800 people complain about sore shoulders at your event.

Fabric options for custom drawstring bags

Fabric decides about 60 to 70 percent of the bag cost, so this is where most of the price difference between quotes hides. Here is what we make and what each one is good for.

Non-woven polypropylene

This is the cheapest and the most common for events. We use 60 to 80 GSM for drawstring bags. Below 60 GSM the fabric stretches at the eyelets and tears once someone stuffs in a pair of shoes. There is also a legal floor: the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021 say a non-woven plastic carry bag cannot be less than 60 GSM from 30 September 2021. If someone offers you a 40 GSM drawstring bag in bulk, ask how they plan to defend that at a municipal check. We have written about this rule in more detail in our non-woven GSM compliance guide, and our full range sits on the non-woven bags page.

Non-woven takes screen printing well in one or two colours. It does not take sublimation, because the PP fabric softens under a heat press set hot enough for sublimation.

Polyester (190T, 210D and 420D)

Polyester is what most sports brands use. 190T is a thin, shiny fabric, fine for a one-day event. 210D is the standard we recommend for gyms and corporate giveaways, because it has a better hand feel and survives washing. 420D is heavier and usually comes with a PU coating on the back for water resistance. White polyester can be sublimated edge to edge, which is how you get full-colour photographic designs. See our polyester bags range for the base styles.

Cotton and canvas

Cotton drawstring bags in 140 to 180 GSM are popular with schools, yoga studios, organic food brands and jewellery packaging. Canvas in 8 to 12 oz is the premium end: it holds shape, takes embroidery and lasts for years. Both cost more and both shrink a little on the first wash, roughly 3 to 5 percent for unwashed cotton, so we cut the panels slightly oversize. Our cotton bags page shows the fabric shades we keep in stock.

rPET and nylon

rPET fabric is polyester made from recycled bottles. It looks and prints almost like regular 210D polyester and costs roughly 15 to 25 percent more. Companies reporting on sustainability like it because the material story is easy to explain. If that is your angle, start with our recycled PET bags. Nylon is lighter and stronger than polyester at the same weight and is what you pick for a bag that folds into its own pocket, or for outdoor and trekking groups.

If you are still deciding between natural and synthetic materials more broadly, our comparison of non-woven, jute and canvas bags covers the trade-offs in more depth.

Sizes that actually fit what goes inside

Buyers often pick a size by looking at a photo. A better way is to list what goes in the bag and then add space. A folded race T-shirt in a poly pouch, a medal box and a 500 ml bottle need a 14 x 16 inch bag at minimum. Add a pair of size 10 running shoes and you need 15 x 18.

Our standard catalogue size on the drawstring sports bag page is 40 x 33 cm, which is a wide format suited to gym use. Any of the sizes above can be cut to order, since a drawstring bag needs no special die. Changing size by an inch or two does not change the price much. Moving from 14 x 16 to 16 x 20 adds roughly 30 to 40 percent fabric, so expect a similar jump on the fabric part of the price.

Cords, corners and the small parts that decide if a bag survives

When a drawstring bag fails, it almost never fails in the middle of the panel. It fails at the bottom corners, where the cord is anchored, or at the cord itself. This is where low quotes save their money.

The cord

There are three common choices. Thin PP rope (3 to 4 mm) is the cheapest; it is slippery and cuts into the shoulder. Polyester round cord of 4 to 5 mm is our default and is comfortable for most uses. Flat cotton tape or 10 to 15 mm webbing is the most comfortable and costs Rs 3 to Rs 6 more per bag. For a marathon where runners walk around the expo for an hour, the round cord is fine. For a gym bag carried daily, go for wider cord or webbing.

The corners

The cheapest method pushes the cord ends into the side seam and stitches over them once. Those pull out. Better options are a metal eyelet (grommet) punched through a reinforced corner, or a small fabric or PU corner patch with the cord passing through it. On non-woven, we always add a corner patch because the fabric itself is too soft to hold an eyelet under load. A buyer from a fitness chain once sent us a competitor's bag where all four eyelets had torn out within a month. The fix cost them about Rs 2 a bag on their next order.

Stitching and the cord channel

We keep stitch density at around 8 to 10 stitches per inch on polyester and cotton, and the top channel at about 2.5 to 3 cm so the cord runs freely. Non-woven bags can be ultrasonically sealed instead of stitched, which is faster and cheaper, but for drawstring bags we still prefer stitched side seams because the corners take a direct pull. Our quality control page lists the checks our line supervisors do before packing.

