Best Bags for Carrying Art Supplies to Class: 10 Options Tested by a Teacher!

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Last Updated on November 14, 2025 by Dee

The canvas was taller than I was.

I remember standing at the bus stop during my second year of art school, wrestling with a 6-foot canvas that kept catching the wind like a sail, a portfolio bag slung across one shoulder, and a tote bag splitting at the seams from the weight of too many paint tubes. A woman waiting for the same bus looked at me and said, “Art student?”

I nodded, trying to adjust my grip as the wind picked up again.

“I can always tell,” she laughed. “You all look like you’re moving house every single day.”

She wasn’t wrong.

Fast forward 18 years, and I’m still that person—except now as an art teacher, I’m hauling supplies for 30 students instead of just myself. I’ve tested more bags, totes, and rolling cases than I care to admit. I’ve had straps break mid-commute, zippers fail on rainy days, and bags tip over spilling paint tubes across the car park.

So when students (or fellow teachers) ask me what bag actually holds up to the chaos of transporting art supplies? I have opinions. Strong ones. Born from years of trial, error, and one memorable incident involving a leaking glue bottle and my laptop.

Whether you’re an art student juggling classes across campus, a teacher schlepping supplies between classrooms, a freelance designer meeting clients, or a crafter heading to workshops—you need a bag that can handle the weight, protect your materials, and ideally not destroy your shoulder in the process.

Here are the 10 bags that actually work.

It is absolutely essential that you choose an art supply carry bag that makes life easier for you and so I compiled a list of the best bags for carrying art supplies to class – from canvas portfolio bags to art supply bags on wheels.

**This page may contain affiliate links to products I have used or recommend. If you purchase something from this page, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.**

The 10 Best Bags for Carrying Art Supplies to Class

ZKOO Large Size Art Portfolio Tote

Best Art Portfolio Bag

This is a wonderful art portfolio bag that is durable and waterproof! This means you can carry it to class without worrying that your canvases and artwork may be damaged by rain. It also has two different size handles. You can carry it by hand using the short handles, or sling it over your shoulder using the longer ones.

This portfolio bag is 24″ x 36″ and so it allows you to carry large-sized canvases, art, paper, or posters. It also zips closed and the zip is waterproof.

TOPDesign Multi-Functional Carrying Bag, Artist Tote Bag

Best Art Bag for Watercolor paint

This is a great multi-functional artists tote bag that comes with several compartments for storing paint, brushes, sketchbooks, and other art materials. It can also be used as an everyday art bag.

This is a very strong bag that is double lined inside and stands upright. It comes in several different colors and makes a great art supply tote bag for teachers!

ArtBin 6893AG 3 Art Supply Box

Best Art Carrying Case for Oil Paint

This is a great art supplies carrier and storage option for oil painting supplies. The ArtBin twintop supply box is designed to store all of your arts and crafts supplies such as paintbrushes, markers, paints, stamps, glues, and more all in one place.

It has quick access “in-lid” storage that can be used to store smaller items. The large open area in the bottom of the box allows for storage of bulkier supplies such as paint bottles, large stamp pads, scissors, glues, vinyl rolls, and other materials. It’s also one of the best pastel storage boxes!

This ArtBin supply box is made from a hard plastic that is durable and resistant to wear and tear. The tip guard trays prevent the spillage of liquid-based art and craft supplies.

The twin top Art Supply Box has a lockable latch that keeps the contents secure. It also features sturdy plastic handle for convenient transport and a wide-opening lid for easy access to all of your supplies.

A3 Waterproof Canvas Carry Bag

Best Art Bag for Carrying a Canvas (Canvas art supply bag)

This canvas carry bag is ideal for smaller-sized canvases and if you want to carry art supplies like paint and brushes. It is made from durable, water-resistant fabric and comes in a range of colors.

Pro Art Pro Messenger Bag

Best Messenger Bag for Art Supplies

This messenger bag is a great everyday cross-body or over-the-shoulder carry bag. It can hold a wide range of art materials and a12″ x 15″ inch pad or canvas. This is ideal for students.

Transon Art Portfolio Case Artist Backpack Canvas Bag

Best Art Supply Back Pack

The Transon Art Portfolio Case is a heavy-duty art supply bag. It is ideal for professional artists and students who need to carry large artwork. It has multi-function storage pockets for stretched canvas, canvas panels, paintbrushes, drawing pads, pens, pencils, sketching papers, and other art supplies.

This art bag can be carried as a tote bag, as well as a backpack, and is padded for comfort.

Large Art Caddy

Best Art Supply Caddy for Inside Use

This art caddy is a great storage solution for in-studio or at home. It is not ideal for outdoor travel but provides you easy access to your art supplies at home or in your art class. It can

Everything Mary Rolling Art & Craft Bag

Best Art Carrying Case with Wheels

This is my favorite art supply carry bag. It has multiple pockets and compartments for storing your paint, pens, ephemera, sketchbooks, and other art supplies. It is strong and durable and incredibly easy to use! It really is a great bag to organize and store your art supplies! Ideal for students, teachers, and creatives of all kinds!

U.S. Art Supply Grand Cayman Wood Table Sketchbox Easel

Best Portable Easel Art Supply Case

A lovely looking, wooden portable easel carry box. This is a great tool for en-Plein air painting and very useful for carrying your painting supplies. It has a lovely vintage, classic quality to it.

