A leather portfolio is a must-have for those working in business or education. A portfolio keeps you organized and looks great, giving you a professional edge anywhere you go. Never wonder if you have a pen on hand or where your business cards are again. Your leather portfolio will keep all of your work essentials stored safely while at the office or on the go.
There are dozens of different portfolios out there. With so many options to choose from, how do you pick the best leather portfolio for your specific needs?
This article will cover what to look for in a portfolio, the difference between leather materials, and a list of portfolio options that will fit any budget.
What to Look for in a Leather Portfolio
Storage Options
What do you intend to store in your portfolio? Do you want a portfolio that's lightweight and only used for the purposes of carrying your notepad and pen? Or do you need additional pockets for business cards and technical gadgets, like a tablet or laptop?
Depending on the portfolio you choose, you may find:
- Business card holder
- Document pouch
- Tablet pouch
- Laptop pouch
- Zippered pouch
- Pen holder
- Notepad sleeve
- Exterior pouch
To Zipper or Not to Zipper
Do you want a zipper or not? This simple question greatly affects your portfolio options, as well as how you will use your portfolio. If you want a portfolio to protect your tablet or laptop, you should look for a zippered option, so you never have to worry about your device slipping out onto the floor.
Alternatively, if you want to be able to access your notes and other supplies quickly without the hassle of unzipping, choose a portfolio without a zipper.
Price Range
The price of a portfolio is often determined by the quality of the material, namely, whether the product is made with real leather or synthetic leather.
Within those two categories, there are still many differences between the types of real leather used, as well as how synthetic leather materials are produced.
The material of your portfolio will determine its durability. If you’re looking for a portfolio that will last you a long time, perhaps a lifetime, go with an expensive full-grain leather product. If that’s not in your price range, opt for a lower-tier leather or synthetic leather, but know that you may need to replace your leather portfolio after a few years of consistent use.
Real Leather Vs. Synthetic Leather
Full-grain Leather
Full-grain leather is the highest quality leather available. Leather artisans use the entire grain of hide with all its imperfections and toughness. It’s an incredibly durable material that, if treated properly, should last an entire lifetime.
Top-grain Leather
Top-grain leather is used in most of the purses and wallets produced by designer brands. Heavily treated, products made with top-grain leather have an excellent finish and color, while not being quite as durable a material as full-grain leather.
💡 Learn more about the difference between full-grain and top-grain leather.
Genuine Leather
Genuine leather is a bit of a tricky term employed by the fashion industry. Genuine leather is the lowest-quality leather available. It doesn’t guarantee the quality, only that the product is made from 100% real leather. This terminology can get a little complicated, as full-grain and top-grain leathers are also ‘genuine’ leathers since they are both made with the actual material. Take care to read labels boasting ‘genuine leather’ closely before you make a purchase.
PU Leather
PU leather is an artificial leather. It is made to look and feel like genuine leather, so don’t be surprised if you cannot tell the difference right away. One surefire way of determining if the leather is PU or genuine is the price, as PU leather is the decidedly cheaper option.
If you see a great-looking leather portfolio but can’t believe how inexpensive it is, it’s probably made from PU leather.
Bonded Leather
Bonded leather is a leather byproduct and is not genuine. Bonded leather is made up of thin layers of polyurethane or vinyl mixed with adhesives and tiny, chopped up scraps of leftover leather. It is then sprayed-glued onto the back of other materials, such as polyurethane.
It’s at the lowest end of the leather spectrum and peels after extended use.
Now, let’s take a closer look at some leather portfolios.
Since price plays such a significant role in the type of leather portfolio you purchase, we’ve broken down portfolio options into high, mid, and low price ranges.
Best Leather Portfolios — Price Range: High
Leather Document Folder
Time Resistance
Made from full-grain calfskin, this is a portfolio that’s built to last. It’s designed to age with you and keep your documents and technological devices organized while maintaining a sleek, stylish exterior. Don’t expect to need another portfolio after making this purchase.
Price: $162
Zipper: Yes
Features:
- Full-grain leather calfskin
- Hand-dyed
- Interior fully lined with cotton
- Pen loop
- 3 business card pockets
- Multiple inside pockets
- Tablet pocket
- Phone pocket
- Laptop sleeve (up to 11 inches)
- 100% cotton dust bag included
Choose this portfolio if money is no object and you want a quality, full-grain leather product.
Leather Padfolio (Made in Italy)
Maruse Accessories
The Italian Leather Padfolio by Maruse is 100% handmade in Italy. This custom leather portfolio is crafted with full-grain leather and finished internally with the finest quality fabric lining. Turn it into a personalized leather portfolio with custom embossed initials available in Silver, Gold, or Blind.
Price: $135-$145
Zipper: Yes
Features:
- Full-grain leather calfskin
- Personalization
- Leather loop pen holder
- 2 inside pockets
- Business card holders
- 5”x 11” elegant lined writing pad included
- Available in black, brown, navy, or honey
Choose this portfolio if you want a quality, full-grain leather product that’s 100% handmade with an option to turn it into a personalized leather portfolio.