Useful extras

• A front zip pocket for keys and phone, adding roughly Rs 8 to Rs 15 a bag.
• A mesh panel or ventilation holes for shoe storage.
• A reflective strip, which running clubs like for early morning runs.

Printing your logo: methods and what each costs

Printing is where small order sizes hurt most, because most of the cost is setup. A screen has to be made for every colour, and the press operator spends time registering each one. On 100 bags that setup is spread thin; on 5,000 bags it almost disappears.

• Screen printing: best for 1 to 3 flat colours on any fabric. Setup is roughly Rs 600 to Rs 1,200 per colour per side, and the per-bag print cost falls to Rs 2 to Rs 5 per colour at a few thousand pieces. Our screen printed bags page shows typical results.
• Heat transfer and DTF: good for full-colour logos, gradients and small runs of 50 to 500. No screen setup, but the per-piece cost is higher, often Rs 12 to Rs 30 depending on print size.
• Sublimation: full-colour, edge to edge, only on white or light polyester. The print becomes part of the fabric, so it does not crack.
• Embroidery: for cotton and canvas when you want a premium look. Priced by stitch count; a small chest logo of 6,000 to 8,000 stitches typically adds Rs 15 to Rs 30.

If your logo has five colours but the brand guide allows a single-colour version, use the single colour on a drawstring bag. It will look sharper on non-woven and save you Rs 6 to Rs 10 per bag at 2,000 units. If you want a full-colour sponsor wall on the back, go polyester and use sublimation or heat transfer. More on choosing methods is on our logo printed bags page.

Keep the print area realistic. On a 14 x 16 inch bag, the usable print area is about 10 x 10 inches, because the top 3 inches gather when the cord is pulled and the bottom corners curl. Logos placed too high disappear into the gathers.

Drawstring bag prices in bulk

Below are rough ex-factory price bands we see for 14 x 16 inch drawstring bags with a one-colour, one-side logo. They exclude GST and freight. Fabric rates move with crude oil and cotton prices, so treat these as a planning guide and ask us for a current quote.

For very small runs of 50 to 100 pieces with full-colour printing, our price starts around Rs 120 a bag. That is the setup and handling cost speaking, not the bag. Buyers who need 80 bags now and 2,000 later can often save by ordering the larger quantity together and storing the extras. Our bulk pricing page explains how quantity slabs work across products.

Some things push the price up quickly: a second print colour, printing on both sides, a zip pocket, webbing instead of cord, custom-dyed fabric to match a Pantone shade, and individual poly packing. Individual packing alone adds Rs 1 to Rs 3 a bag, and for an event where volunteers will open every bag to stuff it, it is wasted money.

MOQ and lead times

For printed non-woven and polyester drawstring bags, our usual minimum is 500 pieces, though plain bags start at 100 and our catalogue drawstring sports bag starts at 50 at a higher rate. Cotton and canvas follow similar numbers. The full breakdown by product is on our minimum order quantity page.

Lead time is counted from the day you approve the artwork proof, not from the day you first enquire. A typical schedule looks like this:

• Up to 2,000 pieces in stock colours: 7 to 10 working days.
• 5,000 to 10,000 pieces: 12 to 18 working days.
• Custom-dyed fabric or a special Pantone match: add 7 to 10 days for dyeing.
• Embroidery: add 3 to 5 days depending on stitch count.

October to January is our busiest stretch because of Diwali gifting, year-end conferences and the winter running season. If your event is in December or January, lock the order by early November. Every year we get calls in the second week of January from organisers whose original supplier missed the date.

Planning bags for a marathon or a large event

Race organisers have needs that a regular corporate buyer does not. A few things we have learnt from running-event orders:

• Order 3 to 5 percent extra. Late registrations, volunteers and sponsors always want bags. Re-running 150 bags later costs nearly as much as the first 1,000 in setup.
• Pack flat in cartons of 100 or 200, labelled with the count. Your expo volunteers stuffing kits will thank you.
• Keep sponsor logos to the back panel and your race logo on the front. Ask sponsors for vector files early; chasing a sponsor's AI file is the most common reason we wait on artwork.
• Plan delivery to the expo venue, not your office, if storage is tight. A 70 GSM non-woven bag of this size weighs roughly 25 to 30 grams, so 5,000 bags come to about 150 kg in 10 to 12 cartons, which fits in a small tempo.

