Hermès Birkin Sizes: The Complete Guide from 15 cm to 50 cm
By the Privé Porter Editorial Team · Hermès specialists since 2008
Hermès makes the Birkin in a core run of four sizes, the Birkin 25 cm, 30 cm, 35 cm and 40 cm, plus the ultra-rare 15 cm micro, the very limited 20 cm mini and rare 45 cm and 50 cm travel pieces. The Birkin 25 cm and 30 cm are the most requested today. Privé Porter sources every size through our Miami appointment-only showroom and online.
Choosing between Birkin sizes is the first real decision a collector makes, and it shapes the experience: how the bag wears, which leathers suit it, and how it holds value. Below we compare every Hermès Birkin size with dimensions, capacity, construction and market demand, drawing on more than 15 years of sourcing these bags for clients in over 50 countries.
Sizing is where most first-time buyers hesitate, and where a few centimeters change the character of the bag entirely. A Birkin 25 cm and a Birkin 35 cm share a silhouette but live very different lives.
Birkin sizes at a glance: dimensions compared
The number in a Birkin's name is its width in centimeters at the base. The table below details the dimensions in an inch conversion.
| Size | Approx. width x height x depth (cm) | Approx. inches | Best for | Availability |
| Birkin 15 cm (micro) | 15 x 10 x 3 | 5.9 x 3.9 x 1.2 | Evening, collecting | Very limited, ultra-rare |
| Birkin 20 cm | 20 x 15 x 11 | 8 x 6 x 4 | Phone, cards, lipstick | Very limited (Faubourg and Sellier only) |
| Birkin 25 cm | 25 x 20 x 13 | 10 x 8 x 5 | Daily essentials, petite frames | Core size, highest demand |
| Birkin 30 cm | 30 x 22 x 16 | 11.5 x 9 x 6 | All-day carry, small tablet | Core size |
| Birkin 35 cm | 35 x 25 x 18 | 14 x 10 x 7 | Work, travel, the original proportion | Core size |
| Birkin 40 cm | 40 x 30 x 21 | 16 x 12 x 8 | Weekend, laptop, menswear | Produced in smaller numbers recently |
| Birkin 45 cm / 50 cm | 45 x 31 x 23 / 50 x 43 x 27 | 17.7 x 12.2 x 9.1 / 19.5 x 17 x 10.5 | Luggage, statement | Rare, produced in very small numbers |
Which Birkin size is right for you?
Size choice comes down to three things: what you carry, your height and preference, and whether the bag is for daily use or for a collection.
The micro and mini Birkins: 15 cm and 20 cm
The Micro Birkin 15 cm is a true micro bag, closer to an objet than a handbag: at about 15 x 10 x 3 cm it holds little more than a card and a lipstick, and it is produced in very limited quantities. The Birkin 20 cm is the more wearable mini: a phone, cards, keys and a lipstick fit comfortably. Hermès has issued it only in special constructions: it debuted in 2019 as the Faubourg Birkin 20, built Sellier, followed by exotic Sellier versions in matte alligator and lizard in 2023. It is produced in extremely limited quantities and never sold openly in boutiques, which is part of why it attracts such strong interest. Our guide to why 20 cm Birkins and Kellys became the ultimate status symbol covers the mini market in depth.
What size is a Birkin 25 cm?
At 25 x 20 x 13 cm, the Birkin 25 cm holds a wallet, phone, sunglasses in a slim case, keys and a small pouch. It is the size most clients ask us for first. It reads as polished rather than corporate, works with evening wear, and suits all frames equally well. In Togo or Epsom it stays light enough to carry in the crook of the arm all day.
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Birkin 25 cm vs 30 cm: which is better?
The Birkin 30 cm adds about 5 cm of width and 3 cm of depth, which is the difference between "essentials" and "everything": a full-size wallet, a paperback, a small tablet and a water bottle. Clients who carry one bag from morning to dinner usually prefer the 30 cm. Clients who own several Hermès bags, or who mostly carry by hand, tend to choose the 25 cm. If you are torn, carry your real daily contents in a 25 cm-wide box for a day; if it overflows, buy the 30 cm.
The Birkin 35 cm: the original working Birkin
For two decades the 35 cm was the default Birkin. It fits a slim laptop or necessary documents. It has become less fashionable than the smaller sizes, which means well-chosen 35 cm's, particularly in exotic skins or rare colors, can be the best-value Birkins on the market. We discuss the swing back toward bigger bags in why larger Hermès bags are trending again.
