The global tote bag market is expected to reach an impressive $1.09 billion by 2032, so there’s no better time to explore creative tote bag design ideas.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to start a print-on-demand business or someone who prefers eco-friendliness, tote bags offer a canvas for endless creativity. From fun, personalized tote bags for daily use to stylish custom totes for special occasions, the possibilities are truly endless.
Check out these custom tote bag ideas to gain inspiration for your next bag.
Cute tote bag designs
Tote bags can be both adorable and functional, making them great for personal use or as thoughtful gifts. Let’s begin our list with cute custom tote bag design ideas to spark your creativity.
1. Animals
Animal designs bring playful, charming vibes. Cat lovers, dog enthusiasts, or bird watchers can carry their favorites in style. A tote with a cute animal print and graphics is perfect for expressing your love for pets while keeping your essentials safe.
2. Flowers
Floral designs are always in vogue, especially for cotton tote bags. Whether it’s delicate wildflowers or bold sunflowers, a floral print makes a simple tote a stylish accessory.
3. Food puns
Tote bags with food-related puns like “Avo Good Day” or “You’re Berry Special” are ideal for carrying lunches.
4. Celestial wonders
Embrace the cosmos with celestial-themed tote bags featuring stars, planets, and constellations to add a dreamy vibe to your tote bag.
Shopping tote bag designs
Carrying your groceries in plastic bags is out, and reusable bags are in. These simple tote bag design ideas will help you create a collection that will make your brand shine on Etsy and beyond.
5. Vegetables
These designs are perfect for grocery shopping and feature colorful illustrations of your favorite veggies like carrots, tomatoes, and leafy greens.
6. Wine
Wine-themed tote bags with fun phrases like “Some Groceries, Mostly Wine” make a playful statement while being practical for carrying wine bottles or groceries.
7. Farmers market finds
Celebrate your love for produce with a tote bag featuring colorful fresh fruit and vegetables. It’s the perfect companion for your next trip to the farmers market.
8. Herb garden delights
Embrace the freshness of herbs with tote bags featuring illustrations of basil, rosemary, mint, and thyme. These are perfect for those who love cooking with fresh ingredients or shopping at the local market. They’re a great way to show off your green thumb and culinary passion while passing up on plastic bags.
Beach tote bag designs
Custom tote bags are perfect for carrying beach essentials while looking fashionable. A canvas bag is easy to wash and maintains its shape and print cycle after cycle – don’t worry about sand and spilled beachside beverages!
9. Aquatic creatures
Admire the ocean’s beauty with aquatic-themed tote bags featuring whales, dolphins, sharks, or starfish. Choose a bag with a spacious interior to fit all your pool or beach day essentials.
10. Tropical getaway
Escape to a tropical paradise with a tote bag design featuring palm trees, pineapples, and exotic flowers.
Make it happen today!
Text-based tote bag design ideas
Make a fashion statement with a statement: customize cotton tote bags with inspiring quotes, poetry, or your own take on current events.
11. Puns
Tote bag design featuring fun puns like “Totes Adorbs,” “I Like Big Books and I Cannot Lie,” or “Carry On” adds a playful vibe to the outfit.
12. Motivational quotes
Inspirational quotes such as “Choose Joy” or “Be the Change” make your tote bag not just a carrier but a message bearer. These personalized tote bags resonate with those who want their accessories to have a deeper meaning.
13. Relatable phrases
Tote bags with sayings like “I Can’t Adult Today” or “I’m Not Lazy, I’m Just Energy Efficient” or appeal to those who appreciate relatable humor.
Funny designs for tote bags
A cotton canvas tote bag is like a walking billboard for your personality, so why not make it hilarious? Inject some humor into your everyday life, or start a brand with these chuckle-worthy designs.
14. Memes
Carry your favorite internet memes around on a tote bag. From cranky cats to distracted boyfriends, there’s endless design possibilities for meme-themed bags.
15. Funny animals
Who can resist a cute animal doing something silly? Think cats wearing sunglasses, dogs riding skateboards, or sloths hanging upside down. These totes are great for anyone who loves a dose of cuteness and laughter.
16. Foodie Jokes
Perfect for those who love food puns, these tote bag designs can feature jokes like “Lettuce Be Friends” with a cute lettuce graphic or “I’m on a Seafood Diet – I See Food and Eat It.” These light-hearted designs make for excellent grocery shopping bags.
