Short answer: if you carry a laptop, you need the 13.8 inch handbag or the tote. If you carry a phone and a wallet, the small handbag is enough. Everything below is measured, not estimated.
Bag photos are useless for judging size. A bag shot on its own looks big, the same bag on a model looks small, and neither tells you whether your laptop fits. So here are the actual numbers for every piece we make, and what each one really holds.
Every size, measured
| Piece | Dimensions | Largest thing it fits | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leather Handbag | 13.8" × 10.6" × 5.5" | 13 inch laptop | $84.95 |
| Small Leather Handbag | 9.8" × 7.7" × 4.5" | 8.3 inch iPad Mini | $79.95 |
| Leather Tote Bag | 13.8" × 10.6" × 5.5" | 13 inch laptop | $69.95 |
| Eclipse Makeup Bag | 10" × 7.5" × 4.75" × 2.75" | Full makeup kit | $29.95 |
| Long Wallet | 4.3" × 7.9" × 1" | Phone plus cards and cash | $39.95 |
| Mini Wallet | 4.5" × 3.2" × 1" | Cards, cash and coins | $29.95 |
The two handbag sizes, side by side
This is the comparison most people actually need, because the handbag is where the size decision is hardest. On a screen the two look almost the same. Next to each other, the four inches of width are obvious, and that gap is exactly the difference between a bag that takes a laptop and one that does not.
The two questions that decide it
One: does a laptop go in? If yes, you are choosing between the handbag and the tote, because they are the only two at 13.8 inches wide. If no, the small handbag saves you weight and bulk you were not going to use.
Two: does your phone go in the wallet or the bag? If you want to walk out with just a wallet, the long wallet at 7.9 inches tall takes a phone. The mini wallet at 3.2 inches does not, and is not trying to.
Handbag or tote, when the measurements are identical
They are the same size. The difference is shape and how you carry them.
The handbag has structure. It holds its shape when you set it down, has a defined opening, and reads more formal. Choose it for work where the bag is part of the outfit.
The tote is softer and more open. It is easier to drop things into without looking, and easier to overfill, which is also the main way people wear out a bag early. Choose it for days when the bag is carrying, not presenting.
The tote also starts lower, at $69.95 against $84.95, because it comes in two finishes rather than three.
What each piece actually holds
Leather Handbag, 13.8" × 10.6" × 5.5". A 13 inch laptop, books, wallet, keys, lipstick and sunglasses, together. This is the everyday and work size.
Small Leather Handbag, 9.8" × 7.7" × 4.5". Phone, a small tablet, wallet, keys, lipstick and sunglasses. Errands, outings and evenings. It will not take a laptop, and stretching it to try is how corners wear.
Leather Tote Bag, 13.8" × 10.6" × 5.5". Same capacity as the handbag, with thicker straps built for all day weight. Work, travel, market days.
Eclipse Makeup Bag, 10" × 7.5" × 4.75" × 2.75". Lipsticks, brushes, skincare and a mirror. It has four measurements because it is a tapered shape, wider at the base than the opening. It sits inside a handbag or tote rather than being carried alone.
Long Wallet, 4.3" × 7.9" × 1". Cards, cash, a phone, lipstick and keys. This is the one you can leave the house holding on its own.
Mini Wallet, 4.5" × 3.2" × 1". Cards, cash, coins and a lipstick. Built for the days you want to carry less, and small enough to disappear into a pocket.
Common sizing mistakes
Buying small to look elegant, then overfilling it. An overstuffed small bag looks worse than a right-sized larger one, and the strain at the corners is what shortens a bag's life more than anything else.
Assuming a tote swallows anything. Ours is 5.5 inches deep, not a duffel. If you regularly carry a laptop plus a change of shoes, measure first.
Buying the mini wallet as your only wallet. If you carry receipts, a chequebook or more than about eight cards, the long wallet is the one.
Does the size change between designs?
No. All 247 designs are printed on the same six shapes, so the measurements above hold whichever artwork you pick. Choosing a design is purely about the artwork and the words on it, never about fit.
Measure before you order
Every bag is made after you order it, so we cannot take returns or exchanges for size or a change of mind. That is exactly why every measurement is on this page. If your bag arrives damaged or is not what you ordered, email us within 30 days of delivery and we send you a new one. Shipping is free on orders over $60, and printing plus delivery takes about two weeks. You can read why in Made to Order: Why Your Bag Takes Two Weeks.
If you are unsure between two sizes, write to cs@paletabags.com with what you carry daily and we will tell you which one, including when the answer is the cheaper one.