Best MacBook bags, cases and sleeves

Macworld

A good MacBook bag shares many qualities with Apple’s laptops. We want it to be tough, so it needs to be made from good materials. We want to use it for multiple tasks, so it needs to have plenty of pockets and compartments. Let’s admit it, with the diminishing number of ports on the MacBook, the bags often have the edge. And since we all admire good design here, we certainly don’t mind if the bag looks fantastic.

Plus, whatever MacBook you’ve got, Air or Pro, you’ve probably spent enough on it that you don’t want to risk it breaking—and don’t mind spending just a little more to keep it safe.

There’s no shortage of companies out there that make protective accessories for MacBooks, from laptop bags and rucksacks to sleeves, covers, and shells that clip on directly, and plenty of them do their best to be just as stylish as the Mac they’re protecting.

We’ve rounded up a selection of our favorite cases, sleeves, backpacks, roll-tops, shells and totes for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, whether you have a 13-, 14-, 15- or 16-inch model, to keep your Mac safe.

Keep reading for the full list or jump to your preferred type of laptop carrier below.

Best MacBook sleeves

Best MacBook backpacks

Best MacBook briefcases

Best MacBook bags

Best MacBook shells

Best laptop sleeves for MacBook

A simple or multi-function laptop sleeve keeps the MacBook protected during travel either tucked under your arm or not taking up too much space in a bag.






Bellroy Laptop Sleeve – Best MacBook sleeve














Pros

Premium feel

Magnetic closure

Colors









Price When Reviewed:

€59




Best Prices Today:








Retailer


Price










€21.56



View Deal



Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide






Product


Price




Price comparison from Backmarket






€21.56 at Fnac FR





Fits: 13-14-inch and 15-16-inch versions

Bellroy is a Australian accessory brand that makes premium bags, cases and wallets, and its laptop sleeves offer high-quality protection. The outside of the Bellroy laptop Sleeve is made from a woven, water-resistant material that is eco-friendly—made from 100% recycled PET bottles. Inside, the quilted microfiber lining features a soft ridge that holds your laptop in place.

The sleeve snaps shut with a neat magnetic bumper.

Available in Black, Slate, Navy, Bronze and a leather-free Saltbush.




Bellroy

Apple sells only one MacBook sleeve in its online store: the leather-free Bellroy Caddy for Mac Laptops, which is available in two sizes for 13-14-inch MacBooks and the 15- and 16-inch MacBooks.

There’s fold-down, front-pocket access and a foam-padded laptop sleeve, as well as two stretch mesh pockets and mesh pen slips.







Case Logic Laptop Sleeve – Best budget MacBook sleeve














Pros

Tight fit

Padded

Color range

















Fits: 13-inch

Case Logic makes many laptop sleeves that are suitable for various sizes of MacBook and come in all number of colors. The Case Logic Laptop Sleeve fits a 13.3in MacBook, such as the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. It’s form-fitting, so the MacBook shouldn’t slip about inside, and it features padding for extra protection. There is woven webbing along the sides to further protect the laptop and strengthen the case. It’s a slim case that should fit nicely inside your bag. 

Available in a range of strong colors, including Pink, Dark Blue, Lime Green and Teal.

Case Logic also offers a sleeve for 14-inch laptops.







Journey NEXA 4-in-1 Laptop Sleeve – Best wireless charging sleeve














Pros

Luxury sleeve

Includes MagSafe wireless charger

Doubles as desk pad

















Fits: 13-14-inch, and 15-16-inch versions

The Journey NEXA laptop sleeve bills itself as a 4-in-1, and it certainly is multi-functional. As well as protecting your laptop during travel, it includes two wireless chargers (one MagSafe compatible) and can work as both a deskpad and mousepad to free your workspace of clutter. Slide your MacBook into the soft but padded-for-protection vegan leather sleeve, and you’ll be impressed by the luxury feel of this premium laptop sleeve.

When you arrive at the office, hotel or just back home, it doubles up as a desk-pad with chargers for your iPhone (7.5W MagSafe) and AirPods (5W). While it comes with a USB-C cable, you’ll need to add your own charger (check our roundup of the best iPhone chargers) to connect with the USB-C port in the sleeve. Alternatively you can charge the MacBook itself while it sits protected in the sleeve—for this you’ll need a more powerful MacBook charger.

