The core Birkin sizes are the 25, 30, 35 and 40, each named for its approximate width in centimetres. The 25 is the compact day bag, the 30 is the all-rounder that suits most people, the 35 is a working and travel bag, and the 40 is close to luggage. If you are choosing your first Birkin and are unsure, start with the 30.
That is the short answer. The longer one is more personal, because leather, construction, your height and the way you carry a bag all change how a Birkin reads in real life. Below are the commonly published dimensions, followed by the details we look at when helping someone settle on a size they will still love in ten years.
Hermès Birkin sizes at a glance
Hermès names each Birkin by its width along the base. Height and depth grow with it, but not in strict proportion, which is why a 25 looks taller and boxier for its width than a 35. The figures below are the measurements most often published for Hermès Birkin bag sizes. Treat them as approximate: these bags are cut and sewn by hand, a soft Clemence body settles differently from rigid Epsom, and sizes vary slightly by season.
| Size | Width | Height | Depth | What fits comfortably | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birkin 25 | about 25 cm (9.8 in) | about 20 cm (7.9 in) | about 13 cm (5.1 in) | Phone, card case or compact wallet, keys, sunglasses, a lipstick and a small pouch | Petite frames, light packers, evenings and weekends |
| Birkin 30 | about 30 cm (11.8 in) | about 22 cm (8.7 in) | about 16 cm (6.3 in) | All of the above plus a long wallet, an e-reader or small tablet, and a slim water bottle | Most heights, everyday city use |
| Birkin 35 | about 35 cm (13.8 in) | about 25 cm (9.8 in) | about 18 cm (7.1 in) | A4 papers, a tablet, a light scarf, a cosmetics case and the day's essentials | Office days, taller frames, carry-on travel |
| Birkin 40 | about 40 cm (15.7 in) | about 30 cm (11.8 in) | about 21 cm (8.3 in) | A small laptop, a change of clothes, travel documents | Weekends away, men, anyone who wants one bag for everything |
There is also a smaller format below the 25. The Birkin 20 is made in Sellier construction and produced in very small numbers, so it is better treated as a collector piece than as a bag to hunt for daily use. It is rare enough that most buyers comparing Birkin bag sizes are really choosing between the 25, 30 and 35.
Birkin 25: small in name, never in demand
Dimensions: about 25 x 20 x 13 cm (9.8 x 7.9 x 5.1 in). Best for: light packers, petite frames, evenings and weekends.
The 25 has become the most coveted of all Birkin sizes in recent years, partly because smaller bags suit the way people dress now and partly because it is simply scarcer. On the arm it is a neat, upright rectangle that looks deliberate rather than dainty, which is why it works on tall women as well as petite ones.
What it does not do is swallow a working day. A long continental wallet will fit, but only just, and once it is in there is little room for anything else. Most owners of a 25 carry a card holder and keep the bag open, with the straps folded back, because buckling and unbuckling the turn-lock on a small opening every time you reach for your phone gets old quickly.
Exotic skins suit this size particularly well, because a smaller panel shows the scale pattern at its best. Our pre-owned Birkin 25 in graphite grey shiny crocodile with gold hardware is a good example of how the compact proportion and a polished skin work together.
Birkin 30: the size most people should start with
Dimensions: about 30 x 22 x 16 cm (11.8 x 8.7 x 6.3 in). Best for: everyday city use on almost any height, and anyone buying a first Birkin.
If there is a default Birkin size, it is this one. The 30 holds a full day's essentials without looking like a work bag, it sits comfortably in the hand or in the crook of the elbow on almost any frame, and it is light enough to carry all day in the right leather.
Leather matters more here than in any other size, because the 30 is where most people feel the weight. Epsom is embossed, light and holds a crisp shape, which keeps the outline sharp but shows wear on the corners first. Togo has a deeper, natural-looking grain, resists scratches well and relaxes gently over the years. Clemence is the heaviest and softest of the three and slouches the most, so a Clemence 30 can look, and feel, closer to a 35 once it is full.
For a classic first Birkin, the new Birkin 30 in noir Togo with gold hardware is about as versatile as the bag gets. If you prefer colour and a lighter, more structured bag, the pre-owned Birkin 30 in Celeste Epsom with palladium hardware shows how Epsom keeps its lines even after it has been carried.
Birkin 35: the working bag
Dimensions: about 35 x 25 x 18 cm (13.8 x 9.8 x 7.1 in). Best for: office days, taller frames and carry-on travel.
For a long time the 35 was the Birkin size seen most often, and it remains the most practical. It takes A4 documents, a tablet, a scarf and a cosmetics case without strain, and on a taller person it looks in proportion rather than oversized.
The trade-off is weight. A Togo or Clemence 35 is a substantial bag before anything goes inside, and the short handles mean the load sits on your forearm rather than your shoulder. If you plan to use it as a daily work bag, Epsom or Swift will be kinder to your arm. With smaller sizes dominating demand, a well-kept 35 is often easier to find pre-owned than a 25 or 30 in the same colour.
