Best laptop bags for women: From totes to backpacks, how to carry your tech in style

When it comes to the best laptop bags for women, we're looking for a combination of fashion and functionality. While we want our tech safe and our arms ache-free, we also don't want to compromise on style.

With a huge uptick in returning to an office environment, the best laptop bags for women have become a wardrobe essential. Made to transport your tech, we're looking for designs that offer great protection but also slot easily into our capsule wardrobe, teaming effortlessly with the best shirt dresses and best blazers for a day in the office. A totally different proposition to the best designer bags, a great laptop bag needs to have plenty of functionality, and depending on where you work and how you commute, you might need to find a bag that is waterproof, has a separate, padded compartment, and maybe even wheels for excellent ergonomics. 

If you've already invested in one of the best backpacks for women, you may find that this commuter-friendly bag style already has a laptop compartment, killing two birds with one stone. But if you're wedded to carrying on with your best Louis Vuitton bag handbag for added style credentials and want your laptop bag to be dedicated to your tech, then you'll need to invest in a separate piece. And while you don't have to compromise on style, when it comes to the best laptop bags for women, it's less about the handbag trends 2022 and more about practical style solutions. Fabrication is still important, however, as is hardware and for a bag that lasts you'll want to consider the strength of the stitching too.  

Best laptop bags for women 

Forget Jacquemus’ micro bags, the best laptop bags are big enough to fit your tech without compromising on appearance. 

1. Best laptop bag for travel

Makers of some of the best weekend bags, Away bags always deliver when it comes to ways to make our lives easier when traveling, and the Medium Everywhere Bag is no exception. The list of features is long, with highlights including interior slip and zip pockets, a water-resistant coating, and the ability to secure it to any Away suitcase. There’s also the option to hold it by either the top handles or detachable padded shoulder strap, and the bag meets airline requirements for carry-on luggage -although it is always best to double-check before you travel. Of course, how it holds a laptop is our priority here, and the padded exterior pocket has space for tech up to 15” in size. It has a magnetic locking zip too, for added security and peace of mind. 

2. Best designer laptop bag

It always feels nice to treat yourself to something special, whether that’s a pair of the best designer heels, or, in this case, a designer laptop bag. British clothing brand Mulberry is best known for its high-quality leather goods, making them a good option to invest in. The Mulberry City Slim Briefcase is, as you might have guessed by the name, a briefcase. But forget anything you ever thought about briefcases being stuffy and outdated. This one is seriously chic and available in either sleek charcoal grey or on-trend khaki - a big fashion color trend 2022. Beneath the double zip fastening is a slip pocket to the side, as well as the main compartment with a padded laptop slip. The outer is crafted from substantial yet buttery leather, which will only become softer with every use. Sleek and stylish, it certainly solves what to wear to an interview when it comes to accessories.

3. Best lightweight laptop bag

Sometimes going to work can feel like a physical endurance test. By the time you’ve packed your laptop, lunch, and a pair of comfortable flats into your bag, there’s a lot to carry. For this reason, you might be after a lightweight laptop bag that won’t add to the load. Longchamp’s Le Pliage Original Briefcase is just the ticket. Crafted to be able to hold documentation, a laptop or a tablet, the main body of the bag is made from a recycled polyamide canvas that is considerably lighter than real or faux leather. Even better, it can be folded up to the size of a paperback book when not being used, so it can fit comfortably within your other bags. Chic, simple and practical. 

4. Best fashionable laptop bag

You shouldn’t have to compromise on a substance to get a laptop bag with style. If any brand knows how to make the everyday feel more inspiring, it's American clothing brand, Kate Spade. Best known for playful shapes and rainbow colors, these are bags with personality. The Spencer Dome Universal Laptop Bag has a simple curved shape with statement handles as well as the option to turn it into one of the best crossbody bags. Available in simple, classic black, as well as a fashion-forward serene pink - both of which feature metal hardware and the brand’s signature logo. The fabric is a soft saffiano leather, chosen for its ability to withstand the kind of scratches and scrapes that are inevitable with daily use. The large size means it's big enough to fit both your laptop and charger (as well as your other essentials), with a zip closure to keep everything safe. 

5. Best waterproof laptop bag

If there’s one thing you can never guarantee when heading out to work, it's how the weather will be. And unexpected showers are the last thing you want near your tech. Lucky for us, Rains’, makers of some of the best waterproof jackets, have created a sleek messenger bag in its signature waterproof PU fabric. Even better, the fabric is suitable for vegetarians and has been specially engineered to withstand whatever your day holds. The bulk of the bag's storage is in the main compartment, with a side-access padded pocket that can fit a 16” laptop. There’s no zip atop the main compartment, but there are some on the outside and inside. Instead, the bag closes by folding down the fabric and securing it with the front clip. Carry via the adjustable strap either on your shoulder or across the body. 

