Calculate exactly how much fabric you need to sew your own tote bag. Enter your desired bag width, bag height, and bag depth, and the Bag Calculator returns the required fabric width and fabric height — so you buy the right amount and avoid waste.
Total Fabric Area Needed
--
Fabric Width to Cut
--
Fabric Height to Cut
--
Lining Fabric Area
--
A tote bag is a large, unfastened bag with parallel handles that emerge from the sides of its pouch. Tote bags are typically made from sturdy fabric such as canvas, cotton, or jute and are used for shopping, carrying everyday items, or as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags.
The calculator uses two formulas: Fabric Width = (2 × bag width) + (2 × bag depth) + seam allowance, and Fabric Height = bag height + (½ × bag depth) + seam allowance. These account for both panels of the bag plus the gusset, giving you the dimensions of the single fabric piece you need to cut.
Box corners (also called gusset corners) create a flat bottom on your bag. To form box corners, cut a small square from each bottom corner of your fabric panel. The size of each square equals half the desired depth of your bag. For example, for a 10 cm deep bag, cut 5 cm × 5 cm squares from each corner, then fold and sew those edges together.
Yes — the basic fabric calculation method is the same for most rectangular bag shapes, including storage bags. The key difference is usually the closure mechanism (a zipper or drawstring at the top) and the choice of fabric. For storage bags, you might use thicker or more structured material, but the width and height formulas remain identical.
For a flat 30" × 17" tote bag with a 0.5" seam allowance and no depth, you would need a fabric piece roughly 61" wide × 18" tall (before folding). If you want a 2" gusset, the fabric width increases to about 65" wide × 19" tall. Always add a few extra inches as a safety buffer.
Common tote bag styles include flat totes (no gusset), box-bottom totes (sewn box corners for a structured base), reversible totes (two fabric layers, no visible seams), market bags (open weave or mesh), and drawstring bags. Each style uses the same basic fabric calculation but may need adjustments for handles, pockets, or closures.
Yes, always include seam allowance. A standard seam allowance is 1 cm (or 3/8") on each seam. The calculator adds a total seam allowance buffer to both the fabric width and height, so the dimensions it returns are the cut measurements — not the finished bag measurements.
Yes. This calculator estimates the fabric for the main bag body only. For handles, add two strips of fabric: typically 5–8 cm wide and 50–70 cm long each for standard tote handles. If you plan on making longer shoulder straps, adjust accordingly and purchase extra yardage.