Birkin 40 and the HAC: when you need real capacity
Dimensions: about 40 x 30 x 21 cm (15.7 x 11.8 x 8.3 in). Best for: weekends away, men, and anyone who wants one bag for everything.
The 40 is a travel bag that happens to be a Birkin. It will hold a small laptop and a change of clothes, it reads well on men, and as a weekend bag it is hard to better. Few people carry one every day, and for good reason: fully loaded, it is heavy.
It is worth knowing about the HAC, or Haut à Courroies, at the same time. It is the older Hermès travel bag from which the Birkin's design descends, taller in the body and with longer straps, made in sizes from around 32 up to 50. If what you really need is hands-free capacity, the HAC à Dos Large backpack in Gold leather, which we offer new, carries the same equestrian spirit on your back.
How to choose the right Birkin size
Start with what you actually carry
Empty your current bag onto a table and be honest about it. If everything fits inside a 25 cm by 13 cm footprint with room to spare, the 25 will work. If you carry a long wallet, glasses case and a bottle every day, the 30 is your minimum. Remember that a Birkin is a structured box with a narrow opening, so you lose a little usable space compared with a soft tote of the same width.
Think about how you will carry it
The classic Birkin has two short rolled handles and no strap. It is carried in the hand or on the forearm, never on the shoulder. In winter, the handles of a 25 or 30 will not slide easily over a thick coat sleeve, so if you live somewhere cold and want to wear it on the arm, factor that in.
Measure your proportions, not just the bag
A simple trick: cut a piece of card to the width and height of the size you are considering and hold it against your side in a full-length mirror. A bag that ends above your hip looks neat on most frames, while one that reaches well past it starts to look like luggage. This tells you more than any celebrity photograph.
Sellier or Retourne
Most Birkins are made Retourne, sewn inside out and turned, which gives softer edges and a slightly rounder body. Sellier versions are stitched on the outside with sharp, saddle-style edges. They are stiffer, hold their shape perfectly, and feel a touch more compact inside because the sides do not give. Same number, different bag in the hand.
Buying a pre-owned Birkin: checks that depend on size
Larger bags carry more weight, so look at the four base corners of a 35 or 40 first: rubbing there tells you how it was used. On a 25 or 30, handles are touched more relative to their size, so check them for darkening and for any loss of their rounded shape. On every size, look at the creases where the straps fold over the flap, the condition of the clochette and keys, and whether the bag sits square on a flat surface.
The blind stamp tells you the year of production, and our Hermès date stamps year chart explains how to read it. Keep in mind that stamps can be copied, so a correct stamp is one piece of evidence rather than proof on its own. Our sourcing and authenticity page explains how we assess each piece before it is listed.
Size also affects how a Birkin keeps its value. Smaller sizes in neutral colours have tended to be the most liquid on the resale market, and we look at that question in more depth in which designer bags actually hold their value. If you are still weighing the Birkin against its sister bags, read our guides to Hermès Kelly sizes and Hermès Picotin sizes, which use the same approach.
Shop the look
Hermès Birkin 25 Vintage in Graphite Grey Shiny Crocodile with Gold Hardware- Hermès Birkin 30 in Noir Togo Leather with Gold Hardware
Hermès Birkin 30 in Celeste Epsom Leather with Palladium Hardware
Hermès HAC à Dos Large Backpack in Gold Leather with Silver-Tone Hardware
Hermès Birkin 30 in Anemone Epsom Leather with Gold Hardware
Hermès Birkin 30 in Bleu Jean Epsom Leather with Palladium Hardware
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Birkin size?
The 25 and 30 are the most sought after today. The 30 is the most versatile choice for everyday use, while the 25 is the most in demand because of its scarcity and its neat proportion.
Is a Birkin 25 too small for everyday use?
Not if you travel light. It holds a phone, card holder, keys, sunglasses and a small pouch. If you carry a long wallet, a tablet or a water bottle every day, the 30 will be more comfortable.
Can you wear a Birkin on the shoulder?
The classic Birkin has short handles and no strap, so it is carried in the hand or on the forearm. Hermès has made shoulder versions over the years, but they are a different model rather than a standard Birkin size.
Which Birkin size is best for a petite person?
The 25 is the natural choice, and a 30 in a structured leather such as Epsom also works well because it holds a tidy shape. Avoid a slouchy Clemence 35, which can overwhelm a small frame.
What do the numbers in Birkin sizes mean?
The number is the approximate width of the bag in centimetres, measured along the base. A Birkin 30 is about 30 cm wide, a 35 about 35 cm, and so on.
Does the size of a Birkin affect its resale value?
Generally, yes. Smaller sizes in classic colours and leathers have tended to be the easiest to resell, while very large sizes and unusual colours appeal to a narrower audience. Condition matters as much as size.
Whichever size you settle on, the right Birkin is the one that fits the way you live. Browse our full Hermès collection to compare sizes, leathers and colours side by side, new and pre-owned.
