The Hermes Picotin is one of the most charming and practical bags in the range, and understanding its sizing options is key to choosing the right one. This unstructured leather bucket bag, with its distinctive open top and clochette, comes in several sizes that suit very different purposes, from a tiny statement piece to a roomy everyday carry-all. This guide breaks down the Picotin size options, their dimensions and capacities, and how to choose the perfect size for your needs.
It is part of our bag styles guide and connects to our entry-level bags guide.
About the Picotin
The Picotin is a soft, unstructured leather bucket bag, instantly recognisable by its open top, twin handles and the little clochette and lock that adorn it. Originally inspired by a horse-feed bag, in keeping with the equestrian heritage of the house, it is beloved for its casual charm, everyday practicality and relative accessibility. Its simple, elegant design has made it a perennial favourite for those wanting a relaxed, chic Hermes bag.
Because it is unstructured and open, the Picotin is easy to use and wonderfully casual, slouching gently and offering easy access to its contents. It embodies effortless everyday luxury, which is a large part of its enduring appeal, as our styles guide explores.
The Picotin size options
The Picotin has been offered in several sizes over the years, denoted by numbers roughly corresponding to their width in centimetres. The most common sizes are the 18 and 22, with larger sizes also having been produced. Each size offers a different balance of portability and capacity, so understanding them helps you match the bag to how you intend to use it.
| Size | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Picotin 18 | Small, charming | Essentials, statement piece |
| Picotin 22 | Medium, versatile | Everyday practicality |
| Larger sizes | Roomy carry-all | Maximum capacity |
This range means there is a Picotin for almost every need, from a dainty bag holding just the essentials to a spacious everyday tote. Choosing the right size is the key decision when selecting a Picotin.
The Picotin 18
The Picotin 18 is the small, charming version – compact and adorable, ideal for carrying just your essentials such as a phone, keys, cards and a few small items. Its diminutive size makes it a delightful statement piece and a popular choice for those who love small bags or want a casual yet elegant option for lighter days. Despite its size, it retains all the charm and craftsmanship of the design.
The 18 has become especially popular in line with the broader trend toward smaller bags, offering the Picotin’s casual elegance in a petite, eye-catching form. It is perfect for evenings, lighter outings or anyone who prefers to carry little.
The Picotin 22
The Picotin 22 is the medium, versatile size – the sweet spot for many buyers, offering a practical balance of portability and capacity. It holds noticeably more than the 18, accommodating everyday essentials plus a few extras, while remaining comfortable to carry. This makes it an excellent everyday bag for those who want the Picotin’s charm with genuine daily practicality.
For many, the 22 is the ideal all-rounder, roomy enough for daily life yet still elegant and manageable. It is a wonderful choice for a versatile, casual everyday Hermes bag that handles real-world needs with ease.
The larger Picotin sizes
Larger Picotin sizes offer maximum capacity, functioning as roomy carry-alls for those who need to carry more. These bigger versions provide generous space while retaining the design’s casual charm, suiting buyers who want a spacious everyday tote or need to carry additional items. They trade some of the daintiness of the smaller sizes for practicality and volume.
While less common than the 18 and 22, the larger sizes appeal to those prioritising capacity, offering the Picotin’s relaxed elegance in a more substantial form for busier days or those who simply prefer a bigger bag.
Discover the Picotin and the full range in our bag styles guide.
Choosing your Picotin size
Choosing the right Picotin size comes down to how much you carry and the look you want. If you love small bags and carry little, the 18 is a charming choice; if you want an everyday all-rounder, the 22 is the versatile sweet spot; and if you need maximum space, a larger size delivers. Consider your daily essentials, your style, and whether you prioritise portability or capacity, and you will find the perfect Picotin.
Picotin and leather choice
The Picotin is most often made in durable, structured-yet-soft leathers that suit its casual character, with Clemence and Togo being popular choices that give the bag a gentle slouch and everyday resilience. Because the design is open and unstructured, a leather with a little body helps it hold a pleasing shape, and the choice of leather affects both the look and the practicality of the bag. Considering leather alongside size, as our leathers guide advises, ensures your Picotin suits your needs.
Colour also plays beautifully on the Picotin’s simple canvas of a design, with both neutrals and bright colours looking wonderful. Its uncomplicated shape lets the leather and colour shine, making it a lovely showcase for a favourite shade.
Styling the Picotin
The Picotin’s casual charm makes it effortlessly easy to style. Its relaxed, bucket-bag silhouette suits everyday looks beautifully, pairing with jeans and casual wear as naturally as with smarter outfits for a touch of understated elegance. Carried by its twin handles, it has a chic simplicity that never tries too hard, embodying the effortless luxury that makes it so beloved.
Many owners appreciate how the Picotin dresses down the Hermes name into something wonderfully wearable and unfussy, perfect for daily life. It is a bag that fits into a real wardrobe with ease.
The open-top practicality
The Picotin’s open top is both its signature and a practical consideration. It offers wonderfully easy access to your belongings, letting you reach in without clasps or zips, which is part of its casual appeal. The trade-off is that it offers less security and weather protection than a closed bag, so it suits those who value easy access and are mindful of its openness. For many, this relaxed practicality is exactly the point.
Picotin value and appeal
As a relatively accessible leather bag, the Picotin offers wonderful value in the sense of delivering genuine Hermes craftsmanship and charm at a more approachable level than the icons. It retains value respectably in classic colours and good condition, and its enduring popularity supports steady demand. For a buyer wanting a charming, practical and characterful Hermes bag, the Picotin is a delightful and sensible choice, as our entry-level guide notes.
The timeless appeal of the Picotin
The Picotin’s enduring popularity rests on its uncomplicated charm. In a world of elaborate designs, its simple bucket shape, honest open top and playful clochette feel refreshingly pure, embodying a relaxed, confident luxury that never shouts. It is a bag that suits the rhythm of everyday life while quietly carrying the prestige of the house, which is precisely why it has remained a beloved staple across the years and continues to win new admirers with its effortless, casual elegance.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes does the Hermes Picotin come in?
The Picotin has been offered in several sizes, most commonly the 18 and 22, with larger sizes also produced. The numbers roughly correspond to width in centimetres, from small to roomy.
Which Picotin size is most popular?
The 18 and 22 are both very popular – the 18 as a charming small statement piece and the 22 as the versatile everyday sweet spot balancing portability and capacity.
Is the Picotin 18 too small for everyday?
It holds just the essentials – phone, keys, cards and a few small items – so it suits those who carry little or want a statement piece. For more capacity, the 22 is a better everyday choice.
Is the Picotin a good first Hermes bag?
Yes. As a charming, practical and relatively accessible leather bag, the Picotin is a wonderful entry-level choice that offers the full Hermes craftsmanship in a casual, everyday design.