The 21 best tote bags for every occasion

There might not be a tote bag for absolutely everything, but this one comes pretty close. Its silhouette is just a little bit different from your average tote bag, but that's what gives it a stylish flair. The best part of this tote bag is how immensely customizable it is. If you need it for work, you can add a laptop sleeve. If you want more compartments, you can insert pouches. And if you want to convert it to a crossbody, you can add a colorful or matching strap. 

The System Tote is well-made and designed to be whatever you need it to be, which is why it gets our pick for the best overall tote.

With over 60,000 reviews on Amazon and four stars, this tote is a steal at only $9.99. From the outside, it looks a lot like some of the bags on this list that are many times the price, but the inside is no-frills. You won't get fancy water bottle compartments or sublime construction with this tote, but you will get the opportunity to choose from dozens and dozens of colors. And if you want to add a bit of elegance, you can tie a stylish silk scarf around the handle.

Bandolier's Carryall Tote has straps that are reinforced on the place where they rest on your shoulder, so they won't dig in even if you tote it around all day. And inside, you'll find all the essentials for a great everyday tote — a laptop sleeve (which can also double as a divider to keep your belongings organized), a special pouch designed for your sunglasses, an interior key ring, and an array of zippered and non-zippered pockets. In addition, the pebeled leather is soft and ultra-luxirous to the touch. 

I absolutely love this tote because it's wonderfully light but also ultra-durable. Here's what I said about it in our Rothy's review:

"The Rothy's Lightweight Tote is made of a material that looks and feels very similar to the material they use on their famous flats. The stretchy recycled plastic is not only durable but also machine washable, which means you don't have to worry about placing it on subway floors and dirty grocery carts. And when you do place it on the floor, you won't have to worry about it slouching over.

The structured floor of the tote was one of my favorite features. As someone who is used to grocery shopping with plain canvas bags, I was extremely impressed with how well this feature allows you to organize your tote. You can easily place a few rows of cans or other heavy items at the bottom and then neatly stack boxes of pasta, cartons of eggs, and bags of lettuce on top. Plus, there's also an attached string with a clip on the end, so you won't have to go digging through your whole haul for your keys." 

This tote is structured, professional, and built with Dagne Dover's signature focus on utility and clean style. Inside, there's a bottle holder, a phone compartment, and a padded laptop sleeve, with a zippered top to keep your items protected. 

"I want a product that fuses style with athlete-caliber function. The company's Classic Tote does — and then some" says the former Service Journalism Editor-in-Chief, Ellen Hoffman. This bag is guaranteed not to slouch and even features little metal feet at the bottom so that it can stand firm. 

See our full review of Dagne Dover's Classic Tote for our full thoughts. 

"Convertible bags are lifesavers for anyone who commutes on a subway, and this tote from Caraa is the best we've tested," says Sally Kaplan, executive editor of Insider Reviews. 

At first glance, the Caraa Studio Tote looks like a normal (albeit chic) leather tote bag — but you can actually transform it into a backpack on a whim. This versatile style makes it perfect for a day at the office paired with your best business attire, but at the end of the day you can take a load off and sling it on your back when you're walking home or taking the subway. It's also a great travel bag!

See our full review of the Caara Studio tote to see how we styled it and why we loved it. 

We loved the old version of Everlane's leather Day Market tote, but this iteration blends all the contemporary style of the original with a more sustainable, vegan material. The trademarked "bio-based leather" is meant to look and feel like traditional leather, but uses plant-based proteins. 

The finish isn't so far off from Saffiano leather, which means it's quite durable and hard to scratch up. And though this bag doesn't feel exactly like the real thing, it has the same sheen and look. The tote is available in black and brown, in addition to a gorgeous dark burgundy color

We also reviewed the older, leather version Everlane's Market Tote and loved it. 

This tote was our pick for the best work bag overall — a hard-won prize. What makes this bag rise above the rest is the internal organization. It features a neoprene laptop sleeve, an interior water bottle compartment, and an array of little compartments for stashing cards, makeup, pens, and more. But the best part is that you would never know about all of its practical bells and whistles without peeking inside — on the outside, it's sleek and unfussy.

This tote is a bit of a splurge, but it's designed intentionally to last you many years and many layovers. It's made of high quality leather and comes in a 13-inch and 15-inch version to accommodate the size of your laptop. It also comes with a fabric shell that allows you to attach it to your suitcase, which takes a load off of your shoulder as you navigate through the airport. 

We tested nearly all of Lo & Sons' most popular offerings in our Lo & Sons review.

