Common silhouettes include slouchy hobo styles and roomy tote shapes; several options are described as lightweight or unstructured.

Closures include zip closures, open/no-closure tops, magnetic closures, and tie closures.

Handle and strap options include single straps and shoulder straps (including double shoulder handles), padded handles, and carrying handles.

Interior storage varies by style: some bags have no compartments or pockets, while others include zip pockets, dedicated cell-phone pockets, or both.

Dimensions vary widely: heights range from 4.5 to 15 inches, widths from 0.6 to 22 inches, and depths from 0.6 to 11.4 inches.