Best Wallets

We did extensive research to find the best wallets of many different styles made right here in the United States. Below are a summary of our findings, the in-depth details about each of our recommendations, and the criteria we judged each product on at the bottom.

Our Findings

Through our extensive research, we found several great American wallet manufacturers, handcrafting products with high quality materials that are built to last. Ezra Arthur, Lifetime Leather, Saddleback, and Rogue were just a few of the brands that stood out. We broke our analysis down into several subcategories based on wallet style, each listed below.

Top Recommendations

Recommendations: Going Deeper

Check out the specific details on all of our recommendations, along with our opinion on what we liked and didn’t like about each one. We even threw a few honorable mentions in there.

Best Bifold Wallet

Ezra Arthur No. 6 Wallet

Ezra Arthur makes some of the highest quality leather wallets on the market today, sourcing their leather from two tanneries in Chicago and St. Louis. The No. 6 is handcrafted in their facilities with precision and care. This wallet is made entirely of leather, so you won’t get any fabric or sticky adhesive that can rub off on your cards. Although the price tag is a little high, you get what you pay for (and it comes in 7 different styles you can choose from). Dimensions: 4.5” × 3.25” × .35”.

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Things we like:

• Simple construction, minimalist design
• No sticky residue or rub off on your cards
• Bison offers a lifetime warranty
• Durable – will last you several years

Things we don’t like:

• None

Large version: Ezra Arthur No. 8 Wallet
Honorable mention: Saddleback Leather Small Bi-Fold Wallet

Best Minimalist Wallet

Lifetime Leather Rivet Wallet

This is a simple, stylish leather card holder handmade by the folks at Lifetime Leather in their Arizona workshop. It has a really nice polished leather material with cool stainless steel rivets. You can easily fit cash, a few credit cards, your license, and a couple of receipts in this card holder without much effort. If you don’t like the rivets, Lifetime Leather also offers a more traditional minimalist wallet and bi-fold wallets. Be sure to check out their other products as well, Lifetime Leather is making some awesome leather goods for both men and women.

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Things we like:

• Slim fit in your pocket
• Full grain leather
• Brand imprint on the front
• 4 color options

Things we don’t like:

• A little more difficult to get cash out than a traditional wallet

Best Card Holder

North Star Men’s Leather Card Case

The North Star Leather Card Case is great for anyone who’s looking for an affordable, minimalist option to carry a few cards and their ID with them. This particular card holder is priced at less than $15, making it a cheap and functional option if you’re trying to save a few bucks. The North Star Card Case is available in both black and brown options.

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Things we like:

• Slim fit in your pocket
• ID window for easy access
• Affordable price

Things we don’t like:

• Made with lower quality genuine leather, so long-term durability is questionable

Best Front Pocket Wallet

Front Pocket Wallet by Rogue Industries

The Rogue Front Pocket Wallet has the most unique design among our recommendations, and for good reason. The “half U” shape of the wallet conforms seamlessly to the curved shape of most front pockets on shorts and pants. This wallet is made in Maine from premium top grain leather, which will take on it’s own unique shade and hue as you continue to use it. It has two size options – one that holds 12 cards and one that holds 6 cards. We like the bigger option, but if you like a slimmer wallet you may prefer the smaller one.

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Things we like:

• RFID blocking designed directly into the wallet
• Ergonomic shape maintains a slim profile in your pocket
• Tough exterior for long-term durability
• Reduces potential back pain from sitting on back pocket wallets

Things we don’t like:

• Limited card space

Best Hidden Pocket Wallet

North Star Men’s Hidden Pocket Money Divider Wallet

North Star also makes a bifold wallet with one very interesting feature – a hidden pocket for your cash. On the front end of the wallet (pictured left), it has four slots for cards and another pocket for additional cards, receipts, ID, or anything else you can easily fit in there. This wallet is made from 100% cowhide leather.

