Screen size and laptop size aren't actually the same thing, which is exactly why a "13-inch" sleeve sometimes fits a 13-inch laptop brilliantly and sometimes doesn't fit it at all. If you're about to buy a sleeve and don't want to end up with something too snug to close or so loose your laptop slides about inside, here's how to check properly before you order.
Does laptop sleeve size go by screen size?
Not exactly. Sleeve sizes are labelled by screen size as a rough shorthand, but two laptops with the same screen size can have quite different actual footprints depending on the bezel width around the screen. A laptop with slim bezels can be noticeably more compact overall than one with the same size screen and chunkier bezels, even though both get sold as "13-inch". So screen size is a starting point, not a guarantee.
How do you measure your laptop for a sleeve?
Measure the laptop itself, lid closed, rather than going by the box or the spec sheet. You need three numbers:
- Width across the widest point of the base
- Depth from the front edge to the back
- Thickness at the thickest point, including any rubber feet
Round each measurement up slightly rather than down. It's a lot easier to deal with half a centimetre of spare room than a sleeve that won't quite close.
How much room should a laptop sleeve leave around your laptop?
A good fit leaves somewhere around half a centimetre to a centimetre of extra room on each side, not a lot more than that. A sleeve that's properly snug protects better, because the laptop can't shift around and knock against the padding every time you pick the bag up. Too much extra space and you lose a lot of that protection, even with a well-padded sleeve.
If you're stuck between two sizes, sizing up is nearly always the safer call. A slightly loose sleeve that your laptop actually fits inside is a better outcome than a snug one you have to force the zip round.
Does the brand of laptop change what size sleeve you need?
Yes, generally. Laptops with the same screen size can vary in thickness and footprint between brands and even between models from the same brand, particularly comparing older and newer generations. That's the main reason "just match the screen size" isn't quite reliable enough on its own, and why it's worth measuring your specific laptop rather than assuming.
A quick way to check the size without a tape measure
Trace around your closed laptop on a sheet of paper, cut it out, and hold it against the flat dimensions listed for the sleeve you're considering. If the outline sits inside those dimensions with a small margin all round, it should fit properly. It takes about thirty seconds and it's more reliable than trying to picture centimetres in your head.
Picking the right size from our laptop sleeves
Once you've got your laptop's actual measurements, the best way to check fit is to compare them directly against the external dimensions listed on each product in our laptop sleeves collection, rather than going by the size name alone. It only takes a minute and it means you're not guessing.
Get the measuring right and the rest is just picking a colour you actually like looking at every day.