The best iPad cases can serve a range of functions. Most obviously, they can help protect your tablet from damage. Whether you mainly use your tablet at home or tend to sling it in a bag, it can be damaged by being dropped, scratched, knocked or pressed too hard against another object.
But some of the best iPad cases can also serve as a stand, making your tablet more practical to use. There are also iPad cases with keyboards, which can allow you to turn the iPad into a mini laptop – great for working on the go.
Below, we make our pick of the best iPad cases for different uses and budgets, including the best cheap iPad cases, plush leather cases and keyboard covers. We've evaluated them based on functions, how sturdy the protection is, how good they look and value. Some of them are available in several colours and for different iPads, including the iPad mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro, but we also have a specific guide to the best iPad Pro cases if you're looking for more options there.
To check the full range of iPads now available, see our guide to Apple's iPad generations. If you want more iPad accessories, we also have guides to the best iPad keyboards and the best iPad stands. If you have yet to pick up a tablet, you can find some good deals in our regularly updated guide to the best iPad deals. For now, let's take a look at the best iPad cases around right now.
The best iPad cases available today
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The best Apple iPad case
Materials: Polyurethane
Colours: Various
+ Fits perfectly
+ Made by Apple
+ Looks great
- No edge protection
It might seem expensive for an iPad case that's made from polyurethane rather than leather, but Apple's own Smart Folio for iPad is well made and feels pleasant to the touch. Powerful magnets hold it in place, and we've found it to be perfect for propping the tablet up on a desk or table. It's available for most iPad models, with different colours available depending on the device (the options for the latest 10th generation iPad 2022 cases include fruity Lemonade and Watermelon). The downside is that although it protects you're iPad front and back, there's no edge protection.
CB rating: 5/5
The best iPad case for a pro look
Materials: Leather
Colours: Black, tan
+ Genuine leather
+ Great fit
+ Good value considering it's leather
- Leather could be thicker
Apple don't make their own leather case for an iPad, but luckily we've found a great offering from Casemade. Available for pretty much every recent size of iPad, this is a gorgeous-looking case made of high-quality cowhide, designed to securely fit your iPad. It allows easy access to all your iPad's external features, doubles up as a stand for typing or watching videos and provides a sleep/wake function as you open and close the case, making a convenient, useful case all round. It comes in two colour variations including a sleek black and a traditional rich brown, so you have a bit of choice when purchasing.
CB rating: 4/5
The best cheap iPad case
Materials: PU, PC, Microfibre
Colours: Various
+ Excellent value for money
+ Aesthetically pleasing
+ Great colour choice
- Not the best protection
This JETech case looks very similar to Apple's official iPad covering, but it's a whole lot more affordable, making it our pick as the best cheap iPad case. No, it doesn't feel as premium or as well-made as the Apple case – it has a much more plastic feeling – but it'll provide your iPad with a layer of protection from damage, serve as a stand and wake it up and put it to sleep when you open or close the cover. Another bonus is that it comes in a wider choice of colours than Apple's own iPad case too. The link above is for the standard iPad 10.2 case, but JETech also offers cases for the iPad Air 4th and 5th generation (opens in new tab).
CB rating: 4/5.
The best iPad case for protection
Materials: Polycarbonate, Synthetic Rubber, Polyester
Colours: Various
+ Tough build
+ Handy port covers
+ Available for lots of iPad models
- Bulky
A little clumsy with your devices? If you're forever dropping your iPad you probably want something a little more substantial than most of the best iPad cases. The OtterBox Defender should do the job for you. It's a rugged but low-profile case that provides three layers of protection, including a solid inner shell and a tough outer slipcover for full protection. This case has edge and corner protection and should better withstand drops, bumps and shocks. It even has port covers to keep out dust and dirt, and it also works as an excellent stand to prop your device up.
CB rating: 4/5
The best iPad case with a keyboard
Materials: Not stated
Colours: Black
+ Comfortable keyboard
+ Great fit
+ Made by Apple
- No trackpad
Apple's Smart Keyboard Folio is an ideal case if you're in need of a case that can also help you to get work done on the go. Like the Smart Folio, it attaches magnetically and provides decent enough protection, but the main feature here is the keyboard, which turns your iPad into a more productive device. It's available for the iPad Pro 11/iPad Air and the iPad Pro 12.9 (there's no option for the standard iPad or the mini). There are cheaper iPad keyboard cases, but this Apple-designed solution feels just right.
