The 21 Best Work Bags of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Material: Leather | Colors: Black, caramel, cappuccino, dark olive, +more | Dimensions: 10 x 17.25 x 5 inches (13-inch); 11 x 19 x 5.5 inches (16-inch)

You can’t have a conversation about work bags without talking about Cuyana. The brand’s offerings are so sleek, functional, and, therefore, easy to justify. This style is made out of luxurious Italian pebbled leather but still offers a design-forward structure, as it is, in fact, an organizational dream. Plus, with 13- and 16-inch size options, it can hold all your stuff, no matter how big your laptop is. For more personalization, there’s an option to monogram it.

Material: Nylon, leather | Colors: 17 | Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.4 x 12.7 inches

If you travel a lot for work and are looking for a work bag that can double as a carry-on, we highly recommend the metro deluxe tote from MZ Wallace. Made from quilted nylon, the bag expands to hold a ton of objects yet remains impressively lightweight. It comes with six interior pockets and five exterior pockets to ensure all you knickknacks have a place. Plus, there’s a luggage sleeve as well as a detachable crossbody-strap if you want to go hands-free. The signature quilted design and vivid colors are so chic, you’ll be happy to tow this around your trip.

Emily Cieslak, associate commerce editor: “I usually get flustered keeping track of all my items at the airport, but using this MZ Wallace tote keeps me so organized,” she says. “I love how there’s two open pockets on the outside that I can slip my phone in and out of, as well as two zippered exterior pockets for things I want to keep secured.”

Material: Polyurethane leather | Colors: Black, chocolate, cream, +more | Dimensions: 12.5 x 16 x 5 inches

A cross between a messenger back and an over-the-shoulder tote, this design gives you the best of both worlds. You can sling the wide strap across your body, while still having the sleek look of a simplistic tote. Further, the bag comes with a laptop sleeve—equipped with seven additional pockets—that you can remove when you want to carry your laptop to the next meeting. Alternatively, you can take out the interior, and just use the spacious bag as a market tote on the weekends. With a luggage sleeve, it’s an ideal travel companion, too.

Materials: Vegan leather, cotton twill | Colors: 5 | Dimensions: 15.7 x 12 x 7.2 inches

If you’re looking for lots of places to store post-its, pencils, and various office gear, you’ll find them inside this tote, which is equipped with a padded compartment with a magnetic closure to keep a 14-inch laptop or tablet safe, as well as pockets that can hold a water bottle, phone, credit or metro card, and lip balm or mints.

Emily Cieslak: “So often work bags only come in black or neutrals, so I love this vintage green to add a pop to my outfit. The slim silhouette also prevents me from overpacking and keeps all the items inside standing upright and secured.”

Material: Polyamide canvas | Colors: Black, red, turquoise, +more | Dimensions: 12.2 x 11.8 x 7.5 inches

Looking for a bag you can stuff into another bag until you need it? This one’s for you. The Le Pliage Tote folds into the size of a paperback book, then unfolds into a full-sized travel tote big enough to fit a laptop and letter-sized folders.

Ali Webb, associate editor: “The versatility of the Longchamp Le Pliage Large Tote is unreal—I carried it for years in college to take me from work to class to dance rehearsals, then continued to use it as a work and travel bag for a while after,” she says. “The design is incredibly roomy (I’ve fully put it to the test, and it holds everything you might need and then some) while also including a small pocket at the top for convenient access to essentials like your wallet, keys, and lip balm.” 

Material: Nylon | Colors: Black, chocolate, pink, +more | Dimensions: 14.75 x 19.25 x 7 inches

“Telfar’s Shopping Bag is a repeat sellout for a reason: It comes in an expansive range of color options (I went with classic cream), is made of durable vegan leather, and has a practical, versatile design that’s ready to hold whatever you need for the day,” says Webb. If you are deciding between the medium and large sizes, Webb says the medium is the ideal work bag, since it can easily hold a laptop plus keep smaller items secured in its internal zipper pocket.

“I’m routinely carrying arguably too much (a smaller purse, several makeup products, and countless miscellaneous items), and I don’t have issues fitting any extras I accumulate inside the tote throughout the day—I sometimes call it a ‘Mary Poppins’ bag for this reason,” says Webb.

Materials: Vegan leather | Colors: Pecan, taupe, black, oat, cappuccino | Dimensions: 19 x 11 x 5.5 inches

Worn by celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Alix Earle, female-founded bag brand Freja is known for their scrumptious vegan leather. “I’ve tried a lot of bags, and I’m convinced Freja makes the best vegan leather,” says Cieslak. “The material looks and feels so real, I find myself forgetting it’s not actually leather!” With subtle panel accents and a double magnetic closure, this luxurious tote keeps all your items safe and secure. What’s more, it contains one main compartment and three slot pockets and offers enough interior space to fit up to a 16-inch laptop.

Material: Leather | Colors: Olive green, black | Dimensions: 15.5 x 10 x 5.5 inches

For a bag that truly accomplishes it all, look no further than the Silver & Riley Convertible Executive Bag. Its charming design looks similar to a mini duffle bag, yet the quality leather and gorgeous straight stitching set it leaps and bounds above anything you carted to summer camp. What really piqued our interest is how you can wear it three different ways: Carried by the top handles, across your body, and as a backpack utilizing the two back straps.

Don’t let the compact size fool you—you’ll be amazed how much you can store inside thanks to thoughtful organizational features like pen slots and a laptop pocket that keeps tech secure with a snap closure. What’s more, it will hold everything without feeling too heavy since the structured design and flat bottom evenly distribute the weight of your items.

