How do you care for a leather tote bag?

While leather tote bags can’t be thrown in the wash like their canvas counterparts, caring for your bag is fairly straightforward—so long as you are aware of what can cause damage. For starters, Meknat says that leather can absorb oil and grease very easily, so it’s important to be mindful of where you place your bag, and avoid grabbing it if you've recently applied a product with oil in it to your hands. “If it gets wet, blot it with a dry cloth as soon as possible,” says Meknat, adding that it’s a good idea to wipe the bag every few days with a soft and slightly damp cloth to get rid of dust. “For a more deep cleaning, use a leather cleaner, or take it to a professional who knows how to handle leather goods." In addition to cleaning, conditioning the leather can also ensure that it stays in pristine shape. “You can use a leather conditioner to keep the leather soft and prevent it from cracking,” Meknat explains. Storage is also important when considering care. “Store your leather tote in a dry climate-controlled storage area,” Meknat suggests. “Stuff it with bubble wrap or parchment paper to keep the shape, and leave it in a dust bag when not used."

The 12 Best Leather Tote Bags of 2024

A selection of leather tote bags displayed against a blue background — Byrdie / Alexander Huang

TL;DR

Madewell’s Transport Tote is our overall favorite due to its sustainable fabrication, versatile design, and customizable options. On the budget end, Kattee Vintage’s leather tote is our top pick for everything from a day at the office to a browse at your local market. If you’re looking to splurge, you can’t go wrong with Saint Laurent’s classic leather tote.

Tote bags are, hands down, the most versatile bags in any wardrobe. They replace single-use shopping bags when purchasing clothes at a favorite boutique or picking up a few ingredients at a local farmers market. But they are so much more than a reusable market tote.

“Whether you’re going for an overnight stay somewhere or taking it on a long flight, it can store all of your essentials,” says celebrity wardrobe stylist Naz Meknat.

For a more elevated take on the classic tote bag, we turn to leather (and vegan leather!), which makes the tote bag feel a little more intentional, chic, and timeless. From work bags to everyday faux leather totes, we tracked down the best leather tote bags for every occasion. Here’s a look at our curated list of must-have designs.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Madewell The Transport Tote at Nordstrom ($178)

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Best Budget:

Kattee Vintage Tote Shoulder Bag at Amazon ($65)

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Best Designer:

Saint Laurent Leather Shopping Tote at Bloomingdales ($1,490)

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Best Zip-Top:

Cuyana Classic Leather Zipper Tote at Cuyana.com (See Price)

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Best for Work:

Béis The Work Tote at Beistravel.com (See Price)

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Best Large:

Cuyana Classic Structured Tote at Cuyana.com (See Price)

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Best for Travel:

Calpak Haven Laptop Tote Bag at Calpaktravel.com ($152)

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Best Mini:

Coach Willow Leather Tote at Saks Fifth Avenue ($350)

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Best for Moms:

Leatherology Downtown Diaper Bag at Amazon ($290)

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Most Versatile:

Everlane Italian Leather Studio Bag at Everlane.com ($250)

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Best Overall

Madewell The Transport Tote

PHOTO:

Madewell

$178 at Nordstrom $178 at Zappos $178 at Bloomingdales

Material: Vegetable-tanned leather | Dimensions: 3.75 x 14 x 6.25 inches | Colors: True Black, English Saddle, True Black/Brown

The Madewell Transport Tote is an all-time favorite among fashion editors and style enthusiasts alike, thanks to its roomy design, neutral raw-edged style (it goes with literally everything), and how gorgeous it looks with a little wear. As a bonus, Madewell sources its leather from a sustainable manufacturer, so you can feel good about your purchase. On top of that, you can add some personalization at checkout with a little monogram moment in your choice of a metallic or hued stamp font.

Byrdie / Alexander Huang
Byrdie / Alexander Huang

Best Budget

Kattee Vintage Tote Shoulder Bag

Amazon Kattee Vintage Leather Tote Shoulder Bag

$65 at Amazon

Material: Vintage waxed cowhide split leather | Dimensions: 11.8 x 5.1 x 14.3 inches | Colors: Light Brown, Black, Green, Red, Brown, Blue

Finding a high-quality, budget-friendly leather tote bag isn’t the easiest task, but we feel really good about this pick—especially with over 2,400 Amazon customers backing it up. This leather tote bag is made from vintage waxed cowhide and features a classic rectangular tote bag shape, only it’s much easier to stay organized with so many extra pockets and compartments for your things. The shoulder bag has a spot for everything, with two main pockets, a zippered pocket, two open pockets, a couple of slots for smaller items, and an outer zippered pocket.

