The Magical OZ：

When you see the unit of measurement written in ounces (oz), you know people are discussing weight. In the kitchen, you use ounces to measure the ingredients in recipes. Similarly, the weight of textile products such as T-shirts, bed sheets, and cotton/canvas tote bags is measured in ounces by textile production and sales professionals. In the cotton industry, ounces are generally used to indicate the cotton fabric’s thickness indirectly.

The larger the ounces, the thicker the cotton fabric is understood to be. How do you convert this to square meters? Generally, 1 oz equals 28.35 grams.

The complexity here lies in that the weight (total number of ounces) depends on the average weight across all colors. Because darker colors require more dye than lighter or white materials, dark colors are usually slightly heavier than light colors (the more colors, the more the weight of the fabric increases). Therefore, when the weight of a bag may be described as 6 ounces, dark items may weigh up to 6.5 ounces, while white items may weigh as little as 5.8 ounces.

In general, you can imagine that the thickness and strength of the material are proportional to its importance. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Cotton fiber can be manufactured through various processes; depending on these processes, a lighter-weight garment may be more durable than a heavier-weight garment.

Difference between Cotton and Canvas：

Both cotton and canvas are made from cotton, but they differ in how the fibers are woven and their characteristics. Cotton is lighter and more breathable, while canvas is more durable.

The biggest difference between canvas and cotton is that the warp and weft yarns of the canvas are made up of 2 or more strands, while cotton is usually single-stranded. This also results in the appearance of canvas bags being more rough and sturdy, while cotton bags are more fine and dense. In addition, the canvas is generally woven in a plain weave and rarely in a diagonal weave, which makes it easier to distinguish between canvas and cotton. Because canvas is woven with multiple strands, it is strong, durable, and tightly woven.

How to choose between Cotton and Canvas Shopping Bags?

Generally, we use at least 5 ounces to make a bag. 5-6 oz is considered lightweight and is more suitable for making promotional bags, as they are cheaper. 8-10 oz is considered medium weight, and this thickness can be used for shopping and other daily activities. Above 12 oz is considered heavyweight, and if you want the bag to look thick, high-end, and more three-dimensional, you can choose 12 oz or more. Of course, the thicker the bag, the higher the unit price and the more expensive the shipping costs.

We sincerely hope that the information that we provided was of some value to you and that it assisted you in making more informed decisions regarding your go-to tote bags. Feel free to contact us if you have any further inquiries concerning the weights of fabrics and thread counts.