10 Details to Include in a Custom Bag RFQ: A Buyer Checklist

The difference between a quote you can act on and one you can't usually comes down to what you put in the first message. A full RFQ tells a factory the bag type, size, material, quantity and delivery you need, so the price and lead time come back right the first time — and you can compare suppliers like for like. This checklist is written for importers, distributors and brand buyers. It is not about any single factory's offer, and every field works even if your own team hasn't decided everything yet.

The 10 fields of a quotable RFQ

1. Bag type and use. Name the style — cotton tote, non-woven shopper, drawstring pouch, dust bag, garment bag — and what it is for (retail shopping bag, gift packaging, promo giveaway, shoe liner). Use drives size, weight and printing, so one line here saves two rounds of questions. TBD: “a tote for a cosmetics brand” is enough to start.

2. Size and gusset. Width × height × depth in centimetres, or a real-world reference (“fits an A4 folder”, “fits a 750 ml bottle”). Include the gusset or boxed bottom if the bag must stand and carry weight. TBD: “standard medium tote” is fine if you will accept the factory's default.

3. Material and weight. If you know it, state it — e.g. 80 gsm non-woven, 12 oz cotton canvas, 6 oz poly-cotton, jute, felt, satin. Weight changes feel, cost and print quality, so leaving it out is the single biggest source of “why does this quote differ?” TBD: “cotton, weight not sure” — the factory can propose a standard.

4. Handles and structure. Self-fabric, webbing, rope, leather-look or none; open top, gusseted base or full zip. State handle length if it matters for carrying. TBD: “matching self-fabric handles”.

5. Quantity per style, colour and size. Give the total and the split, because most bag MOQs and price tiers apply per style, per colour, per size. “3,000 pcs” is not the same as “3,000 pcs in three colours and two sizes”. TBD: an approximate total is enough to get a first tier price.

6. Colours and print artwork. Fabric colour (Pantone code or a photo) and print: number of colours, print area (front, back, both), and the artwork file — AI, PDF, CDR or a 300 dpi PNG. A one-colour silk-screen logo and a full-colour all-over print are two different budgets. TBD: “logo attached, position to be advised”.

7. Packaging and labels. How the bags should be packed — folded flat, individually polybagged, or bulk in cartons — and any finishing: hang tags, woven labels, care labels, barcodes. Packing affects freight volume and your own receiving. TBD: “standard export carton packing”.

8. Destination and delivery terms. Country and city, and the term you want to compare on — FOB, CIF or DDP — plus door or port. This is what lets a supplier include or exclude freight, duty and VAT consistently. TBD: “deliver to [city], quote FOB and DDP”.

9. Samples. Whether you need a physical pre-production sample before bulk, or photo approval is enough, and how many. A sample fee is normally credited to the first bulk order — confirm this when you ask. TBD: “one sample before bulk”.

10. Target in-hands date. The date you actually need the bags, and what it is for (store launch, event, seasonal programme). Lead time is only half of it; shipping and peak season are the other half. TBD: “no fixed date yet — what is the fastest possible?”.

Copy-paste RFQ template

Copy the block below, fill in what you know and mark the rest TBD. Send it through our quote form or to sales@ecobagly.com.

CUSTOM BAG RFQ — copy, fill in, mark the rest TBD
1. Bag type & use: [type] — used for [use]
2. Size & gusset: [W] × [H] × [D] cm   (or “fits [item]”)
3. Material & weight: [e.g. 12 oz cotton / 80 gsm non-woven / TBD]
4. Handles & structure: [self-fabric / webbing / rope / none] · [boxed bottom / gusset / open]
5. Quantity: [total] pcs — split: [style] × [colour] × [size]
6. Colours & artwork: fabric [Pantone or photo] · print [1 / 2 / full colour] · artwork [AI / PDF / PNG]
7. Packaging & labels: [folded flat / polybagged / carton] · [hang tag / woven label / care label]
8. Destination & terms: [country, city] · [FOB / CIF / DDP] · [port / door]
9. Samples: [physical sample before bulk / photo approval] · [1 or 2]
10. Target in-hands date: [date] — for [event / launch / season]

How a complete RFQ pays off

• Faster reply. Every unanswered field is one more email round before a price exists.
• Comparable quotes. When three suppliers see the same ten fields, their prices are finally for the same bag.
• Fewer surprises. Material weight, print colours, packing and Incoterm are where quotes silently differ.
• Lower risk on the first order. A clear spec becomes the reference if anything about the sample or bulk is disputed.

Two of our most-read guides cover the same process from the other side: how to choose the right bag and what actually moves the price. For the factory's own terms — MOQ, print inclusion, sampling and Incoterms — see the wholesale page and FAQ.

EcoBag Factory — custom bag manufacturer in Guangzhou, China. MOQ 500 pcs, 1–2 colour print included, samples in 3–7 working days, FOB / CIF / DDP worldwide.