Non-woven tote bags: what the numbers on the label mean
Notes from the counter at Handbag Heaven in New York, NY.
GSM is the single most useful number
GSM stands for grams per square metre and describes how much material is in the fabric. For non-woven polypropylene, anything under about 70 GSM is a giveaway bag; 80 to 100 GSM is the normal shopping weight, and above that you are into heavy duty.
Two bags can look identical and differ by a third in GSM. If a listing publishes the figure it is usually because it is on the higher side.
Why non-woven is not the same as woven
Non-woven fabric is made by bonding fibres together with heat and pressure rather than weaving threads over and under. That makes it fast and cheap to produce and gives it a slightly papery feel.
The practical consequence is that it tears along a line once punctured, where a woven fabric resists spreading. Avoid dragging non-woven bags across rough concrete.
Gussets decide what fits
The gusset is the side panel that gives a bag depth. A bag with no gusset is a flat envelope; one with a wide gusset holds boxes and takeaway containers upright.
Listings usually give three dimensions. The smallest is the gusset, and it is the one that determines whether a cereal box will stand up inside.
Laminated versus plain finishes
A laminated non-woven bag has a thin film bonded to the outside. It resists moisture, wipes clean and holds print better, which is why it is common in food retail and at events.
The trade-off is that lamination makes the bag stiffer and harder to fold flat. For a bag that lives rolled up in a bag, plain non-woven is easier to live with.
Colour fastness and print
Printed non-woven bags fade in sustained sunlight, which matters for a market stall that sits outside all day. Darker base colours hold up visibly better than pale ones.
If the bags are being bought for a brand, ask for a sample and leave it on a windowsill for a fortnight before committing to a large count.
When bulk counts pay off
Bulk pricing on non-woven bags drops sharply between small packs and counts of fifty or a hundred, because the setup cost dominates. If a use case is genuinely recurring, the larger count is usually far better value per bag.
Storage is the constraint people forget. A hundred bags is a surprisingly large box, so check where they will live before ordering.
Where this sits in the shop
Handbag Heaven groups its stock into 5 categories, so most of what is discussed above lives in one or two of them:
- Kitchen and Household Bags — 2 items
- Non-Woven Tote Bags — 12 items
- Resealable and Snack Bags — 2 items
- Reusable Grocery Totes — 11 items
- Shoe and Travel Bags — 2 items
Browsing by category is usually quicker than searching, because the groups follow how the goods are actually used rather than how a supplier lists them.
The largest group at the moment is Kitchen and Household Bags with 2 items, and the smallest is Shoe and Travel Bags with 2. Those counts move as stock comes in and goes out, so they are worth checking rather than assuming.
From our shelves
A few items currently in stock that relate to this article:
- Reginary 100 PCS Non Woven Tote Bags Bulk,Green | Reusable Shopping Bags with Handles, Stores, Groceries Markets, Events Gift, Party Supplies
- 50Pcs Reusable Non Woven Shopping Bags Large Foldable Totes Bag with Handles Grocery Handbag Bulk for Boutiques
- Jexine 80 Pieces Reusable Grocery Bags Bulk Non Woven Tote Bags Multicolor Gift Shopping Tote with Handles Foldable Fabric Tote for Birthday Party Shopping Treat Favor,12.6 x 15 Inch
- Jexine 50 Pack Non Woven Bags with Handles 13 x 15 Inch Reusable Tote Bulk Grocery Gift Bags for Shopping Birthday Party (Bright Color)
Across the whole catalogue prices currently run from $4.99 to $68.74, with most of the range clustered around the middle of that span. Stock and prices on the product pages are live, so they are the figures to trust rather than anything quoted in an article.
Ordering, delivery and returns
Free US shipping on orders over $49; a flat $6.95 below that. Orders are picked and packed at the New York store on business days, and a tracking number follows by email once the carrier scans the parcel.
If something is not right, there are 30 days from delivery to send it back unused and in its packaging. The full detail is on the Shipping Policy and Returns and Refunds pages, and the FAQ covers the questions that come up most.
How we decide what to stock
Handbag Heaven carries reusable bags, totes and everyday carry, and the range is deliberately narrower than a warehouse catalogue. A line earns its place by being asked for repeatedly at the counter in New York and by coming back without complaints — not by having the widest margin.
When something stops meeting that bar it comes off the shelf rather than being discounted until it moves. That is why the catalogue on this site changes slowly and why the specification tables on the product pages quote the maker rather than our own marketing.
Quick answers
What does shipping cost?
Free US shipping on orders over $49; a flat $6.95 below that. Everything ships from the New York store.
Can I order a bulk count for an event?
Yes. Several lines are stocked in counts up to 100. Call +1 646-852-4492 if you need a count larger than the listing shows.
Related reading
Other notes from the same shelf that pick up where this one stops:
- How to choose a reusable grocery tote that survives a year
- Packing a market stall: the bag setup that works
- Shoe bags, laundry bags and the art of packing a suitcase
Coming to the store
Handbag Heaven is at 119 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013. Opening hours are Mon-Wed 11:00-22:00 | Thu 11:00-23:00 | Fri 11:00-23:30 | Sat 10:00-23:30 | Sun 11:00-22:00, and it is worth calling ahead on +1 646-852-4492 if you are travelling specifically for one item, because stock on the shop floor and stock listed online are the same pool.
Anything discussed in this article can be looked at in person before buying. If you would rather order online, the same stock ships from this address — nothing is drop-shipped from a third party warehouse, which is why the despatch address on your parcel matches the shop.
Ask us directly
If this has not answered your question, the counter is open Mon-Wed 11:00-22:00 | Thu 11:00-23:00 | Fri 11:00-23:30 | Sat 10:00-23:30 | Sun 11:00-22:00. Call +1 646-852-4492 or use the contact page — a person reads it, and you will get an answer within a business day.