6. Best laptop bag with wheels

For a laptop bag that goes the extra mile, Cath Kidston’s Button Spot Frame Wheeled Backpack is hard to beat. With the ability to be pulled via the retractable handle and wheels (so no need to skew the line of your best blazer) or carried on your shoulders, it is easily one of the best backpacks for women. The internal padded laptop compartment means there’s always room for your computer, with the option to expand the bag if and when you’re traveling a little heavier. Pockets to the inside and out make organization easy. As for the design, the navy base and ivory polka dots make for a timeless piece that will coordinate with your workwear wardrobe. 

7. Best affordable laptop bag

Don’t want to spend too much on a laptop bag? The Florence 15” Nylon Laptop Bag from John Lewis & Partners offers a more affordable option. The bag itself is relatively no-frills but has all the components you would need, and expect, from a quality laptop bag. The narrow shape has enough room to store a laptop or tablet up to 15” in size and is fastened at the top with a two-way double zip. It can be carried by the double leather top handles or carried in the crook of your arm like a clutch. The exterior is padded, to help you avoid any bumps to your laptop en route to work, and the nylon is nice and lightweight for easy carrying.

8. Best black laptop bag

Want to invest in a laptop bag that won’t date? Color trends come and go, but black never goes out of fashion. Not to mention that the neutral color goes with just about any outfit you can think of. Making some of the best watches, Fossil also has a great selection of bags and the Tess Laptop Bag earns points for not looking like a laptop bag, meaning there’s no giveaway about what you’re carrying. Crafted from a quality eco-leather that only gets better the more you use it, this is a bag that will earn its keep in your wardrobe for years to come. Inside, there’s a zip pocket, two slide pockets, and two large compartments - the second of which is padded and has been specially designed to hold a laptop. On the outside, there’s even more to offer, with a top handle, luggage strap, and two, padded backpack straps. Oh, and if black isn’t your thing, there are oxblood, tan, and patterned options too. 

9. Best 15” laptop bag

Say hello to the laptop bag that works as hard as you do. Whether you’re on the way to the office or catching a flight, Everlane’s The ReNew Transit Backpack has thought of everything. First things first, the exterior pocket offers easy access for a laptop or tablet up to 15” in size. There are two additional zip pockets on the outside too, which are perfect for your office pass, train ticket, or passport. One of the best sustainable clothing brands, the fabric is made from 100% recycled polyester, originating from recycled plastic bottles, to divert waste away from landfills and back into the supply chain. Of course, if you’re hoping to reduce your plastic consumption, you’ll want to be carrying a water bottle, and there’s space to store one on both the inside and outside of the bag. 

10. Best 17' laptop bag

If your laptop is 17” in size, finding a bag becomes that bit trickier. Suddenly, you’re veering more into luggage territory, which isn’t always practical day-to-day. Enter Samsonite’s Openroad 2.0 Backpack. Available in three sizes, the 17.3” is the biggest of the bunch, and is brimming with handy and immensely practical features. First up, this bag has an integrated USB port, allowing you to charge your tech on the go. A feature that will not only help you avoid the flat battery fear but also help justify the higher price tag. There are four pockets to the outside (two at the front, two at the side, and one on top) as well as separate compartments for your laptop, clothing, and documentation. It looks good too, with the smooth colored fabric accented with contrasting sections of black. 

11. Best tote bag with laptop compartment

The best totes win us over for their ability to hold far more than we’d expect. The Bellroy Tokyo Tote is a true Mary-Poppins Esque wonder, with a padded laptop sleeve sized to hold a device up to 13”, as well as pop pockets for bottles, shoes, or an umbrella. There’s even a built-in key clip so you don’t have to rummage around for them at the door. The only downside of a tote is that it can be tricky to find what’s inside, but the wide mouth opening allows easy access and can be secured with a full zip when moving around. As for the outer, it's made from a water-resistant fabric composed of recycled bottles, allowing you to do good by proxy as you go about your day. 

12. Best laptop/handbag combination

Don’t want to feel like you’re carrying your purse, plus a dedicated laptop bag to work? The Strathberry Tote elegantly combines both needs, with a seriously stylish bag that’s big enough to hold your laptop. Made from super-soft calf leather, the exterior feels luxe, meaning it will slot in seamlessly at important meetings or boardroom events. Choose from smooth grain or embossed leather, in a range of four different colors spanning classic black to bottle green. Inside, the space isn’t divided into compartments (save for some smaller inner pockets) letting you decide how to organize your essentials. Carry by the detachable shoulder or crossbody strap or hold via the top handle. The latter is secured with Strathberry’s signature bar closure, keeping it closed when you’re on the go.