A good work bag will make your life easier and more organized when you’re mobile, especially stylish ones that make you feel confident just by carrying them. We asked our team members at Insider to share their selections for the best work bags for women and explain what they love about them. And if you need a fresh outfit to pair with your work bag, read our guide to the best work clothes for women.
You’ll find a few Dagne Dover bags on this list, and that’s because they’ve truly mastered the art of interior organization. We also love KAAI for their beautiful totes that look and feel like the ultimate quality.
See below for a quick peek at our top five picks. Plus, read on for in-depth reviews on why we love these bags.
Best leather overall: Dagne Dover Allyn Leather Tote
The Allyn Leather Tote gets our best overall award because it pulls off the Marry Poppins effect. It seems like a slim, unobtrusive tote but it can fit absolutely everything and more.
This work bag has the best internal organization features of any tote we’ve tested. It has a laptop sleeve, a snap-in water bottle insert, a key leash, and tons of smaller pockets both zippered and unzippered. There’s even a phone-sized slip pocket on the outside that I use all the time.
Another one of the best parts about this bag is how wide it opens, so you won’t have to go blindly digging for anything. But despite how much it holds, the bag has a manageable silhouette that isn’t bulky at all, even on my five-foot-two frame.
Read our full review of the Dagne Dover Allyn Leather Tote to find out more about why this bag got the hard-earned top spot.
Best luxury: Kaai Pyramid Bag
This stylish work bag comes in ten colors that all function as chic neutrals. It’s made from 100% scratch-proof, UV-resistant Italian leather that won’t get discolored or wilt in the rain. As for the inside, it can fit laptops up to 15.6 inches and has a slew of other helpful pockets. There’s a place for your pens, charger cables, notebook, makeup pouch, and whatever else you need to tote around.
Plus, it comes in two other sizes — the Midi Pyramid (12 colors) and the Mini Pyramid (11 colors). I have the Mini Pyramid and I’m obsessed with the luxurious suede lining and the little metal feet that help keep the bottom of your bag from touching the subway floor when commuting. And I love the two outer pockets, which are super helpful for slipping your phone into for easy access. This one is a little bit of a splurge, but you’re paying for the highest quality.
Best vegan overall: Freja Paloma
I got Freja’s Paloma Tote in Latte after seeing the vegan leather brand all over Instagram. I absolutely love gold hardware, and workbags with a simple but unique style, so I’m partial to the aesthetics of this stunning bag.
This bag can hold a ton due to its roomy shape. I’ve put my laptop, a book, a water bottle, a jacket, a charger, and all my small essentials in it with absolutely no issues. Honestly, it could probably also fit lunch, a makeup bag, and a whole ‘nother laptop if necessary. The center compartment fits a laptop as big as 16 inches, which makes it one of the wider choices on this list.
The straps are also thick enough that they won’t dig painfully into your shoulders if you’re seriously schlepping. Plus, the Paloma Tote also has many smaller compartments— zippered and unzippered — for essentials. Also, I love the gold-brown suede lining that feels luxurious and expensive.
One thing that might be a concern is that the middle zippered compartment doesn’t fully close. The bag is designed so that there are gaps at either end, which gives it that pretty silhouette. However, this means that this isn’t a great choice to double as a carry-on since putting it under the seat may lead to items slipping out. However, the brand does pitch this gap as a chic water bottle slot, allowing you to access it without going digging.
Best for carrying a laptop: Bandolier Tote Bag
The Bandolier tote is made of high-quality pebbled leather that feels luxurious to the touch. Inside, you’ll find a zippered pocket, a few open compartments, and even a special pouch designed for storing your sunglasses. There’s also a padded compartment with a snap button closure that will fit a 15-inch laptop.
And since carrying a laptop can be a struggle if you’re toting it around all day, the Bandolier bag comes with reinforced straps. “My favorite part about this tote is the straps. The extra bit of leather reinforcement makes it so much more comfortable on my shoulder when I’m carrying it around — plus it can carry a lot, so I need the extra support,” says Samantha Crozier, Style & Beauty Editor.
Best budget: Quince Italian Leather Triple Compartment Tote
This bag from Quince is a great deal at under $150 for an Italian leather tote that’s big enough to carry a laptop. Similar bags cost twice as much. Plus, this one also comes with bells and whistles like a dust bag that is usually only included in more expensive purchases
It’s a great tote that will check all your boxes if you’re looking for a basic work bag. It even has little metal feet, which I love as a feature but many work bags lack.
If there’s one criticism I have of this bag, it’s the lack of pockets with zippers. The zippered compartment in the center is only big enough for a 13-inch laptop and maybe a slim paperback, so you can’t fit a ton in it if you’re already toting around a computer. Other than that, there are three open pockets in the interior that are big enough for a cell phone.
The Italian Leather Tote is also not lined, which doesn’t make too much of a difference when you’re using it, but the interior is not as luxurious as most of the bags on this list. For the price, though, it’s a great deal.
Best structured tote: Dagne Dover Signature Tote
Available in two sizes, Dagne Dover’s Signature Tote is what structured bag dreams are made of. The saffiano-style vegan leather looks just like real leather, and it’s just as durable, too.
“Some of Dagne Dover’s most popular features incorporated into the bags — like the water bottle holder, padded laptop compartment, and key leash that makes your keys easier to find — are also some of my favorites.” says Sally Kaplan, executive editor, Insider Reviews.
After testing the larger version of this bag, our recommendation is to stick to the medium size unless you need to carry a large backpack or need to haul around a lot of stuff. Besides the useful interior organization features like a laptop sleeve and water bottle insert, the best part of this bag is the shape and size of the handle, which makes it easy to carry over the shoulder even when you’re wearing a bulky coat.
