If you’ve ever stood in a grocery line eyeing flimsy plastic bags that tear before you get to your car, or folded a plain paper bag so many times it starts to fray, you know there’s a gap between functional paper packaging and something that’s actually convenient to use. As a paper bag supplier who’s spent 12 years sourcing and refining materials for small businesses, cafes, and event planners, I’ve seen firsthand how drawstring paper bags solve that problem: they’re durable, reusable, and easy to cinch shut to keep snacks, gifts, or small tools safe. A few years back, I started testing DIY versions for our wholesale clients who wanted custom branded bags on a budget, and the process isn’t as complicated as it sounds—you just need the right materials, a few simple tools, and a little patience. Today, I’m walking you through how to make your own drawstring paper bag, with tips I’ve picked up from manufacturing floors and client feedback over the years, no fancy equipment required. Paper Bag
First, let’s talk materials. I always recommend starting with heavy-duty kraft paper, the same 80–100 GSM stock we use for our bulk drawstring bags because it holds shape and resists tearing better than standard printer paper or lightweight craft paper. If you’re using paper from an old shipping box or scrap, make sure it’s free of grease, water stains, or rough edges—those will make your cinch process frustrating. For the drawstring itself, skip flimsy cotton twine that frays easily; I use 1/8-inch natural cotton cord or even wide cotton ribbon for a softer, more upscale feel. You’ll also need a few basic tools: a ruler, a pencil, fabric scissors (not paper scissors, which will leave uneven edges), a sewing machine or fabric glue that works on heavy paper, a hole punch (preferably a single-hole one for precision), and a bone folder or butter knife to crease folds sharply. If you’re making more than 10 bags at a time, a stapler will speed things up, but it’s not necessary for small batches.
Let’s break the process down step by step, starting with measuring and cutting your paper. For a standard small to medium bag (good for gift bags, snack runs, or small retail items), cut your kraft paper to 12 inches tall (this will become the bag’s height when folded), 18 inches wide, and 2 inches deep. The depth is what makes the bag hold its shape, so don’t skip that. Lay the paper flat on a clean, smooth workspace—no carpet, which will leave lint on your paper—and use a ruler and pencil to mark the cuts. If you’re a visual person, I recommend marking the lines lightly, so you can erase any mistakes without leaving dark smudges on your finished bag.
Next, crease the paper to form the bag structure. This is a make-or-break step; sharp creases will make the bag stand up straight instead of flopping over. Fold the paper in half lengthwise first, so the long edges meet at the center. Run a bone folder or the back of your butter knife along the fold firmly—press hard, but don’t tear the paper. Now, create the side gussets (the deep sides of the bag). On each open edge of the folded paper, measure 1 inch from the edge and mark a line. Fold that 1-inch section inward toward the center, then press the crease again. Flip the bag over and do the same on the other side. Now you have a flat, rectangular base with two folded sides. To turn this into a box bottom, fold the bottom edge up 1 inch, crease it, then fold it again another 1 inch. Tuck the two side gussets into the folded bottom, so the bottom forms a square, and staple or glue the edges to hold it closed. This is the part that keeps your bag from collapsing when you fill it, so make sure those bottom seams are tight.
Now for the drawstring pocket—this is where a lot of people go wrong, but it’s simple once you get the hang of it. You need to make two small horizontal casings at the top of the bag, one on each side, so the drawstring can slide through. First, open the top of the bag flat. Measure 1 inch down from the very top edge of the bag, and draw a horizontal line across the entire top width of the bag. This line is where you’ll sew or glue the top of your casing. Now, measure 1 inch below that line, and draw a second parallel line—this is the bottom of your casing, so the space between the two lines is 1 inch, which is just wide enough for the drawstring to slide through. If you’re using a sewing machine, set it to a straight stitch and sew along both lines, making sure to backstitch at the ends so the seam doesn’t come undone. If you’re using fabric glue, apply a thin, even line along both edges, then let it dry completely for 10 minutes before moving on—rushing this step will cause the glue to seep into the casing and block the drawstring.
Once the casings are ready, punch four small holes to feed the drawstring through, two on each side, aligned evenly. On the left side of the top of the bag, punch a hole 1 inch from the top edge, centered between the two horizontal casing lines. Punch a second hole directly below that, 1 inch down, on the same side. Do the same on the right side, so you have two holes on the left and two on the right, matching up. These holes let you thread the drawstring through without it getting stuck in the seams. Now, cut your drawstring to twice the length of the top of your bag—for an 18-inch wide bag, that’s 36 inches of cord or ribbon. Take one end of the drawstring and thread it through the left bottom hole, up through the left top hole, then across the top of the bag and down through the right top hole, then up through the right bottom hole. Pull the drawstring tight, and you’ll see the two ends meet at the bottom of the bag’s right side. Tie a small knot at each end, leaving a little extra length so you can pull the drawstring to cinch the bag shut.
Now, test your bag: fill it with a few items, pull both ends of the drawstring, and it should cinch securely, holding everything inside. If the drawstring gets stuck, check that your casings are sewn or glued evenly, and that your holes aren’t too small. If the bag flops over, your bottom creases probably weren’t pressed hard enough—next time, use a heavier hand or a bit of steam to soften the paper before folding, which makes creases sharper.
Over the years, I’ve tweaked this process to fix common mistakes people make when making drawstring paper bags. First, never use paper that’s thinner than 80 GSM—thin paper will tear when you pull the drawstring, especially if the bag is full. Second, when cutting the paper, leave a little extra length on the bottom gussets if you’re using scrap paper; pre-cut packaging paper from a supplier is consistent, but scrap can have uneven edges that throw off the depth. Third, if you want to add a logo or design to your bag, print it on the paper before cutting and folding—trying to print on a finished bag will stretch the paper and cause blurry text. Finally, for bulk batches, invest in a handheld hole punch that can make multiple holes at once—saving a few minutes per bag adds up when you’re making 50 or 100 at a time.
What I love most about drawstring paper bags is their versatility. They work for wedding favor bags, farmers’ market produce bags, retail shopping bags, even small laundry bags for travel. At our company, we supply custom branded drawstring paper bags to cafes that use them for bulk to-go pastries, and to event planners who sell them as branded merchandise. But knowing how to make them yourself is great for small businesses just starting out, or for DIY projects on a tight budget.
If you’re reading this and need bulk drawstring paper bags for your business, or if you want to learn more about custom sizes, materials, or branding, feel free to reach out to our team to discuss your needs. We work with everyone from local cafes to national retail chains, and we can provide samples and pricing that fits your budget.
Custom Brochure References:
- Kraft Paper Specifications for Durable Packaging. Paper Packaging Association, 2022.
- DIY Drawstring Bag Construction for Paper Materials. Craft and Packaging Supply Manual, 2021.
- Gusset Bag Design and Crease Techniques. Packaging Engineering Journal, Vol. 45, No. 2, 2020.
Jiaxing Liandong Packaging Materials Co., Ltd.
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