Commuting into the office isn’t always the world’s most fun activity, but finding a tote bag that fits all your daily essentials while looking super cute can make it a little better. The trouble is finding it, as the ideal tote bag wears a lot of hats. It needs to be big enough to hold just about everything, have comfortable shoulder straps, and feature compartments and pockets for laptops, tech accessories, makeup, gym clothes, and even more. And let’s not forget that the best tote bags for work have to actually look cute enough for you to want to carry them, too.
“The right bag is so personal, but there should be room for everything you tote around—pun intended!” says personal wardrobe stylist Katie Quinn of Q the Stylist. With that in mind, and with Quinn’s advice, we’ve rounded up the best of the best essential totes that make excellent workplace companions. Keep reading for the nine best tote bags made to work from 9-5.
In This Article
Best sustainable tote: Everlane The Recycled Nylon Tote, $85
Best slouchy: Hammitt Oliver Zip Tote, $475
Best casual: Herschel Joana Tote, $110
Best crossbody: Madewell The Zip-Top Medium Transport Tote, $188
Best with compartments: Cuyana System Tote, $328
Best structured: Béis The Work Tote, $128
Best leather: Coach North Tote Bag 32, $295
Best packable: Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote, $155
Best luxury: Lo & Sons Seville Prima Tote, $630
Shop 9 of the best tote bags for work
Best sustainable tote: Everlane The Recycled Nylon Tote — $85.00
Dimensions: Not listed, but holds 14L and a 13” laptop
This medium-sized tote bag from Everlane has both shoulder straps and handles, so you can choose how you want to carry it. Plus, its main zippered compartment has multiple extra pockets, and it can hold a 13-inch laptop. The external fabric is made from recycled nylon and the lining is made from recycled polyester, so you’re doing good for the planet while carting your stuff to the office. Talk about a tote bag that works.
Colors: 3
- Comes in multiple neutral colors
- Comfortable webbed nylon shoulder straps
- Holds a 13″ laptop
- Made from durable recycled nylon
Best slouchy: Hammitt Oliver Zip Tote — $475.00
Dimensions: 14.5″L x 4.25″W x 12″H
The Hammit bag is one of those bags that I almost don’t want to use since it’s just that gorgeous (but I do, because then I get tons of compliments). That’s thanks in large part to the buttery soft pebbled leather, the slouchy silhouette, and the studded rivets down the sides, all of which add up to one undeniably luxurious tote. It’s really just a bonus that it also has super comfortable shoulder straps, a top-zip closure, a back slip pocket, an internal key ring, and even an internal ID slot. Hammitt, ya done good. Again.
Colors: 3
- Crafter in luxurious, genuine leather
- Unique features like a key ring and ID pocket
- Edgy rivet details
- May not work for people who want a more structured silhouette
- Pricey
Best casual: Herschel Joana Tote — $110.00
Dimensions: 20.5”L x 11”W x 15”H
If you need a tote bag that you can carry on your shoulders as easily as you can attach it to a suitcase … well, you’re looking at it. Herschel’s Joana Tote features an external zippered trolley sleeve at the back that easily fits over luggage handles, so you can free up your body while you’re running to catch a flight. It’s crafted recycled twill that’s made from post-consumer recycled water bottles and finished with trims in reclaimed leather. Additionally, it has a padded laptop sleeve, detachable pouch, internal organizer pockets, and comfortable webbed straps.
Colors: 1
- Trolley sleeve attaches to a suitcase for easy travel
- Crafted from recycled materials
- Features multiple pockets, pouches, and compartments
- Made from durable recycled nylon
- Detachable pouch is a bit small
- Can’t fit laptops over 14″
Experts In This Article
- Katie Quinn, Katie Quinn is a personal wardrobe stylist and founder of Q the Stylist.
Best crossbody: Madewell The Zip-Top Medium Transport Tote — $188.00
Dimensions: Not listed, but has an 8 ¼” handle drop, and a 14”-19” shoulder drop
This bag is called the Transport tote, and that’s just what it does—easily transports your workday essentials. That’s thanks to a host of work-ready features, like a zippered top, double shoulder straps, adjustable crossbody strap, and both internal and exterior pockets. Not to mention it’s crafted from semi vegetable-tanned leather that’s Leather Working Group-certified and will deepen into a distinctive patina the more you use it. Works for us.
Colors: 2
- Multiple compartments
- Has both shoulder and crossbody straps
- Leather is sourced from a responsible tannery and deepens to an original patina over time
- May not be large enough for some people
Best with compartments: Cuyana System Tote — $328.00
Dimensions: 13.25”W x 5”L x 10”H
It’s basically impossible to talk about the best tote bags for work and not include Cuyana’s System Tote in luxe Italian leather—which is why it’s on our list, obviously. What really sets this bag apart is its interior snaps, which let you add or remove organizational accessories to fully customize it to your specific workday needs. There’s a size that works for larger laptops, too, since you can choose from both the 13-inch (shown here), and a bigger 16-inch option. Not only that, but you can add on straps, laptop sleeves, and pouches, all of which easily snap into place.
