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Olga Peshkova / Getty Images
A toiletry bag is an often-overlooked luggage necessity for novice and seasoned travelers alike. "It's about holding the products you need in an organized way, so you can find what you need," explains Ashley Murphy, co-founder of NEAT Method.
We tested several top options and spent ample time researching numerous other toiletry bags on the market, considering the materials used in the design, size, organizational attributes, and TSA stamp of approval. Based on our findings, the BÉIS The Hanging Cosmetic Case is our favorite for organized travel. This budget-friendly case is as aesthetically pleasing as it is durable, while offering plenty of room for your travel essentials.
Here, the best toiletry bags for taking your favorite products on the go.
Best Overall
Beis The Hanging Cosmetic Case
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Beis
Hanging feature saves space
Ample room for products
Multiple compartments
Removable clear insert
Difficulty fitting bulkier products
Only two color options
Our number-one selection for toiletry bags is The Hanging Cosmetics Case from BÉIS. The bag is chic and minimal in design and made from high-quality materials like vegan leather, nylon, and water-resistant polyurethane. It's also our favorite travel-friendly solution for organizing makeup. The hanging aspect of this case means that it saves more space in hotel bathrooms while maintaining a clean environment. This same hanging feature lends itself to the uniqueness of the bag when compared to others on the market.
You want to be careful not to overstuff the bag with full-sized items. During our at-home testing, we found that too many bulky products made it difficult to fill the bag with other essentials. Overstuffing also puts too much weight on the hanger, eventually compromising its integrity. Still, it holds plenty of products, so the chance of that happening is marginal.
Some might find that having two color options is limited, but it can make the buying process more streamlined. Simply decide between beige and black in this multi-compartment bag, and you're all set. Of course, the removable TSA-approved pouch is transparent, so there's no guesswork there.
All of these qualities make it both aesthetically pleasing and practical for packing toiletries in a carry-on bag, which is why we think it's an essential accessory for any traveler.
Price at time of publishing: $68
Dimensions: 4.75 x 9.5 x 6 inches | Weight: 1.14 pounds | Material: Nylon, vegan leather, water-resistant polyurethane | Color: Beige, black | Care: Wipe clean
Best Splurge
Truffle Clarity Jumbo Jetset Case
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Truffle
TSA-approved
Dual compartments
Sustainable materials
Expensive
Lacks smaller organizational options
The term luxury doesn't always have to mean expensive. While the Truffle Co. Clarity Jumbo Jetset Case is on the higher end, it is still more affordable than its counterparts. The aesthetic is classic feminine, with a touch of practicality, thanks to the dual-sided storage design. You'll also find a transparent window on both sides of the bag, allowing you to easily see what you've packed for your weekend getaway.
As a female-founded brand, Truffle Co works to make sustainability sophisticated. The aforementioned transparent material is biodegradable TPU, upholding the brand's ethos of minding its environmental footprint. The company also uses recycled materials–including its leather–so you're not compromising quality or style.
Price at time of publishing: $145
Dimensions: 3.25 x 9 x 6 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Leather and thermoplastic polyurethane | Color: Black, gray, pink, white, navy | Care: Not listed
Best for Camping
Dagne Dover Hunter Toiletry Bag
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Nordstrom
Water-resistant
Easy to clean
Ample space
Neoprene fabric prone to pilling
Fabric can rip easily
Dagne Dover is known for many things, but one under-rated product from the brand is the Hunter Toiletry Bag. It is a unisex item that uses water-resistant and washable neoprene, one of the many highlights of the overall functionality. This same material and design allow it to be shock-absorbing and insulating for anything you store inside.
We appreciate that the bag is available in four core colors, with limited-edition shades released seasonally. The modern design makes it versatile, with features like interior elastic loops for upright storage, a removable mesh pouch, and ample space for TSA-friendly personal care items. While the material can be a bit delicate, the overall quality for the cost means that you get your money's worth with this toiletry bag.
Price at time of publishing: $65
Dimensions: 9 x 4.75 x 5.5 inches | Weight: 0.5 pounds | Material: Performance mesh and neoprene | Color: Black, green, gray, mauve, and seasonal colors | Care: Hand-wash, air dry
Best for Families
L&FY Multifunction Travel Toiletry Bag
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Amazon
Multiple pockets/compartments
Hanging feature saves space
Not the most durable
Might be too compact for some
Remembering to pack everything your child needs for your next family vacation, and to get all of the necessary items packed in their suitcase, can be stressful. The Multifunctional Toiletry Bag from L&FY is an affordable option with plenty of space for their hair ties and toothbrushes, or it could work for storing kids’ arts and crafts. We also like the vast color and pattern selections for this bag.
