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What’s This About
A good leather work briefcase fits your laptop and papers, closes securely, carries comfortably and suits the formality of your work, and the ten bags below show different ways makers meet those needs.
This shortlist describes ten leather briefcases from the makers’ own details, such as:
structured luxury briefcases from Prada and Saint Laurent
slim, lightweight options from Smythson and Le Tanneur
larger bags with more compartments from Von Baer, Carl Friedrik and Bennett Winch
classic British styles from Aspinal of London and The Cambridge Satchel Company
what to check before you buy
and many more!
Prices, colours and stock change often, so check the maker’s current product page before you buy.
Key Points
01Check the laptop size each bag fits, its weight and how many compartments you need before choosing on looks alone.
02Vegetable-tanned and full-grain leathers develop a patina with use, while textured leathers such as Saffiano and crossgrain resist everyday marks.
03A detachable shoulder strap and a trolley sleeve make a briefcase much easier to carry when you travel.
04This page describes each bag from the maker’s published details; The VOU has not tested these bags.
A leather briefcase is still one of the most practical ways to carry a laptop and documents to work, and the right one should suit your commute, your workload and your workplace’s dress code.
The ten bags below cover a range of styles and prices; the details come from the makers’ product pages as checked in October 2026, and for help choosing a briefcase for different occasions, see our briefcase styling guide.
What to Look For
Laptop size: check the maker’s stated laptop size against your own device
Weight: structured and vegetable-tanned bags are often heavier, which matters on long commutes
Compartments: one main compartment suits light loads, while two or three help if you carry papers, cables and a change of shirt
Carrying options: a detachable shoulder strap and a trolley sleeve help when travelling
Leather: textured leathers resist scratches, while smooth vegetable-tanned leather develops a patina
Style: plain, structured bags in black, brown or navy suit conservative offices; softer or coloured bags suit relaxed workplaces
The bags are listed in no particular order.
Saffiano Leather Work Bag by Prada
Prada’s Saffiano leather work bag is a slim calfskin briefcase in the house’s textured Saffiano leather, with an enamelled triangle logo on the front.
Prada lists a zip closure, two handles, a detachable adjustable leather shoulder strap and an interior with a zip pocket and two patch pockets, and states that it fits a laptop of up to 15 inches.
Suits: men who want a sleek, recognisably designer briefcase for formal and fashion-led workplaces; the logo makes it less discreet than unbranded options.
Sac de Jour Briefcase by Saint Laurent
The Sac de Jour briefcase is a structured briefcase in grained leather from Saint Laurent’s Sac de Jour line, known for its clean, architectural shape.
Suits: men who want a minimal, fashion-led briefcase; check the current product details for laptop fit, as structured bags can have narrower openings.
City Laptop Briefcase by Aspinal of London
The City laptop briefcase from Aspinal of London is a pebble-grain leather briefcase designed to carry a laptop, in a traditional British style.
Suits: conservative offices where a classic black or brown briefcase fits in; confirm the laptop size on the product page.
Lightweight Slim Briefcase in Panama by Smythson
Smythson’s lightweight slim briefcase is made in Italy in the brand’s Panama crossgrain calf leather, which Smythson describes as lightweight, flexible and hard-wearing.
Smythson lists a 16-inch laptop pocket, a zipped back pocket, a single zip fastening, a removable adjustable shoulder strap and a trolley strap, with dimensions of about 39.5 by 28 by 6.5 cm.
Suits: carrying a large laptop in a slim, light bag, often in colours beyond black and brown.
Emile Slim Briefcase by Le Tanneur
The Emile slim briefcase from Le Tanneur is a 14-inch document holder in the maker’s Signature T cowhide, embossed with small T letters, with gunmetal-finish hardware.
Le Tanneur lists a padded laptop pocket, a zipped pocket, a snap closure, a luggage sleeve and an adjustable, removable strap, so it can be carried by hand, on the shoulder or crossbody.
Suits: a light daily load of a 14-inch laptop and a few documents; it has less room than the larger bags here.
Gaston Briefcase by Le Tanneur
The Gaston 15-inch briefcase combines cross-grain and smooth full-grain cowhide with a jacquard lining.
Le Tanneur lists a padded laptop pocket for a 15-inch laptop, exterior and interior flat pockets, a zipped pocket, an adjustable detachable shoulder strap and a trolley loop.
Suits: fuller working days when you carry more than a laptop, and for frequent travel.
No. 1 Briefcase by Von Baer
Von Baer’s No. 1 briefcase is made in northern Italy in vegetable-tanned full-grain leather, which develops a patina with use.
Von Baer lists a triple-gusset design, room for a laptop of up to 16 inches, a key lock, a padded shoulder strap, a cotton canvas lining and a weight of about 2.1 kg (4.7 lb).
Suits: men who want a spacious, traditional briefcase with a lock; at this weight it is better for shorter commutes or travel with a trolley.
Palissy Double by Carl Friedrik
Carl Friedrik’s Palissy Double is made in Europe in vegetable-tanned Italian vachetta leather, with two zipped main compartments.
The maker lists a 15-inch laptop sleeve, a shoulder strap, organisation pockets and pen slots, a capacity of 16 litres and a weight of about 3.7 lb.
Suits: keeping work papers and travel essentials separate; vachetta is stiff at first and softens with use.
Leather Brief by Bennett Winch
Bennett Winch’s Leather Brief is handmade in England in vegetable-tanned full-grain Italian leather with solid brass hardware.
The maker lists a laptop sleeve for up to 16 inches, three internal pockets, a concealed rear pocket, a trolley panel and a detachable cotton shoulder strap, with a weight of about 1.6 kg.
Suits: men who want one briefcase for the office and travel; smooth vegetable-tanned leather shows marks and develops a patina over time.
The Briefcase by The Cambridge Satchel Company
The Cambridge Satchel Company makes The Briefcase in leather at its workshop in England, in the brand’s traditional satchel style.
Suits: a classic, academic look with tweed jackets and Oxford shirts; check the product page for laptop size and strap options.
Comparison
Scroll horizontally to see all columns →
| Briefcase | Leather | Laptop fit (maker) | Notable features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prada Saffiano Work Bag | Saffiano calfskin | Up to 15 inches | Zip closure, detachable strap, logo plaque |
| Saint Laurent Sac de Jour | Grained leather | Check product page | Structured, minimal shape |
| Aspinal of London City | Pebble-grain leather | Check product page | Traditional British style |
| Smythson Panama Slim | Panama crossgrain calf | 16 inches | Lightweight, trolley strap |
| Le Tanneur Emile | Signature T cowhide | 14 inches | Crossbody strap, luggage sleeve |
| Le Tanneur Gaston | Cross-grain and smooth cowhide | 15 inches | Trolley loop, several pockets |
| Von Baer No. 1 | Vegetable-tanned full-grain | Up to 16 inches | Triple gusset, key lock, about 2.1 kg |
| Carl Friedrik Palissy Double | Vachetta | 15 inches | Two compartments, 16 litres |
| Bennett Winch Leather Brief | Vegetable-tanned full-grain | Up to 16 inches | Handmade in England, about 1.6 kg |
| Cambridge Satchel The Briefcase | Leather | Check product page | Made in England, satchel style |
Conclusion
The right briefcase for you is the one that fits your laptop, your daily load and your workplace, so start with size, weight and compartments, then choose the leather and style you prefer.
Check each maker’s current product page for prices, colours and stock, which change often.
Related Questions
How to choose a briefcase for men?