Byrdie / Alexander Huang
Byrdie / Alexander Huang
Byrdie / Alexander Huang

Best Designer

Saint Laurent Leather Shopping Tote

PHOTO:

Saint Laurent

$1,490 at Bloomingdales $1,450 at Ysl.com

Material: Calfskin leather | Dimensions: 11 x 14.6 x 5 inches | Colors: Black, Storm, Deep Marine, Dark Beige, Opium, Crema Soft, Khaki Fonce, New Vert Fonce

If you’re looking to invest in a designer bag, you can’t go wrong with a designer tote bag, as you’ll get so much use out of it. This all-black leather Saint Laurent tote bag features a timeless and sleek design constructed in 100% calfskin leather with a detachable zipper pouch and key holder to keep you organized. It’s also adorned with a leather tag for added detailing.

Best Zip-Top

Cuyana Classic Leather Zipper Tote

PHOTO:

Cuyana

View on Cuyana.com

Material: Italian leather | Dimensions: 13.5 x 18 x 5.75 inches | Colors: Navy, Caramel, Stone, Dark Olive, Burgundy, Black

The classic tote bag is simple in design, ultra-durable, and spacious—and this Cuyana bag checks every box. This pebbled leather tote bag is made in Argentina in a small family-owned factory, ensuring that the highest care and quality goes into every bag produced. In addition to its classic design, the bag has a safety upgrade with a top zipper, so you can rest assured knowing that everything inside will remain in place.

Best for Work

Béis The Work Tote

PHOTO:

Revolve

View on Beistravel.com $148 at Revolve

Material: Vegan leather | Dimensions: 16.75 x 13.5 x 7 inches | Colors: Beige, Cognac Croc, Black, Black Croc

Beis is all about making accessories that are as practical as they are stylish—and The Work Tote is no exception. Made from vegan leather and designed to be the most functional for work, plus easily transition to out-of-office activities, this leather tote bag has a removable pouch to house smaller items, a padded laptop sleeve that closes to keep your device secured, a larger interior zippered pocket, smaller pockets, pen slips, and a key ring for easy access. The bag also has comfortable shoulder straps, plus a removable adjustable strap, and—get this—a zippered trolley sleeve that doubles as another pocket when it’s not in use.

Best Large

Cuyana Classic Structured Tote

PHOTO:

Cuyana

View on Cuyana.com

Material: Pebbled leather | Dimensions: 13.25 x 19.5 x 6 inches | Colors: Black/Blush, Black/Caramel. Caramel/Blush, Cappuccino/Blush, Stone/Blush, Ecru/Blush

Whether you have a lot to tote around (pun intended) or require a good overnight bag, having a large tote bag on hand is a must. We are obsessed with this one from Cuyana because, although it is a large bag, its design still has intentional structure, so it can hold your stuff while also holding its shape. This tote bag is made from Italian leather with a pebbled finish in a woman-owned factory that follows responsible practices.

Best for Travel

Calpak Haven Laptop Tote Bag

PHOTO:

Calpak

$152 at Calpaktravel.com $130 at Anthropologie

Material: Pebbled leather | Dimensions: 13.25 x 19.5 x 6 inches | Colors: Black/Blush, Black/Caramel. Caramel/Blush, Cappuccino/Blush, Stone/Blush, Ecru/Blush

When shopping for a leather tote bag for travel, you want a bag that was specifically designed with jet-setting in mind. This one from Calpak will keep you organized on the go, with a durable and removable shoulder strap, zippered and magnet closures, a trolley sleeve, and a removable laptop sleeve that also features smaller pockets to keep items safe and snug when stowed.

Byrdie / Alexander Huang
Byrdie / Alexander Huang
Byrdie / Alexander Huang

Best Mini

Coach Willow Leather Tote

PHOTO:

Nordstrom

$350 at Saks Fifth Avenue $350 at Macy's

Material: Polished pebble leather | Dimensions: 9 1/2 x 7 3/4 x 4 ¼ inches | Colors: Brass/Dove-grey

Smaller tote bags might not be the most useful, since they carry far less than your average tote, but we love them as an alternative for an everyday purse. This one from Coach might be small, but it has all the room you need for everyday essentials, with a spacious interior, two open pockets, and a detachable shoulder strap to make it a crossbody. The bag is designed from polished pebble leather and is available in a neutral color that is sure to stay in style.

Best for Moms

Leatherology Downtown Diaper Bag

PHOTO:

Leatherology

$290 at Amazon $265 at Leatherology.com

Material: Full grain leather | Dimensions: 13 x 18 x 6 inches | Colors: Black Onyx, Bordeaux, Cognac, Camel, Scarlet, Charcoal +more

For moms with young children, a tote bag that doubles as a diaper bag is ideal for versatility and organization. This full-grain leather tote bag has everything you need while chasing your little one on the go, with plenty of slip pockets, a zipper closure, and a removable fabric insert with five insulated pockets for diapers, snacks, bottles, and more.