The immensely popular Marc Jacobs tote is perhaps the trendiest piece on this list. The mini version comes with a crossbody strap so you can pick between clutching it like you're on a runway or going hands-free. Though we love the compact size of the mini, the bag is also available in a medium and a large size in almost every color and material you could imagine. You can get it in leather, sequins, cozy teddy, and even terry cloth materials. 

When the straw bags start coming out, you know it's summer. A quintessential warm weather accessory, this tote is just begging to be paired with a white linen dress and carried on a day exploring the coast. But unlike other straw bags, which are prone to fraying and coming apart after lots of use, this pick by Cole Haan is reinforced with protective leather corners at the base. These protect the weakest spots of the tote from tearing. 

There are a few good leather picks on this list, but this one exemplifies the simple silhouette of the perfect leather tote. Unlike lots of leather bags that are restricted to relatively neutral colors, this tote comes in bright, jewel-tone shades like an emerald green. Another great feature is its wide mouth, which means it can expand to hold even the bulkiest of items. 

Read our review of M. Gemi's Felize Loafers and their Palestra Due Sneakers.

Like most of L.L.Bean's products, this tote is designed to last you years. From carrying towels to the beach to hauling cans on your next grocery trip, this bag can withstand almost anything you put it through. It comes in every size from mini to extra large — and  even includes a new option for longer handles so you can easily sling it over your shoulder. 

For those that love a good personalization detail, L.L.Bean also offers monogramming. And you don't just have to get initials — the bigger the bag, the more characters you can fit on it. This has spawned a hilarious trend of people getting funny phrases like "Can U Not" and "Unhinged" embroidered on their totes. 

All of Masur Gavriel's bags are designed to evoke artistic simplicity — and their tote bag exemplifies this. The large tote is constructed from soft Italian leather, but its look is chic and Parisian. The black tote comes with a stunning, bright red interior that hints at luxury while still being understated. And if black and red isn't your thing, you can also find a black version with a black interior and a caramel-colored version with a lighter interior.

The tote also comes in a mini version that you can use as a roomy, chic handbag. 

You know it and you've seen it everywhere. Longchamps' seminal Le Pilage tote has been a classic for years and will be for years to come. Made of water-resistant nylon, this foldable tote is understated but wildly functional. 

Personally, I carried a burgundy version of the Le Pilage tote all throughout high school and into college. It's been completely soaked from rain, covered in mud, filled with gym clothes, taken on international trips, and even used as a backpack in a pinch on a hike. My tiny high school even had a no-locker policy, so we would ditch our bags in the grass. The Le Pilage kept my things dry even when I would occasionally forget it outside during rain or snow. 

What makes this bag so durable is how simple it is. There's only a single interior pocket big enough for a phone. Other than that, there isn't even a lining. But that's why you never have to worry about rips, spills, or anything else. 

Brahmin makes the most iconic croc-embossed bags on the market. The richly textured material is almost three-dimensional so you can feel the grooves and dips of the patterned leather. Plus, it's slightly shiny and absolutely unique while still being timeless.

This particular tote also features an interior zip pocket, adjustable handles, and comes with a dustbag for storage. It also has a footed bottom, which means you can place it on the floor without worrying about getting it dirty or scratching it.

If you want to carry an umbrella, a water bottle, and a cardigan and still have room for more, this is the pick for you. Madewell's oversized tote bag is almost two feet wide and features straps that are long enough to sling over your shoulder, making it easy to carry. If you find it a little too roomy and want some organization, Madewell sells leather accessories in the exact same color, so you can get matching zippered pouches to keep your smaller essentials. 

The name of the game with Yeti is always durability  — and this beach bag is super durable and completely waterproof. The tote is just as suited to holding sandy towels and sunscreen as it is to hauling muddy camping essentials on a wet day. If you want a long-lasting beach bag that can double as a carry-all for all kinds of outdoor activities, look no further.

A tote with a zipper is always a good idea when you're traveling or you just want to be sure that your belongings stay in place. This bag from Everlane not only has a big zipper that keeps the whole bag closed, it also has a zippered pocket on the inside to keep items like your phone or wallet extra secure. 

Labante is a brand that's committed to the highest level of sustainability and ethical work practices. All of their bags are made of vegan leather that's crafted from recycled materials. While the outside is made of vegetable by-products, the inside is made from recycled plastic water bottles. And what's more, it actually feels like real, soft  leather. The Sophie Tote can also fit a 14-inch laptop and comes with a large zippered pouch to keep your essentials secure. 

Baggu is famous for its mega-popular reusable shopping bag. This tote is made from the same material, but with a puffy twist. Unlike the shopping bag, though, you can easily find your phone in the handy exterior pocket. This tote comes in the brand's signature bright shades and patterns in addition to plain black. 

Read our full review of Baggu's reusable shopping bags.