The best MacBook Air cases

A product shot of the various best MacBook Air cases on a colourful background

(Image credit: Future/Apple/Procase)

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Best hard cases
Best sleeves
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Having one of the best MacBook Air cases is essential to keeping your Apple laptop in tip-top shape, to protect it against daily damages and accidental drops. There are plenty of options out there – from sleek, travel-friendly sleeves to heavy-duty hard cases – so you'll be able to find something that suits your lifestyle and budget.

With different materials, weights, dimensions, and price points to contend with, we've done our homework and applied our expert insight into account to compile our list of the best MacBook Air cases on the market. Learn more about how we test and review products at Creative Bloq.

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A product shot of the Incase Apple hardshell case for MacBook Air

01. Apple Incase 13-inch Hardshell Case

The best MacBook Air M1 case overall

Dimensions: 30.71 x 21.54 x 1.43cm
Weight: 250g
Colours: Clear, black
Available in US/UK: Yes

If you're after the best MacBook Air case available right now, then the Apple Incase 13in Hardshell Case is the top choice. This hard case protects your laptop from knocks and fits perfectly onto the MacBook Air. It comes in black or clear and is ventilated to prevent your laptop from overheating.

02. Procase 13-inch Hardshell Case

The best budget MacBook Air hard case

Dimensions: 30.99 x 21.84 x 2.54cm
Weight: 147.4g
Colours: 6
Available in US/UK: Yes

This offering from Procase offers a heavy-duty polycarbonate shell with a shock-absorbent wraparound bumper, giving your MacBook Air great protection against scuffs, drops and scratches. There's also a built-in foldable stand for ergonomic typing angles and a better viewing experience.

03. Urban Armor Gear Plyo Case

The best rugged MacBook Air case

Dimensions: 31.7 x 22.5 x 2.5cm
Weight: 311.8g
Colours: Ice/Black
Available in US/UK: Yes

Get the best protection possible with this case from Urban Armor Gear. It offers military-grade protection without adding too much extra heft to your laptop. The polycarbonate shell has a grip that helps you avoid dropping your device in the first place and the impact-resistant bumpers offer great protection.

04. Casetify MacBook Snap Case

The most unique MacBook Air cases

Dimensions:‎‎ 31.1 x 22.8 x 2cm
Weight: 180-250g
Colours: Multiple
Available in US/UK: Yes

We've been using Casetify's snap case for a while and we love the bold, vibrant design. There are so many print choices, it's hard to pick one out – so if you're in it for the look, this is the one to go for. The only snag is it is a bit tricky to clip on. But it protects well and is scratch resistant.

A product shot of the iCasso MacBook Air case

05. iCasso MacBook Air 13in Case - Brain

The best MacBook Air skin to express your creativity

Dimensions: 31 x 22 x 2cm
Weight: 350g
Colours: Multiple
Available in US/UK: Yes

We love the striking design of this iCasso MacBook Air case, and if you're a creative we think you'll enjoy this fun and vibrant hard case. The plastic case will protect your device from scratches, and it's easy to snap on and off thanks to micro clips that securely fasten the skin to your MacBook Air.

A product shot of the Dongke MacBook Air case

06. Dongke for MacBook Air 13in Case - Composition Book

A more subtle choice of MacBook Air hard case

Dimensions: 31 x 22 x 3cm
Weight: 295g
Colours: Black and white
Available in US/UK: Yes

After a more subtle design for your MacBook Air case? You might like this option from Dongke. Designed to resemble a composition notebook, it reflects the idea that you might open up your MacBook Air on the go to jot down ideas like we would with a notepad.

A product shot of the Apple leather sleeve

01. Apple leather sleeve

The best MacBook Air sleeve overall

Dimensions: 33.2 x 22.3 x 1.5cm
Weight: 517g
Colours: Black
Available in US/UK: Yes

For the best sleeve for the MacBook Air, it's hard to beat Apple's own, made from luxurious high-quality French leather with a microfibre lining. As you'd expect from an official product, it fits like a glove and the quality is undeniable. It features a beautiful embossing of the Apple logo too.

Product shot of the TomToc recycled laptop sleeve

02. Tomtoc Recycled Laptop Sleeve

The best simple MacBook Air sleeve

Dimensions: 33.2 x 22.3 x 1.5cm
Weight: 258g
Colours: Multiple
Available in US/UK: Yes

Apple's own sleeve is gorgeous, but expensive. If you're looking for a cheaper option, we recommend this laptop sleeve from TomToc. It offers a great fit whilst being slim and lightweight. The sleeve has a main compartment with a soft, plush interior plus a secondary pocket for any extras.

03. Journey NEXA 4-in-1 Sleeve with Wireless Charging

The best MacBook Air sleeve with wireless charging

Dimensions: 26 x 34 x 2.2cm
Weight: 289g.
Colours: Multiple
Available in US/UK: Yes

Journey's Nexa 4-in-1 offers not one but two magnetic wireless charging pads within the flap, perfect for an iPhone and, say AirPods. And the surface of the sleeve itself even doubles as a mouse pad. It's a little heavier than other sleeves, but the extra functionality arguably more than makes up for it.