Most Versatile

Everlane Italian Leather Studio Bag

PHOTO:

Everlane

$250 at Everlane.com

Material: Leather | Dimensions: 13 x 6.25 x 9.75 inches | Colors: Black, Cognac

Everlane makes some of our favorite tote bags, including this Leather Studio Bag. Made from 100% Italian leather, the bag has four pockets and is big enough to fit a laptop, so you can wear it as an everyday bag or transition it into a work bag, depending on your day-to-day needs. It features an elevated spin on the classic tote bag design with a bucket-like shape, a large front pocket, and a single adjustable strap.

Best for Class

The Leather Expert Leather Laptop Bag

PHOTO:

Etsy

$378 at Etsy

Material: Vegetable tanned leather | Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 4 inches (small), 17 x 13 x 4 inches (large) | Colors: Caramel, Coffee, Black, Wine, Aloe, Chai, Moss, Sunrise Rose, White Rose

If you’re planning to take your tote bag to school, you want one that has lots of compartments, including a spot for your laptop. This one from Etsy is made from full-grain leather and designed with tons of great pockets and zippered compartments. It's available in different sizes, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Best Vegan Leather

Freja New York Paloma Tote

PHOTO:

Freja New York

View on Frejanyc.com

Material: Pebbled vegan ultrafiber leather, lined in our vegan microsuede | Dimensions: 19 x 13 x 10 x 5 inches | Colors: Black, Espresso, Pecan, Taupe, Cappuccino, Latte

Yes, we know this article is about leather tote bags, but if you want the leather look that isn't the real deal, we highly recommend this tote from Freja. Worn by Hailey Bieber the brand focuses on making realistic vegan leather purses and we can attest to the hype. "I usually prefer real leather, but Freja's leather looks so real, from the pebbled texture to the microsuede lining, that I kept forgetting it's not real," says Emily Cieslak, associate commerce editor. The Paloma tote has a zippered middle compartment that can fit a 16-inch laptop and two side compartments that can fit a 13-inch laptop. Say hello to you next work bag.

What to Look for in a Leather Tote Bag

Weight: When shopping for a tote bag, weight is an important factor to consider. “Make sure the tote isn’t too heavy,” says Meknat. “As you add your essentials into the bag, it will get heavier and hard to carry."
Use: How you will use your tote bag is also important to think about. “Consider what the bag is going to be used for. For example, if it is for traveling or work, a nicer leather tote would be ideal,” Meknat explains. “However, if you want to use it for shopping or a picnic, you might want to consider a different material such as canvas."
Color: If you’re shopping for a tote bag for everyday use, you’ll want one that goes with anything. “Choose a neutral bag color such as black, brown, or tan, so it won’t clash with the colors of your outfits,” Meknat advises.

FAQ

How do you care for a leather tote bag?

While leather tote bags can’t be thrown in the wash like their canvas counterparts, caring for your bag is fairly straightforward—so long as you are aware of what can cause damage.
For starters, Meknat says that leather can absorb oil and grease very easily, so it’s important to be mindful of where you place your bag, and avoid grabbing it if you've recently applied a product with oil in it to your hands. “If it gets wet, blot it with a dry cloth as soon as possible,” says Meknat, adding that it’s a good idea to wipe the bag every few days with a soft and slightly damp cloth to get rid of dust. “For a more deep cleaning, use a leather cleaner, or take it to a professional who knows how to handle leather goods."
In addition to cleaning, conditioning the leather can also ensure that it stays in pristine shape. “You can use a leather conditioner to keep the leather soft and prevent it from cracking,” Meknat explains.
Storage is also important when considering care. “Store your leather tote in a dry climate-controlled storage area,” Meknat suggests. “Stuff it with bubble wrap or parchment paper to keep the shape, and leave it in a dust bag when not used."

Why Trust Byrdie

Contributing writer Jessie Quinn has a bachelor's degree in fashion journalism. From working in the fashion closet and interviewing designers at NYLON Magazine to now writing about the best style trends for various publications, Jessie researches and sources the best fashion finds. When researching the best leather tote bags, Jessie looked for high-quality options that wear well, are versatile, and have an organization factor to keep items from being thrown about inside.

Catherine Hufton is a London-based lifestyle journalist and has been a contributing writer and editor for Byrdie since 2022. Her freelance career has given her the opportunity to work for some of the world’s biggest beauty brands and women’s titles and test hundreds of makeup, and skincare products in the process. She digs deep into all things fashion and beauty to find the very best shopping must-haves using her own knowledge, expert advice and detailed insights from Byrdie’s NYC testing lab.

Naz Meknat is a Los Angeles-based fashion stylist and author who has been working in the fashion industry since 2005. She has a degree in Fashion from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough leather totes for women from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.