Written by Ashley Barry-Biancuzzo, Séamus Bellamy, and Adrien Ramirez
Updated April 25, 2023
Not only are laptops complex machines, they’re also expensive and super delicate. One splash of water in the wrong place and the whole thing could sizzle. Or what happens if your laptop suddenly goes crashing to the ground?
Whether you're a hardcore gamer or a casual user, laptop sleeves can help protect your machine from accidental spills and minor drops.
To find the best laptop sleeve or case, we looked into nine top-rated laptop sleeves. With its chic design, durable build, and snug fit, the Kate Spade Laptop Sleeve (available at Amazon) was our top pick. While this sleeve checked off a lot of boxes, if you’d prefer something more simple, don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of great options.
Editor's Note:
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
Best Overall
Kate Spade 13" Laptop Sleeve
Between the cute design and golden Kate Spade logo, this stylish sleeve is a real head-turner. However, it’s more than just a pretty face.
From stabbing the sleeve with a pair of scissors to spraying it with water, it passed all of our tests with flying colors. My laptop felt secure inside this sleeve because of the thick foam padding and snug fit.
The only real shortcoming is the high price tag, so it may not be the best option for those on a tight budget. Out of all the sleeves we tested, my 15-inch HP Chromebook felt the most secure and protected in this one. If you’re looking for a truly premium product then this is a great choice.
Pros
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Stylish
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Durable
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Form-fitting
Cons
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None that we could find
Buy now at Amazon
$54.99 from Abt
Best Value
Evecase Diamond Foam Neoprene Sleeve
I like the Evecase Neoprene Sleeve quite a bit. This case offers an affordable price tag and is easy to take in and out of a backpack or laptop messenger bag.
The lined interior is so soft and the sleeve itself is form-fitting, too. However, I have a love-hate relationship with the diamond-shaped foam bumps on the sleeve’s exterior.
While the bumps offer a good amount of padding, I’m not sure how they’ll hold up with long-term use. When I stabbed the flat side of the sleeve with scissors, the bumps burst open at the seams. The foam bits will definitely protect against scuffs and drops, but they’ll probably fray and tear open over time.
Pros
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Affordable
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Soft interior
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Form-fitting
Cons
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Bumps seem less durable
Tom Bihn Cache (16A)
No matter your tablet or laptop’s size, there's likely a Tom Bihn Cache case designed for it. At last count, the cache came in 17 different sizes, ready to keep your laptop covered and protected from the casual abuse we heap upon our devices on a daily basis.
The Cache is designed to clip into a wide variety of Tom Bihn's backpacks and suitcases. To facilitate this, you'll find two sets of straps—one running horizontally and the other vertically—along the length of this laptop sleeve.
When the Cache is clipped into a Tom Bihn Bag or suitcase, the straps allow the sleeve to be pulled out of the backpack without actually removing it. It makes passing through TSA checkpoints a cinch. Admittedly, they can get in the way if you're not using other Tom Bihn gear with the Cache. During testing, I found myself untangling wires from the straps on more than one occasion.
However, the Cache's build quality makes up for it: it's constructed using a polyester knit exterior, bonded to a 0.25-inch-thick padded foam shell case. And, unlike many laptop sleeves, it comes rocking exceptionally good zippers: YKK coil zippers, to be exact. The zippers feature plastic sliders, so there's little chance they'll scratch your laptop.
Pros
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Offers good protection Non-scratching zippers
Cons
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Straps can get in the way
Buy now at Tom Bihn
Cocoon MCS2401 15" Sleeve
Between the sophisticated gray and black color scheme and durable build, there's a lot to love about the Cocoon Innovations sleeve. When I poked the flat side of the sleeve with a pair of scissors, I couldn’t pierce through the ballistic nylon exterior. The roomy outside laptop compartment, which zippers shut, also is perfect for storing charging cables or dongles. If you’re looking for a sleeve that’ll last a long time, this is a great option.
Pros
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Ballistic nylon exterior
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Durable
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Additional pocket
Cons
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None that we could find
$36.28 from Amazon
$36.28 from Walmart
Tomtoc 360° Protective 13-13.5 Inch Laptop Sleeve
Having tried (and loved) tomtoc's Nintendo Switch case, I was excited to try this laptop sleeve, and it didn't let me down. The matte gray tint and spacious outer pocket reminded me favorably of the Cocoon Innovations sleeve, while the inside lining felt soft and almost luxurious.
I liked the stately gray color, but this one's available in a variety of shades—there's even a design that features Frida Kahlo. Plus, the YKK zipper is easy to grip and is known for its durability. This is a great choice for school or work.
The only downside is that it’s bulkier than other sleeves on this list. While I don’t mind the bulk (it offers more protection than most), if you’re looking for something more lightweight, we’d recommend opting for the Incase or CaseLogic.
Pros
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Additional pocket
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Soft interior
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Quality zipper
Cons
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Bulky
Buy now at Amazon
Arvok 15.6 Inch Laptop Sleeve
For being really affordable, the Avrok still gets the job done where laptop protection is concerned. It's padded and bulky and will repel beads of water and condensation, but it wouldn't survive a dunk in the pool. Although it does a lot of things right, there are still a few drawbacks.
