Ivy Liscombe is a writer on the PC & Web team. She tests and reviews a variety of tech accessories, from laptop cases to fancy keyboards.
Laptops are expensive, and if you’re worried about drops, scuffs, and spills, a laptop case can give your $1,000 device an extra layer of protection from the cold, hard ground. We’ve researched and tested dozens of laptop cases to find a variety of styles, whether you’re looking for fun, practicality, or both.
Before you buy a laptop sleeve, consider whether you really need one. Most backpacks, messenger bags, totes, and briefcases already have a slot designed to protect your laptop. If you carry your laptop outside of your bag, a laptop sleeve may be just what you need, but if you primarily wear a backpack, you probably don’t need one.
The Tomtoc Defender A13 Laptop Sleeve (called the 360 ​​Laptop Sleeve on Amazon) is an affordable case that fits your laptop better and provides more comprehensive protection than most similarly priced laptop sleeves. It fits snugly over most 13-inch laptops, ensuring your laptop stays securely in place. If you have a thicker laptop, it may feel even tighter. The Defender A13 takes up more space than fancier sleeves, thanks to thick, padded corners and a cozy interior, but we’re confident that our laptop will be protected from most drops, spills, and scratches.
Affordable and Durable. For those looking for a simple and practical device at an affordable price, the Defender A13 is a great choice. The bag has a small pocket for small items and is available in a variety of colors and sizes. The tough twisted texture provides enough grip to prevent falls, and it will not feel uncomfortable or rough, even if you carry it around campus all day. It also has YKK zippers, a brand known for its durability and reliability.
You don’t have to worry about your laptop getting wet. The Defender A13’s hardshell material is more water-resistant than some of the other models we recommend. When we sprayed it with water from a spray bottle several times, the water beaded on the surface and rolled off; even when we briefly dropped it in a fake puddle, the interior stayed dry. That should be enough if you have to run from your car to a cafe in a downpour.
The Defender A13’s front pocket can fit a MacBook charger, but the sleeve is too thin to hold more than one or two small items. If you use the Defender A13 in a backpack, you might find it more convenient to store accessories in another pocket. We also encountered a few Acer laptops in our testing that either squeezed the case too much or prevented it from closing properly; if you have a thick laptop or need to carry a bulky charger, we recommend choosing a larger case.
This bag has all the features of the previous models, plus the added bonus of a carrying strap and a larger outer pocket for accessories.
The Tomtoc Defender A42 Laptop Briefcase is ideal for those who want to carry a few essential accessories. It is easier to store than a book-style briefcase. Two protruding front pockets are convenient for storing pens, ID cards, data cables, and there is a short strap for hanging AirTags or keys so they do not get lost at the bottom of the pocket. There is also an open back compartment for thinner items such as documents or a portable keyboard. A simple, comfortable shoulder strap and handle are included for easy carrying, and the corners are thick and reinforced.
It can easily accommodate some basic office supplies. The Defender A42 pocket can easily accommodate a Logitech K380 keyboard, a Bluetooth mouse, a large charger, and a few small items like a pen or stylus. The back pocket can also accommodate a small notepad.
It’s waterproof. The Defender A42 performed well in our waterproofing tests. Faux rain dripping from the front didn’t seep through the thinner front pocket. When we dropped it in a shallow puddle of water, we found no moisture inside—even the faux fur lining of the laptop compartment didn’t get wet.
This insert is large and won’t fit into many shoulder bags and handbags. The Defender A42 is designed to be used on its own, not in other bags. It can be a bit cramped inside, so if you have a thicker or larger laptop, we recommend upping the size to fit the device into the protective corners.
This case is waterproof and thin, making it ideal for those who want to avoid scratches and dings but don’t need extra protection.
The Bagsmart Laptop Sleeve is an affordable bag that’s loaded with top-notch features. The outer fabric has a nice quilted effect, is soft and comfortable to the touch (though our tester said the black version was a little prone to pilling), and the zippers are sturdy and smooth.
It’s weather and water resistant. Our simulated rain rolled right off the outside of the bag, and the zipper (not the standard YKK brand) kept water out of the laptop compartment when it was directly submerged in our test puddle. The faux fur on the inside also stayed fluffy and dry throughout our testing.
