How big is that bag?
Type in the measurements from the listing and see the bag to scale on someone your height.
Reading bag measurements
Online listings give a bag’s size as three numbers and it is hard to picture what they mean. A “small” bag from one seller is another seller’s “medium”. The numbers are reliable, though, once you know how they are taken.
- Width is measured across the widest part of the front, usually along the base.
- Height is from the base to the top edge of the bag itself, without the handles.
- Depth is how far the base goes from front to back.
- Strap drop is the distance from the top of the strap or handle, when you hold it up, down to the top edge of the bag. It decides where the bag sits on your body.
Strap drop, in practice
A drop of about 10 to 15 cm is a hand-held handle. Around 20 to 28 cm goes over the shoulder with the bag tucked under your arm. For a bag worn across the body, a drop of 50 to 60 cm puts it at the hip on most people. Tall and short people need different drops for the same look, which is why the drawing uses your height.
Rough size names
| Name | Width | Holds |
|---|---|---|
| Mini | under 18 cm | Phone, cards, keys |
| Small | 18 to 25 cm | Plus a wallet and sunglasses |
| Medium | 25 to 33 cm | Plus a small bottle, a book or a tablet |
| Large | 33 to 40 cm | Plus a 13 or 14 inch laptop and papers |
| Oversized | over 40 cm | Gym kit or an overnight stay |
Common questions
Will my laptop fit? A laptop’s size in inches is the diagonal of the screen, not the width of the machine. A 13 inch laptop is about 30 cm wide, a 14 inch about 32 cm and a 16 inch about 36 cm. Add a centimetre or two for the lining and the zip. The checker here does that for you.
How do I choose a size that suits me? As a rule of thumb a bag looks in proportion when it is narrower than your shoulders and no longer than the distance from your waist to the top of your thigh. That is a guide to how it reads, not a rule: an oversized tote is meant to look oversized.
I sell bags. Can I use this in a listing? Yes. Enter the measurements, choose “Copy a link to this bag” and paste the link into your listing or chat. Buyers who open it see the same bag on a figure of their own height.
Are the travel sizes exact? No. They are typical limits. Airlines set their own and change them, and some measure wheels and handles. Always check the airline’s page for your ticket.