17. Sarcastic Slogans
For those who appreciate a bit of sarcasm, tote bags with phrases like “I’m Not a Morning Person” or “Running Late is My Cardio” add a witty touch to your daily routine.
Seasonal canvas tote bag designs
Celebrate the changing seasons with tote bag design inspiration that captures the essence of each time of year.
18. Holiday cheer
Tote bags featuring festive designs such as Christmas trees, snowflakes, or pumpkins bring holiday spirit to shopping trips.
19. Autumn vibes
Create tote bag designs with leaves, pumpkins, and warm autumn tones. They’re perfect for pumpkin spice-loving customers on their coffee shop runs or haunted house adventures.
Niche tote bag design
Cater to specific interests and hobbies with niche tote bag design ideas that your target audience will love.
20. Gamers gonna game
Whether it’s classic arcade graphics or modern video game icons, gamer-themed tote bag designs are a profitable niche to get in on.
21. Bookworm’s paradise
Design tote bags featuring literary quotes, book covers, or whimsical library scenes to appeal to avid readers.
22. Plant lover’s bag
Tote bags covered in succulents, cacti, and other houseplants are perfect for plant lovers on the go.
23. Fitness fanatic’s bag
Motivate yourself or customers with tote bags featuring fitness quotes, workout graphics, or inspiring gym scenes.
24. Music lover’s bag
Tote bags featuring your favorite bands, song lyrics, or musical instruments are big with the musician niche.
25. Astrology lovers
Make tote bags featuring your zodiac symbol or personality traits to appeal customers who love to explore their spiritual side.
Personalized tote bag design ideas
Personalized tote bags are great gifts and additions to your online store. Customers are willing to pay a higher price for a customized bag, offering an excellent opportunity to increase your income.
26. Special occasions
Create a collection of custom tote bag designs for various occasions: weddings, bachelorette parties, birthdays – make fantastic gifts.
27. Monograms
Add a personal touch with tote bags featuring initials, names, or a special message. They’re perfect for everyday use or as personalized gifts.
More cute tote bag ideas
Create a collection of sturdy bags that don’t fall under any of the previous categories – here are even more fun tote bag ideas for your closet or brand.
28. Travel tote bag
Tote bags featuring travel quotes, iconic landmarks, or maps are perfect for carrying travel essentials or adding a touch of adventure to everyday life.
29. Artistic bag design
Showcase your artistic talents with canvas tote bag designs featuring your own artwork, bright colors, paintings, photos, or illustrations.
30. Geometric patterns
Create eye-catching tote bags with geometric patterns, abstract designs, or bold color blocks.
31. Vintage vibes
Embrace nostalgia with vintage-inspired tote bag designs with imagery from the 70s and 80s to give a nostalgic touch. They’re great for carrying all those awesome antique finds from the thrift store.
32. Outer space
Tote bags covered with celestial images give us a glimpse into the universe beyond us. These designs look especially stellar on all-over-print (AOP) bags.
How to make and sell personalized tote bags with Printify
Printify is the fastest and easiest way to create custom tote bags without upfront investment.
1. Sign up
Create a free Printify account if you don’t already have one. It only takes a few minutes to register – no credit card required.
2. Select a tote bag
Browse Printify’s Catalog for a tote bag, backpack, or other bag styles that fit your design idea. Our bags come in different sizes and materials and multiple colors, so you’re guaranteed to find the perfect tote for your design.
3. Upload or create designs
Click Start designing to use our Product Creator. Upload your own designs or create new ones using our free, built-in design tools. Create patterns, remove backgrounds, add text, create AI-generated designs, or use elements from our free graphics library.
4. Preview and adjust
Click Preview to see a mockup of your custom design on a virtual tote bag. Adjust the design’s position, size, and other details to ensure it looks perfect.
5. Save and publish
Once satisfied with your design, save the product and order a sample or publish it to your online store. Printify integrates seamlessly with platforms like Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, and WooCommerce, so you get to start selling right away.
Thinking of selling tote bags on Etsy? Check out our blog to find more bestselling items to make money on the marketplace.
Tote bag inspo: Conclusion
Custom tote bags are a great canvas for self-expression, a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic bags, and an excellent addition to your online store.
From creating cute, animal-inspired designs and vintage-vibe graphics to personalized design elements, the possibilities are truly endless.
Whether you plan to sell custom tote bags using Print on Demand or simply want to showcase your style with a truly unique, sturdy bag, this list is a good starting point for design inspiration.
Start designing your tote bags today with Printify’s easy-to-use tools, and turn your ideas into a successful online business!