The Journey NEXA 4-in1 Laptop Sleeve is available in Black or a fetching stone-like Dove Gray.

Read our full

Journey NEXA 4-in-1 Laptop Sleeve with Wireless Charging review






Orbitkey Hybrid Laptop Sleeve – Sleeve folds out to comfortable desk mat














Pros

Folds into portable desk and mouse mat

Magnetic closure

















Fits: 13-14-inch, and 15-16-inch versions

Designed in collaboration with storage-joy expert Marie Kondo, this tri-fold design laptop sleeve has a second function as foldout portable desk and mouse mat. It oozes Japanese calm in its cool Stone color and inside traditional Sashiko wave pattern. Transform the office hot desk or coffee shop tabletop into a comfortable and organized workspace.Place the laptop to the left and use the top of the laptop pocket as a mouse mat.

Its vegan leather exterior feels both luxurious and protective, and the zip-free magnetic closure is a joy to use.

The limited-edition KonMari sleeve ($89.90 / £79.90 for 13- and 14-inch laptops, and $99.90 / £89.90 for 15- and 16-inch) looks great but there are cheaper black and terracotta color options ($79.90 / £69.90 for 13/14-inch, and $89.90 / £79.90 or 15/16) of the Hybrid Sleeve.







Grams (28) Leather Folio – Luxury sleeve with storage














Pros

Premium look and feel

Neat accessory pockets


Cons

Expensive

















Fits: 13-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch, 16-inch

This super-stylish MacBook sleeve doesn’t just keep your laptop safely protected in transit, it also includes exterior and interior pockets to allow you to ditch the backpack and just look the business carrying a sleek fine Italian leather sleeve. The spacious interior has plenty of room for your MacBook Pro and is padded for extra care. Inside there are two pockets for your phone, a charger, cables, or other accessories such as a paper notebook, plus two pen holders and a card pocket. As a bonus there’s even a little pocket for an Apple AirTag. An front exterior pocket gives quick access to paperwork or just the latest issue of a newspaper or style magazine.

You can personalize the Leather Folio with up to four letters, in white or colorless lettering. It measures 14.3-x-0.2-x-1 inches (36.3-x-25.9-x-2.5-cm, and weighs 15.2oz (430g). It’s available in Black, Dark Blue, Olive or Fossil Gray.

For the 13-inch MacBook you’ll want the 114 Leather Folio, for 14-inch MacBook the 120, and 118 for a 15-inch or 16-inch MacBook.







Mujjo Envoy Laptop Sleeve – Smart sleeve with storage














Pros

Premium look and feel

Accessory pockets

In-sleeve charging


Cons

No sealed pockets









Price When Reviewed:

95 €




Best Prices Today:








Retailer


Price





Mujjo




€95



View Deal



Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide






Product


Price




Price comparison from Backmarket






€95 at Mujjo





Fits: 14-inch, 16-inch

Made from top-quality waterproof vegan leather, the Envoy Laptop Sleeve from Dutch design brand Mujjo offers portable storage not just for the MacBook but your favored accessories, too. There are tight outside pockets to store your charger and cables plus phone and other essentials. The laptop is secured by the classy sleeve’s magnetic opening that combines fast access with a firm close. Handily, there’s a generous side opening that allows for easy in-sleeve charging. At the back there’s an easy-access slip pocket for a notebook or passport. You can carry just about anything slim in this sleeve so don’t leave it unattended at the café!

The Mujjo Envoy is available in Black or Blue and for both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, although 13-inch and 15-inch MacBooks are comfortably (if slightly loosely) held, too.







Woolnut Leather Sleeve for MacBook – Luxury leather sleeve














Pros

Premium look and feel

In-sleeve charging


Cons

Lack of pockets

Expensive









Price When Reviewed:

119 €




Best Prices Today:








Retailer


Price





Woolnut




€119



View Deal



Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide






Product


Price




Price comparison from Backmarket






€119 at Woolnut





Fits: 12-inch, 13-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch, 16-inch

Available in four deeply stylish colors (Black, Cognac, Green and Gray), the Woolnut Leather Sleeve snugly fits every recent MacBook from the 12-inch original, the Air and all the Pro models. Each size is tailor-made for every model.

