Top laptop cases and sleeves should have an attractive, durable design, and be easy to take through security, especially when flying. Most bags have padding to add extra protection for your laptop, and some are even reinforced along the edges or offer waterproofing. You can also get laptop sleeves with additional pockets and organizers to handle cables, pens, notebooks, and other miscellaneous items if you need storage space.
Our top pick, the Nacuwa 360, is a well-rounded protective sleeve that won’t break the bank. If you’re interested in other options, see our complete list of the best laptop cases and sleeves below.
The Nacuwa 360 laptop sleeve has everything you need in a laptop case and is a well-balanced product perfect for most people. It comes in light or dark gray color schemes and offers a decent level of protection with internal egg-crate-style padding. The case can keep your devices cushioned from the everyday bumps and jostles incurred during a typical day of travel. Extra reinforcement added to the corners provides a strategic layer of protection.
Best Overall
Nacuwa 360 Laptop Sleeve
Excellent protection from drops
Carrying handle and large side pocket
Easy access to devices
Won’t fit thicker laptops
The outside shell is soft and attractive with a strong carrying handle, and the case even provides some degree of water resistance. An outer pocket has room to store chargers, external hard drives, or other accessories. While the brand name might not be familiar, the level of protection and overall quality at this remarkable price point elevate the Nacuwa to our top pick.
Capacity: 13-inch laptops and tablets | Durability: 360-degree and drop protection | Waterproof: Water-resistant | Pockets: One external
When you’re on the move with your laptop in tow, you usually need a handful of accessories as well. This option from Case Logic has room for all your chargers, secondary devices, and more. Fitting devices up to 17 inches, the bag has an interior slip pocket to hold notepads and other documents separately from your computer. A velcro strap keeps your laptop secured in place, and padded compartment walls provide extra protection.
Best for Extra Pockets
Case Logic 15.6-Inch Laptop Case (VNCI-215)
Plenty of pockets for accessories
Standalone laptop case
Good value for money
Somewhat bulky
The exterior front pocket has dedicated pouches for accessories, including your smartphone, charging cables, power brick, while the exterior back pocket can comfortably hold your tablet or other belongings. It also has a detachable shoulder carrying strap, plus a smaller handle on the top. The bag may be a bit bulky, but it gets an A+ for its intended purpose: holding all your gadgets and accessories in an organized fashion.
Capacity: 15 to 17 inches | Durability: Padded compartment | Waterproof: No | Pockets: Front and slip pocket
Thule’s Gauntlet laptop cases are the time-tested titans of laptop protection, and the 16-inch Thule Gauntlet Sleeve is no exception. Though it’s marketed squarely at 15- to 16-inch MacBook Pro owners, the Gauntlet is suitable for a wide range of laptops up to 16 inches in size.
Best Protection
Thule Gauntlet Sleeve for 16" MacBook Pro, 15" MacBook Pro, PCs/Laptops, and Chromebooks up to 14"
Extremely tough and protective case
Fits a wide range of laptops up to 16 inches
Attractive design
Expensive
Lacks additional storage for accessories
While there are no extra compartments and external dividers, this attractive but pricey case is by far the most durable case out there. The enhanced durability comes from its heavy-duty polyurethane clamshell design with reinforced corner and edge protection, a rigid exterior, and a padded interior.
Capacity: 15 to 16-inches | Durability: Rigid exterior, padded interior, and corner protection | Waterproof: No | Pockets: None
“I’ve been using the same Thule Gauntlet case for the better part of a decade, and it’s saved several generations of laptops from an untimely end.” — Andy Zahn, Tech Writer
If you’re interested in a high-end design for your laptop sleeve, this Kalidi sleeve is budget-friendly and it’ll turn heads.
Best Design
Kalidi Laptop Sleeve
Stylish design
Affordable price
Eight color options
Only meant for MacBook Air
No extra pockets for accessories
The polyurethane faux leather is remarkably high quality, and the bag’s opening is a fold-over that works a lot like a classic pocketbook. Perhaps the best part is that it comes in eight colors, ranging from metallic tan leather to soft seafoam green to a dark, jewel-tone purple. Whatever your style, there’s probably a color on offer from Kalidi to match.
The case fits laptops as large as 14 inches, such as the MacBook Air. Keep that in mind if you’re trying to figure out if your Windows or ChromeOS device might fit.
Capacity: 13-inch laptops and tablets | Durability: Velvet interior | Waterproof: No | Pockets: None
The Tenba Messenger bag is a serious splurge for a laptop case, but it offers nearly everything you could want in a messenger bag. Various models are available to accommodate a wide range of laptop sizes, and numerous compartments keep everything from a large DSLR camera to a travel coffee mug, all of your chargers or even folders and notebooks organized.
Best Splurge
Tenba Messenger DNA
Numerous pockets and organizational features
Easy access to your laptop and accessories
Designed to carry a camera and a laptop
Expensive
The clips that clasp the bag closed use a magnetic quick-release that allows you to securely lock the bag or open it up easily with a single hand. For fast access to the camera pocket, there’s a dedicated zipper. The D-ring straps are another handy feature. These straps serve to both lock the bag to your rolling carry-on suitcase as well as affix it behind you when holding it on your shoulder so it won’t slide forward during a bike ride.
Capacity: Various sizes available | Durability: Padded | Waterproof: Yes, on the base | Pockets: Numerous compartments
The MOSISO Hard Shell case is tailor-made for the MacBook Pro 16 (the 2020 and 2019 models) and is among the best ways to protect your Apple laptop. Its design keeps your ports fully accessible and even allows the light from your Apple logo to shine through a translucent rear panel. Just be sure to check the specific model number of your laptop to make sure it’s compatible.
