14 Best Wallets For Men 2023

Aug 26, 2023

The best wallets for men are more than just places to keep credit cards and cash. They’re an unexpected window into the soul of the guys who carry them. Maybe he’s a minimalist and prefers a streamlined crisp leather cardholder. Or he likes a rugged tactical wallet that’s ready for adventure. Or perhaps he’s a traditionalist who appreciates the classic bifold. Whatever his style, there’s a wallet out there for him.

The best men's wallets are not one-size-fits-all. Choosing the right one depends on how much you ... [+] need to carry and your personal style.

To find options to suit a variety of tastes and needs, we talked to discerning experts who believe carrying a wallet, even in today’s tap-and-go digital world, is more necessary than you might think (tips, for example, are always better in cash). Here are the best wallets for men that we’d carry ourselves or give as gifts, from Leatherology’s rich and handsome bifold to Mountain Voyage’s slick hardcase.

Leatherology

Colors: 8 total, including Black Onyx and Cognac | Materials: Vegetable-tanned leather | Warranty: One-year limited warranty against defects in materials or craftsmanship

Leatherology has everything you want in a wallet and nothing you don’t: There are six card spots, a bill compartment and two interior pockets for receipts or extra cards. Despite all the storage, the design is thin and fits neatly in a front or back pocket. This pick also comes a variety of colors (such as Black Onyx, Espresso and Cognac) as well as three leather finishes that can be monogramed with your initials—which is especially nice if you’re giving it as a gift.

What the reviews say: “I have a Leatherology wallet for myself and decided to buy this as a present for someone else—they loved it,” writes one reviewer. “It's slim and the leather is soft with a nice feel to it. It has plenty of card slots and space for cash, without being too thick and large.”

Shinola

Colors: Tan and Black | Materials: Vegetable-tanned Horween leather, faille-lined card pockets | Warranty: Not listed

If leather quality is of the utmost importance to you, then you’ll want to consider this streamlined bifold wallet from Shinola. You can really feel softness of the vegetable-tanned leather and the sewn-in-the-USA details of the wallet. With daily use, the natural grain leather gains character—like a fine wine, it gets better with age. The pared-down wallet offers six faille-lined card pockets, a leather-lined cash pocket and RFID protection.

What the reviews say: “The leather is to die for, it feels smooth, silky and beautiful. I imagine the leather will get softer and smooshier with use. The craftsmanship on this wallet is excellent, the stitching is spot-on and the pockets are wide enough for my cards to easily slip in and out.”

Bellroy

Colors: 7 total, including Caramel and Java | Materials: Premium eco-tanned leather | Warranty: Three-year warranty covering defects in materials and craftsmanship

Opting for a minimalist aesthetic doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice practicality. Despite its lean appearance, Bellroy’s Hide & Seek wallet is designed with easy-access pockets that accommodate up to 12 cards, as well as a hidden pouch for bills and coins. This RFID-blocking design comes in seven different shades, including unique hues such as Ranger Green, Ocean and Deep Plum. Also nice to know: All of Bellroy’s environmentally certified leather goods sourced from Leather Working Group gold-rated tanneries.

What the reviewers say: “Love the Hide & Seek Bellroy wallet! I’ve wanted to slim my wallet down for a long time and it is worth the money. Quality is superb! It’s a lot easier sitting down not having to sit on a bulky wallet. “

Amazon

Colors: 32 total, including Black and Coffee | Materials: Leather with polyester lining | Warranty: Not listed

For those who prefer to tuck their wallet into their front pocket, this ultra-slim pick is the way to go. You’ll find plenty of thoughtful details in its streamlined design, including a finger hole for easily slipping cards out as well as a transparent window for your photo ID or work badge. The RFID-blocking leather wallet comes in dozens of patterns and finishes, each at a very affordable price.

What the reviews say: “Easily fits in front pocket and holds everything I use on a daily basis including a place for cash. Everything fits snugly but not so tightly that I have to work to get a card or cash out. Should have ditched my traditional wallet for this years ago. Love it.”

Bergdorf Goodman

Colors: Black | Materials: Full-grain calf leather | Warranty: Not listed

This Tom Ford textured-leather bifold is one of the most beautiful wallets you may have the pleasure to carry. It’s crafted in Italy from full-grain leather with reinforced stitching, so it'll hold its structure for years to come. Inside, the wallet has six card slots, three on each side, and a pocket for receipts or bills. It’s a streamlined option for a man who doesn’t need to carry a lot of cash or an abundance of cards.