A product shot of the Bellroy MacBook Air sleeve

04. Bellroy soft MacBook Air sleeve

The best luxury MacBook Air sleeve

Dimensions: 34 x 25 x 1.5cm
Weight: 270g
Colours: Multiple
Available in US/UK: Yes

This sleeve not only offers excellent protection against damage but it has a touch of luxury not found in many other designs. The sleeve features a magnetic bumper entry for scratch-free security and a quilted microfiber lining for extra protection. It's available in five gorgeous colours.

Best MacBook Air cases: Harber London

05. Tolmount Leather Sleeve

The best-looking luxury MacBook Air sleeve

Compatible with: 13"-16" Air models
Materials: 100% Dense Wool Felt
Colours: Black, Tan

This luxury envelope case sleeve from Harber London isn't the cheapest option, handmade by expert craftsmen in Spain, but you won't find better quality elsewhere. The sleeve is made from wool felt, and the company's signature premium full-grain leather, so it's not very vegan-friendly.

A product shot of the Londo leather MacBook sleeve

06. Londo leather sleeve

The most colourful MacBook Air sleeve

Dimensions: 36 x 25 x 2cm
Weight: 331g
Colours: Multiple
Available in US/UK: Yes

The Londo Genuine Leather Sleeve offers premium materials and artistic flair. Coming in seven artsy designs, you're bound to get asked about this sleeve. Again, this sleeve is made from real leather so it isn't suitable for vegan shoppers. The colourful patterns are woven from jacquard linen polyester or woven linen.

Choosing the best MacBook Air case for your device is a big decision and you have to take lots into consideration. One of the main choices is choosing between a soft case (a sleeve) or a hard case (a skin). In general we tend to recommend hard cases over the softer cases because they offer more protection for your device. Hard cases clip onto your laptop and stay on there; meaning you protect it from any unwarranted bumps, drops and spills at all times where as a sleeve needs to be removed in order you use your device. But by owning both, you can double your protection and make sure you reduce the risk of an expensive damages!

Another important element to consider is compatibility. If you opt for a hard case you need to make sure it's the exact right size for your laptop model. Our above guide lists cases specifically suited for the 13-inch MacBook Air line released from 2018 onwards. Each listing specifies exact model numbers and sizings, but it's always worth double checking before you buy. Whilst you have to be exact with hard case sizes, you have more flexibility when it comes to the soft sleeves so the fit doesn't need to be as precise.

The final and most important choices come down to your personal taste in design and budget. There's an array of options out there, which is why our guide above includes a wide range of all types to choose from including Apple's own exclusive hard case and sleeve that comes with the tech giant's guarantee of excellent protection. Alternatively you can check out some more affordable MacBook Air cases and sleeves can still offer good protection and great value.

Is a case or a sleeve better for your MacBook Air?

This largely comes down to personal preference – do you want your MacBook Air to be protected at all times or only whilst it's in transit?

Our personal recommendation is to go for a hard case since it offers more protection, especially from bumps, drops spills. Plus, once it's attached to your MacBook Air, it stays there. However, if your MacBook Air model has ventilation, you'll want to ensure a case doesn't obstruct that (more on that below).

If you're more careful with your tech or don't want to deal with the added bulk of a hard case, choose a sleeve. This will keep your MacBook Air safe when you travel but of course, you'll have to remove it from the sleeve once you're ready to use it.

If you're keen to be extra cautious, opt for a hard case and a sleeve. If you take your laptop with you to work, school or even the coffee shop, pick up one of the best laptop bags for easy transport and even more protection.

Will a MacBook Air overheat with a case?

If you have an older MacBook Air, it'll have ventilation near the hinges at the top of the chassis. You'll want to make sure any hard case you buy for it doesn't block that vent.

Meanwhile, M1 and M2 MacBook Air models rely on passive cooling so there aren't any vents to block. However, as we note in our MacBook Air M2 (15-inch, 2023) review, it can potentially run hot if you do a lot of heavy computing – for instance, running multiple graphic design and/or video editing programs at once. A case could potentially exacerbate that issue and affect the MacBook Air's performance.

Thus, a hard case may be a better option if you don't rely on your MacBook Air for intensive tasks all that often.

How else can I keep my MacBook Air in good condition?

Cases and sleeves will only do so much if you're not regularly maintaining your MacBook Air. For one, you'll want to keep the screen in as pristine condition as possible – know how to clean a MacBook screen and even consider investing in a screen protector.

Also, resist eating and drinking in front of your MacBook Air as this increases the potential for spills and crumbs to damage the chassis. (Yes, we know that's much easier said than done these days.)

Regardless of whether you like to chow down next to your MacBook Air, you'll still want to wipe it down to get rid of lint, dust and germs. Apple support recommends soft, lint-free cloths as well as select disinfectants (70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipes or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes).

Georgia is lucky enough to be Creative Bloq's Editor. She has been working for Creative Bloq since 2018, starting out as a freelancer writing about all things branding, design, art, tech and creativity – as well as sniffing out genuinely good deals on creative technology. Since becoming Editor, she has been managing the site on a day-to-day basis, helping to shape the diverse content streams CB is known for and leading the team in their own creativity.

With contributions from

Alison Barretta

The best MacBook Air cases