Material: Pebbled leather | Colors: Black, white | Dimensions: 11 x 15.75 x 5 inches

Consider this bag the equivalent of the most organized person you know: Reliable, efficient, and prepared for anything. Peeking inside the tote’s large interior you’ll find it lined with the brand’s signature spade print, two slip compartments, and enough room to stow away tech such as your laptop and all its accessories. And two exterior pockets give you easy access to smaller items like your phone and lip gloss.

Despite having more pockets than a pair of cargo pants, the bag still manages to look super sleek with its compact design—it zips up neatly and features top handles so you can wear it on your arm or sit it comfortably on your shoulder with the thick long strap. Don’t be shy about carting it with you on long commutes since it’s constructed with durable pebble leather that withstands scuffs and scrapes better than other materials.

Materials: Leather | Colors: Stone, black, cognac, +more | Dimensions: 11.5 x 7 x 13.5 inches

Whether you want to wear it as a tote, crossbody, or backpack, this bag has enough storage for all your work needs. Its features include a laptop sleeve that fits a 15-inch laptop, side pockets for items as big as drink bottles, and a waterproof and scratchproof exterior, making for a versatile bag that’s built to last.

Material: Faux leather | Colors: Black, gunmetal black, caramel, navy, +more | Dimensions: 15.5 x 11.5 x 4.5 inches

This compact yet spacious, vegan-friendly backpack is the perfect balance of stylishness and sophistication. With a laptop compartment and multiple interior pockets, it’s super functional too. Heading on a business trip? You can slide it over your suitcase handle with the handy trolley sleeve on the back.

Materials: Canvas | Colors: Blue pixel gingham, chartreuse pixel gingham, pistachio, black, +more | Dimensions: 15.75 × 11 × 4.75 inches

This bag is fairly no frills on the inside, making it ideal for everything from a grocery run to your daily 9-to-5. The real fun comes via the interesting patterns and prints available on the exterior. We also love the addition of a long strap, which allows you to go hands-free as needed and the single interior zipped pocket.

Material: Polyurethane | Colors: Black, beige, blue, brown, pink, purple, +more | Dimensions: 16.7 x 5.7 x 12.6 inches

This waterproof bag is the solution for the indecisive and accident-prone among us. It’s available in over a dozen colors from a peppy pink and an eye-catching lavender to more muted neutrals like khaki and dark green. But where’s the fun in choosing just one? The lower price point also makes this pick hard to resist or keeps us from adding a couple of color shades to our carts. And rest assured that a bevy of internal pockets will keep all of your valuables from rolling around the bottom.

Material: Vegan leather and polyester | Colors: Black, beige, pink, +more | Dimensions: 14.25 x 11 x 6 inches

The bigger the bag, the more likely you are to overpack, so that’s why we appreciate this compact design that still holds all that you need for a day’s work. It offers room for a 13-inch laptop, keys, a water bottle, and much more. Other features include a removable zippered pouch and a suitcase sleeve for easy traveling.

Material: Nylon, polyester jacquard, leather | Colors: Black, navy | Dimensions: 18.5 x 5 x 12.5 inches (13-inch); 20 x 5 x 13 inches (15-inch)

The nylon body of this tote is built for durability. It also has a huge selection of inner pockets (including a laptop sleeve) to help you stay as organized as possible. To suit as many shoppers as possible, it comes in both 13- and 15-inch versions. The zipper top also means everything stays organized, secure, and tucked away from the elements.

Material: Neoprene, recycled lining | Colors: Dark moss, gray, +more | Dimensions: 11.5 x 5 x 17 inches

For those who prefer wearing a backpack but don’t want to feel like they are back in grade school, let us introduce you to this stylish design from Dagne Dover. It includes a padded laptop compartment to keep your electronics safe, while its eco-friendly neoprene material made from plastic bottles is lightweight and comfortable to carry throughout the day.

Materials: Vegan leather | Colors: Storm, latte, onyx, +more | Dimensions: 16 x 10.25 x 6.75 inches

Though this work bag is a bit of an investment, it’s worth it if you’re looking for a stylish and high-quality vegan leather work bag. The crossbody style also converts to a tote or backpack bag, giving you added value in the form of versatility.

Materials: Nylon | Colors: Carbon black, oxford blue, juniper green, +more | Dimensions: 16.3 × 11.2 × 7.2 inches

What sets the Monos Metro Duffel apart from other bags is its modular system, which is interchangeable and easy to swap out based on what you need (or don’t need) that day. The attribute makes it an ideal choice for moms who may be shuffling between multiple obligations and settings throughout the day.

Material: Leather | Colors: Black, bordeaux, navy, cognac, smoke | Dimensions: 15.5 x 14.75 x 3.5 inches

If you’re a fan of genuine leather totes, Leatherology is the way to go. This sizable satchel is buttery-soft yet durable and long-lasting, with plenty of room for all the essentials, plus three organizational pockets. Though it doesn’t have a designated laptop compartment, it’s certainly big enough to fit one. And you can always buy a laptop sleeve separately.

Material: Leather | Colors: Multi | Dimensions: 17 x 22 x 6 inches

When you’re carrying a Mifland tote on you’re arm, there’s a slim chance of showing up to work with the same bag as anyone else. A little like the couture of handbags, every bag is hand-painted with impeccable detail and made of leather cut and assembled by hand, so each one varies in its final look and ensures that yours truly can’t be duplicated. Its careful construction, in which the brand employs a figure eight stitching method that uses a strong, waxed thread for a sturdy finish, also translates to a super durable design able to withstand years of wear and tear.