15.6-inch Laptop Sleeves

Which laptops a 15.6-inch sleeve fits

Many everyday Windows laptops have a 15.6-inch screen, and these sleeves are made for them and for laptops sold as 15 inch. Most 15.6-inch screens are the wide 16:9 shape, about 34.5 by 19.4cm, so the laptops tend to be wide but not very deep. The laptop is bigger than its screen by the border and the hinge, and thickness varies a lot at this size, from thin laptops to thick ones made for gaming. Measure yours before you choose, including its thickness, since a thick laptop can strain the zip of a slim sleeve.

Most sleeves are made in several sizes, so the same sleeve appears in more than one size range. Choose your size on the product page, and where it gives the inside measurements, compare them with your laptop's width, depth and thickness. The guide to laptop sleeve sizes shows how to measure.

The kinds of 15.6-inch sleeve

• Padded sleeves with a handle are the most common kind here, many with a front pocket for the charger, so the laptop can go out without a bag.
• Shoulder sleeves and sleeve bags add a strap and more pockets, half way to a bag.
• Slim PU leather sleeves suit a thin laptop that travels inside a backpack, and several fold out as a mouse mat or a stand.
• Felt, neoprene and lycra sleeves are soft and light.
• EVA sleeves have a firm, moulded body for more protection from knocks.

There is also a PU leather sleeve made for 15.6 to 16.1-inch portable monitors, for anyone carrying a second screen. See portable monitors.

A heavier laptop needs a better carry

A 15.6-inch laptop is heavier than a 13 or 14-inch one, and a handle sleeve held in one hand for a long walk soon tells you. If it goes out every day, put the sleeve inside a laptop backpack, which spreads the weight over both shoulders, or choose a shoulder bag with a padded compartment.

Questions people ask about 15.6-inch laptop sleeves

Will a 15.6-inch sleeve fit a 16-inch laptop?

Usually not. A 16-inch screen in the 16:10 shape is the same width as a 15.6-inch 16:9 screen, about 34.5cm, but about 2cm taller, so the laptop is deeper. Look at the 16-inch sleeves.

Will it fit the 15-inch MacBook Air?

Compare its 34.04 by 23.76cm with the sleeve's inside size. Its depth is the measurement to check, so choose a sleeve that names it in its sizes or gives an inside depth to match.

Can I fit a mouse in as well?

In the sleeves with a front pocket or several pockets, a small mouse and charger usually fit. Check the pocket size on the product page.

More to look at

• 14-inch laptop sleeves
• 16-inch laptop sleeves
• All laptop sleeves
• Laptop backpacks
• For 15.6-inch laptops
• Tech pouches
• Guide: Laptop sleeve sizes: how to measure your laptop
• Guide: How to choose a laptop sleeve or bag: the UK buying guide