To choose a laptop bag by size, measure your laptop's width, depth and thickness rather than trusting the screen size, then allow roughly 2 to 3 cm of extra space on every side for padding, a charger and a cable pouch. As a rule of thumb, a 13-inch laptop needs about 32 x 23 cm of internal space and a 15.6-inch laptop needs about 37 x 26 cm.
Screen size is a diagonal measurement of the display only. It tells you very little about how much room the machine takes up inside a bag. Two 14-inch laptops from different brands can differ by nearly two centimetres in width and by several millimetres in thickness — enough that one slides in easily and the other jams against a seam every single morning. Measure once, buy correctly, and the bag will still be working for you years later. If you are still deciding on a style rather than a size, our complete guide to leather bags covers the wider picture first.
How do I measure my laptop for a bag?
You need three numbers, taken with the lid closed and a simple measuring tape:
- Width — the long edge, left to right.
- Depth — front edge to hinge.
- Thickness — the closed height, at the thickest point.
If you would rather not measure, every manufacturer publishes exact dimensions on their specification pages — Apple's MacBook Air specifications are a good example of the level of detail to look for. Search your model number plus the word "dimensions" and you will find the same figures for Dell, HP, Lenovo or ASUS.
Now add the padding allowance. A laptop should never sit in a bag at exactly its own size, because it needs a cushion of material between the machine and the outside world. Add 2 cm to width and depth for a slim ultrabook, and 3 cm for a thicker gaming or workstation laptop. Then decide whether the charger, mouse and cables live in the same bag — if they do, add another 3 to 4 cm of depth for the pocket that holds them.
What size bag do I need for a 13, 14, 15.6 or 16-inch laptop?
These are the internal dimensions to look for once the padding allowance is included. Treat them as minimums, not targets:
- 13 to 13.6-inch — around 32 x 23 cm of internal space. Suits a slim crossbody, a compact backpack or almost any structured tote.
- 14-inch — around 34 x 24 cm. The most flexible size; nearly every laptop bag category will take one.
- 15 to 15.6-inch — around 37 x 26 cm. This is where slim slings and small totes start to fail. Choose a backpack or a genuinely roomy tote.
- 16 to 17-inch — around 39 x 28 cm and upward. A backpack is the realistic choice, and shoulder comfort now matters as much as fit.
One more check that people skip: measure the opening, not just the interior. A bag can be deep enough and still be a daily annoyance if the mouth cinches or the zip runs short, because you end up angling the laptop in rather than dropping it straight down.
Backpack, tote or sling — which suits your laptop?
Size narrows the field. Carry style decides it.
A backpack spreads weight across both shoulders, which is what you want the moment your laptop passes about 1.5 kg or your commute involves standing. The Helios Backpack is the everyday choice for 13 to 15-inch machines, while the larger Atlas Backpack holds its shape fully loaded and takes a 16-inch laptop alongside a travel kit. Browse the full range of leather backpacks if you want to compare silhouettes.
A tote suits shorter commutes, office days and anyone who moves between meetings more than between cities. The key question is whether it holds structure when loaded — a soft tote lets a laptop sag into an unsupported curve. The Nova Tote is built roomy enough for a 15.6-inch laptop plus a charger, and the more tailored Aurora Tote is the cleaner option for 13 and 14-inch machines. See all leather totes for the full spread of sizes.
A sling or crossbody is honestly not a laptop bag above 13 inches, and pretending otherwise leads to bruised corners. It is an excellent second bag — one that carries your phone, wallet and passport while the laptop travels in something structured. Our crossbody versus sling comparison explains which of the two suits your day.
What else should a laptop bag have?
Fit is the first filter. These are the things that decide whether the bag survives three years of daily carry:
- A flat, padded base. Your laptop rests on it every time you put the bag down. A base that curves inward transfers that impact straight to the machine.
- Hardware that will not fail under load. Every Frounder buckle, zip pull and D-ring is solid brass, never plated — plating wears through at exactly the stress points a loaded laptop bag creates, and once it does, the base metal underneath starts to corrode.
- Full-grain leather over corrected surfaces. It resists the abrasion of a laptop edge moving in and out twice a day. Our guide to the four types of leather explains how to tell the grades apart before you buy.
- Straps that are stitched and riveted, not glued. Ask where the strap meets the body — that junction carries the entire load.
How do you protect a laptop bag through the monsoon?
An Indian commute puts a laptop bag through humidity, sudden rain and long afternoons in a hot car. Three habits cover most of it. Wipe the bag down with a dry cloth the moment you get indoors, rather than letting droplets sit and leave rings. Never dry leather with a hairdryer or in direct sun — it stiffens the fibres permanently. And store the bag with a light stuffing of paper so it holds shape, somewhere with air movement rather than a sealed cupboard where humidity collects.
Condition the leather two or three times a year, more often if you are in Mumbai, Chennai or Kochi. Our leather care guide for Indian weather has the full routine, and the Frounder care guide summarises it in a page you can keep to hand.
A note on how Frounder bags are made
Every Frounder piece is handmade in Udaipur, Rajasthan, by craftspeople who cut and stitch each bag individually rather than assembling it from pre-cut panels. Every bag also comes with a free engraved monogram, chosen at checkout — which, on a work bag that looks like several other work bags at the same conference table, is a genuinely useful thing to have. Delivery, returns and warranty details are on our shipping, returns and warranty page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a 15.6-inch laptop in a 15-inch bag?
Usually not comfortably. Bag sizes quoted in inches refer to the largest laptop the maker intends it to hold, and a 15.6-inch machine is genuinely wider than a 15-inch one. Check the internal centimetre dimensions instead of the inch label — that number is the one that has to be bigger than your laptop.
Does a laptop bag need a dedicated padded sleeve?
It needs padding and separation, though not necessarily a zipped sleeve. A padded back panel plus a divider that keeps the laptop away from keys, water bottles and chargers does the same job. What you want to avoid is a single open compartment where the laptop rubs against everything else.
Is a leather bag heavier than a nylon one?
Yes, by a few hundred grams. In exchange you get a bag that holds its shape when loaded, resists abrasion at the corners where nylon frays first, and looks better after five years rather than worse. If your daily carry is already heavy, choose a backpack so the extra weight sits across both shoulders.
What size laptop bag is best for flying?
One that fits under the seat in front of you, which in practice means keeping the loaded bag under roughly 40 x 30 x 20 cm. A backpack sized for your laptop plus one day of essentials is the sweet spot. Our cabin baggage guide covers the size rules in more detail.
Originally published 22 August 2026. Last updated 22 August 2026.