The espresso Pro 17 is thin and light for its size, but it is still a large sheet of glass and aluminium that you will be sliding in and out of a backpack, next to a laptop, chargers and everything else. A Pro 17 owner on our subreddit asked us which hard case to buy, and we promised a straight answer. This is it: third-party cases that fit, with the numbers to prove it.
We are not selling any of these. We checked every case against the Pro 17's published dimensions, and we only included a case if its own published internal dimensions are bigger than the display. Prices and links were checked on November 1, 2026 (US retail, USD). Prices move, so check the listing before you buy.
The numbers you are fitting
From espresso's own spec sheet and product page:
- espresso Pro 17: 397.6 x 245.6 x 9.0 mm (15.65 x 9.67 x 0.35 in), 1.1 kg (2.43 lb).
- espresso Stand+ Pro (in the box with the Pro 17): 148 x 148 x 22 mm closed (5.8 x 5.8 x 0.87 in), 779 g (27.5 oz).
If you want to carry the display with the magnetic stand still attached, you need roughly 31 mm (about 1.2 in) of internal depth. That figure is our own sum of the two published thicknesses, not a measured espresso spec, so allow a little extra.
Quick comparison
| Case | Type | Internal size | Stand attached? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smatree X8320 | Hard EVA sleeve | 415 x 273 x 27 mm | No, carry the stand separately | $54.99 |
| MOSISO 17 to 17.3 inch hard case | Hard EVA case with front pocket | 430 x 305 x 55 mm | Yes, on paper | $36.99 |
| tomtoc Defender-A14 | Padded briefcase with reinforced corners | 405 x 290 x 25 mm | No | $48.99 |
| CASEMATIX hard case for 17.3 inch pen displays | Waterproof polymer hard case | 442 x 320 x 70 mm | Depends on foam layout | $99.99 |
| Pelican 1495 Protector | Waterproof rugged hard case | 479 x 333 x 97 mm | Yes | $234.95 |
1. Smatree X8320 hard EVA sleeve: the slim everyday pick
If you want a rigid shell that still slides into the laptop section of a backpack, this is the one to start with. It is a hard EVA sleeve sold for 17.3 inch laptops, with a shock-absorbing padded layer inside.
- Internal size: 41.5 x 27.3 x 2.7 cm (16.3 x 10.7 x 1.1 in), per the Amazon listing.
- Versus the Pro 17: about 17 mm spare in length, 28 mm in width and 18 mm in depth.
- External size and weight: 43.3 x 30.0 x 3.9 cm (17.0 x 11.8 x 1.5 in), 740 g.
- Fit note: fits the display on its own. The 27 mm depth is not enough for the display with the Stand+ Pro attached, so carry the stand in another pocket.
- Protection: hard EVA shell with a shock-absorbing inner layer and a water-resistant nylon outer.
- Price: $54.99 at Amazon.
Worth knowing: some Smatree listings for this same model number in other markets quote a smaller inside size of 40.2 x 26.4 cm. That still clears the Pro 17, but check the dimensions on the exact listing you buy from.
2. MOSISO hard laptop case 17 to 17.3 inch: room for the stand
This is the deeper option. It is still an EVA hard case, but the listed internal depth leaves space to keep the Stand+ Pro attached, and the front pocket takes the USB-C cable and a charger.
- Internal size: 16.93 x 12.01 x 2.16 in (430 x 305 x 55 mm), per the Amazon listing.
- Versus the Pro 17: about 32 mm spare in length and 59 mm in width. The 55 mm depth is well over the roughly 31 mm needed with the stand attached.
- External size: 17.52 x 12.20 x 2.16 in. MOSISO lists the same 2.16 in figure for both the inside and outside depth, which cannot both be right, so treat the depth as approximate. Weight is not listed on the page we checked (unverified).
- Front pocket: 14.76 x 9.05 x 1.57 in.
- Fit note: display with or without the stand attached, going by the listed numbers. The extra width means the display can move around, so it is worth adding a soft cloth or the stand to take up the space.
- Protection: EVA hard shell with a soft lining, plus a carry handle and a luggage strap on the back.
- Price: $36.99 at Amazon.
3. tomtoc Defender-A14: if you would rather carry a briefcase
Not everyone wants a case inside a bag. The Defender-A14 is a slim briefcase for 17.3 inch laptops with tomtoc's CornerArmor, reinforced corners designed to take the hit when a bag is dropped. It is padded rather than a rigid shell, so think of it as semi-hard protection.
