Which Handbag Brands Are the Best? The Ultimate 2026 Guide
When it comes to handbag accessories, you want something that will hold all your items, but also be fashionable and timeless.
And if you‘re part of the community that wants a handbag that’ll hold its value, that adds another factor to your handbag specificity.
In this ultimate 2026 guide, we’ll find out which handbag brands are the best!
Best handbag brand to buy from
1. Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton remains the best handbag brand thanks to its long heritage, craftsmanship, and popular resale potential.
A couple of the most popular Louis Vuitton bags include the Neverfull and the Speedy, both amazing LV everyday handbags to hold you daily essentials.
Louis Vuitton is especially popular in Japan. So much so, that you can find Murakami collaboration items at most preloved stores here.
From the many LV materials and patterns, the endless LV collabs, and handbag options, Louis Vuitton is one of the few handbag brands that has multiple manufacturing companies outside of Europe to meet the supply and demand.
Many of their items will have a “Made In” stamp, as well as an LV date code to let you know where and when the item was produced.
Depending on the handbag, the price of a Louis Vuitton bag varies if it’s preloved or if it’s a discontinued LV.
Whether it’s your first designer bag or adding to a collection, Louis Vuitton is a safe bet for value retention and fashion.
2. Chanel
Chanel has become known for its elegant, sophisticated, and timeless luxury.
Like Louis Vuitton, Chanel also has a long luxury heritage of craftsmanship. Many view vintage Chanel bags as the holy grail thanks to their timeless design, especially the Chanel Flap Bag.
The Flap Bag design is so popular that we have Chanel Flap alternatives to consider if a new retail Flap is out of your budget.
Chanel is a little more expensive than Louis Vuitton. Mainly due to Louis Vuitton having more everyday handbag accessories, whereas Chanel’s handbags are more aligned for a day/night out.
You can most certainly buy Chanel bags in Japan, as they have one of the strictest anticounterfeit laws in the world. So, you’ll definitely buy an authentic, preloved Chanel bag from here.
There is also a decent amount of discontinued Chanel bags that varies in price depending on how popular they are in the preloved market. If you are buying a new, we recommend a Wallet on Chain (WOC)as a entry-level Chanel bag.
But buying preloved Chanel is the most affordable options. Plus, you’ll still get the same great quality!
You can check out our other guides on Chanel:
- Dior vs Chanel: The Ultimate Luxury Handbag Comparison
- Hermes vs Chanel: Which Bag is for You?
- Gucci vs Chanel: The Ultimate Comparison for Affordability
3. Hermès
Which handbag brands are considered the best? Honestly, it has to go to Hermes. But it ranks third on this list because of its exclusivity and high pricing.
If you think Chanel was expensive, it does not compare to Hermes. Hermes Kelly and Birkin can cost between $12,000-$15,000. However, to even get the chance to buy one, you’d have to be on their waitlist by being a loyal customer.
Their luxury leather is the Clemence and Epsom leather, both being soft and supple.
The Hermes Birkin is so popular that there are affordable Birkin bag alternatives to consider!
For luxury buyers seeking a true investment piece, Hermès remains one of the most desirable handbag brands in the world.
4. Gucci
Up next is Gucci! Gucci is one of the best handbag brand that has a good mix of heritage luxury and contemporary fashion.
Many of their vintage and discontinued Gucci bags are highly sought-after. And if you ever see a Gucci Plus bag, that’s definitely a vintage piece from an internal family feud.
Gucci is also known for its recognizable designs, bold logos, and hardware. It’s hard not to include Gucci among the best handbag brands because of its Jackie, Marmont, Soho, Dionysus, and Bamboo bags.
Not sure between Gucci vs other brands? Check out our other guides:
5. Dior
Finally, to finish out this list is Dior.
Dior’s craftsmanship is predominantly seen in their cannage signature stitching, which is a lattice-like quilting pattern that is seen on many of their handbags.
Their signature bags, such as the Lady Dior and the Saddle bags, have an elegant and prestigious design. They are refined, bold, and have a timeless quality to them.
Additionally, their Dior Oblique jacquard is their signature luxurious canvas fabric with a repeating slanted DIOR logo. Honestly, the best part has to be that it’s a woven textile texture, not printed.
Frequently asked questions
What are the top brands of handbags?
The top handbag brands for quality and investment include Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Dior, YSL, and Fendi.
Which brand has the best quality bags?
Handbag brands with the best quality bags include Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Chanel due to the quality of the material, where the leather is buttery smooth, and the canvas doesn’t wear out quickly.
What is the most affordable luxury bag brand?
The most affordable luxury handbag brand is Louis Vuitton, especially if you are buying preloved handbags.
In closing
No one handbag brand is the best. It all depends on your style and budget. Browse around to find the right luxury handbag for you!