Transon Art Portfolio Case Artist

Best Bag for Art Supplies – Overall Winner

This art carry bag is definitely one of the best ones out there. It has several useful pockets and compartments to store art supplies, it has a pocket for a fold-up easel and it can hold a large 18”x24” canvas or sketchbook. Because of its high quality and ease of use I have chosen this as the overall best bag for carrying art supplies.

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Tips for Choosing the Right Art Bag:

Art Materials

Consider what sort of art materials you want to be carrying around.

[Wondering How to Find Your Art Style? Read this blog post!]

Canvas

Are you looking to carry canvas sheets or hardboard canvas? If you are carrying canvas sheets it’s important to choose a bag that will support the canvas and prevent it from getting folded or bent during your travels. If you are using a hardboard canvas then it is a good idea to have a bag with a compartment to keep your canvas separate from your other art materials.

Watercolor Paint

Watercolor paints come in a selection of tubes, or in a half pan tray set. They are usually quite compact and are easy to slip into a compartment in your carrying case – whether it is a messenger bag for art supplies, an art supply backpack, or an art carrying case with wheels.    

[Related article: 18+ Couple Poses Drawing Reference]

Acrylic tubes

Acrylic tubes are also easy to slip into an art supply case – but it’s always important to make sure you have tightened the lids securely to prevent any leakages!

Pencils, pens, and markers

Pencils, pens, and markers can easily get damaged or lose lids if they are thrown into the bottom of an art supply bag. It’s a great idea to have a separate pencil case that you can slip into your art supply bag. Some art supply bags come with a handy zipper pocket for storing your pens, pencils, and markers.

Mixed media

Mixed media includes a huge variety of art mediums. For this reason, it is important to have an art supply carrying case with several firm compartments to store different mediums.

Size

A very important factor in deciding what art supply carrying case to buy is size. You need to ask yourself what size artwork will you be carrying around, and also what quantity of art supplies?

If you are carrying around A2 canvases, steel rulers, and pencils, for example, then a good quality A2 or A1 art portfolio bag would do the trick.

If you want to carry micron pens, graphite pencils, an A4 sketchbook, and some other smaller bits and pieces, then you could opt for an over-the-shoulder art supply messenger bag.

Weight

If you are carrying heavy art supplies then you need to choose a bag that is durable, strong, and offers good shoulder or back support. It is always important that your art carry bag is comfortable.

Type of Art Supply Carrying Bag

There are several different types of bags to choose from: backpacks, messenger bags, handheld bags, and more. Choose a style that is best for your specific art supplies and is easy to use and easy to carry.

What sort of bag would best suit your needs? An art supply backpack is a great bag for when you are traveling and want to keep your art supplies safe. You can take this on a plane trip or when you are out hiking.

Because you are carrying it on your back, art supply backpacks can often hold more art materials than an over-the-shoulder art supply messenger bag.

That being said, an over-the-shoulder art supply messenger bag is great for day-to-day art material access. I find using my art supply messenger bag invaluable for gallery visits (especially when you want to sketch the art on exhibition), en Plein air painting, and whenever I do some urban sketching.

Protecting Art Supplies

Will it offer enough protection for your art supplies?

The most important factor of all in choosing your art supply bag is will it protect your art supplies? You need to consider if there is enough support and space to hold your materials and tools without squashing them or bending them.

Durability and Strength

Your art supply bag must be durable and long-lasting. You really don’t want to be faced with a situation where your bag rips open or the strap snaps while you are out and about.

Waterproof

It is always a good idea to choose a bag that is waterproof so that your art materials and tools are protected from rain, spilled coffee (this regularly happens to me), or other liquids.

Compartments

Choose a bag with sufficient compartments for your needs. You can use your art supply bag as an all-in-one bag and keep your mobile phone, tablet, and wallet in there together with your art supplies!

Zip or flap

Choosing a bag with zip is helpful if you want to securely close your bag and make sure that nothing falls out. However, a flap is easy to use and you can easily flip it open and closed as you need it. This really comes down to personal preference.

Easy to Find Stuff

Choose an art supply bag designed in a way that makes it easy to find your supplies and tools. It’s a good idea to regularly go through your art bag and make sure you have thrown out anything you don’t need and replace materials that are old or broken.

Attractive – Does it reflect you?

Along with all the practical considerations when choosing an art supply carry bag, think about what the aesthetic of the bag says about you. What is your artistic personality?

What goes in a travel art kit?

[Related Article: The Best Travel Sketchbooks for Creative Journeying]

An art travel kit is essentially a collection of art material, art supplies, and tools that you can easily carry along with you while you are traveling. Whether you are traveling on holiday abroad, or whether you are visiting a local destination for some nature inspiration, an art travel kit is a creative must-have for anyone who enjoys making art!

So what are some supplies you can put into your travel art kit?

Well, this largely depends on what sort of art medium you work in normally.

[Related article: Painting on Easel & How its Helps]

Things to Pack in Your Travel Art Kit

• Mixed-media sketchbook
• Polaroid Mint Instant Print Digital Camera
• Graphite Pencils
• Kneadable Eraser
• Faber Castell Pitt Pens
• Micron Pens
• Gel Pens
• Watercolor half-pans
• Watercolor brushes
• Colored pencils
• Steel ruler
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Craft Knife

Conclusion

I have had a lot of fun exploring and testing out the various art bag options! Hopefully, you can now make a more informed decision when choosing a bag for carrying your art supplies to class. If you found this article helpful, perhaps you would also like to explore the best Drawing Kits…

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