The best men’s wallets to suit every budget
Your wallet says way more about you than where you bank, so invest wisely. Here’s our edit of the best wallets for every type of spender
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
For something that gets used almost every day of a man’s life, a wallet is very rarely a considered purchase. Most men have either a battered wallet that was given to them as a gift years ago or will have a new one that they had to impulse purchase when the aforementioned model fell apart. Rarely is it a considered purchase and therefore rarely is it truly fit for purpose.
But what’s the use in taking a lot of time picking out the right trousers if you’re not going to take the same time and consideration over the far-more-used accessory in your back pocket?
Gentlemen, it’s time to evolve – and time to find a wallet that suits your spending needs. There are four main tribes in the wallet world and each has very specific demands for its currency carrier depending on how you like to settle the bill, plus one newcomer. Take a look at our breakdown of these tribes below and have a browse of some of the best wallets for each.
What are GQ's best wallets for men?
You'll find all the wallets worth your consideration in the gallery below, but first, here's what our editors are carrying:
- Best all-around wallet: Bennett Winch, £120, bennettwinch.com
- Best budget wallet: Paul Smith, £63, asos.com
- Best designer wallet: Church's, £490, church-footwear.com
What are the main types of wallets used in 2024?
- The Cash-free Convert - whether you want to future-proof your wallet for the cashless economy and a plentiful collection of credit cards or simply don’t want to ruin the line of your suit jacket, a cardholder is the obvious choice for a man who solely carries plastic.
- The ATM Junkie - These are among the best minimalist wallets out there. The billfold or bifold wallet, as Americans call it, is perhaps the most classic option and spot-on for a man who still likes a bank note or two with him just in case (or simply likes to pay for things in stacks of paper bills, which we can appreciate).
- The Change Carrier - Maybe you always need coins for the car park, maybe you’re always worried you won’t have change for tipping. If you are committed to coinage and don’t want to jangle down the street with them in your pocket, you need something with a coin pocket fitted as standard.
- The Traveller - If you’re the kind of man whose other car is a plane, you need a wallet that does double duty. A travel wallet is one of the best slim wallets on the market, the polar opposite of a cardholder, combining a cardholder, multiple cash sleeves and a section for your boarding pass (if you’re still addicted to paper).
- The Show-off - Recent seasons have seen the wallet on a rope emerge as a standout accessory for brands from Jacquemus to Dolce & Gabbana. Wear them over your neck or attach them to a belt loop on your jeans and your wallet becomes more than just a functional means to carry your cards, but a statement to elevate your outfits.
What are the most durable materials for men’s wallets?
A classic wallet construction is, of course, made of full-grain leather. Durable and irrefutably suave, a good leather wallet or leather cardholder is sure to last years in your collection, provided that it’s cut from high-quality leather. For the best leather wallets, you’re going to want something constructed out of Italy or Paris; think a Bellroy or a Louis Vuitton.
A vegan alternative, however, is to opt for a minimalist card case. Infused with all the retro appeal of an old-school, Don Draper-esque cigarette case, a good card case can come in plastic, leather, faux leather, metal, and more – whatever you’re looking for, it’s probably out there. Leave the leatherology to the carnivores.
How do we select our favourite wallets?
So, how exactly do we choose what constitutes the best wallets for men in 2024? Simple. We know our stuff, we do our research, and we get out there to experience as much product as possible.
Our section head of menswear for GQ Recommends, Heidi Quill, is obsessed with clothes. Joining British GQ in 2021, Heidi might primarily look after clothing content, but she spends a healthy amount of time up to her neck in samples, checking product for the very best quality, price and design, all before recommending it to you. That includes knowing everything there is to know about a perfect wallet.
Functionalities like bill-fold, coin compartments and card slots aside, we reckon a great wallet is one that lasts you a long time, slips seamlessly into your life (and your trouser pocket) and matches the general energy of the rest of your look. As far as Heidi and our team of contributing writers (Jessie Atkinson, Faye Fearon and Adam Cheung) are concerned, the pieces in the list to follow are all worth your consideration.
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Best All-Around Wallet: Bennett Winch
1/17Bennett Winch
- Style: Card holder
- Fabrication: Vegan-tanned leather
- Colours: Black, brown, burgundy
Hand-made in England, Bennett Winch specialises in timeless accessories for the discerning minimalist. Going by the ethos that if you buy well you need only ever buy once, this cardholder is one to cherish for years to come, made from a Tuscan leather rich in colour and texture – and with room for six cards and plenty more. Externally, the logo is subtly embossed to the front panel, serving as a reminder of its quality every time you reach for it.
Best Designer Wallet: Church's
2/17Church's
- Style: Bi-fold
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Chalk white, black, emerald, coffee
Brogue or billfold, you can always count on Church’s to provide perfect leather goods – and that’s certainly the case here. Coming in chalk white St James leather with a polished black interior, this heirloom-quality piece has a modish undertone that distinguishes it above the rest.
Best Affordable Wallet: Paul Smith
3/17Paul Smith
- Style: Zip around
- Fabrication: Nylon
- Colours: Black
Searching for a more casual take on the traditional wallet? Paul Smith has got you covered. Specifically, through this zip-around style. Crafted from a canvas texture and embroidered with the designer's name at the front, it's shaped with a semi-circle fastening and includes a carabiner clip at the side for an effortless everyday carry. Perfect for attaching onto your trouser buckle, it's currently on sale via Asos, so be sure to add it to your basket before it's too late.
