You can go to Target and buy a plain, basic backpack for school or work. Wouldn’t it be more exciting, though, to use a custom backpack from one of your favorite brands? A variety of places, from colleges to theme parks, can print their logo on cool backpacks, and sell them or hand them out to fans!
Are you a business that wants to give this ad strategy a shot? Follow this design guide to get stylish, branded backpacks in bulk.
Why Do You Need Custom Backpacks?
It’s not like buying a candy bar on an impulse at the grocery store. You’re ordering custom backpacks for a specific purpose. Which of these sounds most like you?

Schools
Bring interest to your preschool, high school, or college with logo backpacks. You can sell them as part of a fundraiser, or keep them in stock at your bookstore.

Campgrounds
Are you running a summer camp, or do you manage a hiking trail? Hand out drawstring backpacks to everyone who signs up. You can fill the bags up with fun gear like t-shirts, flashlights, and marshmallows for all those s’mores!

Travel Agencies
Vacation will be a breeze with stylish backpacks from your travel agency! Your clients are sure to appreciate a handy carry-on bag they can use in those busy airports.

Sports Teams
Whether it’s a baseball mitt, shin guards, or a football helmet, athletes have a lot to carry to practices and games. Personalized backpacks are useful gifts to give everyone on your team!

Tourist Attractions
Amusement parks, zoos, and other tourist attractions can keep backpacks in their gift shops. With any luck, your visitors will use them when they visit you again in the future!

Gyms & Fitness Centers
Most people have to exercise before or after work, and they need a way to carry a change of clothes and a water bottle with them to the office. Help them out by offering branded backpacks or duffels at your gym or fitness center.

Bands
You probably already have t-shirts, hoodies, and hats in your merch tent. Now take it a step further with custom backpacks! Clear bags in particular are a great choice since they’re security-friendly at concerts and music festivals.

Corporate Gifts
It’s the holidays, and you’ve got corporate gifts on the brain! While gift cards are nice, everyone on your team is sure to get even more use from a backpack printed with your logo.
Of course, that’s not all! You can manage a restaurant, run a hair salon, or host a break dancing competition and still get an advertising boost from custom backpacks. Think of them as moving billboards made from canvas or cotton!
Tips for Customizing Backpacks
It’s finally time to customize your backpacks! Follow these tips to make sure you end up with something awesome:
- Pick your favorite style.
- Choose a good color.
- Print a budget-friendly design.
- Be ready to meet the minimum.
Tip #1: Pick Your Favorite Style
Backpacks come in a variety of different styles, from the classic double strap to trendy messenger bags. Here’s a full list of all the different options you can choose from:

Two Straps

Sling Bags

Messenger Bags

Computer Backpacks

Backpack Coolers

Duffel Bags

Outdoor Bags

Travel Bags

Clear Bags
Tip #2: Choose a Good Color
Once you’ve decided on the type of backpack you want, the next step is picking the color. Take a look at a few ideas!

Basic Color

Basic Color

Neutral

Neutral

Multi-Color

Multi-Color

Bright

Bright

Pattern

Pattern
The bag should be reflective of your brand’s personality. For instance, if you’re a serious business like a law firm or medical center, you should shy away from bright colors and bold patterns.
Tip #3: Print a Budget-Friendly Design
Unless you’ve ordered promotional items before, you may not know that you get charged per ink color. Stay within your budget by either:
- Printing the design, logo, or text in 1 color
- Opting for a full color transfer
- Using embroidery

Print in 1 Ink Color
Technique: Screen printing
A screen-printed backpack will typically only have 1 ink color included in the cost. Choose an ink that pairs well with the color of your bag. For example, if you want black backpacks, choose a light ink color like white or pale pink.

Full Color Transfer
Technique: Digital printing
If you have a colorful logo or design that you want to print, opt for a backpack that’s customized with digital printing. All of the ink colors are included, so go nuts!

Embroidery
Technique: Embroidery
Your design will last an insanely long time if you get it embroidered on the backpacks. This is also a good option if you want a colorful logo as 7 to 8 thread colors are usually included with the cost.
The printing technique plays a role in how your backpacks look and how much they cost. Be strategic about which one you use!

Tip #4: Be Ready to Meet the Minimum

Have you ever ordered a custom mug as a holiday gift? If so, you probably just ordered one for your mom or Great Grandma Betty. Promotional items work a bit differently.
Each product will have a minimum that you have to meet, and backpacks are no exception. On average, you can expect to order 100 to 200 at a time. The good news is backpacks don’t have an expiration date. You can keep a ton of extras in stock and always be ready to meet the demand!
Do Backpacks Look Unprofessional?
Backpacks look unprofessional if they’re frayed, dirty, or worn out. It also isn’t a good idea to bring a Marvel’s Avengers backpack with you to the office! Still, that doesn’t mean backpacks can’t be professional. There are a ton of high-end options you can choose from.

Leather Backpack

Cross Body Backpack

Slim Laptop Backpack

Brand Name Backpack

Mini Cotton Backpack

Buckled Backpack
If you want to customize a professional looking backpack, be sure to:
Choose leather, canvas, or suede
Select a neutral color like brown or black.
Use embroidery for the design.
Keep the design simple.
Follow these rules of thumb to make sure your backpacks look sleek and elegant. This is a particularly good idea if you’re designing bags for a formal occasion or industry.

Why Should You Customize Backpacks?

You should customize backpacks because they’re trendy and useful. While they may be more expensive than pens or keychains, they’re worth the money since people will hold onto them for years and years!

It’s finally time to order your custom backpacks. Get them from your friends at Quality Logo Products®!
The Bottom Line
You see people wearing t-shirts and jackets with a logo printed on the front all the time. Why should backpacks be any different? This branded gear is a great way to promote any business or event. Choose something stylish and then just sit back and let the backpacks do all the talking!
Quality Logo Products®
are experts on all things printed and promotional. Let our team of awesome, incredibly good looking, and fun promo nerds help you select awesome promotional swag today!