Amazon

Colors: 14 total, including Black and Vintage Brown | Materials: Carbon fiber, faux leather (depending on style) | Warranty: Not listed

A money clip is essential for those who prefer to pay in cash; this bifold wallet from Travando features one made of sleek, sturdy stainless steel, which keeps your bills from falling out. Constructed out of RFID-blocking carbon fiber (or faux leather, depending on the style), the wallet offers 11 storage slots and a convenient front tab for assessing essential cards out on the fly.

What the reviews say: “The addition of the money clip is a brilliant feature. It securely holds my cash in place, preventing it from slipping out or getting disorganized. The clip is sturdy and reliable, providing peace of mind that my money is safe and secure.”

Amazon

Colors: 8 total, including Walnut Wood and Army Green | Materials: Carbon fiber with metal finishes | Warranty: Lifetime warranty

Mountain Voyage’s wallet is protective in more ways than one: It’s made of a durable, scratch-resistant carbon fiber casing and boasts state-of-the-art RFID blocking technology for identity theft prevention. The compact design is only 0.35 inches thick, yet holds more than most slim tactical wallets—15 cards and eight bills. The removable money clip is an added bonus, offering flexible functionality for your daily needs.

What the reviews say: “This upgrade from my dated wallet to my new Mountain Voyage was long overdue,” writes one reviewer. “This experience optimized my appreciation for wallets that are lightweight and comfortable to sit with—no more one-sided bulge.”

smythson

Colors: 10 total, including Navy and Taupe | Materials: Crossgrain calf leather | Warranty: Repair services offered on case by case basis

London-based Smythson of Bond Street designs men’s accessories with form and function in mind. This wallet’s external card slots and central compartment can accommodate an ID, credit cards and spare cash, without adding unnecessary bulk to your back pocket. If you’re looking for an ultra-minimalist wallet, this checks all the boxes. For an added fee, you can add customized touches, including a monogram and a personalized motif.

amazon

Colors: Brown and Dark Brown | Materials: Leather | Warranty: Not listed

Stylish and rugged with classic appeal, Fossil bifold is made from 100% leather that’s been distressed to give it the patina of a wallet you’ve had for years. The interior has six credit card slots, one bill compartment, an ID pocket and a durable cotton twill lining. You can spend a lot more a leather wallet so consider this one a real steal.

What the reviews say: “It has room for everything and then some—this a great wallet,” one buyer writes. “It’s very comfortable in your pocket while sitting. Totally satisfied and recommended.”

Nordstrom

Colors: Black| Materials: Leather | Warranty: Not listed

Most trifold wallets are linear affairs, folding neatly into thirds. But the Bosca Leather Trifold is a different animal altogether. It unfurls into three sections, giving you access to five card slots, a large currency sleeve, two receipt slots and an ID window with RFID security lining, all bound from supple Napa leather. While it holds a lot, this wallet has a slim, elegant profile.

What the reviews say: “I was looking for a quality leather wallet with plenty of pockets,” says a reviewer. “This wallet is very portable and durable. Don't let the dimensions fool you, it's very thin and folds into a compact space.”

Dango

Colors: Rawhide, Redline and Jet Black | Materials: Leather, aluminum | Warranty: One year limited warranty for defects in materials and workmanship

Dango’s innovative model is the Swiss Army knives of wallets for outdoorsy, adventurous guys. It holds cards between plates of aluminum (notched for easy access) and cash under a flexible silicone band. But the most interesting feature is the stainless steel tool with over 14 features—it’s got a serrated and sharpened edge, paracord tensioner, hex driver, smartphone stand, ruler and more. The multi-tool is also removable to make it TSA safe for travel.

What the reviews say: “I've been using this wallet for two years already and it’s the best men's wallet I ever had,” writes a reviewer. “It’s durable, easy to use, doesn’t age and does everything I need. Buy it with confidence even though it is pricey—you pay for quality things in life.”

Amazon

Colors: 11 total, including Steel Blue and Milled Beige | Materials: Leather | Warranty: 12-month warranty

As your wallet holds quite a few valuable possessions, keeping constant tabs on it is always a good idea. Ekster’s Parliament wallet is specifically designed to fit their solar-powered wallet tracker card, which uses Chipolo technology to report the exact location of your item up to 200 feet away. This RFID-blocking wallet is constructed from leather sourced from Leather Working Group gold-rated tanneries, and comes in a wide range of hues. For a $15 engraving fee, you can even add up to 20 characters of personalized text. Another genius feature: The built-in aluminum cardholder fans out your cards with the simple press of a button.