- Internal size: 15.94 x 11.42 x 0.98 in (405 x 290 x 25 mm), per tomtoc.
- Versus the Pro 17: about 7 mm spare in length, 44 mm in width and 16 mm in depth. Length is the tight dimension here.
- External size: 17.32 x 12.60 x 1.97 in. Weight is not listed on the page we checked (unverified).
- Fit note: display only. The 25 mm main compartment will not take the display with the stand attached. The front pocket handles cables and small accessories.
- Protection: padded compartment with CornerArmor corners and water-repellent recycled fabric.
- Price: $48.99 at tomtoc. The page also showed a 10% in-cart discount when we checked.
4. CASEMATIX hard case for 17.3 inch pen displays: waterproof without Pelican weight
CASEMATIX sells this case for the Wacom Cintiq Pro 17, a 17.3 inch pen display. That makes it a natural fit for creatives who check gear on flights or work on location. It is a latched, waterproof polymer case with layered foam inside, not a sleeve.
- Internal size: 17.4 x 12.6 x 2.75 in (442 x 320 x 70 mm), per CASEMATIX.
- Versus the Pro 17: about 44 mm spare in length and 74 mm in width, before foam.
- External size: 21.0 x 16.0 x 4.0 in. This will not go in a laptop bag. Weight is not listed (unverified).
- Fit note: the display fits. The internal depth includes several foam layers, so whether the Stand+ Pro fits alongside depends on how you arrange them. We have not tested this (unverified).
- Protection: IP67-rated waterproof, crushproof shell according to CASEMATIX, with latches and padlock holes.
- Price: $99.99 at CASEMATIX.
5. Pelican 1495 Protector: maximum protection for the whole kit
If the display travels in checked luggage, rides in a production truck or lives in a studio kit, this is the overkill answer. It is Pelican's laptop-sized Protector case, with Pick N Pluck foam you can tear out to shape around the display, the stand and your cables.
- Internal size: 18.87 x 13.12 x 3.81 in (479 x 333 x 97 mm), per Pelican.
- Versus the Pro 17: about 82 mm spare in length, 88 mm in width and plenty of depth.
- External size and weight: 21.62 x 17.25 x 4.87 in, 3.8 kg (8.37 lb) with foam. That is more than three times the weight of the display.
- Fit note: display with the stand attached, or display and stand cut into separate pockets of foam, with room left for cables.
- Protection: IP67 watertight, crushproof and dustproof, with a pressure equalization valve and a combination lock, per Pelican.
- Price: $234.95 at Pelican.
How to measure and what to look for
- Use internal dimensions, not the screen size. "Fits 17 inch laptops" means very little. Compare the case's internal length, width and depth with 397.6 x 245.6 x 9 mm, and leave at least a few millimetres in each direction.
- Decide on the stand first. Display only needs about 10 mm of depth. Display with the Stand+ Pro attached needs about 31 mm. Carrying the stand separately keeps the case slimmer.
- Look for a rigid shell if the bag gets squeezed. Overhead lockers, packed trains and stacked bags are where screens crack. Hard EVA or a polymer shell resists pressure much better than padding alone.
- Plan where the cable goes. A front pocket or a separate pocket in your bag keeps the USB-C connector from pressing against the glass.
- Check that it still fits your bag. espresso says the Pro 17 fits most backpacks that take a 16 inch laptop. A case adds size on every side, so compare the case's external dimensions with your bag's laptop sleeve before you buy.
- Do not go too loose. A lot of spare room lets the display slide around. Fill the gap with the stand, a cloth or the case's own foam.
A note on espresso's own case
espresso makes the espresso Case Nylon in a Pro 17 size ($99). It is a soft case, so it is not a hard-case pick, but it is built to hold the display with the magnetic stand attached and has an elastic strap for the USB-C cable. The Pro 17 version measures 16.85 x 10.62 x 1.1 in and weighs 1.06 lb. If your bag already gives you rigid protection, it is the slimmest way to keep the display and stand together.
Which one should you get?
For most people carrying a Pro 17 in a backpack every day, the Smatree X8320 is the one to get: rigid, slim and sized to the display. If you want the stand attached and a pocket for cables, the MOSISO case is the deeper alternative. If you check bags or carry a full kit, step up to the CASEMATIX or the Pelican 1495. Whatever you choose, check the internal dimensions on the exact listing first. Clearing 397.6 x 245.6 mm is what matters.