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Best Men's Wallets

Updated November 2021
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Fossil Extra Capacity Trifold
Fossil
Extra Capacity Trifold
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Favorite Brand
Bottom Line

The no-nonsense trifold wallet that holds all you need and comes in a wide variety of leather.

Pros

Classic trifold wallet with 6 card slots. Separate interior ID flap with ID window. Made of 100 percent cow leather in various finishes. Offers RFID protection.

Cons

Can be thick when full.

Best Bang for the Buck
Herschel Unisex Hank RFID
Herschel
Unisex Hank RFID
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Trendy Classic
Bottom Line

This fabric bifold wallet comes in a variety of combinations.

Pros

Sturdy washable exterior. Comes in a variety of colors. Leather interior has multiple card slots. Dedicated ID slot with window. Offers RFID protection.

Cons

Needs breaking in. Fabric wears out faster than leather.

Bellroy Hide & Seek
Bellroy
Hide & Seek
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Innovative Design
Bottom Line

A classic bifold wallet made of eco-conscious leather with innovative storage touches.

Pros

Fits international bills. Leather flap keeps denominations private. Hidden pocket keeps business cards clean. 5 card slots including ID slot. Offers RFID protection.

Cons

ID slot has no window. May be thicker than expected when full.

The Ridge Authentic
The Ridge
Authentic
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Titanium Case
Bottom Line

A rigid wallet that has the ability to expand, with cash-carrying options and titanium construction.

Pros

Rigid metal case made of titanium. Interior storage for up to 12 cards. Exterior notch for card retrieval. Comes with clip or strap to hold cash. Made of RFID-resistant materials.

Cons

Not ideal for back pockets. Cards can be tricky to remove at first.

Tumi Delta Money Clip
Tumi
Delta Money Clip
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Travel Elegance
Bottom Line

Card case fans should consider this slim, elegant option from one of the top names in travel.

Pros

Fine quality leather with understated branding. 2 slots can hold several cards if necessary. Money clip holds folded bills. Offers RFID-blocking lining.

Cons

Cash clip keeps cash in the open.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
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60
Consumers
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8
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best men’s wallets

A wallet is something most men carry everywhere, and it can be an important part of a man’s style. Your wallet should be functional and able to carry all of the IDs, business cards, credit cards, and cash that you need when you’re out and about.

There are bifold, trifold, and money clip wallets, each of which functions in a different way. Some wallets can only carry a few items, while others can hold a dozen credit cards, several bills, and change. The material of the wallet is the biggest factor in its overall appearance, feel, and durability, and a well-constructed wallet can last for years. Some wallets are designed to prevent RFID readers from accessing card information, too.

Choosing the right men’s wallet is all about finding the point where your tastes and needs meet, and you can find a high-quality wallet for a reasonable price. This is an item that you’ll probably carry with you every day, so you should consider your choices carefully. 

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Men’s wallets are usually black or brown. Brown wallets tend to look more casual, while black wallets are better suited to business or more formal attire.

Key considerations

Your wallet should be durable, compact enough to keep in your front or back pocket, and capable of storing all of the cards, bills, and IDs you need on a daily basis.

Wallet type

The way a wallet folds and holds money determines how large the wallet is. Some styles are better suited to carrying bills than others.

  • Bifold wallets, or billfolds, have a classic design with a single fold and two sections for holding cards. In most cases, a middle flap allows additional room for cards and sometimes an ID window.

  • Trifold wallets are another popular option and have three sections, with the two outer sections folding in over the center section. These offer a decent amount of storage and can be fairly slim. One disadvantage of the trifold design is that it can cause bills to curl.

  • Slim wallets are highly compact, and the small size works well with tailored suits. Card and bill storage is typically very limited in these wallets.

  • Travel wallets are designed to hold a passport and any necessary IDs while traveling internationally. As a result, these are fairly large, but they may include additional security features like clips to prevent theft.

  • Long wallets are less common due to the large size that allows you to store bills without folding them. When it comes to storage, long wallets are hard to beat, but they can be awkward to carry in your pocket and usually must be stored in a jacket pocket or suitcase.

