One real tote size chart, small to XL
This is L.L.Bean's published chart for its open-top Boat and Tote. We've reordered the numbers to width × height × depth. Capacities are L.L.Bean's.
| L.L.Bean size | Width | Height | Depth | Listed capacity | Regular handle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 9½ in | 10½ in | 5 in | About 8 L (504 cu in) | 5 in |
| Medium | 13 in | 12 in | 6 in | About 17 L (1,008 cu in) | 6 in |
| Large | 17 in | 15 in | 7½ in | About 35 L (2,124 cu in) | 8 in |
| Extra-Large | 19 in | 17 in | 10 in | About 56 L (3,400 cu in) | 10 in |
L.L.Bean also offers a 14 in long handle on every size. Other brands use different numbers for the same size names, so use this as a reference point, not a rule.
What fits in each size
Here's our arithmetic: we compared the outside measurements above with the published sizes of common items. An item "fits" if both of its flat dimensions are smaller than the bag's width and height, either upright or turned sideways. We mark it "tight" when the margin is under 1 in, because the usable space inside a bag is smaller than its outside measurements.
| Item (width × length) | Small | Medium | Large | Extra-Large |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Letter paper, 8½ × 11 in | No, sticks out about ½ in | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| A4 paper, 8.27 × 11.69 in | No | Yes, turned sideways | Yes | Yes |
| US Legal paper, 8½ × 14 in | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| 13-inch MacBook Air, 11.97 × 8.46 in | No | Yes, turned sideways | Yes | Yes |
| 14-inch MacBook Pro, 12.31 × 8.71 in | No | Tight | Yes | Yes |
| 15-inch MacBook Air, 13.40 × 9.35 in | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| 16-inch MacBook Pro, 14.01 × 9.77 in | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Laptop sizes are Apple's published dimensions for current models. Other brands' laptops with the same screen size can be wider or narrower, so check your own laptop's specs. A folder or binder is a little bigger than the paper inside it, so give it extra room.
Read across the table and a rough way to think about size names appears. Again, this is our framing, not a standard:
- Small: won't take letter paper flat. Good for a wallet, phone, keys and a water bottle.
- Medium: takes letter or A4 paper and a 13-inch laptop.
- Large: takes legal paper and a 15- or 16-inch laptop.
- Extra-large: room for all of that plus bulky items like a towel or groceries.
How to read "12 × 6 × 12"
Three numbers mean width, depth and height, but brands don't agree on the order. L.L.Bean lists height first (10½"H × 9½"W × 5"D). Our own listing below gives width first. When a listing writes only "12 × 6 × 12," the 6 is most likely the depth, since a tote is usually much thinner than it is wide or tall. Look for H, W and D letters, or check the product photos, before you rely on it.
Capacity in liters is a second clue. It tells you about total space but not shape, so a tall, narrow tote and a short, wide one can share the same number of liters and still hold a laptop very differently.
How to measure a tote bag
Measuring a bag you already own tells you what size works for you. (Our necklace length chart suggests the same for a necklace you like.) You'll need a tape measure.
- Empty the bag and lay it flat.
- Width: measure straight across the bottom edge, from side seam to side seam. Many totes flare out, so measure across the top opening too.
- Height: measure from the bottom seam to the top edge of the opening. Don't include the handles.
- Depth: measure across the base from front to back, or across the side panel (gusset) if it has one.
- Handle drop: hold a handle straight up and measure from its highest point to the top edge of the bag. This tells you whether it will go over your shoulder in a coat.
- Inside check: for a laptop or folder, measure the inside of the opening. Seams and lining take up space, so the inside is smaller than the outside.
Then compare your numbers with the bag you're thinking of buying, in the same order.
Questions people ask
What are standard tote bag sizes?
There aren't any. Size names vary by brand. L.L.Bean's Medium Boat and Tote, for example, is 13 in wide × 12 in high × 6 in deep, but another brand's medium can be bigger or smaller. Compare inches, not names. Jewelry has the same issue: our bracelet size chart shows two sources calling a 7 in wrist Medium and Extra Large.
What size tote bag fits a laptop?
It depends on your laptop's width and length, not just its screen size. A 13-inch MacBook Air is 11.97 × 8.46 in, so look for a tote comfortably larger than that inside. A 16-inch MacBook Pro is 14.01 × 9.77 in and needs a large tote. Leave room for seams and lining.
Will letter-size or A4 folders fit?
Letter paper is 8½ × 11 in and A4 is 8.27 × 11.69 in. A tote needs more than about 12 in in one direction and 9 in in the other to hold either one flat, with a little extra for a folder.
What does a 12x6x12 bag mean?
It gives three dimensions in inches: most likely 12 in wide, 6 in deep and 12 in high. Brands list them in different orders, so check for H, W and D labels.
What is the most popular tote bag size?
We haven't found reliable sales data on that. A more useful question is what you need to carry. If letter paper and a 13-inch laptop are on the list, start around 13 in wide × 12 in high and go up from there. You can search all of Shoujia Mall for bags.
How do I measure a tote bag?
Lay it flat and measure width across the bottom, height from the bottom seam to the opening (without handles), and depth across the base. See the steps above.
A question about an order, or about who we are? Our store FAQ covers it, and all our guides are listed in one place.
From our store
Large Oxford Fabric Shoulder Bag. Oxford fabric on the outside and in the lining. It measures about 12.6 in wide × 13.8 in high × 9.1 in deep (32 × 35 × 23 cm), with a listed capacity of 20–35 L. Colors: beige, gray, black, khaki and blue.
By our arithmetic using the method above, and with outside measurements only:
- Letter and A4 paper fit flat, standing upright.
- A 13-inch MacBook Air (11.97 × 8.46 in) or a 14-inch MacBook Pro (12.31 × 8.71 in) fits standing upright, with more than 1 in to spare in height.
- A 15-inch MacBook Air is within half an inch of the bag's height, too tight to count on. A 16-inch MacBook Pro is longer than the bag is tall.
- Legal paper (14 in long) is longer than the bag is tall.
We haven't published an inside measurement, so if a close fit matters, contact us before you order. See the bag details, more in Accessories such as the black onyx bead bracelet and Tree of Life necklace, and our shipping, returns and payment policies.
Sources
- L.L.Bean, Boat and Tote, Open-Top (Specs: dimensions, capacity and handle length by size)
- Apple, MacBook Air Tech Specs (13-inch and 15-inch, M5)
- Apple, MacBook Pro Tech Specs (14-inch and 16-inch)
- Wikipedia, Paper size (A4 per ISO 216; US Letter and Legal dimensions)
Sources checked November 3, 2026.
