The best bags for work for women
A work bag has three jobs: carry a laptop and the day's papers without bending them, look put-together when you set it down on a meeting table, and survive the commute on your shoulder. Most bags manage two.
These picks run from leather totes to light nylon ones, and one is built to ride on a suitcase for work trips. Each one comes with the laptop size it takes and what it does best, so you can match it to how your workday actually looks.
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Cuyana Classic Easy Tote
An open leather tote that takes a 15–16-inch laptop in its classic size and weighs 1.6 lb, with short handles for the hand and longer straps for the shoulder.
Typical price: $250–$350
Shop at Cuyana → - 2
Dagne Dover Allyn Tote
The organizer: a structured leather tote with a laptop sleeve and interior pockets. The medium holds most 13-inch laptops, the large most 16-inch ones.
Typical price: $400–$450
Shop at Dagne Dover → - 3
Away The Everywhere Tote
Water-resistant nylon with leather trim, a padded pocket for a laptop of up to 16 inches, and a trolley sleeve that secures it to an Away suitcase on work trips.
Typical price: $150–$200
Shop at Away → - 4
Tory Burch Ella Tote
A recycled-nylon tote, 17 inches wide, that fits a laptop of up to 17 inches (its laptop pocket takes 13) plus a pair of shoes and a light layer.
Typical price: $250–$300
Shop at Tory Burch → - 5
Longchamp Le Pliage Original L Tote Bag
Nylon canvas with leather trim at 290 g: it takes a 13-inch laptop, zips shut, and is the pick for days when weight matters more than polish.
Typical price: $150–$200
Shop at Longchamp →
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Try on a lookFAQ
What size bag do I need for work?
Measure your laptop first. A bag that fits a 13-inch laptop is enough for most office days; 15- and 16-inch laptops need a larger tote or a dedicated laptop bag. Leave room for a charger, a notebook and a water bottle.
Is a tote or a backpack better for work?
A tote looks dressier and is quicker to get into; a backpack spreads the weight over both shoulders, which matters on long walking or transit commutes. A convertible bag gives you both.
Leather or nylon for a work bag?
Leather looks polished and ages well, but it is heavier and needs care in the rain. Nylon is light and easy to clean, at the cost of a more casual look.