What the reviews say: “The Parliament Wallet is an investment I wish I would have made years ago. Easily the best wallet I've ever owned. Holds everything I need and conveniently fits in all my pockets. Front, rear or jacket pockets all hold it well.”

Mark & Graham

Colors: Black, Chocolate and Tan | Materials: Leather | Warranty: Not listed

There’s a lot to love about this timeless leather wallet from Mark And Graham. It features a sturdy magnetic money clip on one side, slots for cards on the other and a compartment slot on the top for business cards or small change. To finish it off, you can add a personalized monogram detail (for $12.50 extra), which makes this wallet a thoughtful gift for any guy.

Amazon

Colors: 11 total, including Raven Crosshatch and Light Taupe | Materials: 100% polyester | Warranty: Not listed

It’s easy to get carried away and spend three figures on a wallet, but there are some excellent budget-priced alternatives. Herschel’s Hank Wallet is a versatile picks that appeasl to anyone on-the-go: It has multiple card slots, an ID window, bill compartment and a RFID-blocking layer—a feature that prevents electronic pickpocketing. This pick is available in 11 designs, making it easy to find a good style match.

What the reviews say: “I decided to skip the ultra-slim trend after finding it difficult to fit everything I needed into my wallet including cash,” says a reviewer. “This wallet still manages to stay slim even with extra cards. I don’t feel the need to stuff receipts elsewhere in my pocket or jam dollar bills into a tight slot or clip. It even has space for my tile tracker card.”

Choosing a wallet is a very personal experience and every man’s preferences are different. If the winners above don’t speak to you, here are additional styles that are also popular with our readers and might work for your needs.

Nordstrom

Colors: 9 total, including Black Ash and Cocoa-Java | Materials: Leather | Warranty: Three-year warranty covering defects in material and craftsmanship

While more minimalist wallets exist, Bellroy’s slim sleeve leather wallet eshews as much material as possible to make a slender bifold wallet that can accommodate as many as a dozen cards. In here you’ll find a pair of quick-access slots for daily-use cards and pockets with easy pull-tabs for everything else. It comes in nine different colors.

What the reviews say: “I love this wallet as it looks great and is very functional while being incredibly slim,” says one reviewer. “This isn't a ‘pack every card I have’ type of wallet, so if you are looking for a wallet to carry your primary cards and cash, this is a great choice.”

Bloomingdale's

Colors: 5 total, including Black and Navy Blue | Materials: Leather, fabric lining | Warranty: Not listed

Royce New York’s Leather RFID-Blocking Passport Case & Wallet has room for travel essentials without being too bulky. The fold-over closure wallet measures half-an-inch-thick, with both passport and document pockets. An interior billfold and three card slots keeps everything organized, plus RFID-blocking technology gives you a little extra peace-of-mind protection against identity theft.

What the reviews say: “The RFID-blocking and the passport pocket made this wallet perfect for travel,” writes one reviewer. “I also use it as my everyday wallet but it is a little larger than I'm used to. (It's slightly larger than a passport of course.) Other than that, it is super high-quality with an exquisite look and feel.”

Leatherology

Colors: 4 total, including Black Onyx and Brown | Materials: Vegetable-tanned full grain leather | Warranty: One-year limited warranty against defects in materials or craftsmanship

For a minimalist option from Leatherology, this sleek card holder has a non-magnetic leather-wrapped metal money clip, one interior pocket and a thumb-slide ID window. It’s a slim wallet—measuring just a half-inch-thick—and holds about 10 bills and three credit cards. Consider this pick if you only carry the essentials.

Bloomingdales

Colors: 2 total, including Black and Nero | Materials: Leather, fabric lining | Warranty: Not listed

Saint Laurent puts a luxurious twist on a classic wallet design with their made-in-Italy leather bifold wallet. You’ve got ample storage with two interior bill compartments, two interior slip pockets and eight card slots. The textured leather is a step up from your average type and bodes well for years of durable wear and developing a beautiful patina over time.

Mr Porter

Colors: Black | Materials: Leather | Warranty: Not listed

Unlike a traditional trifold wallet that folds on top of itself, Acne Studios’ leather trifold opens into a L-shape, giving you two quick-access pockets and two additional storage locations along with a center slot. There’s also a compartment that snaps closed with a button which allows this wallet to store coins as well—a rarity among men’s styles.