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Things we like:

• Hidden compartment to keep cash out of sight
• Quality materials and craftsmanship
• Fits comfortably into any pocket
• Very affordable

Things we don’t like:

• Limited space for cards

Best Coin Pouch

Friday&River Classic Triangle Coin Pouch

Classic Triangle makes a wonderful coin pouch from just a single piece of leather. It has a snap close and a leather loop on the back so you can attach it to a key ring or whatever else you use to carry it. Even if you don’t have any coins on you, this is a great carrying case for headphones or other small items. It measures out to 4.25″ on each side and should fit well in pretty much any purse or handbag. You don’t have to worry about any coins slipping out either – this pouch snaps tightly and won’t let anything slip through the cracks.

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Things we like:

• Minimal yet functional design
• Easy open and close
• Durable construction

Things we don’t like:

• Can be a bit bulky to hang on a key ring

Best Travel Wallet

Lifetime Leather Field Notes Wallet

The Field Notes Wallet from Lifetime Leather is a great traveler’s wallet for anyone who needs to carry around their passport and/or a small notepad (it has a holder for your pen as well). The wallet is made out of full grain leather material, so it’s built to last. It was our top choice because of it’s sleek style, durability, and value. This wallet comes in both brown and black leather and even has a lifetime warranty. You also have room for up to 15 cards in the 3 card sleeves on the left side of the wallet.

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Things we like:

• High quality material and durability
• Pen holder in the fold for note taking
• Lifetime product warranty
• Holds up to 15 cards, cash sleeve, and 3 additional sleeves

Things we don’t like:

• Can be bulky for carrying around in your back pocket

Recap: Best American Made Wallets

• Ezra Arthur No. 6 Wallet – Bifold
• Lifetime Leather Rivet Wallet – Minimalist Wallet
• North Star Men’s Leather Card Case – Card Holder
• Front Pocket Wallet by Rogue Industries – Front Pocket Wallet
• North Star Men’s Hidden Pocket Money Divider Wallet – Hidden Pocket
• Friday&River Classic Triangle Coin Pouch – Coin Pouch
• Lifetime Leather Field Notes Wallet – Travel Wallet

Also check out: best American made watches

YouTube Video: How to Find Wallets Made in the USA

Factors We Considered

Material Quality and Stitching

Quality is super important to consider when you’re making a new wallet purchase. You want to make sure that you’re getting several years (if not decades) of use out of your wallet that you paid good money for. We looked for wallets that were made with high quality material (typically full grain leather) and didn’t have any unnecessary material in them that was just going to add bulk and no value.

I go into detail on all types of leather in the video above. Like I mentioned, you want to look for full grain leather if it’s in your budget. It’s a little more expensive, but by far the best quality. Watch out for genuine leather which is a lot lower quality and generally has a loose definition these days. Top grain leather is another option which is the middle ground between full grain and genuine leather. Some modifications, but generally still decent quality.

Fit for Cash, Cards, and Your Pocket

Fit is made up of two components: fit on the user’s frame, and fit of belongings inside the wallet. Nothing is more frustrating than buying a new wallet just to find out that your credit cards don’t fit in the slots. We eliminated all wallets that were tested and failed that criteria. Fit on your person is also important. We wanted to make sure we found wallets that weren’t too bulky and fit nicely on a variety of body frames.

Style

Believe it or not, your wallet is part of your style. We looked for wallets with classic construction that are going to be in style for decades to come. Typically, that’s a nice, full grain leather material with some age and character (as you continue to use it). For more leather product recommendations, read our guide on American made belts and leather bags.

Outside of leather, we also looked at other styles, here are some of them:

• Money clips
• Coin pouches
• Fabric wallets
• Long wallets
• Tri-folds

Value

Getting what you pay for is really important to us. We looked at the quality level for each of our top picks and made sure that the price matched up accordingly. We included wallets that were all over the price spectrum in order to give you a good range of options.