For races and events with a bigger kit, our conference kits and bags for events pages show how we bundle bags with T-shirts and other items. Our earlier guide on custom event bags covers the full event bag planning process, and if you want ideas beyond the plain drawstring, read our post on promotional bag ideas.

Common mistakes buyers make

Most problems we see are avoidable. These come up again and again:

• Comparing price without comparing spec. Ask every supplier to write down fabric type and GSM or denier, cord type, corner finish, print colours and size. Then compare.
• Skipping the physical sample. A photo shows colour but not the feel of the cord or the strength of the corners. A pre-production sample costs a little and takes 3 to 5 days.
• Approving artwork on a phone screen. Pantone shades look different on screen. If the colour matters, ask for a printed swatch.
• Choosing the wrong fabric for the use. A 190T polyester bag for a gym membership kit will look tired in a month. A canvas bag for a mall sampling drive will blow the budget.
• Leaving it late. Rush charges, air freight from another city and compromises on print all come from a short timeline.

If you are a gym owner or a sports brand comparing heavier styles, our gym bags wholesale guide covers duffels and backpacks too.

Buying from outside Mumbai

We ship drawstring bags across India by road transport and courier. Because they pack flat and light, freight is a small share of the cost: usually under Rs 1 a bag for a few thousand pieces going by road to Pune, Ahmedabad or Bangalore. Buyers in the south often deal with us through our Bangalore enquiries, and Pune running clubs and colleges through our Pune page.

For buyers abroad, cotton and polyester drawstring bags are a regular export item for us, mainly to the UAE, UK and USA. Export MOQs are higher, usually 500 to 1,000 pieces, to make freight sensible.

How to order custom drawstring bags from us

The process is simple, and it moves fastest when the first message has all the details.

• Step 1: Send your requirement. Quantity, size, fabric preference, logo file, number of print colours, and your deadline. WhatsApp or the contact form both work. If you don't know the fabric, tell us the use and budget and we will suggest one.
• Step 2: Get a quote and a digital proof. Usually within one working day. The proof shows the logo position and size on the bag.
• Step 3: Approve a sample. For orders above 1,000 pieces we recommend a physical pre-production sample. It takes 3 to 5 days.
• Step 4: Production. Fabric cutting, printing, stitching, cord insertion and checking. Lead times are as listed above.
• Step 5: Packing and dispatch. Flat-packed in labelled cartons and sent to your office, warehouse or event venue.

If you want to see the wider range before deciding, our promotional bags page lists every style we make for giveaways.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest material for custom drawstring bags?

Non-woven polypropylene at 60 to 70 GSM. At 1,000 pieces with a one-colour logo, it usually lands between Rs 18 and Rs 28 a bag before GST. Do not go below 60 GSM, since that is the legal minimum for non-woven carry bags in India.

What is the minimum order quantity?

Usually 500 pieces for printed non-woven or polyester drawstring bags, and 100 for plain bags. Small runs from 50 pieces are possible at a higher per-bag rate, starting around Rs 120 with a full-colour print.

How long does production take?

7 to 10 working days for up to 2,000 bags in stock colours after artwork approval. Larger quantities take 12 to 18 days, and custom-dyed fabric adds about a week.

Can you print a full-colour design on a drawstring bag?

Yes. Use white or light polyester and we can sublimate or heat-transfer a full-colour design. On non-woven, we recommend sticking to one or two spot colours using screen printing.

What size should I choose for a marathon kit?

14 x 16 inches fits a T-shirt, medal, bottle and flyers. If runners will also put shoes in it, go for 15 x 18 inches.

Are drawstring bags washable?

Polyester, cotton, canvas and rPET bags can be hand washed or machine washed gently. Non-woven bags can be wiped clean but should not be machine washed, as the fabric can lose shape.

Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?

Yes. We can send a stock sample quickly, or make a pre-production sample with your logo in 3 to 5 days. The sample cost is usually adjusted against the final order.

If you have an event, a gym launch or a giveaway coming up, send us the quantity, size and logo and we will come back with a clear quote and a proof. Use our contact page or message us on WhatsApp at +91 86525 70502, and tell us your deadline in the first message so we can tell you straight away whether we can meet it.