The Bagsmart Sleeve’s lining is a bit loose. The Bagsmart Sleeve felt a bit roomy for the laptop we tested, but not so much that we were worried about the laptop shifting around inside. The extra space actually gives you more freedom to fit things into the compact front pocket without straining the lining. We were able to stuff a bulky Lenovo charger into the Bagsmart Sleeve’s front pocket while keeping the laptop tucked into the main compartment without even zipping it up. Tester tip: If your sleeve has a shallow front pocket, it’s easier to put your charger or accessories in there first, then your laptop.
Fits easily into your bag, the Bagsmart Sleeve has a slim profile that fits perfectly into tote bags and backpacks.
However, its thinness comes at the cost of poor protection. The soft padding on the corners of the Bagsmart Sleeve isn’t as good as some of our top picks, and its lack of drop protection means we wouldn’t recommend wearing it outside of your bag for long periods. Still, we’re confident it’ll withstand everyday knocks, including being dropped in a bag with a water bottle and other gear.
The laptop cases sold by Society6 feature designs from countless artists and are durable enough to protect your laptop from knocks, but they are expensive.
If you are looking for a simple, soft laptop case in a variety of styles, the Society6 laptop case is the perfect choice for you. It is made of tough canvas-like polyester that is resistant to dust, scratches, and impacts. The material is thick and soft, so it can be used safely even after a hard hit or even a small fall. The Society6 laptop case also features industry-standard YKK zippers.
Society6 covers just about any design you can imagine. Artists can use the platform to print their work on dozens of items, including these covers, meaning you can choose from thousands of prints. If you like an artist whose work is already for sale on Society6, Society6 is also a great way to support them and showcase their work. For our assignment, we chose an 18th-century Canaletto painting that looks pretty good; the image resolution is a little low due to the dense texture of the canvas, but that could be due to the digital image the seller chose and shouldn’t be an issue for less complex designs.
It’s not very splash-proof. Although the Society6 liner passed the rain test, the water didn’t run off the front of the vessel. Instead, the water seeped through the front lining layer and didn’t reach the main compartment. However, it failed the puddle test, as a significant amount of water leaked through a gap in the zipper.
There is no extra storage space. The lining is double-sided, so there are no pockets. Chargers and accessories should be packed separately, as placing accessories with the laptop in the main compartment can damage the laptop screen and cause dents and scratches on the outer casing. The Society6 case is a bit roomy, but the thick microfiber lining will keep your laptop from moving around too much.
If you want a case specifically for a MacBook: The Incase Compact Sleeve with Flight Nylon fits the 13-inch MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Air, and it lives up to its name — it won’t fit almost any other laptop except the MacBook. We liked the build quality and fit, as well as the fit of our Apple models, but we found the nylon material to be prone to scratches, static buildup, and a bit noisy.
If you’re looking for a stylish, chic case (and budget doesn’t matter), the Bellroy laptop case is the best-looking case in our test, but its price and lack of protection prevent it from making the cut. The magnetic closure mechanism is clever, but we’re not sure it’ll stay closed under heavy vibration. The Bellroy’s lining material isn’t very thick, and since the four corners of the bottom are completely exposed, its waterproofing isn’t ideal. However, if you’re a professional who’s very careful with electronics, the look of this case is still a good choice.
We reviewed countless laptop cases from dozens of manufacturers. We selected several potential product candidates and tested them based on the following criteria:
We weren’t able to test all case sizes or use all cases with all computer models, but our primary test models were the 15-inch MacBook Air, 15.6-inch Lenovo IdeaPad 1, 13.6-inch MacBook Air, and 13-inch Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5. We ordered the corresponding sizes of all potential options, which were approximately 13 or 15 inches.
Next, we tested our favorite cases on a group of 13-inch Ultrabooks from different companies. We placed each computer in each case (one at a time, of course) to check its compliance. We also evaluate features like how well the zippers slide, and we spray water on cases that claim to have a certain level of waterproofness to see how well they keep out moisture. We also put them through more challenging waterproofing tests, like dropping them in a puddle and spilling drinks on them. Once we’ve selected a few of our favorite cases, we tested them in real-world situations like coffee shops and airplanes to see if they’ll hold up in our daily lives.
Apple currently sells the Osprey Arcane Laptop Sleeve, STM Goods Myth Laptop Sleeve, and Herschel Anchor Laptop Sleeve for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks, and we’re interested in trying them out in our next round of testing. We’re also reviewing the Moft Laptop Sleeve, which converts into a laptop stand and has two height adjustments.
Over the years, we’ve tested dozens of outlets to compile this guide. Here are some of the models we’ve tested since 2018.