The Birkin 40 cm and the travel sizes
The Birkin 40 cm is a weekend bag and a natural choice for men. Sotheby's notes that the 40 cm has always been less popular than the 35 cm, and it is rarer on the secondary market than the smaller sizes. Beyond it sit the 45 cm and 50 cm Birkins, rare travel pieces produced in very small numbers. Collectors wanting a tall travel bag often look instead at the Haut à Courroies (HAC), the taller 1892 design that preceded the Birkin.
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Sellier vs Retourne by Birkin size
Most Birkins are built Retourne: the leather is stitched inside out and turned, giving softer edges. Sellier construction stitches the panels on the outside for crisp, architectural lines. Hermès debuted the Sellier Birkin in 2014 as a limited edition in 40 cm Vache Hunter leather, then released it more widely in 2020. Today Sellier is seen most often in the 25 cm, 30 cm and 35 cm sizes (the 20 cm Faubourg Birkin is also built Sellier), and it pairs best with firm leathers such as Epsom, Madame and Box calf. Our Sellier vs Retourne Birkin guide explains how to tell them apart.
How Birkin size affects price and resale
At Hermès boutiques the price steps up with size. On the secondary market in 2026, the smallest sizes command the largest premiums. Typical resale ranges is highly dependent on leather, color, hardware and condition specifications. Past performance does not guarantee future value, so buy the size you will love and carry.
On average we see classic leathers ranging from $30,000 to $50,000, Limited edition leathers see premiums between $50,000 to $100,000. Exotics command a standard range of $60,000 to $120,000. However the exclusions to this will be the ultra-rare and exotic pieces such as Himalaya crocodile Birkins (including the Gris Cendre Himalaya) and the Faubourg Birkin 20, commanding up to and beyond $300,000 per bag.
In our experience the Birkin 25 cm and 30 cm in neutral colors, such as the Birkin 25 cm in Gold Togo with palladium hardware, resell fastest, while exotic 35s and 40s reward patient collectors.
Why buy your Birkin from Privé Porter
Privé Porter is the Miami-based Hermès specialist founded in 2008 by Jeffrey and Michelle Berk. We have sourced and sold over $500 million in new Hermès handbags to clients in more than 50 countries. Every bag is personally selected and authenticated by founder Michelle Berk, and each one is backed by our written authenticity guarantee for as long as you own it. We can show you several sizes side by side in our Miami showroom or by video, so you choose by eye rather than by guesswork.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Hermès Birkin sizes?
The core Birkin sizes are 25 cm, 30 cm, 35 cm and 40 cm, named for their width in centimeters. Hermès also makes the ultra-rare 15 cm micro and very limited 20 cm mini Birkins, and rare 45 cm and 50 cm travel Birkins also exist in very small numbers.
What is the most popular Birkin size?
Today the Birkin 25 cm and Birkin 30 cm are the most requested sizes. The 25 cm suits essentials and evening, while the 30 cm carries a full day's contents, and both command the strongest resale premiums.
What size is a Birkin 30 cm in inches?
A Birkin 30 cm measures about 30 x 22 x 16 cm, or roughly 11.5 x 9 x 6 inches. It fits a full-size wallet, phone, small tablet and a water bottle.
Is a Birkin 25 cm too small for everyday use?
For most people it is not. A Birkin 25 cm holds a wallet, phone, keys, sunglasses and a small pouch, which covers most daily needs; if you carry a tablet or documents, a Birkin 30 cm is the better choice.
Which Birkin size holds its value best?
Smaller sizes currently trade at the highest premiums over retail, with the Birkin 25 cm commanding the strongest premium. Color, leather, hardware and condition also matter, and past performance does not guarantee future value.
Are Birkins made in Sellier and Retourne?
Yes. Most Birkins are Retourne, with stitching turned inside for softer edges, while Sellier Birkins have exterior stitching and a sharper shape. Sellier versions appear mostly in the 25 cm, 30 cm and 35 cm sizes, and the 20 cm Faubourg Birkin is also built Sellier.
Ready to choose your size? Browse every Birkin in our current collection, book a private appointment in Miami, or message us on WhatsApp at +1 (305) 432-1285 for a side-by-side size comparison.