The most popular beach bags to carry this summer and beyond
We rounded up the best beach bags for summer, including versatile styles shoppers use for the beach, pool, travel and everyday errands.
- The top beach bags for 2026 include brands like Bogg, Calpak and Casemate.
- Popular materials for beach bags include canvas, straw, EVA plastic, and nylon.
- Many modern beach bags are versatile enough for travel, picnics, or everyday use.
- Features like interior pockets, zippered closures, and reinforced straps add functionality.
Whether you’re a local beachgoer or planning a seaside vacation, a day by the water usually means packing more than you think. From towels and sunscreen to portable chargers, snacks, water bottles and sun hats, having the right beach bag can make or break your day.
Beach bags are true summer essentials, designed to carry everything you need while standing up to sand, sun and saltwater. While nearly any tote could technically work, the best beach bags are spacious, durable and comfortable to carry—even when loaded with heavier items like drinks, hardcover books and oversized towels.
Many popular beach bags are made from straw, canvas or natural fibers, while others use easy‑to‑clean materials that handle spills, sand and damp swimsuits with ease. Thoughtful features like interior pockets, zippered closures and reinforced straps also help keep smaller essentials organized and protected.
Beyond the beach, today’s most popular beach bags are surprisingly versatile. Many double as picnic totes, pool bags, carry‑on bags for travel or oversized everyday bags for grocery shopping and busy summer schedules. Choosing the right one means you’ll reach for it again and again, and not just on beach days.
Shop the most popular beach bags for 2026
To help you find the best option for your needs, we rounded up the most popular beach bags to carry this summer, including styles shoppers love for their size, durability and versatility.
1. Best overall beach bag: Bagsmart Coast 40L Tote
Don’t hit the beach without this Bagsmart Coast Tote. The $50 beach bag is the best size for a day at the beach, with plenty of room for your towel, sunscreen, sun hat, and snacks. It also comes with a Crossbody Organizer Pouch that you can use for your phone, credit cards, keys, and other smaller essentials, and either wear separately or tuck away in the tote.
This Bagsmart beach bag is also water-repellent, so it’s great for potential splashes. Plus, it comes in a few fun color options (including the most cheerful lemon yellow).
- Style: Tote
- Size: 15.94 x 8.66 x 15.35 inches
- Material: Nylon, polyester
- Pockets: Yes, plus a Crossbody Organizer Pouch
- Waterproof: No
- Quick-Dry: Yes, it’s water-repellent
2. Trendiest beach bag for 2026: Bogg Original Bogg Bag
Whether you’re headed to the beach or a picnic in the park, the Original Bogg Bag is one of the most loved carry-all options. Bogg bags are made from waterproof, quick-drying EVA plastic (they’re kind of like Crocs, but bags!) and come with a large and small bag insert, allowing you to keep smaller essentials safe.
“I own the Original Bogg Bag in two sizes, and the extra-large is my go-to for a day at the beach or lake,” says Jessie Quinn, a USA TODAY Shopping contributor. “I love how spacious the bag is, how easy it is to clean (I just rinse mine in the bathtub and let it dry on my balcony), and how much it carries.”
- Style: Tote
- Size: 19 x 9 x 14 inches
- Material: Eva plastic
- Pockets: Yes
- Waterproof: Yes
- Quick-Dry: Yes
3. Best budget beach bag: Becokan Beach Bag
When in need of a budget-friendly beach bag, Amazon has some amazing picks, including the Becokan Beach Bag for $15. This extra-large tote bag is constructed from a waterproof canvas material and features a spacious interior with tons of pockets, including a size pocket large enough for a reusable water bottle and a zipper pocket.
Despite its larger size, the bag also packs down flat, so it’d be a great choice for travel, especially if you’re headed on a cruise or beach holiday.
- Style: Tote
- Size: 18.5 x 6.5 x 14.1
- Material: Waterproof canvas
- Pockets: Yes
- Waterproof: Yes
- Quick-Dry: Yes
4. Best for families: Calpak Terra 35L Water Resistant Zip Tote Bag
Families in search of a large and functional beach bag will love this pick from Calpak, which also doubles as a carry-on tote. The Terra 35L Water Resistant Zip Tote Bag features a rectangular shape that keeps its structure, making it easier to not only pack up but also see what you have inside once you get to your sandy destination.
It’s constructed from a water-resistant, recycled ripstop polyester material and features large interior size pouches for sandals or a swimsuit change, as well as plenty of outer zippers, too.
- Style: Tote
- Size: 14 x 18 x 8.5
- Material: Recycled ripstop polyester
- Pockets: Yes
- Waterproof: No, but it is water-resistant!
- Quick-Dry: Yes
5. Best waterproof bag: Casemate Jelly Tote Bag
Casemate is one of TikTok’s favorite bags right now, and it’s perfect for the beach. This waterproof tote bag is an excellent choice because it’s big enough to fit essentials (including a towel), but not so big that you feel like you’re lugging your items down to the coast.