Amazon

Colors: 11 total, including Forest Brown and Storm Cloud Blue | Materials: Leather | Warranty: Full refund or free replacement

This affordable bifold wallet from Bull Guard doesn’t skimp on storage or functionality: It features 11 credit card slots (three of which have easy thumb access), a two-pocket money divider and two slip-in pockets, plus a third overflip panel opens to reveal a see-through ID slot. The leather softens with use so the wallet will eventually mold to your cards and pocket.

The Forbes Vetted fashion team are experts on all things style. Our archive includes articles on the most essential accessories, including the best leather wallets for men, the best slim wallets and the top wallets for women. Senior fashion editor and co-author of this story, Kari Molvar, is a veteran in the industry and has covered everything from the best messenger bags for men to the best work pants for women. Co-author and contributor Becky Eaton also has extensive experience researching and reviewing fashion picks, like the best shoes for standing all day.

To gather the most accurate information on men’s wallets possible, we also looked to a team of outside experts, including Derek Lall, former men’s buyer for The Bay lifestyle store in Canada, and Jian DeLeon, men’s fashion and editorial director at Nordstrom. Joseph Tang, fashion director at Holt Renfrew in Canada, also weighed in on the types of factors to consider for men’s wallets.

We regularly update this story to make sure we’re providing the best, most accurate recommendations. We recently updated our picks in August 2023 to add an option for the best smart wallet and the best RFID-blocking leather wallet.

When making a list of the best men’s wallets, we first spoke with our experts to determine which factors are most important. Derek Lall helped us determine the types of materials that are best for men’s wallets, while Jian DeLeon and Joseph Tang offered guidance on sizing.

We then looked to top-rated brands and selected styles with not only excellent reviews, but superior functionality too, since men’s wallets are an everyday essential that experiences a lot of wear and tear.

When selecting styles, we also took into consideration different uses—some men may want a more sleek, compact wallet while others may prioritize security and anti-theft features. If you’re looking for a slim, minimalist option, consider the Smythson Leather Flat Card Holder, which is made with carbon fiber and metal finish for extra sturdiness. A pick like the Mountain Voyage Minimalist Wallet with RFID blocking technology is great for those concerned about identity theft, for example.

How much you decide to spend on a wallet is a personal decision. The experts, however, say a high-quality option that stands up to daily wear and tear generally goes for $100 to $300. If you’re the kind of guy who’s into style, your wallet makes an impression when you pull it out of your pocket or pick up the tab. Our advice is to invest in an option you feel confidently carrying.

Keeping your wallet in good condition should be easy and low-maintenance. Dampen a washcloth with mild soap to gently remove stains (this works for leather too, although there are special leather cleaners out there).

Don’t cram your wallet with too many cards, bills or miscellaneous items—this weakens the seams and generally shortens the lifespan of your wallet. If your wallet starts to get misshapen from overstuffing it, think about upgrading to a larger size or being vigilant about de-cluttering once a month.

It’s a reasonable question to ask in today’s digital, tap-and-go world. If you can load all your credit cards on your smartphone, there’s less need to carry around a bulky wallet in your back pocket, right? For advice on the matter, we turned to Forbes Vetted’s senior fashion editor, Kari Molvar, who weighed the pros and cons of going wallet-less.

Pros: “I recently tested a bunch of small-sized bags for one of our fashion stories and had to drastically downsize my daily carry as a result. I put all my cards in my Apple digital wallet on my phone and said goodbye to my old leather trifold. I felt liberated. I felt lighter (literally! That old wallet weighed a ton). And I felt more of today’s times and less like the Gen X-er I actually am.”

Cons: “On the flip side, there were instances when I actually needed a wallet: When I went to the doctor’s office and had to whip out my insurance card. When I needed to show my driver’s license to check into a hotel. When I had to pay for parking in cash. I learned that there are times you just need to carry around some stuff. However, I didn’t resort to using my old wallet. Instead, I transferred the absolute essentials into a slim, sleek cardholder that someone had given to me as a gift nearly 15 years ago and I had put on a shelf, thinking ‘I’ll never use that thing—it’s so small!’ Well, now I worship that cardholder. It’s the perfect compromise between a hulking wallet and carrying nothing at all.”

Bottom Line: If you can transfer all of your cards and forms of ID to your phone, and never have a need for cash, you can go wallet-free. However, if your life requires carrying some essentials—insurance cards, a bit of cash, your driver’s license—then you need some type of holder. In this case, a minimalist cardholder is the most versatile option, according to our fashion editor.