Some users report that it isn't the most durable toiletry bag they've purchased, but others comment that it holds up just fine. The main material used is nylon, which is easy to clean and tends to last longer than other textiles used for this type of product. Overall, the hanging feature, vast style options, and affordability make it a great choice for the whole family.
Price at time of publishing: $14
Dimensions: 8 x 9.5 x 4 inches | Weight: 5.6 ounces | Material: Nylon, polyester, PVC | Color: Gray, cobalt, baby blue, pink, striped, multiple patterns | Care: Wipe clean
Best for the Gym
Lululemon Patch Logo Travel Kit
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Water-resistant
Wide opening to easily find products
No interior dividers
Narrow design
Lululemon might be known for its amazing leggings, but the brand’s toiletry bag is not one to miss. The Logo Travel Kit is a unisex, waterproof case with mesh sides that allow owners to easily access everything they need to freshen up after the gym. A few users note that it runs narrow, which might be hard to manage for those with copious products.
While it lacks interior compartments, this option comes with a removable clear pouch for organization, and the internal elastic bands keep travel shampoo and other bottled products upright, preventing spills. Owners will also benefit from the pulls attached to the exterior zippers, which make opening the case a breeze. The overall functionality and athleisure aesthetic of this bag make this an appealing buy for regular gym-goers.
Price at time of publishing: $48
Dimensions: 3.1 x 9.3 x 6.3 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Nylon, polyester, thermoplastic polyurethane | Color: Black | Care: Spot clean
Best Design
Saie Oversized Makeup Bag
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Saie
Plenty of space
Malleable design
No internal compartments
Only one color
The clean beauty brand, Saie, does many things right, and one of them is its Oversized Makeup Bag. Despite only coming in the brand's signature lavender hue, the vegan leather material is buttery soft and mailable, making it fit perfectly into various types of luggage.
This 8-inch-wide by 3-inch-deep bag fits anything from your go-to beauty products to bath and body care. It's versatile and functional, and 1 percent of Saie's sales go to nonprofits focused on bettering our environment. You might even want to add a few of the brand’s cosmetics to your cart as they make the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one.
Price at time of publishing: $35
Dimensions: 6 x 8 x 3 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Vegan leather, nylon | Color: Lilac | Care: Wipe clean
Best Leather
Leatherology Large Travel Organizer
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Leatherology
Water-resistant interior
Mesh pocket with zipper
Higher price point
Can show wear and tear
A leather toiletry bag is equal parts sophisticated and functional, and the options from Leatherology are a cut above the rest. The brand's Large Travel Organizer comes equipped with a water-resistant interior that's easy to wipe clean in cases of accidental product leakage. The upper interior also features a zippered mesh pouch to keep more small or valuable items secure during your journey.
The exterior leather is a fine-grained texture that is incredibly soft, not rigid, like others on the market. This material can easily show distress, so you'll want to be gentler on it than other toiletry bags. And while it isn't the best to pack in a carry-on bag, it could be the perfect choice for your checked luggage.
Dimensions: 7.5 x 9.5 3.5 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Leather | Color: Black, Bordeaux, brown, cognac, dawn, emerald, navy | Care: Spot clean
Best for Makeup
Relavel Black Small Makeup Case
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Courtesy of Amazon
Adjustable inserts
Compartment for makeup brushes
Not overly spacious
Takes up area in luggage
Designed with makeup artists in mind, the Relavel Travel Makeup Train Case offers durability, organization, and functionality. It's made with high-quality Oxford fabric and a nylon interior, allowing it to withstand being tossed around during travel. These same materials are also easy to clean by simply spot cleaning.
The best part of this bag is how adaptable it is. The base of the case has carefully spaced ridges and customizable inserts that adjust to fit the size of whatever products you're storing. There's also an upper section that separates makeup brushes. While it's a little bulky and doesn't offer a ton of room, for the price, it's hard to beat the versatile organizational options.
Price at time of publishing: $16
Dimensions: 3.6 x 10.3 x 9 inches | Weight: 1.46 pounds | Material: Oxford, nylon | Color: Black, leopard, crocodile, marble, marble black, pink, striped | Care: Wipe clean
Best Clear
Calpak Clear Cosmetics Case
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Calpak
Compartments separated with zippers
Plenty of space for products
Design is slightly bulky
Larger size isn't TSA-friendly
The Calpak Clear Cosmetics Case is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a chic, minimalist designed toiletry bag. It comes in two sizes, and while the larger size isn't TSA-friendly, you're likely to pass inspection with the smaller 8-inch mini option. Both sizes offer a dual-sided design, so you can separate things like makeup and skincare from hair and bodycare products. These two compartments are easy to clean and clear, which means you can show off all of your expensive beauty products.
