From PO to Delivery: Custom Bag Lead Times Explained

Lead time is easier to plan when you separate the times published for production from the dates each order confirms. This page sets out the stages from RFQ to delivery for custom bags made in Guangzhou, and the points a B2B buyer should have answered in writing before paying a deposit.

The published timeline

What the published times cover

Two times are published: the working sample (3–7 working days after the specification and artwork are confirmed) and bulk production (usually 15–25 working days after sample approval and deposit, longer in peak seasons). Everything else — quotation turnaround, sample delivery, inspection reporting, freight and customs — is confirmed per order. No fixed door-to-door period is quoted, because transit depends on the destination, route and trade term.

Planning backwards from a launch date

1. Fix the in-hands date and the destination first.
2. Ask for a shipping quote to that destination and trade term — FOB Guangzhou is standard; CIF or DDP is quoted on request.
3. Subtract bulk production: usually 15–25 working days after sample approval and deposit.
4. Subtract the sample: 3–7 working days after specification and artwork are confirmed.
5. Add the artwork and approval rounds, then a buffer for revisions.
6. Ask for every date in writing before the deposit is paid.

Confirm in writing before the deposit

• The bulk start date and the deposit terms.
• Which sample points are approved: fabric, colour, size and print.
• The inspection scope and the report format.
• The trade term and what the price includes (freight, insurance, duty).
• Packing details and any labelling requirement.
• Any peak-season or holiday arrangement — ask the supplier to confirm it for your dates, not in general.

What commonly moves a date

• Artwork arriving late or changing after sampling — ask the supplier to confirm whether the change affects the schedule or any setup cost.
• An underspecified bag — size, weight, handle and print positions have to be fixed to quote properly.
• Slow written approval — the bulk clock starts after approval, not before.
• Deposit timing — ask the supplier to state how deposit receipt affects the confirmed production start date.
• A custom fabric or Pantone colour — ask for the material lead time for that order.
• Peak season — ask for the confirmed dates rather than an average.

Working days and the bulk clock

Production times are quoted in working days, and the bulk clock starts when the sample is approved in writing and the deposit is received. The quotation should state both the start condition and the dates; if it does not, ask for them before approving. Ask the supplier to convert the working-day figure into calendar dates for your order, because public holidays change the calendar.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a custom bag sample take?

3–7 working days after the specification and artwork are confirmed. The exact sample date is confirmed in writing with the order.

How long does bulk production take?

Usually 15–25 working days after the sample is approved and the deposit is received, and longer in peak seasons. The exact dates are confirmed in the quotation.

Is shipping time included in the lead time?

No. Shipping depends on the destination, route and trade term. FOB Guangzhou is standard; CIF or DDP is quoted on request and confirmed per order.

When does bulk production start?

After the sample is approved in writing and the deposit is received. The quotation should state this start condition and the production dates.

What can delay a custom bag order?

Late or changing artwork, an underspecified bag, slow written approval, deposit timing, a custom fabric or colour lead time, and peak season. Ask the supplier to confirm each one for your order.

Do you quote a fixed door-to-door delivery date?

No fixed door-to-door period is quoted. Production dates are confirmed per order, and shipping transit is confirmed with the shipment by destination, route and trade term.

Compare quotes on the same basis

Two quotes are only comparable when they cover the same specification, quantity, trade term and destination. Ask each supplier to state the sample date, the bulk start condition, the production dates and what the price includes, then compare the totals on the same basis rather than the headline unit price.

Next step

Normal business enquiries receive a reply within one business day; detailed quotations follow specification review. Send the specification, quantity and in-hands date through custom orders; wholesale terms are on the wholesale page. The same stages apply to cotton and canvas totes and non-woven bags.