The 10 Best Leather Belts for Men in 2023: Tested and Reviewed.

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Looking through my closet at the belts I’ve collected over the years is a bit like my very own Eras Tour. My teenage years and early twenties were steeped in the codes of New England prep: critter belts, embroidered belts, ribbon belts, and all monogrammed everything—things I likely wouldn’t wear today. My twenties—career getting off the ground, making money of my own—was when I started to experiment with more expensive additions, such as blowing the first tax return on an Hermès belt. Showier stuff.

Now, in my thirties, as I grow more fully-formed in my individuality and become more comfortable with my personal sense of style, I invest in quality: handmade leather belts that don’t have visible branding, special occasion pieces that come out just a few times a year for formal events, and the color and craftsmanship of a hand-sewn Argentine polo belt.

They say that you can tell a lot about a man by his belt. It’s where style, craftsmanship, and attention to detail come together. They serve the practical function of holding up pants, sure, but the best belts are also a peek into a man’s universe. Maybe you care about coordinating colors and textures with each individual outfit. Or maybe you defer to a single go-to belt for every day of the week. Whatever your style, we carefully gathered the best leather belts to consider now.

There are probably as many belts to buy out there as there are fish in the sea. Knowing the finer points about how to tell one apart from the other can make a huge difference in how much use you’ll get out of adding a certain belt to your closet. Here are a few important things to consider when purchasing leather belts.

Size: When it comes to belt width, there are no hard and fast rules. A lot of what will look best has to do with your choice in clothes and your individual size and frame. Generally, narrower belts read more formal and go better with suits and trousers, and wider belts read more casual and work better with jeans. When it comes to belt length, the rule of thumb is to “add 2” to your waist size, so if you’re a 34, purchase a 36 belt. And if you ever find your waist changing sizes and in need of adding additional holes to your belt, pretty much any neighborhood shoe repair should be able to easily help you out.

Leather: Without getting too nitty-gritty into the biology and dermatology of animals and getting to the bottom of which parts of the animal, and which layers of the hide work best for belts, just keep in mind that full-grain leather is going to be the highest quality and longest-lasting. So long as you’re buying from a trusted luxury or designer brand or high-quality retailer, you can rest assured that your leather belts are going to be up to snuff. It’s when you start looking for budget discounts that you’ll run into split grain leathers and things labeled as “genuine leathers” (read: not good cuts of leather).

Construction: Belts might seem like simple strips of leather, but they can actually be quite complex. Alright, maybe not too complex—but they’re a perfect example of how every element of straightforward designs needs to be considered and carry its own weight. For example, the ends need to be slightly thinned, so it slides through the buckle with ease. The edges need to be treated with either a flame or with some sort of chemical finishing agent to burnish the edges, so flecks of leather don’t wear off over time. The stitching needs to be perfectly even, or the whole thing will look like a kindergarten crafts project. When examining the details of a belt, there is no rocket science involved. Just look closely and ask yourself if the stitches look even, if the leather looks like it’s been properly treated, if the holes are evenly spaced, and if the buckle looks like it will last.

Buckles: Speaking of belt buckles, the buckle is one of the most important parts of the accessory. It’s often the pipe that people will notice first. A good belt buckle blends in with the aesthetics of the leather and doesn’t look like it was selected at random and attached on some soulless factory assembly line. For more formal occasions, try something a little more understated. For more casual affairs, you have a little more leeway to get creative. A lot of this has to do with personal taste—just remember to select something that resonates with your personal style.

Best Overall Leather Belt: Tom Ford Reversible Leather BeltBest Leather Polo Belt: La Matera El Campo Polo BeltBest Embossed Leather Belt: Berluti Scritto Leather BeltBest Woven Leather Belt: Anderson’s Woven Leather BeltBest Suede Leather Belt: Brunello Cucinelli Leather BeltBest Belt Buckle: Celine Homme Triomphe Leather BeltBest Colored Leather Belt: Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Leather BeltBest Handmade Leather Belt: Lotuff Triumph BeltBest Leather Dress Belt: Allen Edmonds Midland Avenue Dress BeltBest Reversible Leather Belt: Frank Clegg Reversible Leather Belt

Best Overall Leather Belt

King Tom does it again with this best-in-class leather belt, reversible with black and brown sides to match almost everything in your closet, and a T buckle that telegraphs panache and substance without being gaudy or showy. This is a leather belt for leather lovers: It’s hand-stitched in Italy for unbeatable quality, and the luxe full-grain leather is scratch resistant, keeping this one looking fresh to death for many wears to come.