Colors: 6
- So many ways to customize it
- Crafted in luxurious Italian leather
- Snaps closed
- Professional, structured silhouette
- Gets expensive, depending on add-ons or materials
Best structured: Béis The Work Tote — $128.00
Dimensions: 14.25”W x 6”L x 11”H
Who knew one little bag could do so much? Inside, this workhorse features a large compartment, a zippered pouch that even fits over-the-ear headphones, an attached key ring, and a snap-top laptop compartment. What else? It has long shoulder straps, a padded crossbody strap, and a top-zip closure for easy access. We’re partial to the olive croc, but it comes in five additional gorgeous colors, not to mention a larger size and a more casual commuter option, too.
Colors: 6
- Comes in a wide array of colors, textures, and sizes
- So many internal compartments and pockets, including a laptop compartment
- Has both shoulder and crossbody straps
- Back trolley sleeve easily fits over luggage handles
- Smaller size may not work for all people
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Best leather: Coach North Tote Bag 32 — $295.00
Dimensions: 12.5”W x 6”L x 11.25”H
This leather tote bag is a favorite of Quinn’s, who loves the deep chocolate brown hue and multiple convenient features. “This rich color in leather that will stand the test of time is not all this bag has going for it,” she says. She loves that it’s “minimal and classic,” thanks to an internal zip pocket, top-snap closure, and plenty of room for a laptop and other workday essentials.
Colors: 1
- Crafted in luxurious genuine leather
- Top-snap closure
- Holds a 13” laptop
- Only one color option
- Only one interior pocket
Best packable: Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote — $155.00
Dimensions: 12”W x 7”L x 12”H
True story: When I was out of college and working at my first job as the Editorial Assistant at Harper’s Bazaar, every single fashion editor had this tote—so I went out and bought this tote. It’s been over 20 years, and this is still one of my most treasured possessions. Not only is the sleek, water-resistant nylon supremely durable and made to withstand basically anything life can throw at it, but it snaps and packs up into the most adorable little square for easy portability during travel. When it’s unsnapped to its full glory, the tote bag has a top-zip closure with a logo-embossed snap tab, shoulder straps, and an interior phone pocket. Oooh la la.
Colors: 6
- Nylon is weather resistant
- Snaps up into a convenient packable size
- Comes in multiple fun colors
- Easy access top closure
- Not really structured for laptops
Best luxury: Lo & Sons Seville Prima Tote — $630.00
Dimensions: 17”W x 5”L x 12.5”H
Quinn calls this “the ultimate organizer’s dream tote,” and she’s not wrong. “It’s a true workhorse with compartments for everything and smooth, tough-to-scratch Saffiano leather,” she says. “If you’re hard on your bags and always on the go, this one may be for you.” Speaking of those compartments, yes, there are a lot of them. It’s designed to carry a 13” or 15” laptop, it comes with a travel shell that attaches to a suitcase handle, and it has multiple interior and exterior pockets and compartments to hold everything you can possibly think of (and some things you probably didn’t even know you needed).
Colors: 3
- Multiple compartments and pockets
- Holds a laptop
- Crafted in durable leather
- You can add on additional sleeves and shells
- Priciest option on this list
What to consider when shopping for a tote bag for work
Size
Totes are bigger than clutches or small shoulder bags to begin with, but when you’re considering what to carry on your daily commute, your work bag has to be big enough to fit everything you’re bringing with you. “This is particular to the person, but a good tote can hold a laptop, phone, charging cords, small notebook, water bottle, wallet, keys, small toiletry bag, glasses, and a snack,” Quinn says.
Comfort
When you’re carrying your life around with you, the last thing you want to worry about is being in pain doing it. First, it should be fairly lightweight before you fill it. “A bag that is heavy when empty will give you a backache over time,” Quinn says.
Second, the tote bag’s shoulder straps should be a little thicker and fairly pliable. “The bag should sit comfortably on your shoulder without having to constantly adjust the straps,” says Quinn. She also advises totes with shoulder straps over handheld ones so you can go hands-free.
Fabric
There may be nothing worse than a work tote that starts disintegrating, especially while your laptop and other daily essentials are inside. The fabric needs to be durable enough to stand up to different commutes and weather patterns. Depending on your style preference, Quinn recommends styles in leather, coated canvas, or nylon.
- Leather: “It’s my go-to since it’s durable and can be cleaned over time to nearly brand new at a cobbler or at home,” Quinn says.
- Coated canvas: “This is another great alternative that is usually lighter in weight than similar styles in leather, but lacks the longevity that leather offers,” Quinn notes.
- Nylon: “It’s very lightweight and usually as a zipper closure, but is not as professional-looking as leather or coated canvas,” Quinn says.
The one material Quinn recommends leaving at home? Suede. “It will show wear more quickly, is susceptible to color transfer, and can become stiff after meeting with rain,” she says.
Closure
A tote bag needs to do two things simultaneously—let your items be easily accessible, but keep them from falling out. Quinn recommends looking for tote bags with zippers, snaps, or magnetic tops.
Pockets and compartments
Rummaging around inside your tote bag for what seems like forever and still not finding your makeup bag/laptop/lipgloss/wallet/keys/work badge/other necessary items? Oh, the nightmare! The best totes for work will have slots, zippered pockets, and compartments. “Look for [pockets], either internal or external, to help keep things organized,” Quinn advises.
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