Burberry
4/17Burberry
- Style: Zip-up
- Fabrication: Canvas
- Colours: Beige
Ah, the Burberry check. One of the most enduring fashion motifs of all time, your finances couldn’t be housed by a better pattern, making this zipped cardholder an excellent choice to store your cards and cash alike. Checked in a durable coated canvas and trimmed with leather, this design proposes a great styling option thanks to the silver-tone clip stitched to the back. Add it to your belt loop or bag to really show off its print.
Polo Ralph Lauren
5/17Polo Ralph Lauren
- Style: Cardholder
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Navy
Who says you can’t have some fun through your wallet of choice? Certainly not Ralph Lauren, whose latest take on the style rings true to his colourful design codes. Sitting in his more casual range, this card holder is embroidered with the designer’s signature bear character who, on this occasion, takes an artistic stance by painting the Polo logo in popping primary shades. Fully lined and fitted with a central slip pocket, it’s practical and playful at once.
Dickies
6/17Dickies
- Style: Bi-fold
- Fabrication: Polyester blend
- Colours: Khaki
A slick wallet at an affordable price? Sign us up. This one comes courtesy of Dickies: crafted from a khaki-coloured duck canvas and shaped to a classic bi-fold structure to neatly tuck into your outfit of choice. Stitched with multi-card and cash components, a mesh ID window and the brand’s popping logo at the front, it’s a must-have to elevate your off-duty attire.
AllSaints
7/17AllSaints
- Style: Bi-fold
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Black
Hats off to AllSaints for serving a wallet that’s as simple, effective and stylish as can be. This comes specifically from this fresh leather offering: constructed to a bi-fold silhouette, clad in a timeless black shade and split into a range of compartment sections inside (special mention to the generously sized coin pouch on the right). To those who stick to a minimalist style stance, this is the one for you.
Fred Perry
8/17Fred Perry
- Style: Bi-fold
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Green
Fred Perry, a long-time purveyor of a sharp Mod-cued uniform, also provides a series of accessories to keep your silhouette as smooth and sophisticated as the dress type allows. Fresh to the brand’s wallet selection, this bi-fold design is made from a burnished green leather, detailed with a generous selection of compartments and complete with a gold-tone appliquéd logo at the base. A style favourite for team GQ.
Mulberry
9/17Mulberry
- Style: Cardholder
- Fabrication: Full-grain leather
- Colours: Tan
You don't need Mulberry's logo embellishment on this cardholder to know where it's coming from. The full-grain tan leather is synonymous enough with the brand best known for its timeless, elegant accessories. Fitted with four slots and a central slip for receipts, your on-the-go finances are in great hands.
Tom Ford
10/17Tom Ford
- Style: Bi-fold
- Fabrication: Cracked-leather
- Colours: Black
Crafted in Italy from a glossy, croc-effect leather, Tom Ford’s take on the black wallet demonstrates the designer’s flair for effortless glamour. Emblazoned with his logo in a gold tone at the base, its bi-fold frame plays host to nine inner pockets, two of which are shaped to resemble his ‘T’ initial. Points for attention to detail.
Ted Baker
11/17Ted Baker
- Style: Bi-fold
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Black, blue, red
Simple, sleek and replete with sections for every kind of card and currency you may be carrying, this Ted Baker corner wallet is shimmering in simple black and finished with an understated metal embellishment. A reasonably priced choice that has the understated minimalism of the classic wallet on lock.
Aspinal of London
12/17Aspinal of London
- Style: Foldover
- Fabrication: English bridle leather
- Colours: Burgundy, black
A sophisticated choice for stashing travel essentials, Aspinal’s wallet separates your cards, currency, tickets and passports into nifty suede-lined sleeves. Guaranteed to get you to the airport gate in stylish, orderly fashion, it comes in an array of fine leather finishes you can tailor to your style. Opt for the initials embossing service to make it your own, or to give it as a personalised gift for a man with exceptional taste.
Bottega Veneta
13/17Bottega Veneta
- Style: Zip-up
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Black
Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato weave is one of the most respected motifs among the fashion crowd, making it a failsafe addition to your accessories collection. Shaped to a rectangular silhouette with this wallet, its double-faced profile is fitted with a securely zipped, fully lined compartment, and features a silver-toned logo ring at the finish. Well worth the investment, if you ask us.
Timberland
14/17Timberland
- Style: Bi-fold
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Black
Where you might typically be more au fait with Timberland's hiking boots, the outdoorsy brand also plays host to a world of worthy leather goods, ready for your consideration. In a pure leather construction, this smooth, sleek wallet is hallmarked only by an embossed logo motif on one side.
Acne Studios
15/17Acne Studios
- Style: Bi-fold
- Fabrication: Cracked-leather
- Colours: Black
Made from a black cracked-leather which grants a cool, broken-in effect from the get-go, Acne Studios’ latest offering in the accessories department is as fashionable as it is functional. The latter is ensured by its inner details: from the generous choice of card slots and zipped pocket for change to the small mirror to aid a dose of confidence. Just in case you need it.
Prada
16/17Prada
- Style: Bi-fold
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Silver
Hats off to Prada for bringing some pizazz to the classic wallet. For the current season, this is served by its fabrication: a silver embossed leather, the body of which is stamped with the Italian house's signature logo. Structured with a press-stud fastening for the note compartment and zipped coin purse, this designer wallet is as versatile as it is striking – making it the most fashionable companion for your finances.
Gucci
17/17Gucci
- Style: Bi-fold
- Fabrication: Canvas
- Colours: Brown
A coin wallet like this is as bold as the maximalist who wears it. Made to be worn in the open, this Gucci number uses the classic monogram and the equally heritage green and red stripe to make it a true stand out. Perfect for the pattern-lover or an ideal accessory to offset an all-black outfit.