Type of Leather: Full-grain. Sizes: From 32 to 40 inches.

Buy Now on Mr Porter: $790

Best Polo Leather Belt

Menswear insiders have long admired Argentine-style polo belts for their durability and style. They’ve been known to be a favorite of William, Prince of Wales. Polo belts come in a huge array of colors and styles, but this La Matera option is a great place to start: high-quality, pebbled leather that looks great with jeans, shorts and khakis, cast in a neutral pattern that has personality without being overbearing.

Type of Leather: Full-grain leather. Sizes: From 32 to 44 inches.

Buy Now on Saint Bernard: $195

Best Embossed Leather Belt

Sometimes, your belt needs to make a statement—let this Berluti Scritto option do the talking. The brand’s embossed script motif is an immediately recognizable signature. Each aspect of the belt is just perfection, from the hand-sewn leather to the just-different-enough buckle that’s distinctive, yet discreet.

Type of Leather: Full-grain leather. Sizes: 38 and 46 inches.

Buy Now on Mr Porter: $1,020

Best Woven Leather Belt

Trust us: Woven belts are a versatile piece you need in your wardrobe. They convey craftsmanship and taste without being ostentatious. This Italian made option from Anderson’s, which has made belts in Parma, Italy, for over fifty years, elevates jeans and adds texture to even the simplest trousers.

Type of Leather: Full-grain leather. Sizes: From 32 to 40 inches.

Buy Now on Todd Snyder: $200

Best Suede Leather Belt

We know and love Brunello for his cashmere, and that same commitment to quality extends to leather pieces as well. This beautiful suede belt feels soft and marshmallowy in all the best ways. Indeed, opting for a suede belt instead of traditional leather lends a sense of quiet luxury and connoisseurship to your look.

Type of Leather: Suede leather. Sizes: From 34 to 42 inches.

Buy Now on Bergdorf Goodman: $730

Best Belt Buckle

Sometimes, you simply need a buckle belt. But unless you’re roping cattle at the rodeo or hanging out with John Dutton at Yellowstone ranch, you should think twice about the classic oversized, Western-style options. This style from Celine offers a buckle that makes a statement, but isn’t as literal or as showy as other designer belt buckles.

Type of Leather: Full-grain leather. Sizes: From 26 to 39 inches.

Buy Now on Mr Porter: $670

Best Colored Leather Belt

Yes, you can expect Bottega Veneta’s luxe, hand-sewn Italian leather to be best in class, and its signature intrecciato woven style is certainly having a moment. But it’s the two bold colorways—green and purple—that really makes the belt shine. It’s colorful without sacrificing style. Appreciators of fashion will also immediately recognize these classic Bottega hues.

Type of Leather: Intrecciato full-grain leather. Sizes: From 36 to 44 inches.

Buy Now on Mr Porter: $720

Best Handmade Leather Belt

Lotuff leather products need to be felt to be believed; they truly compare to the best of the best. Handmade from vegetable-tanned, full-grain leather at the brand’s Rhode Island HQ, this Triumph Belt is a masterwork of stitching and finishing. You’d swear it was from a certain not-to-be-named French leather goods company for 10 times the price.

Type of Leather: Full-grain leather. Sizes: From 32 to 40 inches.

Buy Now on Lotuff: $150

Best Dress Leather Belt

More casual or fashion-forward belts can experiment with texture and color, but when it comes to something you can wear everyday with work trousers, turn to the experts at Allen Edmonds, who have been creating shoes and leather goods for America’s professional men for over a hundred years. This belt also comes in a huge size run (up to size 60) for gents who need a few extra inches to go around the waist.

Type of Leather: Full-grain leather. Sizes: From 30 to 60 inches.

Buy Now on Nordstrom: $135

Best Reversible Leather Belt

Since 1970, Frank Clegg has been an icon of American-made leatherworks. This New England factory is known for uncompromising quality of leathers, and this reversible leather belt comes in a harness-grade belting leather, tanned and cut especially for longevity. The stitches are even, the buckle is polished and low-profile, and it easily switches from dark brown to black sides for versatility. The width also feels just right for everyday use—not too wide, not too thin.

Type of Leather: Smooth belting leather. Sizes: From 30 to 42 inches.

Buy Now on Frank Clegg Reversible: $175