For one, the slippery sleeve may make pulling your laptop out of your backpack a little difficult. That said, it’s not something I struggled with all the time. It’s also a little too big for my 15-inch HP Chromebook. Despite these minor drawbacks, if you’re looking for good build quality in a relatively inexpensive product, the Avrok should fit the bill.
Pros
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Affordable
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Padded
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Repels water
Cons
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Slippery material
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Loose fit
Buy now at Amazon
Case Logic LAPS-113 13.3" Laptop Sleeve
The Case Logic sleeve is simple and lightweight, and a good option for those looking for a more stripped-down experience. The only real feature is the zipper at the top of the sleeve. In our testing, we found that it absorbs water nicely, so it should keep your laptop relatively dry if you’re ever caught in light rain. While I like the bright color options and bouncy material, I’m not a fan of the loose fit.
There’s a lot of extra room in this sleeve, so you may find your laptop shifting around a lot. Personally, when it comes to laptop sleeves, I much prefer a snug fit. That said, you can always use that extra space for notebooks or charging cables.
Pros
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Lightweight
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Absorbs water
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Colorful
Cons
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Loose fit
Buy now at Amazon
$29.99 from Abt
$29.62 from Walmart
Moleskine 13" Laptop Case
With its soft velour lining and elegant design, the Moleskine sleeve is both simple and luxurious. In addition to looking great in an office setting, drops of water roll right off of the faux leather material, so it should protect your laptop from any unexpected spills. The “in case of loss” label sewn inside the sleeve is cool because it’s a place to put your contact info.
While this sleeve might be a good choice for the professional workplace, it’s just not my cup of tea. The elastic band that holds the opening flap down is loose and a bit flimsy. The sleeve is also quite thin and doesn’t offer much in the way of padding. On a purely subjective note, I didn't like the overall aesthetic, as I don’t find it fresh or modern.
Pros
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Simple
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Luxurious
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Faux leather exterior
Cons
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Thin
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Flimsy elastic band
Buy now at Amazon
AmazonBasics 13.3-Inch Laptop Sleeve
I had high hopes for this sleeve, as I generally like AmazonBasics products (Amazon’s yoga mat is the bomb). It’s not a bad sleeve, per se, as the material is cushy and soft and there’s a lot of size options.
However, my 13-inch MacBook Pro was swimming around inside due to the loose fit. When I dropped the sleeve with my laptop inside, it definitely made me doubt the sleeve’s impact resistance (the material is thin). It might protect your laptop from the inside of a backpack, but that’s about it.
Pros
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Soft
Cons
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Thin
-
Loose fit
Buy now at Amazon
What You Should Know About Laptop Sleeves
What is a Laptop Sleeve?
Made of water-resistant material such as nylon or neoprene fabric, a laptop sleeve is a pouch that fits over the skin of your laptop. They’re designed to protect against liquid spills, dusty environments, and minor falls or knocks. While sleeves help minimize damage to your laptop, they’re not suits of armor. Your laptop likely won’t survive a significant fall.
In addition to laptop sleeves, there are also bags and hard cases. Laptop bags are usually rectangular in shape and resemble a briefcase while hard laptop cases are made of rigid material and have rubberized feet. Silicone laptop sleeves are cool because they are soft and typically slide over your laptop like a second skin.
How Should a Laptop Sleeve Fit?
Laptops are complex, expensive, and incredibly delicate. That’s why your laptop sleeve should be form-fitting, but not so tight that there’s no space between the two. The better your sleeve fits your laptop, the more protected it will be, especially corners and edges. That said, it’s important to have realistic expectations about what your laptop sleeve can and cannot do.
For one, they will not save your laptop from significant drops or a dunk in the pool. Laptop sleeves are designed to repel a bit of water and absorb shocks from minor drops and that’s about it. As always, you should exercise caution whenever you’re traveling with a laptop. We’d recommend sticking your laptop sleeve inside a bag or backpack for additional protection.
When it comes to sleeve size, that really depends on your laptop. The most common sizes are 13- and 15-inches. However, I’ve seen sleeves available in sizes as small as 11-inches (perfect for tablets or convertibles) and as big as 17-inches (perfect for gaming laptops). You definitely want a sleeve that fits the dimensions of your laptop.
Can I Wash a Laptop Sleeve?
You should never stick your laptop sleeve in the washing machine. That’s because a washing machine will likely ruin the neoprene material (most sleeves are made of this), which is very tough and rubbery. We’d recommend washing off the dirty spots with dish soap and warm water.
If the whole sleeve is dirty, let it soak in dish soap and water for 30 minutes. You can also use OxiClean spot remover.
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- Why you should never travel with a naked laptop
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Meet the testers
Ashley Barry-Biancuzzo is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.
See all of Ashley Barry-Biancuzzo's reviews
Séamus Bellamy is a senior editor on Reviewed's Electronics Team. Before coming to Reviewed, his work was featured in The New York Times, The Globe & Mail, BBC World, Macworld and Maximum PC.
See all of Séamus Bellamy's reviews
Adrien is the PC staff writer for Reviewed with over 4 years of experience covering laptops, desktops, software, games, and more.
See all of Adrien Ramirez's reviews
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