While Baggu is one of our favorite bag makers, their bulky laptop sleeves are a little less impressive. The stylish, puffy look didn’t provide the protection we were looking for, and despite the size markings stating that the sleeve fits 13- to 14-inch laptops, it fit snugly on the 13-inch model we tested. It also lacks edge protection and exterior pockets. It comes in a few bright, cute colors and patterns, and feels more like an accessory than a sleeve.
The Vera Bradley Cotton Laptop Organizer is made of fabric, so it doesn’t offer much protection against drops and bumps, but it does offer good scratch resistance. It’s only available in one size, 15.25 inches, which isn’t ideal for many people who carry smaller laptops, and it’s not waterproof at all. It’s also one of the most expensive organizers we tested. It has a roomy front pocket, is machine washable, and comes in a variety of styles. If you see it on sale, it might work as a home organizer, but we’d recommend spending a little more money on a more protective box.
The Mokuyobi laptop case is the most expensive of the ones we tested, and while we like the design, it doesn’t provide the protection you’d expect for the price. It’s made of a durable canvas material that’s waterproof and feels great in the hand, but it’s not lined around the corners or anywhere else. The contrasting color design is fun and a great choice if you need a lot of storage. There are two expandable pockets on the front, and a flat, unzipped pocket on the back for documents or a notebook. A small tag on the back reads, “The power of color from the king of fun that will last all day,” which sounds tempting, but this case could use some lining.
While the Mosiso Polyester Vertical Phone Case with Pocket is probably one of the most popular phone cases you’ll find on Amazon (with over 55,000 reviews), there are more affordable options. The case doesn’t provide effective corner protection, has unattractive branding, is made of a rough material, and the light yellow case we ordered is already slightly stained and is collecting pet hair and debris at an alarming rate.
The Domiso Laptop Sleeve is marketed as being very protective, and while this case looks like it will stand up to rough handling better than many others, its body is still soft enough that we’d be hesitant to put anything heavy on it. We also definitely wouldn’t use it in situations that involve a lot of pushing and shoving (like checking luggage).
The Tomtoc FancyCase-A25 Laptop Bag is also advertised as being more rugged than most, and while that certainly held up in our testing, it also has a few critical flaws. The neoprene pocket at the bottom of the bag is too shallow to accommodate bulky chargers, and even if you could fit something in there, it would interfere with the computer in the bag, which is its much-touted feature. With the charger in the back pocket, the bag won’t lay flat on a countertop, so you’ll have to take the charger out every time to get the bag to lay flat on the counter. The included shoulder strap is comfortable, but the clip that attaches it to the bag is awkward to use; people with large hands or limited hand strength may find it difficult or impossible to attach the strap to the bag, and even harder to remove. To compensate for this shortcoming, a carrying handle is provided, but this issue has been mentioned in many reviews and we also encountered it during our testing.
The Mosiso Neoprene Small Sleeve Laptop Sleeve gets a positive editorial review and a relatively high rating on Amazon. It also comes with a small pouch that can hold your laptop charger or other accessories. Unfortunately, the fit isn’t great. Our laptop literally floated in its rough neoprene shell. The garish logo makes it look a lot worse than our other recommendations.
The Killspencer Classic Sleeve is very narrow, making it difficult to access your laptop. This seems necessary given that the sleeve has no clasp, but it’s actually awkward to use. Also, because the sleeve is so narrow, the contours of your computer get caught in the leather texture. If you like the feel of the leather, you might be able to accept the tradeoff in terms of usability. However, over time, this leather can start to look more worn and worn than loved.
We prefer the photos of the Leatherology Premium Laptop Sleeve over the original. The lack of a stable structure means the sides of the sleeve will sag even when the laptop is in place, making it look a little bloated. That said, the leather is really nice, the zippers are smooth, and if you’re looking for a sleeve with a more distressed, luxurious look, the Leatherology might be a better choice than our other recommendations.
Ivy Liscomb is an updates writer for the Wirecutter Computer team. She has a weakness for chili chips, the smell of old books, and outdated technology like VHS and reel-to-reel tape recorders. She can often be found reading, sewing, or extolling the virtues of ’80s movies with great sincerity.
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Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists use a combination of independent research and (sometimes) top-tier testing to help you make buying decisions quickly and confidently. Whether you’re looking for great products or getting practical advice, we can help you find the right product (the first time).