This minimalist sleeve might lack pockets but it is as luxe as you’ll find and will draw admiring looks and awed strokes from fellow MacBook owners. The exterior is made from full-grain Scandinavian leather, with the interior soft 100% natural wool felt from Germany.







Harber London Classic Leather MacBook Sleeve














Pros

Premium look and feel

Accessory pockets

Wool felt interior


Cons

No sealed pockets

















Fits: 11-inch, 13-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch, 16-inch

Similar to the Mujjo Envoy Laptop Sleeve, reviewed above, the Harber London Classic Leather MacBook Sleeve is made from premium full grain leather and features outside pockets to store your charger and cables.

It looks classy and is available in tan or black. There are versions for all recent models of MacBook. It boasts a soft but protective dense 100% wool felt interior that will keep your MacBook cosy. However, there’s no magnetic closure or charging port like you’ll find on the Mujjo sleeve reviewed above.

Read our full

Harber London Classic Leather MacBook Sleeve review






Best MacBook backpacks

For safe and comfortable laptop transport a quality backpack is hard to beat. There are more traditionally business-like laptop briefcases (reviewed lower down) but a premium laptop backpack can also look businesslike while distributing the weight better than a briefcase and including plenty of extra storage for your other travel essentials, gym kit or shopping. We have also road tested different type of laptop bag, such as duffels and tote bags.






1. Troubadour Apex 3.0 Backpack – Best premium MacBook backpack














Pros

Super stylish

Plenty of storage

Smart organizer sections

Hidden iPhone pocket

AirTag pocket


Cons

Premium price









Price When Reviewed:

€316




Best Prices Today:








Retailer


Price





Troubadour




€316



View Deal



Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide






Product


Price




Price comparison from Backmarket






€316 at Troubadour





Fits: up to 17-inch

Apple builds its MacBooks to a high spec and premium design, so if you are carrying yours around in a backpack maybe that should also be top-notch, too. And, like Apple’s products, the Troubadour Apex 3.0 comes with a premium price tag attached. You do get your money’s worth, with chic styling and a generous selection of storage pockets, including one for your iPhone hidden in one of the straps, which means you can access it—or other valuable item such as your wallet—without having to remove the bag from your shoulders. And there’s even a special pocket for an Apple AirTag.

The laptop section is at the back and easy to access, with easily enough space for a 16-inch MacBook Pro. Altogether there are 14 sections or pockets, pen holders and zipped enclosures. It features a trolley sleeve on the back to attach to a suitcase handle, and a robust handle at the top for when you want to give your shoulders a rest or not bump into people in crowded spaces.

The Apex 3.0 is lightweight and comfortable but still generous, with a 25L capacity. There is also a Compact version, with a 16L capacity.

It is available in Black, Navy, Air Force Blue and Obsidian Green.

Troubadour also sells a sling version, the Apex Sling. While not large enough to fit even a 13-inch MacBook, it does have a padded pocket for an iPad mini. It features many of the larger backpack benefits, such as the quality build, good looks, sustainable materials, hidden iPhone pocket and AirTag pocket. Further down we review the Apex Tote and Apex Briefcase for flexibility in the. smart range.

Full Troubadour Apex 3.0 Backpack review.







2. Stubble & Co The Roll Top 20L – Best MacBook roll-top backpack














Pros

Premium look and feel

Plenty of accessible pockets

Striking range of colors

















Fits: 13-inch (15L bag) and 13-16-inch (20L) versions

A roll top bag is simple to use as they have fewer straps and zips than a traditional backpack. They feature a wide top opening so you can quickly see what’s inside and make it easier to reach in and pull out your belongings. It is adjustable in volume as unused space can saved and bulking reduced by rolling up the top flap as you close it. Tighten the strap to condense the loa or loosen when more space is required.

Previously we have championed the Ogio Alpha Convoy 525r Rolltop Backpack, which I have used happily for several years. However, our heads and minds have been turned by Stubble & Co’s The Roll Top, available in either 15L or 20L capacities. We tested the spacier 20L model.