Best for Macs
MOSISO Plastic Hard Shell Case for MacBook Pro 16-inch
Hardshell case is extra protective
Form-fitting design
Keyboard cover skin
Several color options
Only compatible with 16-inch MacBook Pro
This MOSISO case is built out of rigid plastic with impact-resistant bumpers along its edges to prevent damage from drops. Since it clips onto your laptop, it also keeps the exterior of your device from scratches, and an included keyboard cover helps prevent damage from spills. The bottom of the case features vents for heat dissipation, as well as anti-slip feet to keep your MacBook from sliding around.
Capacity: Apple Macbook Pro Model Number A2141 | Durability: Rigid exterior with corner protection | Waterproof: No | Pockets: None
The Ytonet Laptop case is suitable for laptops up to 15.6 inches and is TSA-friendly (you can leave your laptop inside) to make it easy for travelers to get through security at the airport. In addition to the laptop compartment, there’s a mesh pocket to handle pens, cables, mice, earphones, tablets, and other accessories.
Best for Travelers
Ytonet Laptop Case 15.6-inch
TSA-friendly
Attractive design
Water-resistant fabric
Some users report tight fit
Could use more protection
This case’s water-resistant nylon material protects your laptop from an unexpected coffee spill. Though it’s not as resilient as some other laptop cases you can buy, it boasts a polyester foam padding layer for protection against bumps, shocks, and drops. This case is also compatible with most 15.6-inch laptops and features an attractive two-tone exterior.
Capacity: 15.6-inch laptops and tablets | Durability: Padded sleeve | Waterproof: Water-resistant| Pockets: Mesh pocket internal
What to Look For in Laptop Cases and Sleeves
Durability
Your laptop is an expensive piece of hardware worth protecting. To safeguard against bumps or bruises, look for a case with safety features like interior foam padding or a hardened exterior. You can get a good idea of durability from the material, level of padding, and if the exterior of the sleeve or case is hard. The combination of a rugged exterior with padded interior results in better protection. Waterproofing is rare, but most cases offer protection against minor spills, even if they don’t advertise water resistance.
Design
If you’re tucking your laptop into a larger bag, you’re probably fine buying just a sleeve. However, if you’re carrying a laptop on its own, you’ll want a case with a handle or strap that makes toting around your device more convenient. Similarly, if you’ll often be packing chargers, cables, notebooks, or other extras, then you should look for a case with extra pockets. Make sure the case is large enough for your laptop, but not too large otherwise, it won’t be as secure and well protected.
Checkpoint-Friendly
Going through security at the airport used to require removing your laptop from its case for screening, but TSA now allows you to keep your device inside, assuming its case provides for a clear and unobstructed image of the laptop when undergoing X-ray screening. If you travel a lot, choose a laptop case that meets this requirement—most likely a top-loading sleeve design—so you can breeze through security without extra hassle.
About Our Trusted Experts
Andy Zahn has written about computers and other tech for Lifewire, The Balance, and Investopedia, among other publications. He has reviewed numerous laptops and PCs and has been building gaming PCs of his own since 2013. Andy is a frequent traveler and a constant laptop user, so he knows the importance of protecting his devices with a good case. Andy personally uses a Thule Gauntlet case, which has saved his devices from drops and spills on numerous occasions.
- What is the best material for a laptop case?
- Neoprene is a common and effective material in soft cases and sleeves, while more durable cases often offer a hard plastic exterior with a padded interior. If you’re carrying the laptop inside of another bag, a neoprene sleeve is ideal, but a hardshell case is probably a good idea if you’re carrying it on its own.
- Do you need a case if your backpack has a built-in laptop pocket?
- While many backpacks, messenger bags, and other such baggage frequently have integrated compartments for laptops and other devices, often these pouches don’t offer much in the way of protection. It’s a good idea to use a laptop case or sleeve in such circumstances to provide an extra layer of protection.
- What’s the difference between a laptop sleeve and laptop case?
- A laptop sleeve tends to be a more form-fitting option that conforms to your laptop’s size and design. Typically, a laptop sleeve is designed to protect the device itself and can’t handle additional accessories, tablets, notebooks, or other items. A laptop case is more of a bag and comes with storage, organization, and carrying options. A laptop sleeve can often fit inside a laptop case.
Neoprene is a common and effective material in soft cases and sleeves, while more durable cases often offer a hard plastic exterior with a padded interior. If you’re carrying the laptop inside of another bag, a neoprene sleeve is ideal, but a hardshell case is probably a good idea if you’re carrying it on its own.
While many backpacks, messenger bags, and other such baggage frequently have integrated compartments for laptops and other devices, often these pouches don’t offer much in the way of protection. It’s a good idea to use a laptop case or sleeve in such circumstances to provide an extra layer of protection.
A laptop sleeve tends to be a more form-fitting option that conforms to your laptop’s size and design. Typically, a laptop sleeve is designed to protect the device itself and can’t handle additional accessories, tablets, notebooks, or other items. A laptop case is more of a bag and comes with storage, organization, and carrying options. A laptop sleeve can often fit inside a laptop case.
David Beren is a former tech and commerce writer for Lifewire with 10+ years of experience. He has written and managed content for companies like T-Mobile, Sprint, and TracFone Wireless and contributed to sites like WebGeekStuff and MakeTechEasier.