The brand offers four classic colorways in both sizes, with limited-edition shades rolling out quite frequently. These options allow you to purchase a bag that aligns with your personality or matches your luggage set.
Price at time of publishing: $95
Dimensions: 9 x 11.5 x 5.25 inches | Weight: 1.6 pounds | Material: PU, PVC, polyester | Color: Black, caramel, mauve, stone, dragonfruit | Care: Wipe clean
The Hanging Cosmetic Case from BÉIS is our recommendation for the best toiletry bag. We love its high-quality design and ample storage with multiple compartments—including a removable, clear, TSA-approved pouch—and the convenient space-saving hanging feature. If you’re interested in a budget or family-friendly option, consider the L&FY Multifunction Travel Toiletry Bag. It also includes a built-in hanger and multiple storage pockets and comes in many colors in an easy-care nylon design.
What to Look for in a Toiletry Bag
Size
As you're shopping for your toiletry bag, keep in mind all of the travel plans you have coming up or plan to take in the future, and consider the size of the toiletry bag you'll need, as it can make a big difference. It's better to invest in a design that is the right size instead of several that don't meet your travel needs.
If you travel for extended periods for activities like work, you may be more likely to need a substantial-sized toiletry bag to accommodate all of your necessities. In that case, consider larger bags that allow for more products and ample storage space with various compartments. The opposite is true for shorter getaways; a smaller option that fits just the essentials could be a better fit for a weekend bag with limited space. Smaller toiletry bags offer less internal space for your products and mean tighter pockets, which can make it difficult to access your toiletries quickly.
Organization Options
The last thing anyone wants to do is dig around in their bag, searching for their lipstick. That's why the organizational aspects of a toiletry bag should play a role in your purchase choice. Look for a product with a removable pouch, zipped compartments, or interior pockets to keep your hygiene items organized. Bonus points if the design has a hanging feature, which creates more counter space in any hotel room.
We appreciate zippers that are easy enough to pull, with a weighty feel to prolong their viability. Two other traits to consider are hidden hangers that help to maximize space once you've arrived at your destination, and adjustable dividers that allow for customization.
Material and Color
The overall design of your bag offers an opportunity for self-expression, but it should also be able to withstand the wear and tear that comes with traveling. The simplest way to address these two attributes is by looking at the color and material used to create the bag. For a more expressive and extroverted individual, a bright hue or flamboyant pattern is likely a great place to start. If you find yourself to be more reserved or introverted, your best bet is to opt for a muted tone or minimally designed piece.
The material, on the other hand, should be consistent for everyone, no matter what your personality. Your toiletry bag should be waterproof, easy to clean, and durable.
TSA Approval
The travel landscape continues to change around the rules and regulations set in place by the TSA. In addition to knowing the sizes of the liquids and gels you take on your next trip, you should pay attention to bag sizing and design for toiletries in a carry-on. To simplify the screening process, ensure that personal care items fit in a bag that doesn’t exceed the 1-quart limit. Using a bag that offers a clear view of the contents could also be beneficial to help avoid losing your bag to TSA before leaving the airport terminal.
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Does your toiletry bag need to be clear?
A toiletry bag does not need to be transparent but could help clear your luggage through TSA screening at an airport. So long as it can hold all of the bathroom essentials you need, you're in good shape. You want to be able to store these products in a way that provides quick access, which often means prioritizing organization and allowing your personality to shine through with the design.
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What should be in a toiletry bag?
It's all about the essentials. Murphy emphasizes that you can go without products like shampoo, conditioner, and soap. "You can save space by leaving those at home." Murphy recommends having a "toiletry kit pre-packed" to save time preparing for any last-minute getaways.
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How should you pack a toiletry bag?
"Pack your travel toiletry bag as you would organize your bathroom—like products with like," explains Murphy. Storing your products together allows for easy access, both on a plane or in your hotel. By organizing similar items in your toiletry bag, you also ensure that items like contact lenses or toothbrushes stay clean and don't cross paths.
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How do you clean a toiletry bag?
Following the manufacturer's instructions is the best way to keep your toiletry bag clean. If they say you can only spot-clean the item, don't put it in the washer. The more closely you adhere to the cleansing guidelines the company provides you, the longer your bag will maintain its integrity.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Samantha Parsons wrote this article to include toiletry bags that offer high quality, organizational options, value for the price, and adherence to TSA guidelines. She conducted hours of research, read reviews, and analyzed product trends to select the items above. Samantha also spoke with the co-founder of NEAT Method, Ashley Murphy, for insights on the top priorities to consider when shopping for a toiletry bag, to help solidify her choices.
When she is not spending her time writing for The Spruce, Samantha writes for beauty outlets like The/Thirty and works for a beauty brand. She is constantly reading up on the latest product launches and design trends.
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