Its more waterproof than the Ogio and has smarter colour accents as well as eight overall color options: Black, Yellow, Urban Green, Arctic White, Tasmin Blue, Concrete, Sand and Ember Orange.

The padded laptop compartment is easily accessed at the side of the bag. The 20L version fits up to a 16-inch MacBook; the 15L allows for a 13-inch laptop. Inside the laptop compartment and also lining inside the main bag are contrasting colours: inside the black, white, concrete and green bags, it’s a striking orange. The main compartment has a reinforced, magnetised roll top closure. I’m used to a more click-tight buckle fastening but am getting the hang of the G-hook fastener. There are five internal organiser pockets, including two with mesh.

On each side are generous elasticated side pockets for your water bottle, umbrella or bike lock. And, an essential if carrying the bag off your back, there’s a top grab handle. Roll-tops are often used by cycle couriers for their fast, easy access, and the Stubble & Co Roll Top features a bike light anchor and reflective trim for enhanced visibility and road safety.







3. Pakt Travel Backpack 2.0 – Best MacBook travel backpack














Pros

Premium build

Plenty of storage

Smart organizer sections

Multiple carry options

AirTag pocket

Sustainable materials

















Fits: up to 16-inch

We haven’t found a laptop backpack that beats the Pakt Travel Backpack for storage smarts, comfort and versatility. There are many imitators but this remains our favorite, and there’s a recent version 2.0 that makes it even better and more environmentally friendly.

The 35L backpack model meets the carry-on criteria for most airlines. It weighs 4.1lbs, and measures 21.5 x 12.5 x 8 inches (55 x 32 x 21 cm). The 45L backpack, however, exceeds those limits so you’ll have to pray that you’re not pulled aside as you check-in or board the plane. It weighs 4.4lbs, and is sized 23 x 13 x 9 inches (60 x 33 x 24cm).

You can use it as a backpack, but also hide away the straps and carry by the side handles as a duffle or via a top handle. This might make the 45L bag appears smaller than it looks strapped to your back, and you can get it through check-in with all that extra storage.

It features a handy clamshell interior with two compartments, so you can pack the backpack like a suitcase. Spread out open, it should fit under a bed or couch, saving you from unpacking to a wardrobe for short stays. Between the compartments, a padded sleeve gives robust but luxury protection to your MacBook (up to 16 inches). You can access the laptop from the top, making a security check much less hassle.

There’s a multi-section front admin pocket that will handle a bunch of tech gear you might need close to hand, such as AirPods, chargers, power banks and cables, or even an iPad. There’s also a key leash in this part. An expansion pocket adds additional packing space without adding to these dimensions. Check your favorite airline for carry-on limits.

Pakt sells a 15L Everyday Bag that can fit inside the Travel Backpack. On the plane, you could remove this and store by your feet for easy access, and then slide it back in the pack when you take that out of the overhead when you disembark. There are so many great extra features: the water-bottle holder is generous in size yet a tight elasticated hold; a zipped, hidden pocket at the back and bottom of the pack is handy for placing your phone, wallet and pocket fodder when you are passing through airport security; one of the pocket sections includes a deep AirTag holder; you can pull out hidden accessory straps on one side; and there’s roller-luggage passthrough to give your back a rest.

With this version 2.0 of its Travel Backpack, Pakt uses rNylon (recycled nylon), which it claims can be recycled indefinitely—making it a more sustainable material than even rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate). It is covered in a water-repelling, tear-resistant PFC-free DWR coating, and is available in either Black, Forest or Ocean colors.







4. Timbuk2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe – Padded laptop bag














Pros

Premium backpack

Plenty of pockets

Decent 28L capacity


Cons

Premium price









Price When Reviewed:

189 €




Best Prices Today:








Retailer


Price





Timbuk




€191



View Deal



Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide






Product


Price




Price comparison from Backmarket






€191 at Timbuk





Fits: 15-inch

If you have an Apple laptop and intend to take it outside the house or office from time to time, it goes without saying that you will need a good sturdy bag to carry it in. We recommend getting a well padded backpack that is designed for carrying a laptop.

A well designed backpack will include lots of areas insider the bag to store things in: such as a front pocket, a large main compartment and a large side pocket. Quilted shoulder straps and a padded back should ensure the backpack is comfortable to wear. I