Size and storage

Men’s wallets vary greatly in size and storage capacity. There’s a good chance you carry your wallet in a pocket, so you should make sure that the type you pick fits comfortably when loaded up with cards and bills. Measurements for wallets indicate the size when empty, not when full of cards and bills.

  • Cards: Smaller wallets may carry as few as four cards, while bigger trifold and bifold wallets may comfortably carry a dozen or more cards.

  • ID window: An ID window can save you the effort of taking your ID out of your wallet whenever you need it. However, the plastic windows aren’t always durable and may cheapen the overall look of a wallet.

  • Cash: If you still use old-fashioned legal tender, consider a wallet with a money clip. A money clip can take some getting used to, but it’s stylish and can be very convenient. Money clips are common in slim wallet designs.

  • Coins: Change pockets usually close with a zipper and can be found in bifold, trifold, and long wallets. Digging around in your pocket for change can be frustrating; a change pocket keeps all of your coins in one place.

Men’s wallet features

After you’ve decided on a wallet style and the amount of storage that’s right for you, consider the material and whether you want RFID blocking.

Material

The classic choice of material for men’s wallets is leather. It’s durable, flexible, and stylish, and it tends to look better with age. Other common materials include faux leather, aluminum, and carbon fiber.

  • Leather comes in several different grades. While many companies advertise wallets made of “genuine” leather, the highest-quality leather isn’t pigment coated and may list a specific leather type like full grain or top grain. High-quality men’s wallets have leather liners for card and money pockets, while less-expensive leather wallets may use fabric liners for the pockets.

  • Faux leather is typically far less expensive than real leather. While it may be durable and convincing, it rarely looks as nice as the real thing.

  • Aluminum and carbon fiber are common in slim wallets designed to hold just a few cards and bills. Both materials are highly durable and have the advantage of blocking RFID readers.

RFID blocking

If you regularly carry cards or IDs with RFID chips, you should consider an RFID-blocking wallet. This prevents a thief from using an RFID scanner to collect sensitive financial and personal information. Though there is debate over the effectiveness of these wallets and the prevalence of RFID theft, many of these wallets are fairly inexpensive, and having the extra protection doesn’t hurt.

"A wallet with an ID window allows you to show your ID without having to take it out. Some wallets have a removable ID holder."
STAFF
BestReviews

Men’s wallet prices

Inexpensive

Wallets that cost $5 to $20 are usually made of faux leather or inexpensive leather. Even in this range, RFID-blocking designs are common. These wallets may function well, but they’re unlikely to last for very long and may not be as stylish as higher-priced wallets.

Mid-range

In the $20 to $50 range are high-quality leather wallets with solid construction. A wallet for this price should last you for a decade or more.

Expensive

High-end wallets for $50 to $100 are often handcrafted and built to last. Only high-quality leather is used, and the inner pockets are usually lined with leather rather than fabric.

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Did you know?
If the pores in a leather wallet are visible, it is a higher-quality leather and not pigment coated.
STAFF
BestReviews

Tips

  • Don’t overstuff your wallet. Just because you can fit several cards in one pocket doesn’t mean you should. This can stretch out the leather and shorten the lifespan of your wallet.

  • Carry your wallet in a front pocket. Keeping your wallet in a front pocket is not only more secure than keeping it in a back pocket but it’s also less likely to cause back pain.

  • Look for rounded corners. Rounded corners not only streamline the look of your wallet but also make it easier to get the wallet in and out of your pocket.

  • Take only the cards you need when you shop. There’s no need to take all of your credit and membership cards with you if you don’t shop at particular stores on a daily basis.
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A logo on a wallet can show off a brand you support, but it may not suit your style. Many wallets are plain and lack logos.

FAQ

Q. Can metal wallets damage credit cards?

A. No. However, hotel key cards may be demagnetized by your wallet, phone, or credit cards.

Q. How long do most wallets last?

A. You can expect a leather wallet to last between three and ten years, depending on the quality and overall construction of the wallet. Metal wallets typically use elastic bands to hold together and should last for a few years before the elastic starts to loosen.

Q. Can business cards fit in a wallet?

A. While they usually fit in a regular credit card pocket, a business card is likely to wear out in a wallet. You don’t want to hand someone a business card with bent corners.