CB rating: 4/5
The best iPad Pro case with a keyboard and trackpad
Materials: not stated
Colours: grey
+ Laptop-like keyboard with iPadOS shortcuts
+ Adjustable kick-back stand
+ Click-anywhere trackpad
- More expensive than Apple's Keyboard Folio
Apple's Smart Keyboard Folio is only available for iPad Pros and Airs, but Logitech has an option that also comes to fit the 9th and 10th generation standard iPad. It's more expensive, but it has one big advantage, a trackpad for a truer laptop-like experience. The Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard Case also has a row of iPad OS shortcut keys, and it has an adjustable kick-back stand. The keyboard is detachable, and we love the premium look of the fabric-like finish.
CB rating: 4/5
The best waterproof iPad case
Materials: Rubber
Colours: Black, red
+ IP68 waterproofing
+ Drop protection
+ Screen protector included
- Limited pencil compatibility
If you want an iPad case that you can get wet, the Catalyst waterproof case is an option to consider. It's almost as expensive as the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio, but not as well made, and of course, it lacks the keyboard. But if your one objective is protecting your iPad from water, it should doe the job, with IP68 waterproofing, which means your iPad should survive in up to two metres of water. It comes with a screen protector and also has drop protection of up to four feet, but note that if you use an Apple Pencil, it won't pair or charge through this case.
CB rating: 3/5
The best cheap iPad mini case
Materials: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
Colours: Black, Grey, Navy, Teal
+ Great price
+ Slimline and protective
+ Two viewing angles
- Feels a little basic
Quite a few of the cases featured here overlook the iPad Mini, but if that's your preferred size and you need something to give it some protection without bulking it out too much, we think the ProCase is the perfect option. It's made of ABS material that'll help your Mini to withstand bumps, scratches and shocks as well giving it a lovely tactile texture. Like most of the best iPad cases, it attaches magnetically and provides a wake/sleep feature when you open and close. This case also gives you dual standing positions so that you can choose between two viewing angles when using it as a stand. It's a good option for the looks of the Apple Smart folio at a cheaper price.
CB rating: 3/5
The best transparent iPad case
Materials: Silicone, Plastic
Colours: Clear
+ Yellowing-resistant
+ Edge protection
+ Apple Pencil 2 support
- No cover
If you don't want your iPad case to obscure your tablet's good looks, the ESR Clear Case offers a tough protective shell that still leaves your tablet completely visible. The Clear Case has a hard back and soft, flexible frame, and it provides drop protection thanks to shock-absorbing corners and raised edges around the screen and cameras. A thin side panel ensures that you can make full use of the Pencil 2's magnetic pairing and charging, and you don't need to worry about the Clear Case going grubby; its clear plastic back has been designed to resist yellowing. It's very cheap at little over $10 / £10, but important there's no front cover to protect the iPad screen.
CB rating: 3/5 stars
The best iPad Pro case that's also a stand
Materials: plastic, PU leather finish on outer side
Colours: Black
+ Very thin
+ Holds iPad closer to eye-height
+ Magic Keyboard compatible
- Expensive for the level of protection offered
There are several iPad cases on this list that also serve as stands or sorts, but they merely prop your iPad up on your desk, which will usually mean you're looking down at it. If you want a stand that can hold your iPad at an angle at closer to eye level, MOFT has the Snap Float Case. It's extremely thin, adding little bulk to the device, but that does make us wonder about how protective the thin plastic really is – and also makes it seem rather expensive, but the reality is there aren't many products that can function both as a case and as a stand that actually raises the iPad up.
CB rating: 3/5 stars
Do I need an iPad case?
We won't argue that a caseless iPad feels and looks great, but considering their high price, a case can be reassuring. If you're only ever going to use your iPad at home, you might not want to invest in a case – just be careful with it and try to avoid dropping it or putting other objects on top of it, which can cause scratches.
If you're going to travel with your iPad or put it in a bag for use on the go, we'd be a more nervous about using it without a case. Even inside a bag, things seems to somehow magically get bashed or scratched, often because they've rubbed against something either in the bag or outside. A basic iPad case can offer more piece of mind, while some of the more functional options can actually improve the tablet by providing a stand or keyboard.
How should I choose the best iPad case for me?
What makes the best iPad case for you will depend on your priorities and what you want to use your iPad for. If you plan to use your iPad for many of the tasks that you would normally use a laptop for, you'll probably want a physical keyboard, in which case it would probably make sense to get two functions in one and choose one of the best iPad cases with a keyboard included, such as Apple's own Smart Keyboard Folio or Logitech's Combo Touch.
If you'll only be using your iPad as a tablet via the touchscreen, a keyboard will be add unnecessary weight and expense, and you'll be better choosing from among the best iPad cases as your budget permits, and choosing a style that you feel is appropriate for where you use your device.
Related articles:
- The best iPad stylus: Top digital pens for your tablet
- Apple's AirPods Pro 2
- The best Apple deals
