The best iPad cases are multi-purpose, protecting your iPad from damage and they can be used as stands to prop your device up. Plus, they offer somewhere to keep your Apple Pencil (so you’re less likely to lose it). Yes, a caseless iPad looks and feels amazing, but its smooth and shiny exterior means it feels less secure than you’d like given the price.

As well as providing a shield for your iPad, you can also use the case to ensure your device is at the best angle to work on, watch content or make video calls. Some cases even have built-in keyboards, enabling your iPad to turn into a mobile workstation. So even if you are extra-careful with your devices, there’s still a reason to invest in a quality case.

We’ve found our favourite of the best iPad cases around, with all needs covered. This list contains affordable covers to high-end models with the features to match. We evaluated them based on functionality, level of protection, value and customer reviews. Remember, as iPads come in different sizes, certain cases will be compatible with certain models (our guide to iPad generations will remind you of which iPads are on offer).

No iPad? Take a look at our regularly updated guide to the best iPad deals. If you do already have an iPad and want to get the most out of it, our guides to the best iPad keyboards and the best iPad stands might help. For now, let’s take a look at the best iPad cases available right now.

The best iPad cases you can buy today

While it’s far from cheap – especially considering it’s made from polyurethane rather than leather – the Apple Smart Folio is an impressive piece of kit. Powerful magnets hold it in place around your iPad and it feels pleasant to the touch. We’ve found the Smart Folio to be perfect for propping your iPad up on your desk or table. The lack of edge protection might be a concern for some, but if you’re careful with your iPad then you’ll find this to be one of the best iPad cases money can buy. It’s a great choice of case for the iPad Air 4 or the new 5th generation iPad Air which just went on sale in March, but it’s also available for the iPad Pro 12.9 (opens in new tab).

We were disappointed to find that Apple doesn’t make a leather iPad case, but we got over it when we found this excellent 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. 

This JETech case looks very similar to Apple’s official iPad covering, but it’s a lot more affordable, making it one of the best iPad cases if you’re on a budget. It doesn’t feel as nice or as well-made as the Apple case – it’s definitely a lot more plastic in feel and we wouldn’t count on it lasting for years – but it’ll provide your iPad with a layer of protection from damage, work as a stand and wake it up and put it to sleep when you open or close the cover. It comes in a wider choice of colours than Apple’s case too. The link above is for the standard iPad case, but JETech also offers cases for the iPad Air 4th and 5th generation (opens in new tab).

A little clumsy with your devices? If you’re forever dropping your iPad and cracking your screens you probably want something a little more substantial than most of the best iPad cases so that you can shield your beloved tablet from further damage, and 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. This case will easily withstand drops, bumps and shocks and even features port covers to keep out dust and dirt. Naturally, it’ll work as a stand as well. The Otterbox Defender fits the iPad 7, 8 and 9.

Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio is an ideal case if you’re in need of something that helps 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 full-size keyboard that instantly turns your iPad into a much more productive device. It’s available for the 3rd gen iPad Pro 11-inch and 2020 iPad Air, and in a heftier version suitable for the 5th gen iPad Pro 12.9-inch. While there are cheaper iPad cases with keyboards to be had (such as Logitech’s Folio Touch), this offering from Apple feels just right to us.

For many creatives a key consideration in picking the best iPad case is likely to be: can I still attach my Apple Pencil? (Almost certainly followed up with: and will it still charge?) With the ZUGU case you’re doubly covered; it features a recessed holder on the spine for storing and charging your Pencil, and there’s another holder on the back for holding it when it doesn’t need a charge. This premium case for the 2020 iPad Air (there are also iPad Pro cases) gives you drop protection up to five feet, and it also provides 10 magnetically-secured viewing angles when you’re using it as a stand.

If the OtterBox Defender mentioned above isn’t quite doing it for you in terms of protection and you’re in need of waterproofing, your best bet is the Catalyst waterproof case. Almost as expensive as the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio, the main benefits of this case are drop protection of up to four feet and IP68 waterproofing, which means your iPad should survive in up to two metres of water. It’s easy to fit and comes with its own screen protector; bear in mind though that if you use a Pencil it won’t pair or charge through this case, so it’s one you’ll probably want to keep for when you’re taking your iPad out and about.

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 for you. 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 the ProCase as a stand.

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