Drawstring Bag Sizes & Dimensions: Wholesale Size Chart

Drawstring bag sizes are quoted flat, in centimetres, as width × length — and almost every sizing mistake comes from treating that flat measurement as a filled, three-dimensional space. This guide explains how pouch dimensions work, gives a full drawstring bag size chart in cm and inches, maps each size to the products that fit (jewellery, favours, cosmetics, bottles and apparel), and lists the exact in-stock organza and cotton-linen sizes we produce, with MOQ and custom-print lead times.

How drawstring bag sizes are measured

Lay the empty pouch flat and measure across the fabric panel (width) and from the bottom edge to the top opening (length). Both dimensions describe the flat panel, not the inside when the bag is full. Because organza, velvet and burlap are soft fabrics, a pouch can wrap around items wider and deeper than its flat width suggests — but only to a point, and sheer organza gives far less than a woven cotton-linen blend.

• Width (W) × length (L), in that order, measured flat on the closed pouch.
• Length is the full panel; the drawstring channel at the top removes about 1.5–2.5 cm of usable depth once the cords are pulled.
• Cord length is not part of the size — cords extend 4–8 cm beyond the panel depending on style.
• Tolerance is typically ±0.5 cm on stitched fabric pouches, slightly more on burlap.

Standard drawstring bag size chart (cm and inches)

These seven size tiers cover nearly all retail, favour and gift-packaging use. They are the standard sizes carried by Chinese packaging factories (including our own production), so tooling and sampling for these dimensions is fastest.

Which size for your product?

The same flat size behaves differently depending on what goes inside. Rigid items (boxes, tins, bottles) need an exact dimensional fit; soft bundles (candy, textiles, fill) tolerate a smaller bag. Here is the practical mapping buyers use:

In-stock organza and burlap sizes (with MOQ)

These are the exact size grids of three of our most-reordered drawstring lines. Stock pouches are sold in pack increments of 50 or 100 depending on the style, and storefront MOQ starts at 50 pieces. Wholesale pricing is tiered by quantity and varies with size, material and finish — from low-cost plain organza favour sizes to larger foil-stamped and cotton-linen pouches — so the current tier price is shown on each product page and confirmed in your quote rather than fixed in a guide.

Organza vs cotton-linen: same size, different fit

Material changes both the visual size and what the pouch can hold. Sheer organza is thin and slippery, so contents show through and rigid corners poke visibly — it is ideal for jewellery and favours that are meant to be glimpsed. Cotton-linen (often described as burlap-style party cloth) is opaque and more rigid: the same nominal 13×18 cm holds a chunkier soap or candle without distortion, and it takes screen-printed logos far better than organza, where foil stamping is the usual decoration.

• Organza — sheer polyester, cheapest tier, best for jewellery display and wedding/event favours; foil patterns are the most reordered finish.
• Cotton-linen blend — opaque, rustic texture, best for brands, edible gifts and anything chunky; screen print recommended.
• Velvet and satin pouches — sit between the two on price, feel more premium, and are usually quoted separately; same sizing conventions apply.

One material note for premium ranges: velvet and satin drawstring pouches follow the same flat size conventions but present differently. Their thicker nap makes a filled pouch look smaller than the same size in organza, so jewellery and cosmetics brands often step one size up — a 10×15 cm velvet pouch reads more like a 9×12 cm organza once the product is inside. Velvet is usually specified for jewellery, watches and year-end corporate gifts; satin for lingerie, cosmetics and perfume. Both take foil logos cleanly and are quoted per size and Pantone.

Custom logo printing, MOQ and lead times

Beyond size and material, three options finish a drawstring pouch order. The cord is first: organza favours usually use a matching satin cord in pink, red, gold, silver, black or white, while cotton-linen bags use a twisted cotton or jute drawcord; cord colour can be matched to a Pantone on custom runs. The second is decoration — foil stamping (gold, silver, rose gold) on organza, screen print or a woven label on cotton-linen, both positioned within a roughly 6×4 cm printable area on the front panel. The third is packing: individual poly bags, header cards or hangtags are available for retail-ready fulfilment. All three are confirmed at sampling, so the printed proof shows the exact cord, artwork position and packing before bulk starts.

Blank stock pouches in standard sizes ship with the lowest MOQ (from 50 pieces) and 5–7 day sampling. Custom branding changes the economics: foil stamping on organza and screen printing on cotton-linen typically start around 500 pieces per colourway to cover plate and setup costs. White samples plus a printed proof are produced before bulk, which runs about 15–25 days depending on quantity and finish. Custom non-standard sizes need a new cutting form and are quoted per dieline.

Packing, carton size and freight

Soft pouches are among the cheapest packaging items to freight, but size choice still changes the carton count. Organza and cotton-linen drawstring bags ship flat and can be bundled in poly packs of 50 or 100 pieces; a standard 60×40×40 cm export carton typically holds 4,000–8,000 mini (7×9 cm) organza pouches but only 800–1,200 of the 20×30 cm size. Ordering one size larger than you need rarely costs much per piece, but across a container the extra carton volume adds up — another reason to size to the product rather than rounding up.

• Pouches nest when mixed sizes are bundled together; ask for mixed-size cartons if you are splitting an order across several SKUs.
• Foil-stamped organza is packed with tissue between layers to stop the foil catching in transit; this slightly lowers pieces per carton.
• All pouches can be consolidated with rigid boxes, paper bags and printed ribbon in one shipment — one proforma invoice, one container or parcel.
• Samples and small reorders usually go by express courier (3–5 days to the US/Europe after dispatch); bulk orders run sea freight FOB, CIF or DDP.

Five common sizing mistakes (and how to avoid them)

1. Forgetting the display card. Jewellery on a card is often taller than the piece itself — a pendant that fits 9×12 cm loose needs 10×15 cm once carded.
2. Ignoring the drawstring channel. Buyers read 13×18 cm as 18 cm of fill space; about 2 cm is lost under the gathered top, so an item 17 cm long will not drop in cleanly.
3. Sizing to the screen diagonal for phones. A 6.7-inch phone is around 16 cm long physically. Measure the actual device with its case and use 17×23 cm rather than guessing from the marketing size.
4. Choosing organza for a chunky product. Soap edges, candle corners and tins show through and distort sheer fabric; move to cotton-linen at the same nominal size.
5. Ordering a custom size when a stock size fits. Custom cutting forms start around 500 pieces; checking the standard chart first usually removes that cost and shortens sampling to 5–7 days.

Frequently asked questions