It’s constructed from a durable plastic material with lightweight and comfortable jacquard straps, plus comes with a water-resistant touch-screen pouch for your phone to keep your device protected from the sand and salt water.
- Style: Tote
- Size: 17 x 12 x 8 inches
- Material: Plastic with jacquard straps
- Pockets: No
- Waterproof: Yes
- Quick-Dry: Yes
6. Best mesh bag: Sande Kids Beach Hauler Mesh Backpack
Mesh bags make it easier to shake off sand and provide more breathability when packing up damp items. This mesh backpack from Sande Kids is an excellent choice for the beach because not only is it made of waterproof mesh, but it’s also easy and comfortable to carry.
The backpack is also on the larger end of the spectrum, providing plenty of space to stash away beach toys, sunscreen, sunhats, and more.
- Style: Backpack
- Size: 15 x 11 x 19 inches
- Material: PVC and polyester mesh, 100% cotton straps
- Pockets: Yes
- Waterproof: Yes
- Quick-Dry: Yes
7. Most versatile beach bag: Puebco Wide Recycled Plastic Stripe Bag
The Puebco Wide Recycled Plastic Stripe Bag is a mix between a beach bag and a fashion bag, making it a great choice for those wanting to go from the beach to brunch or shopping on the pier.
The bag resembles classic striped nylon beach totes, only with a more cropped style that makes it easier to carry and a chic choice for sundresses and cover-ups. While it is a smaller option, the rectangular tote is still spacious enough to carry your book, sunscreen, sunglasses and a rolled-up towel. You can also use this bag for farmer’s market hauls or a park picnic.
- Style: Tote
- Size: 17 x 7 x 8.5 inches
- Material: Recycled plastic, aluminum
- Pockets: No
- Waterproof: Yes
- Quick-Dry: Yes
8. Best travel-friendly beach bag: Gap Canvas Slouchy Tote Bag
A classic tote bag is one of the best personal items to carry on the plane and then transform into a beach bag. This slouchy canvas bag from Gap features a timeless style with plenty of space to store your beach and pool essentials.
And, if you don’t want to carry it on, it lies flat for packing. The bag is also available in a trio of fun colors, including a gorgeous emerald green that goes with everything.
- Style: Tote
- Size: 15 x 9 x 22 inches
- Material: Cotton canvas, vegan leather trim
- Pockets: Not listed
- Waterproof: Not listed
- Quick-Dry: Not listed
9. Splurge-worthy beach bag: J.Crew Large Handknotted Packable Tote Bag
For a splurge-worthy beach bag, consider this timeless handknotted tote bag from J.Crew. The bag is made from a paper raffia-like material that is crocheted into an oversized and oh-so-texturized tote bag.
Its size makes it a great versatile choice for those headed to the beach, the pool, or even brunch, and it also packs down flat for travel. Albeit a bit pricey, the J.Crew sale gets you 40% off with promo code SHOPEARLY.
- Style: Tote
- Size: 12 ½ x 12 ½ x 12 ½ inches
- Material: Paper, leather trim
- Pockets: Yes
- Waterproof: No
- Quick-Dry: No
What size beach bag do I need?
Beach bag sizes can vary a lot, depending on the circumstances and your personal preferences. If you’re headed out for a solo beach day, you might not need as large a bag as you would if you hit the sand with your family.
Most people want to be able to fit essentials like towels, sunscreen, snacks, and a beach read into their bag, which requires a medium to large-sized bag. However, if you also need your bag to hold sand toys and a change of clothes for your kids, more space is better.
What material is best for a beach bag?
Most beach bags are available in canvas, nylon, mesh, PVC, and woven straw materials. However, you can also find some (such as the Original Bogg Bag) available in waterproof and lightweight EVA. Canvas totes are a beach classic.
While they are super durable and offer a more utilitarian approach to the bag style, these types of beach bags are easily dirtied and a little more difficult to get clean, and the same goes for straw. If you prefer something that is waterproof or easy to wipe down, consider beach bags constructed from PVC plastic, EVA, or with some waterproof coating. These materials are all super durable in the face of sand and saltwater.
How do I clean a beach bag?
Depending on the material, beach bags are relatively easy to clean. Look for options with wipeable linings, machine-washable fabric or waterproof PVC styles that you can simply hose down. For canvas and straw bags, spot cleaning is the best way to deal with grubbiness, as the straw is not waterproof, and some canvas tote bags lose their integrity when going for a spin in the washing machine.
If you have some tough stains, you can also let your bags try out in the sun, which can help fade the discoloration. For bags with wipeable linings, you can take a damp washcloth, rag or paper towel and wipe down the interior—just be sure to let it sit open until it dries, so that it doesn’t develop a musky smell. If your bag is constructed from plastic or EVA, you can easily hose these materials down or rinse them in the bathtub or sink.
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