Quick answer
Approximate sizes, width by height by depth: Birkin 25 25 x 20 x 13 cm, Birkin 30 30 x 22 x 16 cm, Birkin 35 35 x 25 x 18 cm and Birkin 40 40 x 30 x 21 cm. The 30 is the everyday size, the 25 an evening and light-day bag, and the 35 and 40 are for work and travel. On our figures a Birkin 25 is worth about 53 per cent more than a Birkin 40.
Birkin Dimensions in cm and Inches
The number in a Birkin's name is the width of its base. Height and depth grow with it, so each step up adds far more volume than the 5 cm suggests: a Birkin 40 holds several times what a Birkin 25 does. The figures below are the commonly published measurements. They are approximate, because a soft leather such as Clemence settles differently from a stiff one such as Epsom, and a Sellier Birkin is cut slightly differently from a Retourne.
| Size | Width x height x depth | In inches | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birkin 25 | 25 x 20 x 13 cm | 9.8 x 7.9 x 5.1 in | Evenings and light days |
| Birkin 30 | 30 x 22 x 16 cm | 11.8 x 8.7 x 6.3 in | Every day |
| Birkin 35 | 35 x 25 x 18 cm | 13.8 x 9.8 x 7.1 in | Work and full days |
| Birkin 40 | 40 x 30 x 21 cm | 15.7 x 11.8 x 8.3 in | Travel and overnight |
Approximate, measured across the base, from the base to the top of the body (not the handles), and front to back. Inches are converted from centimetres and rounded to one decimal place.
What Fits in Each Birkin Size
Every Birkin is one open compartment under the flap, with a small interior pocket or two. What changes with the size is how much of your day it takes.
Birkin 25
Phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses and a lipstick, but not a laptop. The size for evenings and light days.
Birkin 30
A day's essentials with room to spare, and a small laptop or tablet. The most versatile size, and the one most people carry.
Birkin 35
A laptop and everything that goes with it. The size for a full working day.
Birkin 40
A weekend or overnight bag, with space for a change of clothes or a stack of documents. Heavy when full, so it is carried for travel more than daily.
Leather changes the feel as much as the size does. A Togo or Clemence Birkin softens and gives a little with use; an Epsom one keeps its box shape. Our guide to Hermes leather types explains the differences.
How Each Size Carries
A standard Birkin has two short rolled handles and no shoulder strap. It is carried in the hand, over the wrist or over the forearm. The handle drop, the height of the handles above the top of the bag, grows with the size. On a Birkin 25 it is only about 6.35 cm (2.5 inches), according to Sotheby's, so it is carried by the handles or over a slim wrist. On the larger sizes the handles are longer and sit more comfortably over the forearm.
Weight matters more than most first-time owners expect. The leather is thick, the hardware is solid metal, and a Birkin 40 in a heavy leather is a real load once it is full. A smaller Birkin is simply easier to carry all day, which is part of why the 25 and 30 are the sizes most buyers ask for.
What Each Birkin Size Is Worth
On resale, smaller is worth more. These are the bands we pay today for a complete set made from 2012 onwards, in excellent condition, in Togo with palladium hardware, in Noir, Gold or Etoupe:
| Model and size | What we pay |
|---|---|
| Hermes Birkin 25Most wanted | £12,500 to £15,000 |
| Hermes Birkin 30Most wanted | £10,600 to £12,700 |
| Hermes Birkin 35 | £9,200 to £11,000 |
| Hermes Birkin 40 | £8,200 to £9,800 |
What we pay a private seller for a complete set from 2012 onwards in excellent condition, in Noir, Gold or Etoupe, Togo leather, palladium hardware. Indicative, subject to authentication in person.
The Birkin 25 and 30 are the sizes we have buyers waiting for, which is why they sit at the top. The drop from 30 to 35 is about 16 per cent in our model, and a Birkin 40 is worth the least of the four. Leather, colour and condition move each band further, and our Birkin resale value guide shows by how much. When you want a firm figure for your own bag, the sell your Birkin page prices it and books the visit.
Other Birkin Sizes, and Bags Mistaken for One
Beyond the four standard sizes, a few other Birkins and near relatives turn up on the resale market.
- Birkin 20. About 20 x 15 x 11 cm, made in Sellier construction. It first appeared in 2019 as the Faubourg edition, with a front modelled on the Hermes shop on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. A rare collector's bag, not a standard size.
- Sellier Birkins. Stitched on the outside with sharp edges, rather than turned with hidden stitching. Sotheby's records Sellier Birkins in 25, 30 and 35. The size names and approximate measurements are the same.
- The Haut à Courroies (HAC). A separate Hermes model that inspired the Birkin. It is taller and narrower, with shorter handles, and is most often seen in 40 or 50. It is often mistaken for a large Birkin.
Which of these we buy
We buy the four standard sizes: 25, 30, 35 and 40. For anything else, including a Birkin 20 or an HAC, ring the desk on 07939 590661 before you send photos and we will tell you straight away whether we can make an offer.
How to Tell Which Birkin Size You Have
A tape measure settles it in a minute, even without the receipt to hand.
Our Hermes date stamp checker reads the year from the stamp, and the Hermes price guide shows what every other model and size is worth. If you own a Kelly as well, our Kelly bag value guide covers its sizes.
Sources checked for the sizes and dimensions on this page: Sotheby's, The Best Birkin Sizes for Your Lifestyle; Sotheby's, The Most Sought After Birkin: The Birkin 25; Sotheby's, Hermes Birkin Sellier; Sotheby's, Hermes Haut à Courroies: The Original Birkin Bag.