Supreme Business Portfolio
Rustic Town
Handcrafted by skilled artisans, this versatile business portfolio is made from 100% genuine buffalo leather. Durability is guaranteed with its thick, hardbound cover and strong stitching. Complete with plenty of pockets, this portfolio can hold a laptop up to 13 inches.
Price: $99.45
Zipper: Yes
Features:
- 100% Genuine Buffalo Leather
- Pen loop
- Writing pad holder
- 8 business card pockets
- 2 document pouches
- Photo slot
- Tablet holder
- Laptop sleeve (up to 13 inches)
- Available in brown and dark brown
Choose this portfolio if you want an option that’s made from real leather that can hold a small laptop.
Best Leather Portfolios — Price Range: Mid
Rustic Leather Padfolio
Moonster
Moonster’s rustic padfolio is made from 100% genuine buffalo leather. This portfolio offers a simple design with a stylish look inside and out. It’s naturally tanned with oils so that no two portfolios look the same.
Price: $69.95
Zipper: No
Features:
- 100% Genuine Buffalo Leather
- 2 leather pen loops (1 for slim pens and 1 one for thicker pens)
- Writing pad holder
- 2 v-shaped business card pockets
- Document pouches
- Includes a deluxe silver metallic ball pen
- Includes presentation gift bag
Choose this portfolio if you want a stylish option made from genuine leather. If you want a unique look, this is the portfolio for you since the natural finish leaves no two alike.
Luxury Handmade Leather Portfolio for Business
Rustic Town
This business portfolio is made from 100% genuine buffalo leather, handcrafted by skilled artisans. Soft and supple with a premium finish, this portfolio offers a simple and clutter-free design. The added 360 flip feature allows you to spin the cover around for quick and easy note taking.
Price: $69.95
Zipper: No
Features:
- 100% Genuine Buffalo Leather
- Pen loop
- Writing pad holder
- 2 business card pockets
- Document pouches
- 360-degree flip
- Available in brown and dark brown
Choose this portfolio if you want an affordable option made from genuine leather.
Best Leather Portfolios — Price Range: Low
Leather Document Folder
Time Resistance
Made from full-grain calfskin, this is a portfolio that’s built to last. It’s designed to age with you and keep your documents and technological devices organized while maintaining a sleek, stylish exterior. Don’t expect to need another portfolio after making this purchase.
Price: $162
Zipper: Yes
Features:
- Full-grain leather calfskin
- Hand-dyed
- Interior fully lined with cotton
- Pen loop
- 3 business card pockets
- Multiple inside pockets
- Tablet pocket
- Phone pocket
- Laptop sleeve (up to 11 inches)
- 100% cotton dust bag included
Choose this portfolio if money is no object and you want a quality, full-grain leather product.
Contrast Stitch Leather Padfolio
Samsill
Samsill’s Contrast Stitch Leather Padfolio is an affordable option made from synthetic bonded leather. The portfolio features a minimalist design that’s clutter-free and functional. The large interior pocket can hold documents or double as a tablet holder for most sized tablets.
Price: $23.79
Zipper: No
Features:
- Pen loop
- 5”x 11” writing pad included
- Business card pocket
- Document pouch
- 3 colors available (black, tan, red)
- 1-year warranty against design, shipment, or craftsmanship defects
Choose this portfolio if you need an affordable option with a simple design and don’t mind bonded leather.
Leather Executive Portfolio with Zipper
Blue Summit Supplies
The Executive Leather Zippered Portfolio made by Blue Summit Supplies is full of storage options. This portfolio is made from black PU leather, which means it’s synthetic, but still maintains the look and feel of real leather. The affordable zippered portfolio can store everything you need and more, including a padded, zippered tablet pouch that will keep your screen safe and secure.
Price: $17.99
Zipper: Yes
Features:
- 3 pen loops
- 5”x 11” writing pad included (with bold black lines)
- 6 business card pockets
- Document pouch
- Cushioned tablet holder
- 2 zippered pockets
- 100% money back guarantee
Choose this portfolio if you need an affordable zippered option with plenty of storage and versatility
Executive Leather Portfolio
Blue Summit Supplies
The executive leather portfolio made by Blue Summit Supplies is made from black PU leather, which means it’s synthetic, but still maintains the look and feel of real leather. The affordable portfolio has a simple, clutter-free design with functional pockets just where you need them.
Price: $12.99
Zipper: No
Features:
- Pen loop
- 5”x 11” writing pad included (with bold black lines)
- 4 business card pockets
- Document pouch
- 100% money back guarantee
Choose this portfolio if you need an affordable option with a simple design that won’t flake like bonded leather.
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1 comment
Wundermax
We love how comprehensive your post is. You really did your homework when it comes to details of each of the padfolios :).
Thank you for sharing this with us.