Hermès Bag Types: Every Style and Name Explained hermes birkin bag hardware

Author : Willadsen Lundgaard | Published On : 18 Sep 2026

Each Hermès bag comes with a story, a waiting list, or both. Hermès offers much more than the two bags everyone recognizes. Below we break down the different Hermès bag names, the purpose of each style, rough pricing, and which ones are actually available to walk-in buyers.

If you already know the model you want, jump to it below. Starting fresh? Go in order, since the styles are grouped by availability.

Quota Bags Explained: Birkin and Kelly

Hermès caps the number of its two flagship bags a client may buy per year. Collectors call these the quota bags. You cannot just walk in and order one. They are offered to established clients only, which is why resale prices for both sit far above retail.

Hermès Birkin Bag

The Birkin is arguably the most famous handbag on earth. It is a structured tote with two top handles, a turn-lock closure, and no shoulder strap. Common sizes are the Birkin 25, 30, and 35.

Hermès Birkin bag prices start around $11,000–$12,000 retail for a Togo leather 25, and climb steeply with exotic skins. On resale platforms, sought-after sizes and colors fetch $20,000 or more. Diamond-encrusted crocodile Birkins hold the record as the most expensive Hermès bags, with auction prices in the hundreds of thousands.

Hermès Kelly Bag

Older and more refined, the Hermès Kelly bag pairs a single top handle with a sculpted flap and a removable shoulder strap. It comes in two constructions: Sellier (rigid, sharp edges) and Retourne (softer, relaxed). In 1956 Grace Kelly made it famous, and Hermès later renamed the bag in her honor.

Pricing lands close to the Birkin: about $10,000–$11,500 retail, depending on size and leather. Right now the mini Kelly bag (Kelly 20) is the hardest Hermès bag to source, and resale prices frequently double retail.

Kelly vs Birkin in one line: the Kelly is dressier and closes fully with its flap; the Birkin is more casual, roomier, and faster to get in and out of.

Non-Quota Icons You Can Actually Order

Busy boutiques may test your patience, but these styles carry no yearly cap. For plenty of buyers, this is where the smart money lands.

Hermès Constance Bag

A structured shoulder bag built around the bold "H" clasp, and the nearest thing to a logo bag Hermès makes. It transitions from day to night and retains value nearly as well as the quota bags. Pricing opens near $8,500 retail for the Constance 18.

Hermès Evelyne Bag

The Evelyne is the house's casual crossbody bag. It has a perforated "H" on the front, an open top with a tab closure, and a wide canvas strap. Originally built to carry horse-grooming gear — hence the ventilation holes. Priced near $3,500–$4,000, it is one of the easiest everyday Hermès bags to actually own.

Hermès Lindy Bag

A slouchy double-zip design, the Lindy works both handheld and over the shoulder. Its relaxed shape makes it a favorite for travel. The Mini Lindy has become the trend piece of the line in recent years.

Hermès Picotin Bag

The Picotin is a small open bucket bag inspired by a horse's feed bag. No lining, no hardware fuss — just a lock-through closure. When people search for a Hermès bucket bag, this is the one they mean. hermes scarf bag handle starts near $3,000, which also makes it a frequent answer to "what is the cheapest Hermès bag" in leather.

Hermès Garden Party Bag

This is the practical canvas-and-leather tote for everyday errands. The Garden Party serves as the range's workhorse and is one of the simplest styles to locate in a boutique. All-leather versions carry higher prices, while the canvas mix keeps entry costs down.

Other Hermès Bag Names Worth Knowing

There is real depth to the catalog. These styles come up constantly in boutiques and on the resale market:

Bolide — a rounded zip-top bag with a claim to being among the first zippered handbags ever made.
Roulis — a compact shoulder style with a distinctive clasp, for those who find the Constance too loud.
Herbag — canvas body with a leather Kelly-style flap; interchangeable bags on one frame.
Geta — a petite curved crossbody in Swift leather that debuted in 2022 and remains in demand.
Victoria — a soft, unstructured travel and everyday tote.
Della Cavalleria — Hermès's saddle bag shape, finished with a clasp borrowed from equestrian hardware.
In-the-Loop — a modern bucket silhouette whose 18 size does brisk business on the pre-owned market.
24/24, Halzan, Jypsière, Kelly Danse — versatile shoulder and crossbody styles that convert between carries.

The Hermès men's bag range is led by the Haut à Courroies — the Birkin's ancestor — alongside the Steve messenger bag and the Cityback line.

How Much Does a Hermès Bag Cost?

The short answer: anywhere from roughly $3,000 to well over $100,000. Here is a realistic price ladder:

Entry point (canvas and small leather): Herbag, Garden Party canvas, Picotin — about $3,000–$4,500
Everyday leather: Evelyne, Lindy, Bolide — around $3,500–$9,000
Structured icon tier: Constance, Kelly, Birkin — roughly $8,500–$13,000+ retail
Exotic skins and rarities: crocodile, ostrich, and limited runs — from $30,000 into six figures

Expect price increases most years; on the secondary market, quota bags usually trade at 1.5–2x retail.

Getting a Hermès Bag: What Actually Works

Larger boutiques often carry walk-in stock of the Evelyne, Picotin, Garden Party, and similar styles. A Birkin or Kelly realistically comes one of two ways: a purchase history built with a sales associate, or a reputable pre-owned reseller.

If you go pre-owned, authentication is everything. Before spending a cent, learn how to tell if a Hermès bag is real — inspect the heat stamp, the slightly angled hand-sewn saddle stitching, the hardware engravings, and the craftsman blind stamp. A fake Hermès bag is usually betrayed by machine-perfect stitching and lightweight hardware. If in doubt, pay for professional authentication — the fee is nothing compared with the bag's price.

Vintage Hermès bags are their own reward. Older Kellys and Bolides often cost less than new non-quota styles and carry patina no new bag can fake.

What Should Your First Hermès Bag Be?

Want a single answer? The Evelyne for casual days, the Constance for dressier lifestyles, and the Picotin for the cheapest route into Hermès leather. Save the Birkin or Kelly for when you know the house — or choose authenticated pre-owned and bypass the waitlist completely.

Related reading: our Hermès leather guide plus Birkin vs Kelly deep dive.